Chapter 132: A Stroll Along the River
Fu Yucheng was wrapping a red string around a bamboo cart when Yun Tangyin came over with a bowl of mutton soup. "Take a break. Drink it while it's hot."
She glanced at the burrs on the handlebars and said, "We need to use sandpaper to smooth them out so the kids don't get pricked."
"I've already ground it." He stuffed a piece of biscuit into his mouth. "The fine sandpaper I borrowed from Erzhuzi just now is more useful than the army's whetstone."
He suddenly grabbed her hand and said, "Feel it, is it slippery?"
As soon as Yun Tangyin touched the handlebars, he held her hand and kissed her: "It's softer than the handkerchief you embroidered."
"You're not serious." She pulled her hand back and laughed, "I've finished drawing a dragon and phoenix pattern. Will you give it to my second brother?"
Fu Yucheng walked out with the pancake in his mouth: "Let's go now. By the way, what do you want to eat tonight? I'll make you egg custard. The old Chinese doctor said it's soft."
"Let's steam another pumpkin." Yun Tangyin chased after him, "The pumpkin we bought last time is still in the kitchen."
As soon as Fu Yucheng entered his second brother's courtyard, he heard Fu Yuanshan arguing with Er Zhuzi: "Your bamboo dragonfly is so crooked, why would Reporter Li want it?"
"I added a bell!" Erzhuzi shouted, holding up the bamboo dragonfly. "It's louder than the one Brother Fu made!"
Fu Yucheng slapped the pattern on the table and said, "Stop arguing and look at this."
Fu Yuanshan unfolded the drawing paper, his eyes lighting up: "How realistic are these dragon scales! If I copy them, I'll definitely win first prize."
When she returned home, Yun Tangyin was embroidering a red cloth base for a bamboo wine cup.
She placed the wine glasses in a circle on the table. The red cloth was lined with bamboo-woven wedding characters, which looked like newly opened flowers.
"It looks really good." Fu Yucheng leaned over to smell it. "What did you spray on the cloth? It smells so good."
"Osmanthus dew." She poured some into his palm. "Mrs. Zhou Ming said that the items used in the wedding banquet should be fragrant, for good luck."
In the evening, Zhou Mingniang came to get the wine glasses and was amazed by the dragon and phoenix patterns on the table: "Yinyin's craftsmanship is comparable to that of the masters in the embroidery workshop."
She stuffed a bag of peanut candy into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "Moisten your mouth with it. Tomorrow I'll ask Erzhuzi's father to make an embroidery frame for you."
Yun Tangyin was about to decline when Fu Yucheng took over: "That's great, she always says that the embroidery frame is too short and her neck is sore."
At night, Fu Yucheng was installing curtain rods on the crib while Yun Tangyin sat beside him sewing a little tiger jacket. "Do you think the elastic band on the cuffs is okay?"
She held it up and asked, "If it's too loose, the wind will get in. If it's too tight, it'll be too tight."
Fu Yucheng measured it with his fingers: "Another half inch is just right."
He suddenly laughed out loud, "When the child wears this and stands next to the tiger lantern made by Erzhuzi, he won't be able to tell which one is the real one."
"That's nonsense." Yun Tangyin poked his waist. "Go to the army tomorrow to get medicine. And ask Captain Zhang when the bamboo weaving exhibition starts."
"No need to ask." Fu Yucheng put down the hammer. "I met the correspondent at noon. He said it will be held at the beginning of next month and asked me to be a judge."
Yun Tangyin's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I have to add some gold thread to my second brother's bamboo screen to make it more eye-catching."
The next morning, just as Fu Yucheng pushed his bicycle out of the yard, Erzhuzi ran in holding a small bamboo abacus: "The abacus I made can do arithmetic!"
The beads are made of jujube seeds, and they make a rustling sound when they turn.
"You're really capable." Yun Tangyin stuffed a handful of almonds into his pocket. "When you learn multiplication, I'll ask Brother Fu to make a big one for you."
Er Zhuzi suddenly grabbed Fu Yucheng's handlebars and said, "Brother Fu, can you make a bamboo horse for my little brother? I saw children in operas riding that."
"Let's talk about it after you make a bamboo dragonfly with abacus beads." Fu Yucheng scratched his nose and said, "Let's go get the medicine."
In the military compound, Commander Zhang nodded at a bamboo bookshelf and said, "Ah Cheng, look at this bookshelf. Can it hold thirty books?"
Fu Yucheng gestured with his hands: "Just go two inches deeper."
He suddenly hid behind Yun Tangyin, "Mrs. Zhang is here. She must want you to embroider pillowcases."
As expected, Mrs. Zhang came in carrying a piece of blue cloth. "Yinyin, can you help me embroider a pair of pillowcases with the pattern of 'mandarin ducks playing in the water'? My husband always says my embroidery looks like ducks."
Yun Tangyin took the cloth and smiled: "Come back in three days to pick it up. I guarantee it will look even better than the painting."
After getting the medicine, Fu Yucheng stuffed a paper bag into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "Captain Zhang gave you some malted milk. He said you need to replenish your body."
"Why does he always give me things?" Yun Tangyin opened the paper package and sniffed it. "I'll embroider a schoolbag for his daughter and inlay it with silver thread later."
"No need to go to so much trouble." Fu Yucheng rubbed his brows, "I gave you a set of tea coasters yesterday, which is a return gift."
When I got home, Yuxia was squatting in the yard turning over and drying cotton.
"You two are back."
She stuffed a cloth bag into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "This is the new cotton I fluffed. It's perfect for making a small mattress for the child."
Yun Tangyin touched the cotton, which was as soft as a cloud. "Thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law. I'll embroider you a pair of cotton shoes with wool padding inside."
Fu Yucheng covered the cotton with a bamboo sieve and said, "Don't dry it in the sun for too long. Bring it in after noon to prevent it from getting dusty."
In the afternoon, when Yun Tangyin was embroidering a pillowcase, Fu Yucheng sat beside her and weaved a bamboo horse.
The bamboo branch bent into a beautiful arc in his hand, and the horse's head was carved with mane.
"Do you think the horse's ears are pointed?" he asked, holding it up. "Erzhuzi said that horses in operas always have pointed ears."
Yun Tangyin leaned over to take a look: "If you carve a red tassel, it will be more majestic."
She suddenly remembered something. "The old Chinese doctor said we should take a walk in the afternoon. How about we go for a walk by the river?"
Fu Yucheng was about to stand up when he saw Fu Yuanshan carrying a small bamboo ladder in. "Acheng, look at this ladder? It's for the children to use to reach toys that are higher up. It's safer than moving a bench."
The ladder is only two feet high, and the steps are made of round bamboo strips, so they don't hurt your feet when you step on them.
"Second brother, your thoughts are more meticulous than embroidery." Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of mung bean cake into Fu Yuanshan's hand, "Freshly steamed, to cool you down."
Fu Yuanshan bit into the cake and smiled: "I heard Jianhua say that you two want to go for a walk? There's a new bamboo viewing platform built by the river. Let's go there for a walk. It's bright and spacious."
The viewing platform by the river is really beautiful. Wild roses are wrapped around the bamboo railings, and the fragrance makes people dizzy when the wind blows.
Fu Yucheng helped Yun Tangyin sit down and took out an oil-paper bag from his pocket: "I brought you some red date cakes. Are you hungry?"
As soon as Yun Tangyin took a bite, she saw two little bamboo ducks floating in the water, with red silk cloth in their beaks.
"Didn't Erzhuzi make that up?" She pointed at the duck and laughed, "He must have put it there secretly."
Fu Yucheng suddenly hugged her from behind: "When the child grows up, we will make a paper boat for him and let him float on the river with it."
"We also need to teach him to swim." Yun Tangyin leaned into his arms, "Just like you learned in the army."
"Teach him a lesson first." Fu Yucheng lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, "Don't forget your roots."
The setting sun dyed the river water golden red, and the shadow of the bamboo railing fell on the two people, like a moving painting.
Yun Tangyin suddenly felt that such days were really good. With him by her side, she had hope, and even the wind had a sweet smell.
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