Chapter 216: The Group’s Favorite Little Nian’an
That morning, as soon as the roosters in the locust courtyard crowed, Song Yushuang was awakened by a series of tiny noises.
She got up, put on her clothes and walked to the outer room, where she saw Nian'an lying in the cradle, clinging to the railings with his little hands, trying hard to climb out, humming "ah ah" in his mouth.
"Oh, my dear grandson, are you trying to crawl out by yourself?" Song Yushuang quickly went over and carefully picked him up. "He's so active at such a young age. He'll definitely be a restless child in the future."
Nian An was held in his arms, and his little hands immediately grabbed Song Yushuang's clothes. He grinned with his toothless mouth, and saliva flowed down his chin.
Song Yushuang took out a handkerchief and wiped it clean gently, then said with a smile, "You little guy, you still know how to make grandma happy."
As he was speaking, Jiang Jianhua walked in with millet porridge. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help laughing and said, "Is Nian'an awake? I thought he needed to sleep for a while longer."
"This child is full of energy," Song Yushuang said, holding Nian An as they sat at the table. "Look at him. He wakes up in the morning and climbs over the railings by himself. He's even more naughty than Ah Cheng was when he was little."
Jiang Jianhua handed over the bowl of porridge and took a small spoon: "I made it thinner on purpose. Feed Nian'an some rice soup later to replenish his stomach."
Song Yushuang nodded in agreement, carefully scooped up the rice soup with a spoon, blew it cool before bringing it to Nian'an's mouth.
Nian An opened his mouth and took a sip, his eyes immediately lit up, and he reached out to grab the spoon, making both of them laugh.
After breakfast, Fu Yucheng picked some fresh cucumbers from the field and as soon as he put them on the stone table in the yard, Nian An pointed at the cucumbers and called out "Yeah."
Song Yushuang walked over with him in her arms, picked up a cucumber and handed it to him: "Here's a cucumber. Let your dad make you some cucumber puree later, okay?"
Nian An stretched out his little hand to grab the cucumber, but he didn't have the strength to hold it firmly, and it fell on the table with a "bang". He didn't make a fuss, but laughed even more happily.
Fu Yuanshan came back from the fields carrying a hoe. Seeing this, he put down the hoe and walked over: "Nian'an, do you like cucumbers? I'll go to the fields this afternoon to pick some more and make you cucumber soup."
He reached out to hug Nian An, but Nian An turned her head towards Song Yushuang's arms and refused to go with him.
Fu Yuanshan pretended to be aggrieved: "Hey, my nephew, why don't you play with uncle anymore? Uncle will make you a little wooden horse, okay?"
Nian An then stretched out her little hand and let Fu Yuanshan hold her.
In the afternoon, Fu Yuanshan really found a piece of wood and made a small wooden horse for Nian An in the yard.
He took the plane and smoothed the wood bit by bit. Song Yushuang sat beside him, watching and reminding him from time to time: "Smooth the corners of the wooden horse so that it won't hurt the child."
Fu Yuanshan smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, I have a plan in mind. Once it's done, I'll give it a coat of varnish to make it shiny and durable."
Jiang Jianhua sat under the eaves, embroidering small socks for Nian'an.
She embroidered some small locust flower patterns on the red fabric, with fine stitches that looked particularly beautiful.
Yun Tangyin came over, looked at the socks and said with a smile: "Second sister-in-law, these are more exquisite than the ones I bought in the city."
Jiang Jianhua smiled sheepishly, "I just embroidered it randomly, thinking of giving Nian'an something festive to wear. In a few days, I'll embroider a few more pairs for Xiaolan and the others."
By the evening, the wooden horse was finally finished.
Fu Yuanshan placed the wooden horse in the yard. When Nian An saw it, he immediately broke free from Song Yu's arms, staggered over, grabbed the reins of the wooden horse and tried to climb up.
Fu Yucheng quickly walked over to support him and carried him onto the wooden horse: "Slow down, don't fall."
Nian An sat on the wooden horse, holding the reins with her little hands, and her eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.
Song Yushuang was filled with joy when she saw her grandson's happy face.
She walked over to Fu Yuanshan and patted his shoulder: "You are really good with your hands. You finished it so quickly. Nian An will definitely like it very much."
Fu Yuanshan smiled and said, "As long as Nian'an likes it, I will make him some small toys in the future, such as a small wooden car and a small bow and arrow. I guarantee he will have enough to play with."
At dinner, Fu Yucheng made cucumber puree for Nian'an, and also made braised pork, stir-fried vegetables, and a pot of winter melon and pork ribs soup.
Everyone sat around the table, eating and chatting. Nian An sat in Song Yushuang's arms, holding a small spoon in his hand, and occasionally put a mouthful of cucumber paste into his mouth. Although most of it spilled on his clothes, he ate it with great joy.
At night, after Nian'an fell asleep, Song Yushuang sat under the oil lamp and sewed a small cotton jacket for Nian'an.
She embroidered some small tiger patterns on the light blue fabric, which looked lifelike.
Yun Tangyin leaned against the headboard and looked at her, smiling and saying, "Mom, you haven't had much rest these days. Don't stay up too late. It's not too late to sew tomorrow."
Song Yushuang smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm happy and don't feel tired at all. Once I finish sewing the little cotton-padded jacket, Nian'an will be able to wear it when the weather gets colder."
The moonlight outside the window poured into the room, falling on Song Yushuang's body and the face of Nian An who was sleeping soundly.
Yun Tangyin took the cotton-padded jacket and touched it. The fabric was delicate and soft, and the stitching was so fine that it was almost invisible. "Mom, your craftsmanship is really getting better and better. This cotton-padded jacket is more exquisite than the ones made by the tailors in the city."
Song Yushuang folded the cotton-padded jacket and put it in the wooden box. "When the weather gets cold, let Nian'an wear it. Pair it with the tiger-head hat embroidered by Jianhua. He will look like a little tiger and will definitely be popular."
The next morning, Nian'an woke up at dawn and lay in the cradle, babbling and patting the quilt with his little hands.
Song Yushuang walked into the room and just as she picked him up, he pointed outside the door and shouted.
Song Yushuang smiled and said, "You want to play with the little wooden horse that Second Uncle made, right? Come on, grandma will take you to play."
Holding Nian'an in his arms, he walked into the yard. Fu Yuanshan was already varnishing the wooden horse. The sunlight shone on the wooden horse, giving it a faint luster.
"Is Nian'an awake?" Fu Yuanshan looked up and said with a smile, "Once the varnish dries, you can ride the wooden horse. I guarantee it will be smoother than yesterday."
Nian An stretched out his little hand, wanting to touch the wooden horse, but Song Yushuang gently held it down: "Wait until the paint dries before touching it, otherwise you will get your hands dirty."
Jiang Jianhua came over with freshly cooked soy milk and handed a bowl to Song Yushuang and Fu Yuanshan respectively: "Hurry up and drink some soy milk to warm your body. I added some sugar to it, it's sweet."
She looked at Nian'an and said with a smile, "Nian'an, would you like some soy milk? I'll get you some warm."
Nian An nodded, his little mouth open, looking impatient.
After breakfast, Fu Yucheng was going to the market in town. Song Yushuang specifically instructed him, "Buy some candied haws for Nian'an. He was so fascinated when he saw Xiaolan eating them yesterday. Also, buy some colored thread. I want to make a small purse for Nian'an to wear to ward off evil spirits."
Fu Yucheng smiled and agreed: "Don't worry, I will remember everything and promise to buy you the best candied haws and colored thread."
After Fu Yucheng left, Song Yushuang sat under the eaves holding Nian An and taught him to recognize the flowers and plants in the yard.
"This is a rose. When it blooms, it's red and fragrant. This is mint. In the summer, pick a leaf and soak it in water to drink. It clears away heat and relieves summer heat."
Song Yushuang pointed at the plants in the yard and taught Nian'an word by word. Although Nian'an couldn't speak clearly, he followed along and babbled, looking very serious.
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