Seeing that Min Yueqing was so agreeable, Lao Lin didn't say anything more. He skillfully put the three paper-cuts on the wooden frame into the box and handed them to Min Yueqing.
Then, while packing up his stall, he said to Min Yueqing, "Since you really want it, come with me back home to choose one."
His greatest hobby and only specialty in life was paper cutting. Whenever he had free time, he would start drawing patterns and then cutting them out. In his early years when he was still wealthy, he even made them with gold and silver foil, which were truly beautiful.
So even though he felt that Min Yueqing gave him so much money, he didn't feel guilty for not being able to manage her money and was too trusting.
This little girl has such a good attitude and such good taste. If she really wants it, Old Lin thinks it's not impossible to give her one of the family's treasured pieces.
Old Lin led the way, and Min Yueqing and the others followed him on their own.
Min Yueqing was worried that things might change if she waited too long. Since Lao Lin was willing to take them home to choose, she should seize the opportunity, otherwise what if someone else beat her to it?
Seeing that the old man was so old and was still carrying the wooden frame and stool by himself, Shi Tou couldn't help but step forward to help him. "Grandpa, let me help you carry one."
As he spoke, he reached out to take the wooden frame off Lao Lin's shoulder.
Old Lin stepped aside, sticking his neck out, and said, "Little brat, do you think I'm old? Let me tell you, I'm very strong. If you don't believe me, let's have a contest when we get back, hmph!"
What a stubborn old man! He immediately reminded Stone of his own grandfather.
Grandpa was also a skilled worker, never admitting defeat, and sometimes even complaining that Dad and Uncle were too slow. When he had free time, he liked to smoke a pipe, and Shitou could always see him holding a pipe, lecturing people with a strong voice.
Stone felt a sense of closeness to the old man and insisted on helping him. The old man looked even older than his grandfather, and he was so thin and frail. He was bent over so low carrying all these things that Stone was really afraid that his shoulders would be crushed by the wooden frame.
While Lao Lin wasn't paying attention, Shi Tou snatched a small wooden stool and a plank from his hand, then ran to Min Yueqing's side and made a face as he stood still.
"I wouldn't dare compare myself to you. I just thought your little wooden stool was fun, so I grabbed it to take a look!"
Old Lin didn't have any young children at home. He originally had a son, but he couldn't take care of him. The son died at the age of four from an unexplained cold. His wife was already in poor health, and after losing her child, she was heartbroken day and night and never conceived again.
Now, seeing Shi Tou, such a mischievous teenager, making fun of him, Old Lin felt both annoyed and amused. However, he also understood that the child meant well, so he couldn't very well chase after him and beat him up. He could only sigh and walk ahead on his own.
Seeing that Old Lin couldn't do anything about him and was shaking his head as he walked away, Shi Tou chuckled smugly.
Min Yueqing found it amusing and didn't stop Shi Tou.
From the moment Pei Ji was picked up, he nestled obediently on Min Yueqing's shoulder, his little hands softly wrapped around Min Yueqing's neck.
He had been intently staring at the paper-cuts, and when he saw Old Lin packing them up, he became a little anxious. He only felt relieved when he saw Old Lin hand the box to his mother.
Pei Ji had seen many paintings and calligraphy works. In Pei Han's study in Hejing Courtyard, there were many works by famous artists. Pei Han never restricted his son from entering his study. Pei Ji had been interested in paintings and calligraphy since childhood. Whenever Pei Han acquired any good paintings or calligraphy works, or when he had his own proud works, he was willing to take his son to see them.
Having seen many masterpieces, Pei Ji naturally had a high standard of vision, but he was still quite surprised when he saw these paper-cuts, because they were clearly not in the same league as the window decorations that the Earl's mansion bought for the New Year.
Logically speaking, since the Earl's mansion was willing to spend money, the window decorations and other items they bought should have been of good quality. Pei Ji used to think they looked quite festive when pasted on the windows, but now that he had compared them to other items, he couldn't help but find them too rough.
Not only are the paper cuts not as meticulous as those of the old man, but the patterns are also much simpler, lacking the richness and vividness of the works in front of him.
Pei Ji couldn't help but lean close to Min Yueqing's ear and whisper her discovery, adding at the end, "Mother, this old man cuts and draws so well, all three are beautiful, I love them so much."
Pei Ji was so engrossed in his speech that his soft little face unconsciously pressed against Min Yueqing's cheek. Min Yueqing enjoyed the little one's affectionate touch and thought to herself, "Isn't this a case of great minds thinking alike? Your mother likes you very much too."
"Okay, let's go to Grandpa's house now. If you see anything you like later, just point it out and we'll buy it all."
Pei Ji gave a heavy "hmm" and excitedly swayed her little body on Min Yueqing's arm.
After swaying a couple of times, Pei Ji suddenly remembered something and looked at Min Yueqing's face with some anxiety, "Mother, have I gained a lot of weight? Are you tired?"
Since he started learning martial arts with Shi Tou, Pei Ji felt much stronger and was eager to grow up quickly so that he could protect his mother like his father.
But now, enjoying his mother's warm embrace, he had completely forgotten his ambitions, and Pei Ji began to feel a little conflicted again.
Looking at the little one's adorable appearance, Min Yueqing chuckled twice. "Heavy? It's probably not even as heavy as a plank carried by a stone! Don't worry, baby, as long as you don't grow taller than your mother, your mother can carry you."
Min Yueqing's words were not an exaggeration. With her strength, she could lift not only a light little baby, but also an adult weighing around 200 pounds as if it were nothing.
Her awakened martial arts ability did more than just make her able to fight; it brought about a comprehensive improvement in strength, speed, and agility, making it no exaggeration to say that she underwent a complete transformation.
Otherwise, wouldn't humans be powerless to fight zombies when facing a shortage of weapons?
Therefore, those who have experienced the end times have an indescribable awe of nature.
In the apocalypse, the overall environment is extremely unfriendly to humanity. However, humanity has not become extinct like other species that have disappeared before, because nature has given humanity a way out: the superpowers they have awakened one after another. With the help of these superpowers, they at least have the strength to fight back.
Pei Ji blushed upon hearing Min Yueqing's words; her mother had called her "baby" again.
Also, Mother is so strong. Pei Ji looked closely at Mother's face and found that she was not even out of breath or red in the face. She carried him for so long without getting tired at all.
Pei Ji felt relieved and hugged Min Yueqing even tighter.
Shi Tou watched with great envy. His mother didn't have that much strength. When he was five years old, his mother didn't carry him much anymore. Only his father would occasionally carry him on his back.
But on second thought, Stone felt it was better that he was older now, because no one would dare to chase after him like before.
Moreover, he has such a powerful master. Once he masters his martial arts, he will not only be protected from being bullied, but he can also, as the storyteller said, uphold justice and help the weak.
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