Just as they reached Aqiu’s doorstep, they saw Aqiu and Zhou Dongdong returning from outside. Nan Feng quickly asked, “Where have you two been?”
Aqiu said, “We were planning to go to town, but we ran into Fatty at the village entrance. She told us not to go, as many of the shops in town were closed, the shop owners were busy celebrating Chinese New Year, and the streets were deserted.”
Nan Feng thought this made sense, considering that the second day of the Chinese New Year was when daughters-in-law visited their parents and distant relatives; who would be minding their shops?
Nan Feng asked again, “Isn’t the Spring Festival quite boring then? We can’t go to town, and there’s nothing of interest in the village.”
Zhou Dongdong suddenly remembered something, “Oh yeah, last night I overheard Tie Dan saying that an old man in Da Ji Village is celebrating his sixtieth birthday, and he’s invited a theatre troupe to perform. Why don’t we go watch the show?”
Aqiu interjected, “Forget about it. I’m sure it’ll be crowded. Last year, Da Ping Village also invited a theatre troupe, and it was so crowded that I lost a shoe and didn’t even get a glimpse of the actors. Plus, the people sitting in the trees threw sunflower seed shells all over me.”
“…” Zhou Dongdong said, “That bad, huh? But, it does make sense. The birthday person is hosting the theatre troupe in their own courtyard, so of course they wouldn’t let random people like us in. We could only peek from the sidelines.”
Aqiu said, “It’s better to just stay home and quietly embroider or make a few shoe soles. That way, we’ll have new shoes to wear next year.”
After hearing Aqiu say this, Zhou Dongdong also lost interest and said, “Alright then, I’ll come over tomorrow to learn how to make shoe soles.”
Then Aqiu asked Nan Feng, “What about you, Little Feng? We’re making shoe soles, what are your plans? You’re always so wild, I suppose you look down on tasks like making shoes and embroidery, right?”
Nan Feng replied, “That’s not true. It’s just that I’ve always been used to dancing with swords and playing with sticks, so I’m clumsy and can’t do delicate tasks like that. But, I’ll also come and learn how to make shoe soles with you guys if I’m free tomorrow.”
“That sounds good, I’ll be home all day anyway. Just come when you’re free.”
“…”
When Nan Feng got home, she had a meal and then took a nap. It was truly hard for a person used to being busy to suddenly relax.
Then she took out her needle and thread, and decided to try embroidering a peach blossom on a handkerchief.
Seeing this, Nan Quanyou asked in surprise, “Fengfeng, how come you’re embroidering something today? Is the sun rising from the west?”
“I’m going to learn shoe-making with Aqiu tomorrow, so I’m practicing at home.”
“Ah, that makes sense,” Nan Quanyou looked at Nan Feng for a moment.
He found it amusing that she was so clumsy with the needle and thread, her stitches varying in length, pricking her finger now and then.
Nan Quanyou shook his head. This child took after her mother in looks, but not in skills. Her mother had been very good with needlework and even made clothes. All the clothes he used to wear were made by her.
After Nan Quanyou had prepared dinner, he came out to look at Nan Feng again.
Nan Feng was still sitting under the eaves, working on her embroidery.
Upon closer inspection, Nan Quanyou praised, “Fengfeng, the sesame seed cake you’re embroidering looks great. Round and full, it looks so delicious. But, why is the sesame seed cake in pink?”
Only after a long pause did Nan Feng finally lift her head and looked at Nan Quanyou with a helpless expression, “Dad, I’m embroidering a peach blossom!”
“…” Nan Quanyou suddenly slapped his forehead, “Right, I left something cooking on the stove, need to check on it.”
Nan Feng put down her embroidery and made up her mind to go watch the opera at Da Ji Village tomorrow, and absolutely stop working on the embroidery!
…