An Jing held a grass-woven dragonfly in one hand and a grass-woven grasshopper in the other. Hearing Xiao Changyi ask if she liked them, An Jing immediately replied, "Like them! Of course, I like them! Whatever you make, I’ll like it!"
Looking at the grass-woven dragonfly and grasshopper in her hands again with joy, An Jing grew even more interested. "My husband, could you teach me how to weave, especially this grasshopper? It’s so lifelike, just like the real thing."
"Sure," Xiao Changyi said, his cold eyes softening, his voice gentle.
A faint smile still lingered on his lips.
Then, Xiao Changyi handed An Jing a blade of grass.
It was only after An Jing took it that Xiao Changyi began to teach her how to weave the grasshopper with special patience.
This being An Jing’s first time, her hands were clumsy, and she just couldn’t get it right.
She even started to mutter to herself while weaving, "I’m following exactly what you taught, so why does it look less and less like it should..."
When she finished, it really didn’t look right, and An Jing found it amusing. "So much for ’a great teacher produces outstanding students.’ My husband, look at this outstanding student’s work, I don’t even know what it resembles anymore?"
As she spoke, An Jing shook the indecipherable object she had just finished weaving.
Xiao Changyi said, "It’s when you weave for the first time, not smooth."
An Jing immediately responded, "What about your first time? How did it go?"
"Not good either," he replied.
"How not good?" she pressed.
Seeing An Jing’s persistence, Xiao Changyi seemed worried about hurting her feelings, but he didn’t want to lie to her either, so he looked at her uncomfortably, amusing her even more.
"Why are you looking at me with those eyes? Even if you did really well the first time, I won’t feel inferior. I’m just curious. I think you’re too talented," she teased.
Only then did Xiao Changyi give the plain truth: "When I first tried to weave, aside from being unskilled, the thing I made was almost identical to the grasshopper I gave you just now."
An Jing pretended to be hugely struck by his words.
Xiao Changyi immediately panicked, "Jing Er, Jing Er, I’m kidding you. Actually, the first thing I wove was really ugly, even uglier than yours."
"Hahaha..." An Jing burst into laughter. "I’m the one tricking you! But truly, my husband, you are a highly talented person! I doubt there are many out there who could compare to you. Of course, whether there’s anyone who can match you or not, you are the best in my heart."
Xiao Changyi first let out a small sigh of relief and then, with a low chuckle, asked, "So, do you still want to learn?"
"Learn? Of course, I’ll learn! I must master this grasshopper today! Come on, teach me again, I feel like my hands really aren’t cooperating, I’m doing the same wrapping, but it’s just so clumsy, I can’t achieve the result I want."
"Don’t worry, it’ll look like it after a few more tries," Xiao Changyi said, patiently guiding An Jing once more, this time taking her hand and showing her every step.
"Mm," An Jing nodded, focusing intently on learning.
She understood the steps, but the results were disappointing.
However, after several more attempts, it started to look increasingly accurate.
But in the end, although the grasshopper she wove looked quite like a real one, it still couldn’t compare to the lively grasshopper Xiao Changyi had made. Nevertheless, An Jing was very satisfied.
After weaving two more for fun, An Jing stopped and lay down on the chaise lounge to the side.
Lying down felt much more comfortable after sitting for too long.
Xiao Changyi didn’t continue to weave either. Instead, he went into the house and brought out some peanuts and sunflower seeds on a plate, along with two cups of tea, and placed them on the empty stool next to An Jing.