Chapter 37: The Peaceful Embroidery Ball
Chapter 37: The Peaceful Embroidery Ball
Sui Sui didn't know if she should accept this gift.
Instinctively, she glanced at Feng Xuanrui.
The peaceful embroidery ball was exquisitely crafted. It had a vibrant red cord as its base, adorned with golden rings, and at its center was a delicately crafted miniature of the ball itself, forming a small hanging ornament.
Feng Xuanrui had never heard of such an object.
But he thought that, at this moment, even if they were giving her a blade of grass, it would still be a blessing from an elder.
So, Feng Xuanrui nodded at Sui Sui.
Seeing this, Sui Sui pressed her lips together and smiled at the young madam, saying, "Thank you, beautiful auntie."
After the compliment, Sui Sui remembered how Rong Lin had always wanted a younger sister.
She thought that if he had a younger sister, he might not compete with her for Brother Rong Lin's attention anymore.
With these thoughts, Sui Sui turned to the young madam and said seriously, "Beautiful auntie, you will give Brother Rong Lin a younger sister, you definitely will!"
The simple and pure words of a child are the best at flattering people.
Moreover, for the young madam, being able to have another child was also a sincere blessing.
So, after hearing Sui Sui's words, the young madam's smile deepened as she caressed Sui Sui's hand, reluctant to part.
As they still had a long journey ahead, they didn't linger for too much longer.
Soon, Sui Sui boarded the carriage with Feng Xuanrui.
Rong Lin stood there, his heart breaking with each moment.
The little fatty's eyes were red with tears, and if it weren't for the servants holding him back, he would have wanted to climb into the carriage with them.
Sui Sui hadn't felt it so strongly before, but seeing Rong Lin like this, her heart also felt sore.
Her large eyes glistened with tears, and Feng Xuanrui, seeing this, felt his own eyes sting.
He waved at Rong Lin, saying, "Remember to write letters. If your handwriting turns ugly, I'll definitely make fun of you!"
Rong Lin had been ready to burst into loud sobs.
But upon hearing Feng Xuanrui's words, he instinctively retorted, "My handwriting is good! Grandfather taught me himself! It's you who writes too ugly!"
That competitive spirit was ignited in an instant!
Rong Lin wished he could have a handwriting competition with Feng Xuanrui right then and there to prove who wrote better.
After arguing with Feng Xuanrui, Rong Lin looked at the carriage, where Sui Sui was already seated and looking back at him. His eyes turned red again, and he waved frantically, "Sui Sui, remember to write letters!"
Hearing this, Sui Sui nodded obediently at first, then shook her head shyly, "But Brother Rong Lin, I can't read or write."
Sui Sui had struggled just to survive, let alone receive an education.
Moreover, in a peasant household, even the most favored child might not have the opportunity to learn.
So, literacy?
It was simply unrealistic.
Rong Lin obviously hadn't considered this, and upon hearing Sui Sui's words, he froze.
Seeing that he didn't respond, Sui Sui looked at Feng Xuanrui helplessly.
Feng Xuanrui didn't care what the little fatty was thinking. He took his sister's hand and stepped into the carriage, leaving Rong Lin with a graceful departing glance.
Feng Xuanrui thought: That little fatty is so annoying!
How dare he dream of receiving letters from my sister?
Hmph!
Impossible!
As if I'd let him!
It's already gracious enough for me to lower myself to write to him.
How dare he covet my sister's letters?
I haven't even gotten one from her yet!
Feng Xuanrui's heart twinged with jealousy as he entered the carriage, but he didn't forget to tell Sui Sui, "Brother's letters are enough. Sister doesn't need to worry about these things."
Then, remembering that Sui Sui couldn't read or write, he added, "It's alright if you can't read or write. When we return to the princely mansion, we'll go to the elementary school together, and you'll learn in no time!"
Elementary school?
"What is that place?"
Sui Sui felt that this strange place was sacred and noble. Was she... worthy?
Not wanting to worry her brother, Sui Sui suppressed her doubts and nodded obediently.
Outside the carriage, Sun Ronglin was crying his eyes out, shouting incessantly, "Sister, remember to write!""
"Sister, I have toys now. I'll have someone bring them to you!"
"Sister, come back to see me when you have time!"
...
The little fatty's voice resonated with such vigor.
Inside the carriage, Feng Xuanrui couldn't help but scoff, "Who does he think he is, blabbering on?"
"What sister? That's my sister he's talking about!"
...
Feng Xuanrui's mouth uttered cold, hard words, but his eyes couldn't help but moisten, and before long, he too was crying.
Feeling embarrassed, the young boy turned his head, but in his haste, he turned the wrong way, and was met with Sui Sui's equally reddened eyes.
Seeing her brother cry, Sui Sui's tears fell uncontrollably, her small voice quivering as she said, "Brother, I feel a little sad."
Parting is such a sorrowful affair.
Feng Xuanrui didn't want his sister to be sad, so he hastily wiped away his tears and tried to cheer her up. "Let's think about something else, then maybe you won't feel so sad."
Feng Xuanrui's suggestion of thinking about something else actually brought something to mind. "I heard that the puppets in Wenzhou are quite interesting. I didn't have the chance to see them when I came, but since we're not in a hurry on our way back, we can take a look."
Wenzhou was adjacent to Qingzhou, and their return trip to the capital would take them right through it.
Sui Sui didn't know where Wenzhou was.
But puppets? That sounded intriguing, and children's attention was easily captured by such things.
So, Sui Sui quickly put aside her sorrowful feelings and discussed puppets with Feng Xuanrui.
By the time their discussion on puppets drew to a close, the little fatty's cries had faded into the distance.
Feng Xuanrui pricked up his ears to listen, and at that moment, he could no longer hear Sun Ronglin's cries.
This made him sigh softly with a tinge of sadness, "Ah..."
Leaving the capital, Feng Xuanrui hadn't felt this sad or tearful about parting with his playmates.
Perhaps it was because, subconsciously, he knew that he would be returning soon, and they would meet again.
But with Qingzhou, Feng Xuanrui didn't know when he would be back next, so the sadness and melancholy seemed to double involuntarily.
Hearing her brother sigh, Sui Sui asked in confusion, "What's wrong, brother?"
Children are forgetful, and at that moment, Sui Sui had already forgotten the sadness that parting brought.
Feng Xuanrui didn't want to upset his sister, so he shook his head nonchalantly and then picked up the peaceful embroidery ball that was hanging in front of Sui Sui, examining it carefully.
At that moment, the system was also explaining to Sui Sui what the peaceful embroidery ball was.
【The peaceful embroidery ball is a type of handicraft from Jinzhou.】
【The entire embroidery ball is made up of twelve flowers, braided and stitched together, symbolizing peace and harmony with family for all twelve months of the year.】
【In Jinzhou, it is often a token of love between young men and women.】
【However, when given by elders, it represents beautiful blessings.】
As it was a local handicraft from Jinzhou, Feng Xuanrui hadn't seen it before.
Now that he took a closer look, he nodded gently, "This looks quite intricate and well-crafted."
(End of Chapter)
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