Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 255: As Elusive as Mist

Wen’s mother, who was very strong, was full of anticipation for the yangge dance competition. Every morning after breakfast, she would stroll to the brigade office to practice with Big Mouth and others.

Also practicing were the yangge dance team and those performing with giant-headed dolls.

The brigade office was bustling with excitement every day, drums and gongs resounding through the air.

The neighboring brigades were equally lively.

That day, Qin Jiu finished his homework and could hardly sit still, as if there were pins on his seat. Using the excuse of needing the bathroom or because it was too hot indoors and needing some fresh air, he would run out to look in the direction of the brigade office.

Seeing him stand up once again, looking as though he was about to head out, Yi Chichi lifted her head from the embroidery rack and glanced over.

"Going to pee again?!"

Qin Jiu, foot poised to step outside, froze, and turned around like a robot.

The moment their eyes met, he saw the understanding in Yi Chichi’s eyes and immediately felt guilty, lowering his head. He quickly lifted it again, gazing at her intently.

"Auntie, I want to go out and play."

Yi Chichi remained expressionless, "You haven’t practiced your writing yet."

Qin Jiu looked at the paper and pen on the table, then considered the pages he needed to practice every day, and felt utterly dejected.

By the time he finished practicing, grandma and the others would have finished their practice and returned.

"Auntie, can we make a deal?"

He came closer, placing his small hand on her knee, looking up at her like a little kitten.

Qin Jiu was a very handsome child. When he first arrived, because of the trauma he had suffered, he wore tattered clothes and looked thin, making him seem just ordinary.

Now that he was attending school, no one bullied him. Although his great-grandfather had to work, life was stable, and Yi Chichi protected and cared for them. Qin Jiu no longer felt anxious or scared; instead, he became lively and cheerful.

He had a certain energy, a drive to work hard and succeed so that he could take good care of his great-grandfather and aunt when he grew up.

With his spirits high, the boundless vitality inherent in children came to the fore, making his delicate and handsome face seem to glow.

Everyone who saw him liked him.

Yi Chichi couldn’t resist the little charmer’s appeal.

"What do you want to say?"

"Can I play first and then come back to practice writing?"

"Alright..."

Qin Jiu’s heart leaped with joy, and a slow grin spread across his face, but Yi Chichi added, "But you have to practice two extra pages of calligraphy."

The smile froze on his face.

"Auntie..."

"No haggling."

Yi Chichi was firm, and the child let out a huge sigh, "Alright, auntie, I’ll write when I come back."

"Okay, go play then."

She waved her hand, and with a cheer, Qin Jiu dashed outside, only to be called back by her.

"Come back."

Qin Jiu spun around, anxious, "Auntie, you promised me."

"I’m not going back on my word."

Pointing to the thick cotton coat on the kang bed, she reminded him helplessly, "Put on the coat, and wear your hat, scarf, and gloves. Getting chilblains isn’t fun; it’s downright uncomfortable."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Qin Jiu shouted his thanks, then joyfully put on his coat, scarf, and gloves, saying goodbye to Yi Chichi before prancing off.

The door curtain hid his cheerful silhouette, and Yi Chichi, who had been listening with ears pricked, returned to her diligent work after his footsteps faded.

At two in the afternoon, she stood up and stretched, made herself a cup of wild chrysanthemum tea, but before she could drink it, a familiar voice came from outside.

"Chichi, I’ve come to see you."

It was Liu Lan’s voice. Yi Chichi was so startled that she nearly jumped out of her skin, set down the cup, and rushed out as if on fire. My goodness, how could Grandpa Liu let Liu Lan out in this weather?

"Why did you come?"

Liu Lan wasn’t alone; Second Brother Liu from the Liu Family had brought her.

Even with that, Yi Chichi was quite shocked. Twins, more than four months along, if she fell on these icy, snowy roads, it’d scare someone to death.

"I’ve completed my embroidery."

She announced joyfully. Yi Chichi thought it must be something significant but hearing this, she nodded at Second Brother Liu in greeting while supporting Liu Lan to walk inside, "So you’ve finished your embroidery, huh? It’s not like it’s urgent."

"I want to make another one."

Yi Chichi was left speechless by her statement.

Do another one...?

"Did you forget you’re pregnant?"

A pregnant woman with twins, actually, waiting until the babies were born would still be in time.

"Lan, you need to understand something: there’s no end to earning money."

She advised earnestly, "Be good and focus on eating well and sleeping well, and wait for the babies to be born. Don’t focus only on making money."

With money and coupons being sent by her husband, there’s no need to be this diligent.

Liu Lan didn’t agree, she insisted, "I know I have babies, and I care about them very much, but that doesn’t mean I should become useless."

Understanding Yi Chichi’s concerns, she reassured her, "Don’t worry, I’ve remembered your advice to protect my eyes well. I do it intermittently for two or three hours a day, and my mom keeps an eye on me."

Earning money is important, but her eyesight and the babies in her belly are more important.

"I know my limits."

Yi Chichi glanced at Second Brother Liu, who looked exasperated, saying, "You might as well let her do as she wants. Otherwise, she just can’t sit still or lie still at home, it’s like she has thorns on her body and has to keep moving around."

She finished the embroidery work a few days ago, originally thought she’d take a break until his niece and nephew were born, then consider more work.

Unexpectedly, she wouldn’t rest for a moment, waking up wanting to find Chichi, being stopped until now, but they just couldn’t keep her any longer.

Yi Chichi took a deep breath, settled the siblings on the seats, and after making tea for them, extended her hand, "Let me have a look."

"Here you go."

Liu Lan quickly set down her teacup, reached into her military coat, and took out the rolled embroidery to hand to her.

Yi Chichi received it, laid it on the kang table, unwrapped the outer cloth, and then unfolded the embroidery, holding it by the corner to examine it.

It was an embroidery featuring rocks and wildflowers, with scattered stones and vibrant, flourishing wildflowers, breathing a fierce vitality throughout the entire piece.

It perfectly showcased the theme of life.

Seeing her eyes light up with wonder, Liu Lan, whose gaze had been fixed on Yi Chichi’s face, breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Chichi’s expression, she knew her embroidery was a success.

"How is it?"

"Fantastic!"

Even more spirited than the ’Spring Bunting’ piece, the embroidery skills had made a huge leap.

Yi Chichi smiled as she re-rolled the embroidery and wrapped it in cloth, then took out a pattern Liu Lan had previously found too complex even with the reference illustrations to attempt.

"This time, I think you might be confident enough to try it."

Liu Lan’s smile froze, staring blankly at the embroidery pattern Yi Chichi handed over and hesitated for two seconds before asking, "Is this the ’Moonlight’ piece from before?"

Yi Chichi nodded, affirming.

"Yes, it’s ’Moonlight.’

"No, no, no, I really can’t do this."

She waved her hands quickly, "Moonlight feels too difficult; it’s like mist I can’t grasp. I’m afraid I’ll ruin this pattern."

And she feared wasting the silk and silk thread, both costly and hard to come by.