Chapter 391: Making Lanterns for Mid-Autumn

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Wu Yaqing looked over with envy in her eyes, “Qingzhi, could you make one for me?” She had been struggling for a while but hadn’t managed to make one, feeling quite frustrated.

Chu Qingzhi took the bamboo strips from Wu Yaqing’s hands and asked her, “What would you like to make?”

Wu Yaqing eagerly replied, “I’d like a little rabbit.”

The bamboo strips seemed to come alive in Chu Qingzhi’s hands. She bent, folded, tied, and applied paper and paint, and soon, a lifelike little rabbit lantern was ready.

Chu Qingzhi handed the rabbit lantern to Wu Yaqing, “How’s this?”

“It’s wonderful,” Wu Yaqing said joyfully. “Qingzhi, can you teach me? 1 want to make a couple for my mother. She’s never had such an interesting Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Chu Qingzhi agreed with a smile, “Of course.”

Everyone gathered around to learn from Chu Qingzhi…

Grandpa Chu smiled as he worked, planning to make a ‘Wanfu’ lantern and later a lotus lantern for Granny Chu, her favorite.

Chu Rong glanced at the children. Did they not like the lanterns he made? Why weren’t they learning from him?

After watching Chu Qingzhi make one, Chu Xuhua went back to his seat to start making his own.

What should he make?

His gaze swept over Shen Ruyue…

He had an idea.

Chu Xuhua’s craftsmanship was decent. He picked up a bamboo strip and slowly fashioned it into a frame. After pasting paper and painting it red, a moon-shaped lantern was formed.

He handed the red moon lantern to Shen Ruyue, saying shyly, “Ruyue, this lantern is for you.”

Shen Ruyue looked at the red moon lantern and smiled sweetly, whispering, “Xuhua, thank you.”

Chu Xuhua felt a sweet warmth in his heart. “As long as you like it.”

Seeing his elder brother make a lantern for Shen Ruyue, Chu Xujin also decided to make one for Ge Lihua. After watching Chu Qingzhi’s technique, he returned to his seat to start making his lantern.

His craftsmanship wasn’t as good as Chu Xuhua’s, and he even broke the bamboo strip twice in his clumsy attempts, feeling somewhat disheartened.

Ge Lihua, quick-witted and a fast learner, soon made a yellow pear lantern.

She made this lantern to commemorate her family.

Chu Xujin, seeing Ge Lihua make her own lantern, felt even more disheartened, and a sense of frustration began to build.

He was inferior to Lihua in many ways, and now he couldn’t even make a lantern for her. What use was he?

Then he started to get angry with himself…

While everyone was busy making lanterns, no one noticed his mood.

Jiang Zhaoyong, quite self-absorbed and direct, was sitting next to Chu Qingning. Seeing her preparing to make a lantern, he snatched the bamboo strip from her, “Your hands are delicate, don’t hurt them. Just tell me what kind of lantern you want, and 1’11 make it for you.”

His boastful words drew everyone’s attention.

Chu Qingning, feeling embarrassed but also pleased, said, “I want a palace lantern.”

Jiang Zhaoyong was about to start when he suddenly stopped, “1 haven’t seen what a palace lantern looks like.”

Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao, who held grudges against Jiang Zhaoyong, saw this as an opportunity to belittle Jiang Zhaoyong.

Chu Xuyuan mocked, “Big talk is cheap, now you can’t make it, right?”

Chu Xuyao followed up, “Acting all capable. Turns out, you are just boasting. Can’t even make a single lantern.”

Grandpa Chu and Chu Rong nudged them, indicating to them to stop.

Both boys huffed and looked provocatively at Jiang Zhaoyong, as if to say, “You can’t make it.”

Jiang Zhaoyong, cheerful and unbothered, turned to Chu Qingning with a smile, “I can’t make that one. Can you choose a simpler one?”

Chu Qingning was a bit disappointed, “Then make one you can.”

Jiang Zhaoyong, not wanting to disappoint her, thought for a moment and said, “How about this? 1’11 go to the county city to buy one for you.”

Everyone looked at him, thinking this was a decent solution.

Chu Qingning was surprised by Jiang Zhaoyong’s decision, feeling a small stir in her heart. Seeing him about to leave, she quickly stopped him, “Sit down!”

Jiang Zhaoyong, not quite understanding her intent, asked, “Qingning, what’s wrong?”

Chu Qingning thought to herself, it’s just a lantern, why make someone run a trip for it? It’s not a necessity, “Just make a normal one, a round one.”

Jiang Zhaoyong disagreed, “That’s too ordinary. No, 1 have to make something special for you.”

Chu Qingning didn’t know what to say.

Hearing Jiang Zhaoyong’s words, Grandpa Chu and Chu Rong finally realized something was amiss. This boy was here for their Fourth Daughter.

The two elders looked at Chu Qingning again. She seemed not to dislike Jiang Zhaoyong.

Did their Fourth Daughter know that Jiang Zhaoyong liked her?

Ah, they had been worrying about their Fourth Daughter’s marriage, and now someone suitable had been delivered to their doorstep. Zhaoyong was diligent, not afraid of hard work, had a government job, was good to Qingning, and was handsome. Not bad at all.

The elders gave their high approval.

Jiang Zhaoyong, unaware that he had already won the favor of the elders, would have been even more pleased if he knew.

Chu Qingning became curious and expectant, “Then what do you plan to make?”

Jiang Zhaoyong turned to Chu Qingning, looked at her for a while, and said, “I’ll make a flower lantern for you, based on the flower pattern of the hairpin you’re wearing.” It was a plum flower.

Chu Qingning smiled, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Jiang Zhaoyong confidently said, “Don’t worry, 1 won’t disappoint you this time.”

Chu Qingyue, sitting next to Chu Qingzhi, whispered, “Fifth Sister, I want to make a lantern to pray for blessings for Yuting tonight. What should 1 make?”

Chu Qingzhi immediately had a good idea, “A koi fish.”

Chu Qingyue’s eyes lit up, “Koi fish, that’s a great idea.” Saying so, she began making one.

Chu Qingzhi couldn’t help thinking of Tang Jinghong. What was he doing?

Thinking of Tang Jinghong, she picked up a bamboo strip and started making a lantern to give to Jinghong.

Chu Qingshuang sat on the other side of Chu Qingzhi, making a tangerine lantern, her favorite fruit.

Chu Xuyuan, Chu Qingyan, and Chu Xuyao were toying with the bamboo strips, still unclear what they were going to make.

At this moment, Ge Lihua finally noticed something was wrong with Chu Xujin. She asked, “Xujin, what’s wrong?”

Seeing Ge Lihua speak to him, Chu Xujin’s frustration vanished instantly, “I was just thinking about what to make.”

Ge Lihua asked with concern, “Have you decided yet?”

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