Chapter 324: In Full Swing

Chapter 324: Chapter 324: In Full Swing

The sun was already setting by the time she left the village chief’s house.

When she returned home, Ji Mingfang and Dabao were still in the west room. This time, however, they weren’t reading or writing. Instead, they were cutting paper window decorations and "double happiness" symbols.

In the past, Ji Mingfang had no one to talk to or keep him company, so he’d entertain himself by tinkering with things. Paper cutting was one of those pastimes. By practicing over and over with rough paper, he’d actually gotten quite skilled.

With the wedding to prepare for, the spice business naturally had to be put on hold. And with so many people coming and going, the raw material and processing rooms in the backyard had to be locked up.

Widow Xie and Ji Xuelan were the main drivers of this effort. They had planned everything out after lunch, then led a group into town to do the shopping.

Ji Mingfang looked a little down, seeing that he couldn’t be of much help.

So Ji Huan told him she needed paper decorations to put up all over—inside and out, front and back—to add to the festive mood.

Ji Mingfang immediately said he’d take care of it.

There was still red paper left over from last year, so there was no need to buy more. He could start right away.

It shouldn’t have taken long, but unfortunately, Dabao took an interest.

At first, Dabao was practicing his calligraphy while Ji Mingfang quietly cut paper beside him.

The scissors snipped up, down, left, and right. SNIP, SNIP. A cut here, a cut there, and when unfolded, it revealed a beautiful, lifelike rendering of magpies on a branch.

Dabao’s brush paused.

He didn’t say a word, just kept staring intently at Ji Mingfang.

At first, Ji Mingfang thought he was just watching. But after being stared at for so long, he realized the boy might want to learn.

’The little scholar wants to learn, so of course, I have to teach him.’

Dabao was exceptionally talented at reading and writing, but when it came to paper cutting, he was no match for Ji Mingfang’s nimble fingers.

Their roles as teacher and student were suddenly reversed.

Dabao kept failing to get it right, and his brow furrowed in frustration.

But after all of Ji Huan’s patient counseling, he was just about able to control his temper.

Plus, Ji Mingfang was incredibly patient, demonstrating each step and guiding his hands, so Dabao slowly started to get the hang of it.

Seeing Ji Huan return, Dabao called out, "Sister!" and unfolded what was in his hand to show her.

Ji Huan stared at it for a good while but couldn’t figure out what it was supposed to be.

Ji Mingfang cleared his throat and pointed to the "magpies on a branch" he had cut earlier, which was lying on the table.

Ji Huan understood at once.

"Not bad, not bad! You’re really talented, Dabao!"

But Dabao wasn’t so easily fooled anymore.

He picked up the one Ji Mingfang had cut, placed them side by side, and asked Ji Huan, "Which one is better?"

’This kid... his competitive spirit is getting stronger and stronger.’

Ji Huan poked him on the forehead. "What have I told you before? You have to admit when other people are better at something."

Seeing Dabao’s mouth droop into a pout, Ji Huan gently rubbed his cheeks.

"Your cousin is amazing at this because he’s been practicing for years. You’re just starting out, so you can’t be too impatient, understand?"

Ji Mingfang quickly chimed in from the side, "For a beginner, cutting something like this is already incredible."

Ji Huan nodded. "Your cousin is a realist, and you’re an abstract artist. You each have your own style, and both are amazing."

Having received his praise, Dabao was satisfied. He lowered his head and went back to his cutting.

Ji Huan picked up some of his previous attempts and looked them over. His "double happiness" symbols were actually decent, but for some reason, he was dead set on mastering the "magpies on a branch."

’He probably feels that as the teacher, he can’t be outdone by his student.’

Ji Huan didn’t know whether to laugh or be exasperated.

’Dabao probably doesn’t even know what these decorations are for.’

’The decision was so rushed. I haven’t even had a chance to tell him he’s about to get a brother-in-law.’

’I’ll just tell him after the next couple of busy days.’

As dusk fell, the group that went shopping in town started to return.

They had left with several empty flatbed carts, and now each one returned piled high with goods.

After everything was unloaded in the courtyard, Ji Huan hurried them inside to rest and have a drink of water.

She was just about to ask where Widow Xie and Ji Xuelan had gotten to when Aunt Wang put down her empty bowl and spoke up.

"We bought pretty much everything we needed. A few shops were out of stock on some things, and we couldn’t afford to wait, so Old Xie took your cousin straight to the county seat by mule cart. You can find anything there. Shi Yong went with them too. He was worried they’d be coming back late, and it wouldn’t be safe for two women on their own."

’So that’s what happened.’

"I’ve really put you all through so much trouble."

Aunt Gao waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, don’t be a stranger."

Sixth Sister-in-law Feng and Second Sister-in-law Xu chimed in, "Exactly! No need to be so formal with us."

Ji Huan smiled and dropped the formalities.

The women only rested for a moment before getting busy again.

The groceries and supplies were all stacked in the kitchen and storeroom. The doors to the east wing were opened, and the floors were covered with clean oilcloths and sheets. Everyone took off their shoes before entering, ready to start rushing to make the wedding dress.

They had just finished taking Ji Huan’s measurements when Widow Xie and her group returned.

The hired mule cart had brought them right to Ji Huan’s door. After they unloaded the goods, the driver still had to make the return journey in the dark, so Widow Xie gave him a little extra money.

Normally, she would have been heartbroken over the expense, but this time, she didn’t even bat an eye.

Without even stopping to rest, Widow Xie went straight home and came back carrying two cotton quilt batts.

She had prepared them back when she was planning to arrange a marriage for Ximei, but then...

The quilt batts were carried into another room in the east wing. After rummaging through the pile of purchased goods for a while, Ji Xuelan found two duvet covers—both were bright red and made of satin, no less.

"We have enough quilts at home..."

"Those quilts are from before," Ji Xuelan cut in. "What bride gets married without proper wedding quilts?"

But Ji Huan remembered that when Ji Xuelan herself had gotten married, Granny Kang hadn’t given her a single wedding quilt.

From Ji Xuelan’s expression, she clearly remembered it too, but it no longer seemed to bother her much.

"We really should have made a few more sets, but there isn’t enough time. So we’ll just make two for now. You two newlyweds can make do..." Ji Xuelan said, giving Ji Huan a mischievous wink.

Ji Huan blanched.

’Her and Guan Shan, sharing a quilt... She quickly shook her head. The mere thought was unimaginable.’

And so it went. Aunt Wang, Sixth Sister-in-law Feng, and Aunt Gao cut fabric and made shoes in one room, while Widow Xie, Ji Xuelan, and Second Sister-in-law Xu stuffed the wedding quilts in the room next door.

Oil lamps were lit in both rooms. One wasn’t bright enough, so Widow Xie brought another one from her own house. The light was just barely adequate.

Everyone was bustling with activity, leaving only Ji Huan with nothing to do.

She wasn’t allowed to touch scissors, nor needle and thread. She couldn’t help even if she wanted to; they said it was bad luck for the bride to do such work.

Shuffled from one room to the next and back again, a helpless Ji Huan decided it was best to just stay out of their way.

When Widow Xie came back, she had made a special trip to the brick kiln to notify Hu Liang. He immediately took leave from work and returned with the group. He was now in the backyard with Shi Yong, busy building a temporary earthen stove.

That was a job she couldn’t help with even if she wanted to, so she tied on an apron and went into the kitchen to get started on dinner.

Seeing how hard everyone was working, she made a few extra dishes.

However, no matter how good the meal was, everyone was too preoccupied to savor it. They quickly shoveled down their food and returned to their posts, working late into the night. It was only after Ji Huan’s repeated urging that they finally went home to rest.

Dabao couldn’t stay awake and had fallen asleep long ago.

After washing up, Ji Huan collapsed onto her bed with a single thought—’Getting married is no job for a human!’