Chapter 344: Making Down Jackets
“Aren’t you afraid Grandma will scold you?” Wen Di said helplessly.
Wen Yao wasn’t afraid in the slightest. Besides, she had found something for the old lady to do during this period, so for the time being, she certainly wouldn’t have time to bother with her.
“How is it? Can you remember what the tutor taught?” Wen Yao changed the subject appropriately.
Wen Di blushed and nodded: “I can understand some of it, and I ask Tutor Su when there’s anything I don’t understand. Tutor Su also said… also said…”
Wen Yao leaned close: “What else did she say? Did she praise you? Did she say our Wen Di is beautiful, smart, and exceptionally quick on the uptake? Hahaha…”
Hearing this, Wen Di’s face turned bright red in a flash, like a cooked duck, as she lunged straight at Wen Yao: “You dead girl, what nonsense are you talking…”
Wen Yao dodged left and right, tickled by Wen Di until she giggled uncontrollably: “I’m just teasing you, teasing you… I was wrong, Sister, I was wrong!”
Only then did Wen Di let her off, but her face remained thoroughly flushed as she spoke in a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz: “Tutor Su said I have good talent, just that I started learning a bit late. But it doesn’t matter; starting late just means putting more effort into practicing—study diligently and practice hard.”
With a mischievous hand, Wen Yao reached out and plucked a string. A crisp note echoed out—though lacking a rhythm, it sounded quite pleasant. Withdrawing her hand, Wen Yao said, “Even so, you can’t push yourself too hard. Everything needs a balance; going too far is just as bad as not going far enough. Come, let’s go out for a walk. Grandma, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt are researching how to make down jackets over there. Let’s head to that room; it’s warm in there.”
Wen Yao led Wen Di back to the room, where Wen Di joined the discussion as well. Having nothing to do, Wen Yao pulled out her charcoal pencil and small booklet off to the side, scribbling and drawing.
Wen Di leaned over to take a look and asked out of curiosity, “What are you drawing here? Is this a garment?”
Wen Di’s exclamation of “garment” instantly drew the eyes of the others. Old Madam Luo and the rest gathered around to look at the clothing drawn by Wen Yao. It was indeed a garment, yet it seemed somewhat different from what they usually made; it looked quite boxy and rectangular.
What Wen Yao had drawn was actually the style of thin down jacket worn as an inner layer in modern times. Boxy and without much shaping, its strength lay in fitting close to the body. Those who wanted a better look could wear it underneath, so it could keep one warm without looking so puffy. The down jackets she had bought from her spatial storage for their family of four previously were precisely that kind.
“A garment! Grandma, if we make these down jackets and down pants close-fitting like this to wear inside, wouldn’t it be much more convenient? This way, they don’t need to be made so thick to achieve a warming effect,” Wen Yao said.
Holding the drawing she made, Old Madam Luo nodded: “Makes sense. Then we’ll make them according to this style Yao Yao drew—one set for everyone at home, and the remaining duck down will be used for quilts.”
Old Madam Luo set the matter in stone, and no one dared to step forward in objection.
Wen Yao rubbed against the old lady’s shoulder like a kitten.
Several oil lamps burned in the room, illuminating it brightly while keeping it cozy and warm. Lacking skills in sewing and mending, Wen Yao helped them test the fabrics one by one to see which type wouldn’t let the down leak out.
On the other side, the hour-long session of homework following dinner came to an end as well. Qiu Zhi inspected the schoolwork of the boys one by one, nodding repeatedly.
He had taught these boys from the very beginning, so naturally he knew their levels clearly. What surprised him was that this Fan Ziyi was actually quite decent, possessing a bit of a natural gift for studying; given time, he would surely achieve good results.
“A good foundation. Tomorrow, go to the academy to attend school together with Datou and the rest. Study hard; given time, you will surely become a great talent,” Qiu Zhi said.
“Whoa.” A few quiet gasps sounded.
Datou showed no reaction, obediently packing his things away. Every brush and every sheet of paper had to be arranged impeccably neat, and the table had to be wiped until not a speck of ink could be seen. He then arranged his items neatly, looking left and right until he nodded in satisfaction.
The other boys, however, couldn’t sit still like this. Hearing Qiu Zhi praise Fan Ziyi, their expressions turned exaggerated, and all crowded over to Fan Ziyi’s side.
“You’re way too amazing! You just arrived and got praised by the master!”
Bearing a bright red face, Fan Ziyi bowed respectfully to Qiu Zhi: “Thank you for the praise, Master. Ziyi will surely not fail the Master’s trust.”
Fan Ziyi blushed not merely because the other young masters praised him, but mostly out of excitement. He had never expected that the legendary Grand Academician residing in seclusion in Yunwu Town was actually at the Wen family—and had even offered guidance on his schoolwork!
How could this not excite him? Even while writing his essay earlier, his hands were trembling; he had forcibly suppressed his nerves to calm down before handing the essay over for the master to read, or else he would have surely lost face before the master.
Class was dismissed, and Qiu Zhi wouldn’t hold them back, letting them disperse. At his advanced age, he prepared to return to his room to read some books and rest.
“Rest well, Master.” The boys hurriedly stopped messing around, offering bows in unison.
The moment Qiu Zhi departed, the boys resumed laughing, chatting, and fooling around again, yet none dared touch the items on Datou’s table.
“Let’s go, let’s go. Time to go back, wash up, and sleep. Master is back, so we have to wake up early tomorrow to practice martial arts.” Wen Fa hooked an arm around Wen Jin’s neck and walked out.
Xie Anyi wore a face full of sorrow: “Master is back, so we can’t slack off anymore.”
Jin Xiuyi: “Sigh.“
Fan Ziyi was full of curiosity: “The practicing martial arts you mentioned is…?”
The several stopped and looked toward him.
Though young, Datou was the most composed among them, speaking up: “Apart from going to school and attending classes with my adoptive father, we also have to follow Master to practice martial arts, waking up at the mao hour every day to practice.”
Fan Ziyi’s eyes lit up. As a young lad, he ultimately harbored a yearning toward martial arts.
“Can… can I join?”
“Sure! As long as you aren’t afraid of hardship.” Releasing Wen Jin, Wen Fa hooked his arm around Fan Ziyi’s neck instead, saying with a smile, “Once you start, you can’t quit, though—Master really beats people!”
Fan Ziyi was two years older than Wen Fa, yet stood at the exact same height, lacking even Wen Fa’s sturdy build. Hooked like this, he couldn’t even budge.
At this moment, Fan Ziyi realized that studying alone wasn’t enough; one also had to strengthen the body, or else if the body couldn’t keep up, studying no matter how many books would be useless.
He nodded repeatedly: “I’m not afraid.”
“Alright then, we’ll come call you at the mao hour tomorrow.” With that, he hooked his arm around him and walked outside. The others followed as well; a crowd of young lads chatted and played, dispersing quickly toward various corners of the Wen family estate.
Parting ways with them, Fan Ziyi couldn’t wait, running toward their family’s lodging with swift steps and an excited expression. Pushing the door open before he even stood steady, he spoke up excitedly first:
“Father, Mother, guess who I ran into!
“Grand Academician Qiu—the very Grand Academician Qiu residing in seclusion in Yunwu Town whom our teacher mentioned!
“He… he offered guidance on my schoolwork today! He even praised me for studying well!”
Three consecutive excited sentences undoubtedly expressed Fan Ziyi’s immense thrill.
Once Fan Cheng reacted, his face flushed with excitement as well, yet Su Shilan sat there stiffly, looking toward Fan Ziyi in utter disbelief.
Having been married to Fan Cheng for so long, Fan Ziyi had always called her Mother, saying it was the rule. Yet today, he had actually called her Mom.
