Ally finished her bath.
"Co here, Grandma will dress up our Ally all pretty and beautiful."
After dressing up, Ally opened the door and walked out. Li Zhiyuan stood up, left his friends, and went with Ally to the upstairs room to paint.
Aunt Liu brought a trunk into the east room, and after opening it, inside were all of Ally’s new clothes.
Craftsn never starve even in lean years; regardless of how the youth chase after perming and dyeing their hair, embrace Western styles, or keep long bangs that cover their eyes.
In the eyes of the older generation, it’s just like children being naive and playing around. Those tailors with heritage still live well and aren’t short of business, after all, ordinary people can’t afford their craftsmanship.
"It used to be more convenient. We’d have our own family shop make our seasonal clothing changes. I really miss those familiar needles that understood a few words of direction; who needs the hassle now, having to design the patterns myself every ti?"
Aunt Liu laughed, "Isn’t that one of your pleasures?"
"Heh heh."
"Besides, if you wanted to keep it up, it’s not like you couldn’t afford it now."
Liu Yui turned her head to glance at the rows of ancestral tablets on the altar and sighed:
"It’s not about whether I can afford it or not, it’s that there aren’t that many people left to wear them."
"I misspoke again."
"It’s okay, sort through the clothes, check the stitches to see if there’s a need for alterations."
"But this one... doesn’t seem to be for Ally?"
Aunt Liu drew out a set from within, which had flying fish embroidered on it, and the overall color was dark but the style was very dignified.
"This is for Xiao Yuan."
"He’s really lucky to have you tailor clothes for him. I can see you’ve really put effort into major alterations."
"He is, after all, the Liu family’s pre-arranged future apprentice. Making a set of clothes for him is nothing special."
"You just won’t admit to what you really feel."
"I really have no other intentions. No matter what, you can’t simply accept a suitor from beyond the seas. Our family may be in decline, but we still have our pride; we cannot simply give away our family na for nothing."
"Forgive for speaking out of turn again, don’t be angry. It’s not up to you to decide on this matter, it’s for Ally to say. These two kids are childhood friends after all."
"If ending up together were as simple as being childhood sweethearts, then I wouldn’t have married Ally’s grandfather."
Saying that, Liu Yui suddenly rembered her own childhood sweetheart.
He had always been infatuated with her and even presented a generous gift at the birthday party of Miss Liu of the Liu family, hinting at a marriage proposal.
Yet, that very night, he was bagged and thrown by Ally’s grandfather into the cesspool of the kiln.
This incident was only revealed by the old man when he got drunk after they were married.
The old man had said arrogantly, "If that guy wants to eat shit, let him have his fill."
At that ti, it seed she wasn’t just not angry about her childhood sweetheart’s plight but was actually laughing "hee-hee-hee" at his side.
Liu Yui waved her hand: "Take the clothes to the kid, let him try them on."
"Okay."
Aunt Liu, noticing that Liu Yui’s mood had suddenly dropped, took the clothes and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Liu Yui walked slowly to the family shrine and picked up the new ancestral tablet belonging to her man.
"Old man, old man, you shouldn’t have treated so well back then, leaving trapped forever in mories I cannot escape."
...
Tomorrow is the day to set out.
After lunch, Li Sanjiang called Li Zhiyuan into the room and took out a blue cloth bundle from the drawer, which, when opened, contained crisp new banknotes.
"The saying goes: ’A poor family needs a wealthy journey.’ When you travel far, you must take enough money."
"Grandmaster, Brother Liangliang said he’d cover everything, he has money."
"That can’t be the sa, using other people’s money ans you have to look to them."
"I have money here too."
"The Chasing the Distance Secret Scroll" sold really well at school and, after his provincial competition results ca out, other schools from the city also ca to purchase.
"Your money is your money, it’s different."
"Thank you, Grandmaster." Li Zhiyuan accepted the money.
"Be careful after you go out, be cautious in everything. The world may be at peace, but the roads may not be."
"Mm, Brother Runsheng and Brother Binbin are with , I’m not afraid."
"Run Sheng might be okay, Zhuangzhuang not so much, unless he steals his dad’s issued gun."
"Grandmaster..."
"Ha ha, just kidding. How could such a thing happen? Your grandparents will join us for dinner later."
"Mm, I know."
After leaving the Grandmaster’s room, Li Zhiyuan handed over the money given by the Grandmaster to Tan Wenbin, including the share from the exercise books, also left in Binbin’s care.
He was not used to carrying money himself; he felt good having soone manage it for him.
Tan Wenbin sighed several tis, "Brother Xiao Yuan, aren’t you afraid I would take the money and run away?"
On the balcony upstairs, Cui Cui was playing Connect Five with Alii.
By now, regarding those she was relatively close to, Alii was already able to accept them—at least, when they were near, she could restrain herself.
Cui Cui waved her hand and called out, "Brother Yuanhou, Sister A Li is too good at chess, I can’t win against her."
"That’s for sure; I can’t win against Alii either."
Li Zhiyuan entered his own room, Alii stood up and followed him in.
Since he was going to be away from ho for a while, Li Zhiyuan rolled up all the paintings that were originally hanging on the walls.
As he did this, Alii kept her eyes fixated on his every move.
After Li Zhiyuan had packed up all the scrolls, he said:
"Let’s go, we’ll put it in your collection box."
The girl’s eyes imdiately lit up.
Once they arrived in the east room, Alii’s collection box was already on its third one—the first was filled entirely with Jianlibao.
Just after getting things arranged, Li Sanjiang’s voice ca from outside: "Little Yuanhou, it’s ti to take photos."
"Coming."
Stepping out of the east room, he saw that the photographer from the town’s photo studio had been invited over by the Grandmaster, while Li Weihan and Cui Guiying had also changed into decent new clothes, clearly notified earlier about the photo session.
Now, the photographer was taking individual pictures of them, with many demands, and the elderly didn’t show the slightest impatience, constantly adjusting their poses as per the photographer’s instructions.
The elderly took these photos very seriously, never sure if they might be used for their own portraits posthumously.
Furthermore, photos taken before one’s death often looked too grim; everyone hoped to capture so spirit while they were healthy.
Aunt Liu reminded him, "Xiao Yuan, go change into the set of clothes Grandma Liu gave you. We should take one together, too."
"Alright."
Li Zhiyuan didn’t refuse, ran back to his room to change, and put on the clothes, which were very similar to the style Alii often wore, made of very fine and comfortable material.
The only downside was that it was a bit complicated to put on, with many buttons to fasten.
After he was dressed and ca down, he found everyone was waiting for him.
The main subject for the photo was Li Zhiyuan—first, it was him and Li Sanjiang, then with Li Weihan and Cui Guiying, and after that Li Sanjiang got back in the photo, three elders one child, one picture was taken.
The next stage was for the younger generation.
Li Zhiyuan and Alii stood close together, while Run Sheng, Tan Wenbin, and Xue Liangliang kept a bit of distance from Alii as they joined the fra.
Cui Cui watched the activity happily from the side.
Li Zhiyuan beckoned and called out to her, "Cui Cui, co join the photo."
Cui Cui was happier now, shy but without hesitation, and quickly ca over.
A group photo of the young people was thus produced.
Liu Yui also changed into a new outfit and ca out, saying, "Co on, take one of too."
She sat in the chair where she usually drank tea, Aunt Liu stood behind her, and Alii stood in front of her to the left.
The photographer advised Li Zhiyuan, "There’s still an empty spot there, hurry up."
To him, the attire of the girl and Liu Yui matched that of the boy.
Li Zhiyuan hesitated; after all, it was their family photo, and it wasn’t appropriate to join hastily.
Liu Yui nodded at him, signaling him to co over.
Only then did Li Zhiyuan approach, standing on the front left and right side of Liu Yui, with Liu Yui’s hands on the shoulders of the boy and the girl.
She posed with dignity, her expression regal, and in her eyes, flowed an effortless subtle pride.
The photographer’s hands were trembling, and after pressing the shutter, he let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, inwardly exclaiming it odd that he’d never been so nervous even when photographing the town leaders.
After the photo, Li Zhiyuan was ready to leave, holding Alii’s hand.
But although Alii still held his hand, she didn’t move.
Liu Yui saw her granddaughter’s intentions and smiled, "Co on, you two take one together."
She and Aunt Liu stepped aside.
The photographer directed, "Co on, get closer, a bit closer, heads a bit nearer, yes, just like that, that’s good, both kids are really beautiful, living so long, it’s rare to see a real pair of golden boy and jade girl outside of New Year paintings, hehe."
Li Zhiyuan and Alii stood close together.
"Ready, going to take it now, three, two, one!"
"Click!"
The instant the shutter was pressed,
the girl’s head leaned against the boy’s shoulder.
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