Chapter 61 – A Little Time Together
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The courtyard was now filled with a livelier atmosphere. Dong Hai and Wei Fan remained seated together, surrounded by Wei Fan’s collection of wooden toys.
By now, Dong Hai was no longer as reserved as before. He sat beside Wei Fan, listening as the other boy excitedly explained the purpose of each toy.
"Look! This one is my favorite."
Wei Fan proudly held up a small wooden figure.
Dong Hai leaned closer.
"What is it?"
"It’s a general."
Dong Hai examined it carefully.
"It looks like a rabbit."
Wei Fan’s mouth dropped open.
"It’s not a rabbit!"
Dong Hai looked at the figure again.
"It has long ears."
"They’re not ears! They’re the helmet!"
Dong Hai stared at him for a moment.
Then a tiny smile appeared on his lips.
"Oh."
Wei Fan puffed out his cheeks.
"You don’t know anything."
Dong Hai calmly nodded.
"I don’t."
Wei Fan paused.
He had expected Dong Hai to argue.
Instead, the serious little boy had simply admitted it.
Wei Fan couldn’t help laughing.
"Then I’ll teach you!"
Dong Hai nodded.
"Okay."
The two boys quickly returned to their game, their conversation becoming more natural with every passing moment.
Not far away, Han Yan watched them quietly.
Dong Hai had been hesitant when they first arrived, but now he was sitting beside Wei Fan without constantly looking toward him for reassurance.
A faint smile appeared on Han Yan’s face.
It seemed his little one was doing just fine.
After watching them for a while, Han Yan finally turned toward Lin Xin.
"Xin’ger, let’s get going. We still have somewhere else to go today."
Lin Xin, who had been enjoying his tea while watching the children, lifted his emerald-green eyes in surprise.
"Really? You’re already leaving?"
Liu De looked slightly disappointed.
"You barely had your tea."
Wei Jun, sitting beside him, immediately nodded in agreement.
"That’s right. You just arrived."
From the way he kept glancing toward Han Yan and Lin Xin, it was obvious he wanted them to stay a little longer.
Han Yan chuckled helplessly.
"We would love to stay longer, but we need to get some new furniture for our home. That’s why we have to leave so suddenly."
"Furniture?"
Wei Jun’s eyes immediately lit up.
"Are you going to meet Uncle Shang?"
Han Yan nodded.
"I am."
"I know him very well!" Wei Jun said excitedly, sitting up straighter. "Let me go with you!"
His eagerness made Lin Xin smile.
He had never seen Wei Jun become this excited over something so simple.
Han Yan seemed to have no objection.
"Alright. Then I’ll go with Wei Jun."
Lin Xin’s smile froze slightly.
"Eh?"
Han Yan turned toward him.
"You stay here with Liu De and the children, okay? I’ll be back quickly."
Lin Xin stared at him for a moment.
He had secretly hoped he could go along.
Even if they were only going to choose furniture, he wanted to spend more time beside Han Yan.
But seeing the gentle expression on Han Yan’s face, Lin Xin couldn’t bring himself to argue.
He lowered his gaze, his fingers quietly fiddling with the edge of his blue robe.
"...Okay."
His voice was noticeably weaker than before.
Han Yan immediately noticed.
"Xin’ger."
Lin Xin looked up.
Han Yan stepped closer and gently rubbed his hair.
"Thank you for understanding."
The unexpected affection made Lin Xin’s cheeks instantly warm.
"Y-you should quickly go," he stammered, avoiding Han Yan’s eyes. "I’ll wait for you."
Before Han Yan could tease him about his reddening face, Lin Xin quickly turned around and walked back toward Liu De and the children.
His steps were slightly faster than necessary.
Han Yan watched him with amusement.
Liu De had noticed the entire exchange and quietly covered his mouth to hide a laugh.
Lin Xin pretended not to notice.
He sat down beside Liu De and immediately focused his attention on the children, though his eyes still unconsciously drifted toward the doorway.
Wei Jun was already waiting eagerly.
"Let’s go, Han Yan!"
Han Yan nodded.
"Alright."
The two soon left the courtyard.
Lin Xin watched their backs disappear before letting out a tiny sigh.
Liu De glanced at him.
"You wanted to go with him, didn’t you?"
Lin Xin stiffened.
"Who said that?"
Liu De raised an eyebrow.
"You did."
"I didn’t!"
"You were pouting."
"I was not!"
Lin Xin’s cheeks puffed slightly as he turned away.
Liu De couldn’t help laughing.
"Young people these days..."
Lin Xin’s face became even redder.
"I only wanted to see the furniture. That’s all."
"Of course."
"That really is all!"
"Of course."
"Liu-ge!"
Liu De laughed again.
The children’s laughter soon joined them, making it impossible for Lin Xin to continue defending himself.
After a moment, Liu De finally noticed the cloth in his hands.
He had been working on an embroidery before Han Yan and Wei Jun left. He looked down at the unfinished pattern and sighed.
Lin Xin glanced over.
"What’s wrong?"
Liu De frowned at the cloth.
"I’m trying to embroider a lotus flower, but no matter what I do, it doesn’t look right."
He turned the cloth toward Lin Xin.
Lin Xin leaned closer and studied the stitches.
"Your petals are too tight here."
"Really?"
Lin Xin nodded.
"Try loosening the thread a little. And don’t pull it all the way through at once."
Liu De looked at him for a moment before handing over the needle.
"Then show me."
Lin Xin blinked but accepted it.
"Like this."
He carefully adjusted the thread before guiding the needle through the cloth, demonstrating the stitch with practiced movements.
Liu De watched closely.
After making a few stitches, Lin Xin handed the needle back.
"Now try."
Liu De followed his instructions, paying closer attention this time.
When he finished the next petal, he stared at it in surprise.
"It actually looks like a flower."
Lin Xin smiled.
"See? You’re not as hopeless as you thought."
Liu De examined the little lotus taking shape on the cloth.
"It’s pretty."
He glanced at Lin Xin and grinned.
"But I think it looks prettier when you do it."
Lin Xin laughed softly.
"That’s because you’re still learning."
"No, I mean it."
Liu De looked back at the embroidery.
"Your stitches are very neat. The petals look soft."
Lin Xin smiled, slightly embarrassed by the praise.
"You’re exaggerating."
"I’m not."
Liu De carefully continued working on the next petal.
"Maybe I’ll have to ask you for help again."
"You can."
Liu De immediately looked at him.
"Really?"
Lin Xin nodded.
"Of course. It’s only embroidery."
"Good." Liu De smiled. "Then I’ll remember that."
The conversation continued naturally after that.
They talked about little things around the village, household matters, and eventually their partners.
Although this was the first time they had properly spoken, neither felt particularly awkward.
They already knew of each other through Han Yan and Wei Jun, so there was a strange familiarity between them.
Just then, a loud burst of laughter came from the courtyard.
Both turned to look.
Wei Fan had apparently said something that made Dong Hai laugh.
Liu De smiled.
"They’ve gotten close quickly."
"Very quickly," Lin Xin agreed.
Liu De watched the two boys for a moment.
"At this rate, Wei Fan will probably ask when Dong Hai is coming over again before they even leave today."
Lin Xin chuckled.
"I wouldn’t be surprised."
Across the courtyard, Wei Fan suddenly held up another wooden toy.
"Dong Hai! Look at this one!"
Dong Hai immediately leaned over to see it.
Lin Xin smiled at the sight.
It seemed that while their children were becoming friends, they were slowly doing the same.
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Meanwhile, Han Yan and Wei Jun were already making their way toward Uncle Shang’s workshop.
Wei Jun walked enthusiastically beside him, talking almost nonstop.
"Uncle Shang has many kinds of furniture. He knows which wood is strongest, and he can make almost anything. Last time, he even made a large cabinet for us!"
Han Yan listened patiently.
"Is that so?"
"Yes!" Wei Jun nodded vigorously. "And he always says that good furniture needs to be made carefully. If you rush him, he’ll become angry."
Han Yan chuckled.
"Then I’ll make sure not to rush him."
Wei Jun grinned.
As they approached the workshop, the familiar sound of wood being cut and hammered could already be heard from outside.
Wei Jun immediately called out.
"Uncle Shang!"
The sound stopped.
A moment later, an older man stepped out of the workshop, wiping his hands on a piece of cloth.
When he saw Wei Jun, his face immediately brightened.
"Well, well. What brings you here?"
Wei Jun proudly pointed toward Han Yan.
"I brought someone who needs your help!"
Uncle Shang looked at Han Yan.
Han Yan gave him a polite nod.
"Uncle Shang."
The older man looked him over before smiling knowingly.
"So you’re the one looking for furniture?"
"Yes. We recently moved into our home and need a few things."
"What do you need?"
Han Yan began explaining.
"Two beds, tables, chairs, storage cabinets, and a few other pieces."
Uncle Shang listened carefully before nodding.
"I can make them. But some will take a little time."
"That’s fine," Han Yan replied. "We aren’t in a hurry. I just want them made properly."
Wei Jun immediately nodded.
"I told you! Uncle Shang is the best!"
Uncle Shang laughed.
"You little brat. You only say that because I gave your son some sweets the last time he came by."
Wei Jun immediately looked innocent.
"That isn’t true."
Han Yan laughed softly.
The two continued discussing the furniture while Wei Jun eagerly added his own suggestions.
Back at the Wei courtyard, Lin Xin and Liu De were still sitting beneath the old tree while the children played nearby.
The afternoon passed peacefully.
Although it was their first proper conversation, Lin Xin and Liu De found it surprisingly easy to talk to each other.
And neither of them realized that this would be the beginning of a friendship that would make their two families even closer.
Neither of them knew that this would be the beginning of a friendship that would eventually bring their families even closer.
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