Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Cultivating Culture

That evening, the four returned home in high spirits, especially Ding Li Ren, who couldn’t stop smiling. He eagerly shared stories from the private school with his mother and sister as soon as they got home.

Dad spoke with the teacher. Not only was the teacher not angry, he also encouraged Ding Li Ren not to feel burdened and instructed his classmates not to tease him anymore. He said if Ding Li Ren works hard, he will surely pass the imperial examinations in the future.

The young boy became more diligent, voluntarily asking to stay up half an hour later to study.

What seemed a misfortune turned into a blessing, thanks to the virtuous and kind teacher, Mr. Li.

On the tenth of early March, the red sun hung low in the eastern sky, and dewdrops glittered on the leaves.

It had rained lightly the day before, leaving the ground moist.

Ding Zhao brought the ox cart from the backyard to the front, where Ding Zhuang helped Ding Xiang onto the cart first. Zhang Shi wrapped Ding Xiang in a thin blanket before she and her two sons climbed aboard.

Blackie chased after them to the gate, but wasn't brought along.

This was Ding Xiang's second trip to the county town, and she was extremely excited, craning her neck to look around.

Vast fields of lush greenery stretched out, with farmers busy at work. Willows swayed in the breeze along the road, interspersed with vibrant wild grass and unknown wildflowers, and streams crisscrossed at intervals.

This land, rich in fish and rice, boasted abundant water resources. Barring disasters and human calamities, and with diligent work, having enough to eat was no problem.

Looking up at the sky, she saw several birds soaring.

Ding Xiang thought of Flying, the young eagle.

Flying, the eagle with a broken leg, had visited Ding Xiang the previous summer.

At that time, Ding Xiang had just learned to speak and had named the eagle Flying.

Flying had grown much larger, spreading its wings to embrace Ding Xiang, with its small head nuzzling into her armpit.

Perhaps Flying knew it still needed to continue its training; after staying for a day, it flew away on its own.

Ding Xiang envied Flying, who reached adulthood at four years old and could fly wherever it wanted.

In contrast, a four-year-old human is still a toddler, living under the protection of adults.

The ox cart passed through vast wheat fields and reached the Black Dragon River. The river was bordered by a flat official road. Heading north along the river, it took about an hour and a half to reach the south gate of the county town.

The Black Dragon River circled around the county town and met the Jingqian Canal at the north gate.

Upon entering the town, Ding Zhao directly took the ox cart to a nearby cart yard for storage, and the family went on foot to explore the streets.

It was already early afternoon, and they headed straight for Jinhu Street, the busiest area of the county town.

There was a Jingqian Grand Canal port outside the town of Linshui, where the transportation was convenient and the economy thrived, attracting many businessmen from both the north and south, as well as Korean merchants.

Particularly, Jinhu Street, facing the lake on one side and lined with shops on the other, was bustling with activity.

The lake surface was dotted with many boats, among them several tiered pleasure boats.

The pleasure boats were very beautiful. Ding Xiang pointed at them and said, “Big boat.”

Ding Zhuang covered her view towards the lake with his large hand, “That boat is not good.”

Ding Xiang understood that the pleasure boats were not cruise ships, but flower boats.

Zhang Shi reached out to take Ding Xiang, but Ding Zhuang didn’t let her.

“If you can’t even carry this little child, you might as well eat for free.”

Ding Zhao also reached out to hold her, but Ding Zhuang still didn’t let go.

The young couple walked empty-handed, while the grandfather held the child, garnering many disdainful looks from onlookers.

Both Ding Zhao's faces reddened, but Ding Zhuang remained oblivious.

They first visited an ink shop, where they bought a pen holder for Ding Liren, carved with magpies perched on branches.

Ding Xiang said, "I have my own savings. I'll buy a pen holder with a Dapeng spreading its wings for big brother."

Such a pen holder cost 160 wen, which was more than her savings, but she intentionally said it loud enough for her grandfather to hear.

Upon hearing this, Ding Zhuang laughed heartily, "Xiang Xiang still remembers the Dapeng spreading its wings, so clever. Tsk tsk, no other granddaughter can compare to mine. Xiang Xiang, save your money for sweets. Grandpa will pay for it."

Then, he bought another pen holder carved with a Dapeng spreading its wings for Ding Lichun.

Ding Lichun looked gratefully at his sister.

His sister was truly wonderful!

They then visited a cloth shop and bought a piece of willow green silk for Ding Xiang, suitable for making a cool and beautiful summer skirt.

By late noon, the group entered Tianxiang Residence.

The waiter wore a grey short coat and a headband, with a towel draped over his shoulder, resembling the attire of waiters in historical dramas.

“What would the guests like to order?”

Ding Zhuang democratically turned to his grandchildren for their preferences.

Ding Liren said, "I'd like to have the Four Happiness Meatballs."

Ding Lichun said, "I want the Five-Spice Braised Chicken."

Ding Xiang parroted, "Meatballs, braised chicken."

Ding Zhuang said to the waiter, “One Four-Joy meatballs, a Five-Spice braised chicken, braised dried tofu, a dish of sautéed white cabbage, a bowl of vermicelli soup, and a pot of Erguotou liquor.”

Such luxury was rare at home, leaving Ding Liren scratching his head in excitement.

Once the food and drinks were served, Zhang Shi took Ding Xiang from them, allowing the father and son to enjoy their liquor.

After feeding Ding Xiang, Zhang Shi quickly finished her meal and proposed going to the embroidery shop to sell the lace she had been working on for two months. It wasn’t about selling it behind their backs; it's just that Ding Zhuang and his son, considering themselves as the men of the house, didn’t fancy visiting the embroidery shop.

Ding Zhuang took out twenty wen and said, “Buy Xiang Xiang two pretty hair flowers.”

Zhang Shi declined, smiling, “I have money.”

Ding Zhao wanted to take Ding Xiang, but she clung to Zhang Shi’s neck, insisting, “Xiang Xiang wants to go to the embroidery shop.”

She had long wanted to visit the embroidery shop.

The Golden Thread Embroidery Shop, located diagonally opposite the restaurant, was a two-story establishment. With its pink walls, black tiles, and red carved windows and doors, along with several hanging lanterns, it stood out distinctively on the street, clearly one of Linshui County's top luxury stores.

Zhang Shi had mentioned that the Golden Thread was the largest embroidery shop in Linshui County and highly ranked in the entire Jiaodong Province.

Upon entering the embroidery shop, Ding Xiang was overwhelmed by the sight.

The colorful array of sachets, fans, silk flowers, velvet flowers, knots, and laces displayed on the wooden racks and grids came in various styles.

The female shopkeeper was surprised to see Ding Xiang. She had heard from Zhang Shi about her daughter's beauty but had not expected her to be this stunning.

She thought to herself, this child doesn’t look like she could have come from Zhang Shi, more like a celestial maiden from a New Year painting.

While thinking this, she complimented aloud, “Oh my, such a darling little girl! I have never seen such a pretty child in all my years.”

Seeing the shopkeeper's reaction, Zhang Shi knew what she was thinking and laughed, “Xiang Xiang takes after my mother-in-law.”

She then took out a handful of laces and a slightly larger knot from her pocket.

The shopkeeper paid her five hundred wen, her eyes lingering on Ding Xiang's face, reluctant to look away.

Zhang Shi bought two children's hair flowers. Seeing her daughter's interest, she carried her around the first floor for a tour.

Ding Xiang's main focus was on knots.

When laces are thickened, they become knots.

Weaving is one of the oldest crafts, where the ingenious ancient people not only evolved laces into knots but also developed various ornaments from them, creating a unique culture.

The union of a couple is a knot, the ending of a story is a knot, unity of hearts is solidarity, and a rift in hearts creates a knot...

"An inch of shared heartstrings, a thousand years of longevity flowers."

"The heart is like a double silk net, with a thousand knots within."

  ……

There are many poems describing or expressing emotions through knots.

In various knots, people have imbued different meanings and emotions. For instance, the 'heart-to-heart thread', 'auspicious cloud knot', 'brocade group knot', 'long plate knot', 'diamond knot', and so on.

These knots, developed over thousands of years, remain deeply beloved in modern times.

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