The beads made from these wood scraps are slightly different from the common sandalwood bracelets, but they’re just right for Xiaomi.
After all, Xiaomi is young and has thin wrists. Wearing large bracelets would be inconvenient.
While pondering, he picked up the carving knife and began working earnestly, shaving off the excess with the knife to form a round bead.
There was a commotion outside. Wei Ziang quickly put down the items, covered the wooden box, and imdiately heard Xiaomi’s voice.
"Big Brother, are you going hunting this afternoon?"
"No, Ziang needs to read this afternoon. If you get bored alone, co with us to the field."
It was Auntie speaking, and Wei Ziang sighed regretfully. He hadn’t even spoken before Auntie stopped him.
However, having wasted three months, he indeed couldn’t indulge in play any longer, or it would be hard to explain to the teacher.
He opened the door, and sure enough, Xiaomi was standing at his door, looking even more disappointed than he was.
Wei Ziang casually ruffled Xiaomi’s hair.
Xiaomi’s hair was jet black and smooth, cascading like a black waterfall when let down, especially in the sunlight, looking almost reflective.
But it was evident that her hair had just been washed, only carelessly wiped, still damp.
"Why don’t you dry your hair properly? Be careful, or you’ll get headaches in the future."
As he murmured these words, he honestly turned around to fetch a thick towel.
Xiaomi followed him in, pouting, "My hair is too much and too long, it’s such a hassle."
Clearly, being stopped from taking her brother up the mountain made Xiaomi also disappointed.
Wei Ziang chuckled, "Want to play on the mountain? Haven’t you had enough fun on the road recently?"
He spoke as he skillfully started to dry Xiaomi’s hair.
When it ca to drying hair, Xiaomi always liked to be lazy, so it was often left to Wei Ziang to help her.
So many years had passed that not only did the two of them get used to it, but others found nothing unusual about it either.
Xiaomi sighed deeply, nodding and then shaking her head, "There’s nothing much to do at ho anyway. Mom is right, you should study hard and can’t run around with all the ti. I’ll go find Xiaocao this afternoon."
By the end, she was no longer sullen: "I can also see how Xiaocao’s practice is going."
As for going to the fields, it’s not that she’s lazy. Her parents never allowed her to do fieldwork, and even if she went, she’d be idle.
Wei Ziang: "That’s fine too. Xiaocao’s father’s prestige in the village isn’t bad, getting close to her will also let you learn a lot about village affairs."
Speaking of this, Xiaomi perked up: "Indeed, Xiaocao shares a lot of gossip with every day, and she used to help shield from many pesky kids when we dug for bamboo shoots or gathered Xianglong herb."
She was talking about the other children in Xiangmu Village where there were many people and naturally quite a few children, so disputes were inevitable. Xiaocao protected Xiaomi several tis.
As Wei Ziang listened to Xiaomi’s chatter, he continued gently drying her hair.
Xiaomi’s hair was soft and didn’t require a comb; just running fingers through it would smooth it out.
However, Xiaomi also had a lot of hair, which is why she never fully dries it herself.
Not only does it take a long ti to dry bit by bit, but it also needs to be air-dried afterward, and in winter, it must be dried by the fire.
In the past, it was Second Aunt who carefully helped her, but as Wei Ziang grew older, he beca the one to tend to her hair.
After changing towels twice, Xiaomi’s hair was finally half-dry.
"Alright, go for a walk outside. It’ll dry in no ti. Then you can tie it up."
Xiaomi touched her hair, finding no more dampness, and couldn’t help but sigh.
"Big brother, how would I survive without you?"
If left to her, she’d prefer to bundle it up and let it dry slowly, but her parents would always scold her, saying it would cause headaches in the future.
But she’s simply too bothered, thankfully her brother is patient and always helps her.
Just as she finished speaking, she received a tap on the head: "What nonsense are you saying? Go play first, I’ll return to reading."
Xiaomi giggled a few tis and left bouncingly.
"Mom said Sister Liu is having lunch at our place today. Lunch should be ready soon; I’ll go check next door first."
Without waiting for Wei Ziang to respond, she had already run out.
Wei Ziang shook his head, only to close the door, sit back at the desk, and open a book, taking out the items from the box again.
At ho, people never rummage through others’ things, so even if he left it on the desk like this, he wouldn’t worry about anyone finding it.
At least until it was finished, he didn’t want it discovered.
He multitasked, reading and crafting the bead without any trouble.
Soon, the voices of Xiaomi and Xie Fuya ca through, especially Xiaomi’s, always crisp and clear; as long as she didn’t intentionally lower her voice, it could be heard from afar.
At this mont, Second Aunt called for lunch, and Wei Ziang responded, putting away the carving knife and bead and placing the wooden box on the top shelf of the bookcase.
Well, everyone not ssing with things is one thing, but him not wanting them to find it is another.
Just as he stepped out, Jiang Wei ca out from next door with a head of wet hair, droplets still dripping, loosely tied with just a hairband.
Wei Ziang: "Dry your hair properly or you’ll catch a cold."
Jiang Wei pouted: "Don’t scare , Big Brother. In the sumr, you only get heatstroke, not colds."
Then he paused, feeling sothing was off: "Big Brother, why do you always tell off, but never help dry my hair like you do for my sister?"
Wei Ziang didn’t even look at him: "Your sister has a lot of hair, it’s very long and hard to manage by herself. You barely have any hair; do you need soone to help? I think you’re just lazy."
Jiang Wei rolled his eyes dramatically: "I think you just love helping my sister and don’t want to help !"
Wei Ziang glanced over and saw that Xiaomi and Fuya were already in the back kitchen, entirely missing Jiang Wei’s comnts.
Thus, he couldn’t be bothered, only taking a towel from the clothes drying in the yard and tossing it to him.
Jiang Wei scowled, "Favoritism!"
Wei Ziang casually added in his mind, favoring isn’t abnormal, it’d be odd not to.
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