Feng-ge’er returned home in a huff.
The Ji family was just about to have dinner. The leftovers from Ji An’s return two days ago were already finished, and today’s meal was freshly prepared.
It was still bean porridge, but when Ji Ning sat down, she noticed an extra dish on the table—steamed egg custard. It had been diluted with a lot of water, making it look thin and watery.
The first spoonful of custard was scooped by Mrs. Xue and given to Ji Ning.
Ji Ning was surprised.
This nine-member household had some unspoken rules. During meals, Mrs. Xue always took the first bite. After she served the first portion to Grandpa Ji, the head of the family, everyone else would start eating. Before today, the only ones Mrs. Xue would serve were Grandpa Ji and Ji An, who occasionally returned home from studying outside. Today, Ji Ning was added to that list.
As the spoonful of custard landed in Ji Ning’s bowl, Lan-jie watched with longing eyes, and Feng-ge’er also eyed it greedily. It had been a long time since he had eaten eggs. The eggs at home were all reserved for selling. Not only him, but even Grandpa Ji didn’t get to eat eggs.
The only ones who could eat eggs were Ji An, who studied diligently outside, and Ji Song on the day he returned from his travels.
Grandpa Ji glanced at the two of them. “Ning-jie has worked hard these past two days. The eggs she earned should be for her to eat.”
His word was final.
Since he had agreed, Ji Ning accepted it with a smile. The egg custard, at last, had no fishy smell. Though diluted with water, it was still steamed to a smooth and tender texture.
Feng-ge’er slurped his porridge unhappily. “I saw a kid playing with a Bamboo Tube Cannon, but he didn’t buy it from Sister.”
He remembered every person who had bought a Bamboo Tube Cannon from their family.
Ji Ning had already anticipated this. “Was it homemade, or did he buy it from someone else?”
Feng-ge’er said, “It looked homemade, and it was really ugly. It even pricked my hand.”
He had specifically asked to take a look at it, and the bamboo still had splinters that hadn’t been properly shaved off.
Ji Ning first praised Feng-ge’er. “Our Feng-ge’er is very observant. You must continue to keep an eye out for Sister.”
Then she added, “We’ll only make the Bamboo Tube Cannon once. The rest will be sold outside when Father returns. I’ve already prepared a new toy. As long as our things are good, we don’t have to worry about others copying them.”
“Ning-jie is right,” Mrs. Xue chimed in. “For this new toy, will you still need bamboo?”
Ji Ning nodded. “Yes, not just bamboo, but also wood. And we need to keep digging for soil.”
Mrs. Wang glanced at Grandpa Ji and cautiously said, “Ning-jie is still so young. How can she carry so much soil and bamboo…”
Grandpa Ji snorted. “You don’t have to tell me. I already know.”
He put down his bowl and chopsticks. “Starting today, you and your daughter will go to the fields to check on the seedlings. I’ll go up the mountain to bring back bamboo and soil.”
“Yes!” Mrs. Wang smiled. “Father, you’re so thoughtful.”
…
The second toy Ji Ning made was the Bamboo Joint Puppet. There was too little clay, so she had to continue saving it.
The Bamboo Joint Puppet was made from aged bamboo and required extremely delicate craftsmanship. The old chopping knife was no longer sufficient. After discussing it with the family, Grandpa Ji dug out his small knife.
When he was young, he had apprenticed under a carpenter. Later, an accident prevented him from continuing as a carpenter, but he had kept all his tools.
Every part of the Bamboo Joint Puppet was made from bamboo. The head used a section near the bamboo joint, which naturally formed uneven facial features. The limbs were made from bamboo branches, and all the bamboo tubes were strung together with twisted hemp thread in the middle. Two bamboo joints with drilled holes were attached to the soles of the feet.
A loop was tied in the hemp thread on the hands, allowing small baskets, sticks, or weapons to be threaded onto them.
Hemp thread was left at the feet. By making a wooden box with a slit on top, the Bamboo Joint Puppet could stand upright on the wooden board. Pulling the hemp thread inside the box would make the puppet move.
It was somewhat like a shadow puppet show, but without the lamp and screen, replaced instead by a box.
This toy required more effort and precision than the simple Bamboo Tube Cannon. Ordinary children couldn’t make it themselves, let alone replicate it.
Ji Ning first made one Bamboo Joint Puppet. On the afternoon it was completed, she didn’t rush to let Feng-ge’er show it off.
She placed the wooden box on the table, called Feng-ge’er and Lan-jie over, closed the courtyard gate, and conducted an “internal demonstration.”
Feng-ge’er and Lan-jie were two enthusiastic children. They obediently sat on chairs, cupping their faces as they watched intently.
Ji Ning stood behind the wooden box, pulling the hemp thread.
The simple little figure made of bamboo joints and hemp thread “came to life” on top of the box.
It stood trembling, unable to fall over because of the two drilled bamboo joints attached to its base. As the hemp thread moved, its arms swung.
Ji Ning had equipped these two Bamboo Joint Puppets with weapons—one with a Green Dragon Crescent Blade and the other with a long spear. As Ji Ning pulled the hemp thread, they clumsily moved their legs, performing actions like walking and slashing.
“It’s moving! It’s moving!” Lan-jie exclaimed excitedly, clapping her little hands, her eyes wide with wonder.
Feng-ge’er watched intently, holding his breath. “Sister! Is this the general from the opera? Can it fight?”
Ji Ning smiled and made the Bamboo Joint Puppet perform a cupped-fist salute. “For now, it can only play by itself. When I make another one, the two of you can have them fight each other.”
This promise sent the two little ones into a frenzy.
Feng-ge’er couldn’t wait for his sister to make a few more right away. Even Lan-jie, who was usually fond of snacks, declared that if Ji Ning made her a Bamboo Joint Puppet that could carry a small basket, she would share half of the pastries her father had brought her with her sister.
Ji Ning laughed heartily. “Then it’s settled. You have to share your pastries with me.”
She spent the entire afternoon in the courtyard and successfully made over ten Bamboo Joint Puppets.
The next day, Feng-ge’er appeared in the village carrying the small wooden box.
In the village stood a large locust tree of unknown age, lush and leafy, visible even from outside the village. Villagers often gathered under the tree to cool off, and children loved to play there. As soon as Feng-ge’er appeared, he caught everyone’s attention.
A villager teased him, “Hey, Feng-ge’er, what are you holding?”
Feng-ge’er lifted his head proudly. “It’s a new toy my sister made!”
“A new toy?!”
“Sister Ning made something new again?”
“Show us quickly!”
The children swarmed over at the mention of toys, but this time Feng-ge’er kept his composure. Mimicking Ji Ning’s manner, he unhurriedly placed the wooden box on a flat stone, then cleared his throat: “This is a new toy my sister made, called… called the Bamboo Joint General! It’s way more impressive than the Bamboo Tube Cannon!”
“What’s a general?”
“Really better than the Bamboo Tube Cannon? I don’t believe it!”
Feng-ge’er snorted coldly, hid his hand inside the box, and as the hemp cord was pulled, the imposing Bamboo Joint General took the stage.
Author’s Note:
Oops, forgot to set the timer.