Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Pulling Strings for Help
The wooden beads Yun Chenbei made were perfectly round and just the right size, though there were only four.
He carefully stored away the small remaining piece of rosewood.
Yun Chenbei was a serious worker. He took the stone, the rosewood beads, and a red string, and got to work.
As he drilled holes into the beads and the small stone, he became so engrossed that he seemed to forget himself, completely ignoring his surroundings.
Yun Jiao sat to the side, her chin cupped in her little hands as she watched him for a while. But she soon grew restless and left the room to play.
’Fourth Brother is amazing. How can he sit still for so long?’
’I could never do that.’
"Jiaojiao, come here. I want to discuss something with you."
Mr. Yun had also returned. He beckoned to Yun Jiao.
Yun Jiao walked over.
"This sea cucumber... we’re planning to give it to your Uncle Wang. Is that okay?"
Yun Jiao nodded. "Okay."
’It was a gift, after all. I never expected us to eat it. And if giving it to Uncle Wang helps my brothers find out what happened, that’s much better than selling it for cash.’
Around noon, just before lunch, Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe returned.
This time, they went straight for the abalone on the island, not wasting any time or exploring other areas.
"How did it go?"
"We didn’t find any large ones, but we got more of these medium-sized abalone. About seven or eight pounds worth."
They were all eleven- or twelve-head abalone.
’The size looks decent enough. It should be fine as a gift.’
Mr. Yun took out the sea cucumber.
"Take this too."
Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe’s eyes widened.
"Where did this come from?"
Yun Jiao tilted her head up proudly. "It’s a gift from the killer whale."
"The one we saved before?"
Yun Jiao nodded. "That’s right."
Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe were truly impressed. Their Jiaojiao really was a little lucky star; she never came back empty-handed.
Mr. Yun said, "Hurry and eat. After we finish, we’re going to pay the director a visit."
"Whether it works out or not, what matters is that we tried. If it doesn’t, you two brothers can try again next year."
Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi nodded. They knew the family’s situation.
If they had failed the physical examination on their own, they would have given up hope, tried again next year, and let it go if it didn’t work out.
But if their spots were really taken by someone else, they had to fight for themselves.
If they had no connections to ask around, they would have dropped it. But now that they clearly had an opportunity, not trying to seize it just because they were afraid of troubling someone would make them real fools.
’Compared to our future, what does a little pride matter?’
When it was time to eat, Yun Chenbei came out of his room, holding a particularly beautiful bracelet in his hand.
"Here, it’s finished."
The red string was braided into a twist, and the little fish charm hanging from it was vibrant and pretty. The rosewood beads were beautiful too, and carried a faint, sweet scent.
"Thank you, Fourth Brother."
She loved it.
"This one is adjustable."
Yun Chenbei showed her how to wear it.
The loop was a bit bigger than Yun Jiao’s wrist. She had specifically asked her brother to make it bigger; she wasn’t going to wear it herself.
Wang Mei said, "This bracelet is so pretty! Chenbei, you should make one for your mother and your aunt, too."
Yun Chenbei replied, "There are no more stones of this shape, and no more wooden beads either."
"Any shape of stone will do. Don’t you have a lot? Pick one out for your mother. And wooden beads are easy. Just go to the mountains, find a piece of wood, and make a couple."
’What woman doesn’t love beautiful things? My son’s craftsmanship is excellent, and best of all, his creations are pretty *and* free.’
"Okay."
Yun Chenbei nodded, not refusing.
Shen Yunlian was a bit embarrassed. "Oh, I don’t need one. It would take up Chenbei’s time."
Yun Chenbei said, "It won’t take long. I just don’t have any more string in that color."
Wang Mei replied, "Any color will do for us. Even fishing line is fine."
After they finished eating, they found some nicer bags and packed up the abalone and the sea cucumber.
Mr. Yun announced, "Just me, Linhai, the two brothers, and Jiaojiao will go."
Mr. Yun and Yun Linhai took out their best clothes and put them on.
Yun Jiao was also dressed up beautifully.
She wore a little red floral dress, white shoes, and her hair was in two pretty braids.
After gathering their things, they set off.
They took the village’s tractor again.
The man driving the tractor saw how nicely dressed the family was and asked, "Where are you all headed?"
Mr. Yun lifted Yun Jiao and passed her to Yun Linhai, who was already on the tractor.
"We’re visiting relatives. Sorry to trouble you for the trip to the county seat, Wang Laosan."
"No problem."
The tractor rumbled along, and the uneven road made Yun Jiao’s bottom a little sore from the bumps.
The scenery flew by. With anxious hearts, they finally arrived at the county seat.
They had been here before, so they knew the address.
On the way to the Wang family’s Western-style house, they straightened their clothes and hair several times.
Yun Jiao, with a piece of candy in her mouth, glanced at them several times.
"Dad, Brothers, your clothes are neat and clean, and your hair isn’t messy."
The men gave a few awkward laughs. Of course they were nervous.
Mr. Yun huffed, "Pathetic!"
’If only my own hands weren’t shaking so much.’
’Sigh... asking for favors always makes you feel so anxious.’
Yun Chendong saw all of this.
’If I really make it into the army,’ he silently vowed, ’I’ll work as hard as I can so my family never has to beg anyone for anything ever again.’
When they arrived at the Wang family’s house and knocked, the one who opened the door was a boy of twelve or thirteen.
"Who are you looking for?"
The boy looked at the people standing at the door, his gaze lingering for a few extra moments on Yun Jiao, with her snow-white skin and doll-like features.
"Um, we’re looking for Director Wang."
The boy said, "Oh, you’re looking for my dad. He’s not here right now. Come back next..."
"Who is it?"
An old woman walked out from inside the house.
The boy immediately said, "Grandma, don’t wander around. I..."
"Nannan!"
The moment the old woman saw Yun Jiao, her eyes lit up, and she swept her into a hug.
"Nannan, where have you been? Mommy has been looking for you for so long."
Yun Jiao blinked. "Grandma."
"Don’t call me Grandma, you should call me Mommy."
The boy came over to pull on his grandma. "Grandma, what are you doing? Who is this?"
The old woman glanced at the boy. "It’s Ah Yi. Come quick, your little aunt is back. Come and greet your little aunt."
Wang Yi totally freaked out. "Are you kidding me? I don’t have an aunt! Especially not... not one this little!"
Yun Jiao looked at him with her big eyes and asked in her soft, sweet voice, "Can we wait for Uncle Wang to come back?"
Wang Yi felt a little embarrassed being looked at like that.
"Well... then you should come in first."
"Nannan has come to see Mommy."
"My Nannan is just as pretty as ever."
Sitting on the sofa, the old woman’s gentle gaze never left her for a moment.
Yun Jiao took out the bracelet her fourth brother had made for her.
"Grandma, let me put this bracelet on you. I hope it brings you good luck."
Wang Yi poured each of them a glass of water, watching his grandma find him a new little aunt just like that, and felt a headache coming on.
’Grandma’s trouble with recognizing people is really getting worse.’
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