Chapter 127

The horse-drawn carriage clattered along, swaying gently.

Jiang Mianmian opened her eyes just as they arrived home.

Her bangs were damp, wet from sleep.

She had been sweating.

A child's body temperature runs higher.

It's easy to sweat.

She had changed arms and was now in Grandma's embrace.

Grandma's hold was a bit cooler.

She opened her eyes slightly, watching Elder Sister wearing pearl earrings, bouncing with each step.

This time, however, she wasn't in a rush to show off in the village.

Mainly because their family's circumstances had improved, and they'd already shown off quite a bit. Any more would only invite resentment.

Seeing the little girl's eyes open, Aunt Yin noticed her staring at her sister's earrings and asked with a smile, "Would you like Grandma to pierce your ears too?"

Jiang Mianmian shook her head in panic, "No, no!"

Although ear piercing probably wouldn't kill her, she didn't like it.

Aunt Yin couldn't bear to do it anyway. The little girl's earlobes were exceptionally pretty, round and perky, looking like two natural little pearls. They were so beautiful. She was just teasing the little girl.

Back home, Grandma recounted with Mother and Elder Sister what they had seen and heard on their outing.

Jiang Mianmian, having napped in the carriage, was quite alert now. She sat on her little stool, listening attentively.

The main topic was about Jiang Wan.

Aunt Yin sighed, saying that the old Madam Jiang indeed had skill. Her granddaughter was raised like a young lady from a noble family, every gesture exuding dignity. But Jiang Yu was just like a village girl, her knowledge and methods not even on the same level.

If the two were to live in the same household, a girl like the elder one would likely perish quickly.

It was too late to teach her now. The other girl had been learning since childhood, immersed in it day after day. Even with privileged living conditions, it's hard to change one's nature when starting so late.

Jiang Mianmian said thoughtfully, "Grandma, you take a nap. I'll draw, and when you wake up, I'll show you."

Aunt Yin was getting on in years. She was supposed to be retired, but now she had endless worries. After going out, she felt tired at the sight of the bed.

She lay down to rest for a while.

Jiang Mianmian sat on the small meditation cushion.

Having napped in the carriage, she was wide awake now. Her chubby little hand grasped a charcoal pencil, which was just a piece of wood with a small piece of charcoal inserted into a groove.

It could be used for drawing.

Another useless little invention.

Brush pens were too soft; she couldn't control the pressure.

The charcoal pencil was like a thick lead pencil, easy to use.

When Elder Sister and Mother practiced calligraphy, Jiang Mianmian would scribble and doodle nearby.

Jiang Mianmian wasn't interested in landscapes; she only drew human figures.

This was a required course.

She took the charcoal pencil and drew a beautiful girl who looked very much like Jiang Wan, but she only drew half of the face. The other half exposed the skull, jawbone, muscle fibers, the frontalis muscle, superficial temporal artery, parotid gland, sternocleidomastoid muscle, mandible, clavicle, sternum...

After finishing, she was quite pleased with herself. Her skills hadn't gotten rusty. It had a very "beauty and the bones" feel to it.

She heard the sound of horseback riding in the courtyard. It seemed Elder Brother had returned. Jiang Mianmian pushed open the door to go out.

Hearing the door open, Aunt Yin also woke up.

She had just been resting her eyes, trying to get her body in the best condition.

She got up, lightly patted her clothes and her body, and felt refreshed and alert.

She touched her hair, which was still neat and tidy, and prepared to go out.

But then her gaze fell on the drawing on the table.

For a moment, her breath caught in her throat.

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