1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 275 A New Idea: Hanfu Made with Paper Cutting
"alright."

Not wanting to offend his granddaughter-in-law, the sixth grandfather picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and immediately began to speak.

His experiences were more thrilling than any TV drama, and many details were unknown to anyone but himself.

This wasn't the first time Gu Bin had heard it, and he still listened with great interest.

The others were even more emotionally invested, their emotions fluctuating constantly with his narration, and they exclaimed in surprise at the most thrilling parts.

The babies joined in the commotion, mimicking the adults' expressions and howling at the top of their lungs.

Grandpa Liu was delighted and felt extremely happy.

The family was enjoying each other's company, chatting and laughing, a warm and wonderful scene.

-

After being comforted by her sixth grandfather, Lin Xiyu finally made up her mind to call the principal and politely decline his offer.

When her two-year leave of absence without pay expired, Gu Bin accompanied her to Shanghai to formally complete her resignation procedures.

Once everything had settled down, Lin Xiyu looked at the passenger planes whizzing overhead and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Come on, let's go home."

After Gu Bin finished checking in, he smiled and extended his hand to his beloved wife.

"it is good."

Lin Xiyu smiled with relief and walked into the cabin alongside him.

The couple went and returned on the same day.

When we entered the house, the babies who were playing in the yard saw their parents and eagerly climbed over from the mat.

The couple smiled at each other and went to greet them together.

-

Before the Lunar New Year, Wu Meng's plan to open another training class fell through because her sixth grandfather fell ill and she was unable to rent a shop in time.

Hearing that Lin Xiyu had resigned, she had another idea. Taking advantage of the opportunity to visit with her daughter, she brought up the old matter again. This time, before Lin Xiyu could answer, Gu Bin rushed to speak and agreed.

He already has a plan: not only to open a new training class, but also to set aside a classroom specifically as a venue for carrying out public welfare activities and to recruit students who are interested in paper-cutting for free.

He wanted his beloved wife to be able to select talented children from among them, just like Grandma Hu, to become his personal disciples and pass on this craft.

Wu Meng was afraid that he would change his mind again, so she confirmed with him several times. Only after receiving confirmation did she feel at ease.

Gu Bin kept his word. He not only personally selected the teaching venue, but also designed and planned the decoration himself, striving for perfection.

-

The training program hired teachers and recruited students in an orderly manner, and Lin Xiyu also calmed down to prepare for the application to become an intangible cultural heritage inheritor.

Intangible cultural heritage inheritors not only need to have many years of professional experience, but also need to have their own innovation and influence.

How to innovate and make paper-cutting more attractive, and how to better integrate local customs and traditions into paper-cutting so that more people can understand the culture of spring water, are issues that she must seriously consider at present.

Good news came from the Children's Palace on Children's Day.

Given the vacancy in the succession of the paper-cutting project after Grandma Hu's passing, the requirements have been relaxed, and the years of experience are no longer as strict as before.

Lin Xiyu had previously carried out public welfare activities at the Children's Palace, teaching children paper-cutting, receiving foreign friends, and contributing to the inheritance of local folk culture. Therefore, her years of professional experience can be counted from when she became Grandma Hu's apprentice in 93.

In other words, from 93 to the present, her years of service can be counted as 14 years, which, after the relaxation of the requirements, makes her qualified to apply for the position of successor.

The surprise came so suddenly that it caught everyone off guard.

After the initial shock came a huge surprise. The whole family was overjoyed for her, and Gu Bin fully supported her, taking care of all the trivial matters so that his beloved wife could pursue her dreams without distraction.

-

In June, Daming Lake is lush with green willows and blooming lotus flowers, making it the most beautiful season of the year.

Gu Bin and his wife also got excited and, taking advantage of the fine weather, took their babies to the park.

The four babies sat in two strollers, one for Pingping and one for An'an, and one for Xixi and Lele.

Two strollers walked side by side, carrying four adorable little babies, attracting the attention of many tourists.

"Your two families are so lucky, both of you had twins."

Some people, unaware of the situation, came over with smiles and struck up a conversation with the nanny pushing the cart.

"We are not two separate companies, we are one family."

Grandma Gu proudly fanned herself with a palm leaf fan: "Four babies in one pregnancy, all born to the same mother."

"Wow, quadruplets!"

"That's really rare."

"This is the first time I've ever seen quadruplets."

"Let alone you, even I'm quite old and this is the first time I've ever seen someone like this."

"The four babies are so beautiful, with big, bright eyes that are so pleasing to the eye."

The allure of quadruplets is truly boundless. Ever since Grandma Gu mentioned having four babies in one pregnancy, the area around the two strollers has been packed with people.

That sense of rarity was even greater than when watching a movie star.

"whee."

Da Bao Ping Ping is a social butterfly; the more people there are, the happier she is.

When he hears others praising him, he gets even more excited, waving his arms and legs and grinning from ear to ear.

"Is this a boy? He looks a bit thicker than the little girl's arms and legs, he's really strong."

One tourist was so fascinated by it that he wanted to snatch it away and take it home to be his grandson.

"Yes."

Grandma Gu used the excuse of fanning the mosquitoes for the babies to stop their restless hands.

"I think girls are prettier; they're really pretty."

Some people genuinely like pretty little girls, and they can't take their eyes off Xixi and Lele's fair and rosy cheeks.

"whee."

Xixi is also a cheerful person and is not afraid of strangers at all. She is not afraid when people stare at her. She pats the stroller with her chubby little hands and is very happy.

Lele was a little scared and timidly reached out her hand to her father.

Gu Bin quickly bent down and picked Lele up.

Lele hugged her father's neck, snuggling into his arms like a little quail.

Lin Xiyu subconsciously looked at An'an and, sure enough, saw that An'an wasn't smiling; her little face was all wrinkled and she looked very serious.

Lin Xiyu bent down and picked An'an up as well.

An'an's big, bright black eyes clearly showed joy as she hugged her mother affectionately.

"The personalities of these four children are really too different."

Grandma Gu fanned herself and glanced at An'an with a touch of emotion.

"Lele is close to her dad, and An'an is close to her mom."

The nanny, Sister Liu, chimed in with a smile: "Both children are equally attached to each other, each clinging to one of them."

"Lele is a girl, and she's been pampered since she was little. It's okay if she's a little timid."

Grandma Gu was a little worried: "An'an is a boy, and with this personality, he won't be very likable when he grows up."

"An'an is still young, there's no rush."

Sister Liu added, "I think An'an is a very well-behaved child, and she's easy to take care of."

I think so too.

The nanny, Sister Xu, also laughed and said, "Compared to An'an, Pingping is much more naughty. If you don't keep an eye on her for a while, she'll disappear without a trace, scaring people half to death."

"Luckily, the house has a yard."

Sister Liu wholeheartedly agreed: "Otherwise, they would have had a heart attack from the fright."

"Hey."

Grandma Gu was both amused and exasperated: "So it seems I was mistaken, and An'an is definitely more lovable."

"Both children have their own strengths."

Sister Xu picked out what the old lady liked to hear and said, "Pingping is energetic and athletic. She'll be an athlete when she grows up. An'an can sit still and will study hard, do scientific research, and become a scientist. With one in the arts and one in the sports, you've really put your heart into it."

"I like to hear that."

Grandma Gu was indeed very happy to hear this, and the wrinkles on her face turned into chrysanthemums as she smiled.

— The family walked along chatting and laughing when Lin Xiyu was suddenly drawn to a song playing from a small shop in the park.

"Where are those flowing sleeves now? Through countless vicissitudes and wanderings, the garments have faded into the past, becoming a lost art. I wish to return to the Han and Tang dynasties and play the pentatonic scales once more."

"Wearing the Han Chinese clothes, reviving our land of etiquette, I wish to return to the Han and Tang dynasties and compose a new chapter of prosperity. What fear is there of the long and difficult road ahead? Look at the sons and daughters of China."

-

"What song is this?"

She was captivated by the singing, and a beautiful picture involuntarily appeared in her mind.

A young girl dressed in Hanfu, fanning herself with a folding fan, chatted, laughed, and played in a garden full of lush grass and blooming flowers.

"Let's return to the Han and Tang dynasties?"

Gu Bin knew a little about the song: "It seems to be a song written by someone who advocates for the revival of Hanfu (traditional Han clothing). I saw it on the news before."

"Hanfu revival?"

Lin Xiyu was slightly taken aback, and said with some annoyance, "How come I've never heard of this? I've been so busy taking care of the kids at home these days that I don't even know what clothes are popular on the street anymore."

"Hanfu won't become fashionable anytime soon."

Gu Bin wore Hanfu when he accompanied her to film a documentary many years ago and has a deep understanding of it: "That thing is too troublesome to wear, and it's hot in the summer. You'll get heat rash all over your body when you wrap it up. It's not as cool as wearing a T-shirt."

"It depends on the season."

Lin Xiyu had a different opinion: "Spring and autumn are fine, the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, so it's worth a try."

"Do you want to wear it?"

Gu Bin, addicted to spoiling his wife, said: "I'll buy you a set."

Do you sell them?

Lin Xiyu's eyes lit up.

"If you want to wear it, you must have it."

Gu Bin took the opportunity to cheer up his wife: "If there isn't a suitable one, we can have one custom-made."

"It's not that I wanted to wear it."

Lin Xiyu smiled: "I just had a sudden inspiration while listening to music, which may help with the design of paper-cutting patterns."

"Listening to a song can give me inspiration."

Gu Bin flattered her smoothly: "My wife is so smart."

Lin Xiyu pouted and said coquettishly, "You didn't even ask what the inspiration was before you started praising it."

"My wife is always right."

Gu Bin wanted to say something more sarcastic, but Lin Xiyu glared at him and shut him up.

"Ok."

He smiled helplessly and adopted an attentive posture: "What inspiration? Honey, tell me, I'm listening."

"you say."

Lin Xiyu smiled slyly: "How about we cut out a set of Hanfu using paper cutting?"

"what?"

Gu Bin let out a rare exclamation of surprise, but seeing his wife's expression change, he quickly changed his mind and said, "Okay, it has to be okay."

"really?"

Lin Xiyu narrowed her eyes and looked at him with a playful expression.

"real."

Gu Bin answered fluently without even blinking.

"That's it."

Lin Xiyu nodded: "Let's go to a Hanfu store another day and buy a few sets."

"Are you really going to cut it? Will that thing even be wearable?"

Gu Bin's mouth reacted faster than his brain, and he accidentally blurted out what was on his mind.

"Didn't you say it would work?"

Lin Xiyu frowned and glared at him with displeasure.

"Cough cough."

Gu Bin gave an awkward laugh: "No, that's not it."

"Humph."

Lin Xiyu feigned annoyance: "You said you would support me no matter what I do, but you can't bear to buy me a few sets of Hanfu."

"Honey, that's not what I meant!"

Gu Bin felt a chill run down his spine, breaking out in a cold sweat despite the sweltering heat of summer.

"That's who you are, and explanations won't help."

Lin Xiyu ignored him, picked up An'an, and turned to leave.

"Honey, don't be angry, wait for us."

Gu Bin chased after them, carrying Lele in his arms.

An'an peeked half her head out from her mother's arms and secretly looked back.

"An'an."

Gu Bin winked at his son: "Help Dad comfort Mom."

An'an blinked her big eyes and then shrank her little head back inside.

Gu Bin: "."

-

"Hanfu cut out with paper cutting?"

"Then how should I wear it?"

"Wouldn't this thing break with just one poke?"

"What are you going to wear? That's a work of art, worn on a mannequin, displayed there for people to see."

"A fake model?"

"Oh dear, I was stupid. I thought it was a reality show."

"How could a person wear clothes made of paper? If they were torn and exposed, wouldn't that be incredibly embarrassing?"

"It doesn't matter if it's a fake mannequin. It can wear any clothes. Even if it's made of paper, or even if it's made of leaves sewn together piece by piece, as long as it's a work of art, people will still appreciate it."

-

Children's playground.

While the babies were riding the little train, Grandma Gu chatted and laughed, and the conversation eventually turned to her granddaughter-in-law's new idea.

Lin Xiyu and Gu Bin didn't hide their conversation from others, and the nannies overheard them, marveling at it.

The three women had loud voices, which reached Gu Bin's ears. He quickly went over and took the opportunity to flatter her: "You know, my wife is really smart. Making clothes with paper cutting is such a novel idea."

"You're so happy."

Grandma Gu saw through his little scheme and chimed in, "Your wife is smart, so the children she gives birth to will also be smart. When the babies grow up, they will definitely all be successful."

"If I have four children, I'll be satisfied as long as one of them is as skillful and clever as my wife."

Gu Bin continued to praise, "Once my wife applies to become an intangible cultural heritage inheritor, she can learn the craft from her mother and pass it down from generation to generation. Our family will then become a paper-cutting family."

"That's daring."

Grandma Gu was delighted to hear this, and her eyes crinkled with a smile.

I think Lele is the most suitable.

Sister Liu smiled and chimed in, "The little girl is so quiet. She draws pictures and cuts paper. She looks so gentle and pretty, which makes people like her."

"You're right."

Grandma Gu pointed at her with her palm-leaf fan, her eyes shining with joy: "You think the same way. Of the four babies, Lele is the most delicate, like a flower bud that can't withstand the wind and rain. With her little body, I don't feel comfortable letting her do anything. It's best to let her stay at home and not go out to work."

"Lele doesn't need to work, I'll support her."

Gu Bin exuded domineering aura, taking the opportunity to make his father's presence known.

Sister Liu sighed with emotion: "With you two doting on her, Lele is truly living the dream."