Meng Yan's Transformation

When Zhan Yingying spoke, she felt as if she had returned to her childhood.

"Yes, Mom has skillful hands, and so does Third Brother Zichuan. Mom always guided him back then, and Third Brother Zichuan made lanterns for us. I haven't seen Third Brother Zichuan for a long time, and I really miss him. He also made playing cards for us. The jokers he drew were majestic lions, and they were so lifelike! He also made military chess and Chinese chess. It's a pity that one time when you were playing military chess with Brother Zixun, it seems that Brother Zixun lost, and you two had a fight. Mom got angry and threw the military chess into the stove and burned it. The playing cards were also burned by Mom because of the fight between you two when you were playing. If it weren't for the fight between you and Brother Zixun, the playing cards and military chess would still be here. Now I miss Third Brother Zichuan, it would be so nice to take them out and have a look..."

When Zhan Mengyan spoke, she revealed her longing for her relatives.

"You only remember our embarrassing moments. You forgot about yourself. We were walking at the front of the procession, holding lanterns. The children behind us were holding glass lanterns, and some were holding bare candles, which would go out if the wind blew. You were kind enough to give your rabbit lantern to a little girl who was eager to pick it out. But you were always worried, and kept asking her to do this and that. Who knew that the more you urged her, the more nervous she became. She accidentally dropped it, and the tilted candle ignited your rabbit lantern, which caught fire. You cried so hard that your nose started running, and then you went home and begged Third Brother Zichuan to make you another rabbit lantern."

When Zhan Yingying spoke, she laughed so hard that she couldn't straighten her back, as if she saw the scene of Zhan Mengyan crying.

"I remember how heartbroken I was at the time, feeling like my beloved treasure had been destroyed. Now I think I was so naive. But that New Year's Eve, that group of children carrying lanterns, those rabbit lanterns, were like fish swimming in the black ocean, so lively, so warm, so romantic. That rabbit lantern is the most beautiful poem in my memory... Sister, we've arrived at Grandma Liu's house. I won't go in. You wait outside the yard."

Zhan Mengyan stopped while speaking.

"You just don't want to see people. I really don't know how you communicate with your classmates at school. Okay, you put the chicken basket on the ground. I'll go in and ask Liu Mingming to get it. I'll say I came here alone. You can go home first."

As Zhan Yingying spoke, she saw Zhan Mengyan's mouth corners drooping and she forced a bitter smile.

"Understood! I'll go home right now and help Mom light the fire!"

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she turned around and disappeared without a trace.

"Mengyan, what was your grandmother Liu's expression like when she saw us giving her gifts? Did her grandson Liu Mingming like the rabbit lantern?"

As Yunqing spoke, she glanced at Zhan Mengyan and continued carving a happy radish in her hand.

Zhan Mengyan held her breath and watched carefully.

"Zhan Mengyan, what are you looking at? I'm asking you a question."

As Yunqing spoke, she stopped the carving knife in her hand.

"Mom, mom, hurry up and carve! I'll tell you when you're done."

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she stared at Luobo with shining eyes.

"How can you, a student, be so interested in carving? Are you going to be a chef?"

As Yunqing spoke, she looked at Zhan Mengyan with confusion and surprise.

"I don't want to be a chef. I've seen Mom paint—that's called a masterful brushstroke. Today, I want to see how Mom's knife works. The process of transforming the ordinary into something magical is truly indescribable! Mom, hurry up and carve. Let me see this radish ascend to heaven!"