Seeing her master ask so urgently, Qi’er quickly said: “I heard from A Heng that some poor young ladies simply cannot afford paper and brushes, so they resort to practicing writing on sandy ground, which allows them to learn from books while saving on paper and ink…”
“I see,” Xu Wan’zhi exhaled, unsure if he felt disappointed or something else: “Then bring me one of the tools they commonly use.”
“Yes, this servant will retire now.” Qi’er obediently responded and immediately lifted her skirt to carry out the task. Xu Wan’zhi rubbed his forehead and smiled bitterly, thinking about what to write for An’er – this was a temporary decision, and whether he could understand it was not important.
Qi’er quickly returned, holding several thick goose quill tubes, placing them directly on the table and arranging his ink and paper. Xu Wan’zhi smiled, sitting at the desk with a feeling of writing a family letter.
He looked up at the roof beams, pondering for a moment before dipping the brush in ink and beginning to write.
“Ah, master, is this a rabbit?” Looking at the fluffy little animal on the paper, Qi’er asked in surprise. Xu Wan’zhi nodded, thinking he still had a youthful touch. He began adding dialogue for the animals.
For some reason, he first chose the tortoise and hare race, a story whose imagery would likely appeal to children.
Seeing the clumsy shell, Qi’er was about to cry out again, but Xu Wan’zhi explained first: “It’s a turtle, just not drawn very accurately.”
“Indeed,” Qi’er nodded, watching carefully and no longer exclaiming.
Xu Wan’zhi drew over ten pages of adorable animals, adding meaningful yet easily understood words. He wrote insights from his education and his life experiences, avoiding grand theories and keeping everything simple.
If giving this to a child who lacks nothing, he felt that if fate allowed, he could do something beneficial for another’s life within his range.
The books here were thread-bound. After finishing, Xu Wan’zhi patted his head, secretly laughing at his impulsiveness but not truly blaming himself. He asked Qi’er to find two pieces of thick cloth and sew them together.
Qi’er happily carried out the order, being naturally skillful and quickly stitching the pages neatly.
