Chapter 97: Hard to See You So Diligent

Hearing his mother Li Huijuan's teasing, Jiang Ran suppressed the plan he was about to blurt out and exchanged an unspoken glance with Su Ruan.

He grinned, showing a mysterious smile, draped his arm over Su Ruan's shoulder, and vaguely said, "Mom, Dad, it's just a huge good thing! But we can't tell right now, it must stay secret! You'll know when the time comes!"

After speaking, ignoring the curious and puzzled looks on his parents' faces, he pulled Su Ruan into their own little room and deliberately slammed the door with a "clack", leaving Jiang Jianguo and Li Huijuan staring at each other in the hall.

"These two kids, so secretive…"

Li Huijuan chuckled and shook her head, but seeing the young couple's affection, her heart felt sweet.

Jiang Jianguo lifted his teacup, a barely perceptible smile at the corner of his mouth, and said, "Let them be, youngsters; having a little secret of their own is fine."

Inside the house, Jiang Ran and Su Ruan had no intention of heeding their parents' speculation.

They could not wait to spread out their little notebook again, under the warm light, and begin to flesh out the plan.

The next day, as dawn barely broke, the two of them were already awake.

With the matter on their minds, they slept restlessly, yet their spirits were unusually exhilarated.

Regarding the clothing style, they had already sketched a rough outline last night, and now they swiftly finalized the details.

Su Ruan, relying on her solid sewing skill and timeless aesthetic, combined with Jiang Ran's suggestions on structure and subtle touches, produced on paper a design for a Chinese thin cotton jacket set that is warm, comfortable, attractive, and auspicious.

The main fabric is a dark‑patterned, jujube‑red cotton satin, with a stand collar and offset front, loose sleeves, paired with straight trousers of the same hue.

The frog button is fashioned into a tiny "shou" character, the inner cuff embroidered with elegant orchid grass, and the side slit of the trousers fastened with a frog button.

Every detail reflects careful thought.

The design of the walking staff was also finalized.

They chose a lingzhi‑shaped head, made of Rosewood, the staff body engraved with a Hui Character Pattern, a anti‑slip pad at the base, the grip wrapped in soft leather, and a warm Blue Jade Small Buckle set beneath the lingzhi.

With the design drawings finalized, the next step is the practical phase!

Especially the staff, it is a brand‑new challenge for both of them.

Jiang Ran lived up to his word, truly taking Su Ruan, carrying the few pieces of carefully selected Small rosewood material, and went to the Alley's entrance to find the old carpenter Master Chen, famed for his meticulous Handcraft but a somewhat odd temper.

Master Chen looked at the well‑dressed pair and thought they didn't seem like young spouses capable of heavy labor.

Yet when he examined the premium wood they brought and the staff design drawing, rendered extremely finely and even annotated with various curves, dimensions, and meanings, a flash of surprise flickered in his clouded old eyes.

"You… want to make this?"

Master Chen pointed at the blueprint, his tone tinged with doubt.

This drawing is far more meticulous than a typical carpenter's sketch.

"Master Chen, we're counting on you!"

Jiang Ran's demeanor was very respectful, a smile plastered on his face.

"We want to hand‑craft a birthday staff for Grandma at home, but we're novices, know nothing, and just want to learn the basic tool usage and techniques from you; we've brought the wood ourselves, and will pay the labor fee!"

Su Ruan also said softly beside him, "Master Chen, we know this request is a bit abrupt, but we truly want to make this gift with our own hands."

"All we need is for you to point us in the right direction, tell us how to cut the material, how to use the chisel and plane, and how to sand."

"For the most difficult carving part, if it's convenient, could you roughly shape the lingzhi blank for us? We'll handle the fine sanding and the staff body's engraving ourselves."

Seeing the sincere eyes of the young couple, especially hearing that it was a birthday gift for the family's elder, and that they wanted to make it themselves, Master Chen's stern expression softened considerably.

He has spent his life dealing with wood, can't stand wasting good material, yet he most admires those with genuine intent.

"Hmph, today's youngsters still have this kind of heart, rare indeed," Master Chen snorted, essentially agreeing, "The tools are over there, help yourselves."

"Material… I'll first show you how to cut it, so you don't end up ruining my good wood later!"

In the days that followed, whenever Jiang Ran and Su Ruan had free time, they soaked up in Master Chen's tiny workshop, which was piled with wood.

The process naturally produced countless laughs, yet was filled with joy.

Jiang Ran was strong, but at first couldn't control himself; one swipe of the plane sent wood shavings flying, nearly causing him to tumble over.

Su Ruan's hand was steady, attempting to carve the Hui Character Pattern with a carving knife, but uneven pressure made one line deep and the other shallow.

"Oops! It's crooked again!"

Su Ruan looked at the twisted groove on the staff body and stamped her foot in frustration.

"It's fine, it's fine, my dear wife, look at me, I'm almost plane‑ing it into a cone!"

Jiang Ran held up the wooden stick in his hand, thick at one end and thin at the other, and laughed at himself heartily.

Master Chen watched from the side, occasionally snorting and offering a tip: "Use wrist power! Don't force it with dead strength!"

"Go with the grain! Do you want to split it?"

The two didn't get discouraged, encouraging each other, teasing each other, and gradually improving amid Master Chen's scolding.

Jiang Ran acquired a new wound on his hand, while Su Ruan's fingertips developed a thin callus.

Yet watching that rough piece of wood gradually take the shape of their design in their hands, the joy and sense of achievement of creation were indescribable.

Meanwhile, Su Ruan's clothing construction proceeded in parallel.

She carved out a small quiet corner in the shop, cutting carefully and sewing patiently.

That "shou" frog button was extremely a test of patience.

She repeatedly disassembled it several times until each "shou" character was evenly full.

The orchid grass inside the cuff, she embroidered stitch by stitch so lifelike that one could almost smell its faint fragrance.

The days flew by in busyness and anticipation.

Finally, on the day before Grandma's birthday, the two gifts, each infused with countless effort, were completed!

At the faint break of dawn, voices from the kitchen—Li Huijuan and Jiang Jiaojiao—could be heard.

"Mom, should we slice the meat thinly?"

"Right, your grandma's teeth aren't strong, so slice it thin. Also wash the small bok choy over there."

Jiang Jianguo, adjusting his collar, emerged from the inner room, and Li Huijuan, startled, asked, "You're not working today?"

"I took a day off," Jiang Jianguo said, buttoning his shirt, "Mom's first birthday after discharge, I have to be with her."

In the Main Hall, Jiang Nainai sits in a wheelchair adjusting her collar, and Jiang Jianguo walks over and squats down: "Mom, what do you want to eat today? I'll go out and buy it for you; I can't cook, so I have to leave it to your daughter‑in‑law."

"All good, all good," Jiang Nainai says with a smile, patting her son's hand, "Having you both by my side is better than anything."

Jiang Ran pulls Su Ruan out of the house and peeks toward the kitchen: "Mom, Jiang Jiaojiao, is there anything that needs help?"

Li Huijuan is dropping dumplings into the pot and, without turning her head, waves her hand: "Go, go, go, don't add to the mess here. Go keep Grandma company."

Jiang Jiaojiao lifts her flour‑covered hand as if to smear Jiang Ran's face: "Exactly, it's rare to see you so diligent."

Su Ruan purses her lips in a smile, turns and pours a cup of hot tea for Grandma.

Jiang Ran scratches his head and moves close to Grandma: "Alright, then we'll wait for the ready‑made food."