Rebirth of a Village Girl

Mo Qishen exclaimed in surprise, “Yangyang, you’re really amazing!”

“Want to learn? I can teach you.” Ni Yan looked up at him.

“Okay.” Mo Qishen nodded, his obedience akin to a big, dumbfounded dog, a far cry from his usual demeanor.

Ni Yan handed him a pair of scissors, “First, fold the red paper like I did, and then cut it like this…”

Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying a comforting softness. Mo Qishen, however, couldn’t focus on the paper cutting task at all. He wished he could fold her up and hide her away in his pocket, away from anyone else’s gaze.

So, when all the steps were completed, Ni Yan’s paper cutting formed a lively- looking little rabbit, while Mo Qishen’s was just a messy piece of red paper. “Yangyang, am I too stupid?” Mo Qishen looked at Ni Yan, somewhat embarrassed.

Ni Yan nodded confirmingly, “Hmm, you are a bit slow. But don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you.” With that, she leaned over to take the red paper from his hand, guiding him through the motions, “Brother Mo, you need to do it this way. There’s a trick here. If you fold over from this side, it will work. Don’t be too nervous, just relax.”

Oh.” Mo Qishen’s heartbeat sped up, feeling so nervous that even his ears flushed red.

If Ni Yan moved any closer, he might forget how to breathe.

Seeing Mo Qishen so, Ni Yan chuckled, “Brother Mo, I won’t bite. What are you nervous about?”

Their actions weren’t overly intimate; they were just a bit close. After all, Ni Yan had come from the modern world; she was free from any shackles.

But Mo Qishen was different. He had never been this close to a girl before.

“I’m not nervous, not at all,” Mo Qishen insisted, though his hand holding the scissors was shaking.

Seeing this, Ni Yan laughed even harder, “Brother Mo, just keep working on your paper cutting. Take your time, don’t rush. I’ll go check outside.”

As he watched Ni Yan’s receding figure, Mo Qishen silently raised his left hand and smacked his right hand hard.

Stop shaking!

Stop shaking!

Stop shaking!

What a coward!

After a moment, footsteps sounded outside the door; Mo Qishen immediately straightened up and got seriously back to cutting the window paper, like a primary school student who was caught doing something wrong by the teacher.

Ni Yan walked in with a plate of warm bread, “Brother Mo, want some bread?”

Mo Qishen replied without lifting his head, “I’ll eat after I finish this.”

After about ten minutes, Mo Qishen lifted up his head and held up the finished paper cutting, “Yangyang, is this paper cutting I made nice?”

Ni Yan burst out laughing, “Brother Mo, you’re so clumsy.”

Mo Qishen: “…”

Ni Yan handed Mo Qishen a piece of bread, “Brother Mo, eat some bread first.”

Mo Qishen took the bread and, feeling depressed, took a couple of bites. How could he be so clumsy?

He can’t even make good paper cuttings!

Ni Yan continued, “Brother Mo, I was just joking with you. You’re not stupid. Paper cutting is handiwork, and it’s normal for a man like you not to be good at it.”

Mo Qishen looked up at Ni Yan, “Really?”

Ni Yan nodded.

After finishing the paper cuttings, Ni Yan brought out a brush and red paper and began writing couplets.

Because buying couplets was too expensive, most of the couplets at this time were hand-written.

Ni Yan handed the brush to Mo Qishen, “Brother Mo, do you want to try this?”

Having failed at paper cutting, Mo Qishen certainly wanted to redeem himself on the couplets!

Mo Qishen took the brush and started to write swiftly and confidently.

Graceful and powerful, his calligraphy was naturally impressive!

It was much more elaborate than the couplets bought on the street!

Ni Chengui came in from outside and remarked in surprise, “Xiaomo, your writing is really nice, no less impressive than that of Yangyang!”

Those who are good-looking all write well.

Indeed, a person’s character can be seen from their handwriting.

“Thankyou for the compliment, Auntie Ni,” Mo Qishen responded modestly, “I’m embarrassed.”

Ni Yan laughed, “We have five doors in total here, plus ten at Auntie Ni’s and one in the courtyard, making sixteen. Sister Ni and I are going to put up the couplets. Brother Mo, the sixteen doors are all yours.”

Mo Qishen replied, “It would be my honor.”

Then, Ni Yan and Ni Chenggui went out together to put up the couplets.