AWB Chapter 13 Pasting Couplets
Chapter 13 Pasting Couplets
After thinking about it for many days, Wu You decided to buy a small generator and bring modern appliances here.
In this weather, electricity is more convenient. We can set up electric blankets, electric ovens, and small heaters for Li Lianhua. We also can't keep an eye on the brazier all the time.
Those hot water bottles were quite warm when placed on the bed, but by the middle of the night, Li Lianhua's bed must have been ice cold.
Li Lianhua and I dislike crowds and live in a secluded place, with no other houses for miles around, so we figured no one would know about us.
So Wu You searched online for everything he needed and bought it all. Then, relying on his high school physics knowledge, online tutorials, and instruction manuals, he worked on fixing the wiring throughout the house.
Wu You didn't think about whether it had to meet modern electrical installation requirements; he just wanted it to be usable and safe.
So in the next few days, when Li Lianhua was resting in bed, she would see Wu You in her room, either reading a blank piece of paper intently or gesturing around with a rope, occasionally making tinkling sounds.
When asked what she was going to do, she wouldn't say, only saying mysteriously, "You'll find out when the time comes." Li Lianhua watched for three days straight but still couldn't understand a thing.
Li Lianhua picked up the blank sheets of paper to examine them closely, and indeed there wasn't a single word on them. However, Wu You stared at them with great interest, and sometimes even tried to do something based on them, which puzzled Li Lianhua.
On the fourth day, Wu You finally stopped and exclaimed, "Mission accomplished! The simplified circuit is a success! It was so difficult. Luckily, I just finished the college entrance exam. In a few years, this skill will be back in the hands of my physics teacher."
Li Lianhua was also curious; now that it was finally finished, she wanted to see what it was. As for the things she couldn't understand afterward, Wu You kept talking, so Li Lianhua simply ignored them.
Wu You went to the eaves outside the window, turned on the generator switch, and a huge roar immediately came, startling Li Lianhua. The sound subsided after a moment, and after covering it with wooden boards to keep out the rain and noise, and closing the doors and windows tightly after entering the house, it was almost inaudible.
Knowing that Li Lianhua was a martial artist with excellent hearing, she asked, "Brother Li, can you still hear the sound from earlier?"
“A little, but it doesn’t matter. It’s similar to the chirping of cicadas in summer. What have you been busy with these past few days? I haven’t seen any results yet.” Li Lianhua’s interest was indeed piqued.
"Watch carefully, and don't blink." Wu You reached out and tugged at a wire against the wall, and a beam of light entered Li Lianhua's field of vision from the ceiling, illuminating the room somewhat. Even though it was daytime, the light was still very bright.
"Is this what you've been working so hard for these past few days? It's really good; we can save on candles at night." Li Lianhua stared at the light bulb with great curiosity, as if trying to understand how it worked.
"Haha, kid, your vision is too narrow. Let's think bigger." Wu You said with a smug look, walking towards his room.
"Think big?" Li Lianhua asked, puzzled, looking at Wu You's actions.
Wu You returned to his room and moved all the electric heaters, including the small electric heater, electric oven, and electric blanket, that he had bought earlier to Li Lianhua's room. He helped Li Lianhua lay out the electric blanket and then explained the function and operation of each item, each switch, and the precautions for using electricity.
Li Lianhua exclaimed with surprise, "Youyou, I never imagined you were so amazing that you could actually use the lightning in the sky to your advantage."
Wu You waved his hand modestly: "It's nothing, just the power of science."
"Science? Did you bring all of these from the mountains? I'll keep one of them for you; take it back to your room and use it yourself."
"It was indeed brought from the mountains, so you can use it without worry. I have more, these are just for you."
"Thank you, Youyou." Although Li Lianhua didn't understand how Wu You had brought these things down the mountain, she didn't ask.
"Don't mention it, I'll replace it for you if it breaks." Wu You said generously, not caring at all. Even though the family was poor, they could still afford to provide Li Lianhua with these items.
Because Li Lianhua was still suffering from the effects of the poison from the green tea, the aftereffects persisted even after the New Year. On New Year's Day, the two of them did not go to the city to watch the festivities. All the items needed for the New Year were bought by Wu You the day before.
"Huahua, Happy New Year. You write the New Year couplets, and I'll put them up. This is our first New Year together. Even though it's just the two of us, we still need to observe the proper rituals."
Wu You arranged the couplet paper on the table, put down the brush and ink, and said to Li Lianhua, who was drinking.
"I'm coming right now. You're right, be careful when you're applying it." Li Lianhua put the thermos down and walked towards the table.
I don't know when it happened, but Wu You stopped calling him 'Brother Li' and started calling him 'Lotus' or 'Flower' instead. When asked why, she said matter-of-factly, "It's just a form of address. Besides, we're already so familiar with each other. Calling him Brother Li would make us seem too distant."
If she heard "Brother Li" later, it probably meant that she had upset her in some way. Although she didn't know what she had done wrong, Li Lianhua knew that Wu You would never take her anger out on her when she was angry outside. Although she didn't know why she was so sure.
Li Lianhua stood in front of the table, thought for a moment, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote: "The three yangs begin to spread and the four seasons begin to open; the four characters begin to open and blessings and happiness begin to be renewed." The horizontal scroll read: "All things are renewed."
Looking at Li Lianhua's continuous strokes and vigorous style, Wu You couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, Huahua, you write so well! And these characters, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to reach your level even if I practiced for another ten years!"
"It's not as exaggerated as you say. You're not bad either, Youyou. With a little more practice, you'll catch up with me." Seeing Wu You's exaggerated praise, Li Lianhua couldn't help but feel happy.
"I still know my own limitations; I can only barely recognize it. Hua Hua, are you tired? If not, write a few more pieces, and I'll put them up on the courtyard gate too. Such fine calligraphy—I must collect one piece. Such a masterpiece shouldn't be missed." Wu You rubbed his hands together, his face full of ill intent.
Seeing Wu You's sly look, Li Lianhua couldn't help but laugh: "It's just words, you can have as many as you want, don't be shy."
"Huahua is the best. You write first, I'll go put this one up first." Wu You smiled happily, picked up the couplets, and went out the door. When Wu You came back after putting them up, Li Lianhua had already written several more and placed them on the table.
"Huahua, you're so fast! You've already written so many paintings, and they're still so well done."
“Writing this isn’t difficult, let’s go put it up together.” Li Lianhua picked up the couplets and was about to walk out.
"Stop, stop, stop! You know what's going on outside. You can't go out in the wind. I'll go." Wu You quickly stopped her. Li Lianhua couldn't afford to get cold right now. Pointing to the smaller couplets, she said, "Write these down too. I'll put them on the window later."
“I know my own body; it’s not that delicate,” Li Lianhua retorted.
"No, my objection is invalid. If you do my job, what am I supposed to do? You see, I won't take your job." Wu You firmly objected.
"Alright, then come back soon and don't catch a cold." Seeing Wu You's firm attitude, Li Lianhua had no choice but to compromise.
I don’t know if the two of us have gotten to know each other better recently or if my poison from the green tea has flared up and I’m feeling cold. Whenever I’m exposed to cold wind or get chilled, Wu You is firmly against it, and no matter what I say, it won’t work.
I don't know if Wu You will feel this way every time the poison from the green tea takes effect in the future, but I wonder if this feeling is too bad.
…………