The foundation ceremony of the Yi School was held under the locust tree in the south of the city. Moli's hand holding the wolf-hair brush trembled slightly—not from the biting wind, but because her father had unexpectedly appeared among the guests, his gaze resting on the green ox pattern on her sleeve with a seemingly profound meaning.
"Don't be afraid, Sister Xiao!" Huwa brandished his carving knife, chiseling a small figure holding a book on the stone pillar, the abacus beads for eyes fixed on the foundation tablet. "I'll carve a 'guard-school grimace' to keep the mischievous ghosts from coming to cause trouble!" At the wooden carving's waist was tucked a miniature wolf-hair brush, clearly carved in Moli's likeness.
Zhang Yifan strolled over, shaking his Abacus Bead Pouch. Pinned to his cyan robe was the newly carved "guard-doctrine figurine" by Huwa, its abacus bead eyes gazing at the muddy ground of the playground. "Member Li's ten carts of charcoal have already arrived, and Master Wang's charity rice is on the way—" He suddenly lowered his voice, his warm breath brushing against the tip of her ear. "Though the most valuable thing of all is the plaque Miss Xiao is going to inscribe for the Yi School."
Chapter 93