As the clear reading voices from the Yi School drifted through the willow curtains, Xiao Molih was mixing mineral green in Moli Pavilion. Huwa was squatting on the windowsill carving a "little ink-protecting figurine," while the Abacus Beads fixed their gaze on the new pine-patterned bracelet her father had just given her. Zhang Yifan walked in, swaying his Abacus Bead Pouch. A "little book-protecting figurine" carved by Huwa was pinned to his cyan robe, and he was still holding a volume of *Miscellaneous Records of the Way of Commerce* in his hand.
"Does Miss Xiao know," he arranged the abacus beads on the inkstone to form the character for 'righteousness', "twenty-three more children came to sign up at the Yi School today than yesterday—" The abacus beads suddenly bounced into the shape of ancient copper coins. "Member Li's second son says he wants to learn from the impoverished scholars in paintings, and carry firewood before reading."
"That rascal is annoying me with data again!" Xiao Molih dropped her brush, but then noticed the wood shavings clinging to his sleeve—leftovers from the prank Huwa had scattered that morning. The ink in the inkstone mixed with the wood shavings, gleaming with fine, scattered light under the sunlight, looking remarkably like the abacus beads twinkling at an auction.
Chapter 94