She Became A Downfall Noble Lady-Chapter 52 - Simple Novel Toys

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Simple Novel Toys

Chapter 52 -52: Simple Novel Toys

It wasn’t long before Ye Xinyan was holding something in her hand, leading Qi Jia out.

“Look, my bird can fly,” Ye Xinyan breathed on the paper airplane and threw it.

As to why she had to breathe on the paper airplane… she didn’t know either, it was just a habit. Because the little seniors from her childhood played this way, so she followed suit dutifully.

The paper airplane flew out at an angle for a short distance before nose-diving.

Uh, it didn’t work.

Ye Xinyan stared, shocked, as the paper airplane crashed.

When she was young, the paper airplanes she folded flew long and steady, they were the best among all the children in the village. Even the older boys couldn’t compare to her, and such an accident had never occurred before.

Indeed, practice makes perfect, but play leads to decay, the ancients truly did not deceive me. Having not done it for a while, this child’s play of craftsmanship could actually become rusty.

To Ye Xinyan, the paper airplane was an utter failure, but to Qi Jia, and even to Nanny Jin and Qi Younian, it was as successful as could be.

“What is that? It actually flew? Was it folded from paper?” Nanny Jin asked in surprise.

“I didn’t fold it well, let me fold it again,” Ye Xinyan hurried to retrieve the crashed paper airplane, but a small hand beat her to it.

Qi Jia surprisingly managed to dash over with blinding speed and pick up the paper airplane, examining it curiously before reluctantly handing it back to Ye Xinyan, the eagerness and reluctance in his eyes impossible to hide.

Ye Xinyan took it back, reassuring him, “Sister will make it even better in no time. Once Sister re-folds it, it will fly far away, then it will be even more fun for you to play with.”

Qi Jia’s fondness for the paper airplane made him forget that this sister was not as gentle and soft-spoken with him as Nanny Jin, often scaring him with her stern demeanor, but he just eagerly followed Ye Xinyan, watching the strange little object in her hands.

Ye Xinyan unfolded the paper airplane and refolded it, then took it to the yard to test fly. The re-folded paper airplane indeed performed excellently, gliding smoothly for a good distance before elegantly turning and landing steadily at the other end of the yard.

“There,” Ye Xinyan said proudly, clapping her hands and giving Nanny Jin a boastful look, then told Qi Jia, “You go get it and give it a try.”

Nanny Jin, receiving Ye Xinyan’s boastful expression, laughingly scolded, “How grown up are you to be so proud over a little toy? Other families cannot make this because paper is too expensive; ordinary families cannot afford to buy it.”

Ye Xinyan pouted, but she knew in her heart that this was the truth.

Little Qi Jia had just started playing with this, strictly speaking, it was his first ever plaything, and he was not yet adept at controlling his strength. After Ye Xinyan taught him hand by hand twice, Qi Jia’s paper airplane began to fly quite well.

“There, go play by yourself. But remember, don’t run after the Paper Bird, you must walk. If you don’t listen and fall, hurting your back again, I’ll have to take the Paper Bird away,” Ye Xinyan clapped her hands and instructed.

Ye Xinyan felt even more proud inside. This way, she no longer needed to resort to the monotonous, idiotic phrase “I’ll thrash you” to threaten children.

Please forgive her for changing the name of such a classic toy to only “Paper Bird,” as everyone is unaware of what an airplane is.

Qi Jia’s fondness for the paper airplane exceeded Ye Xinyan’s expectations. The little one played with it incessantly without growing weary, even placing it beside him during lunch, so engrossed that he forgot his usual anxiety and helplessness.

In just two days, Qi Jia had already managed to sit upright next to Qi Younian at the kang table, eating by himself. Although he wasn’t very skilled with chopsticks, he dangerously managed to pick up food and shakily bring it to his mouth.

After lunch, when the family took a moment to digest before their afternoon nap, Nanny Jin watched over Qi Jia as he played with his paper airplane in the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Ye Xinyan was inside the house, sketching a tricycle for toddlers. Qi Younian, aware that Ye Xinyan planned to make a small cart for Qi Jia, curiously watched by her side.

Paper in this era was truly expensive, and Ye Xinyan couldn’t bear to waste it. She first outlined the shape with faint strokes of a fine charcoal stick, making adjustments until a basic form took shape, then deepened the lines. Even with such caution, she still wasted two sheets of paper before roughly outlining the shape of the children’s tricycle.

As for the details of the tricycle, she dared not draw them out so conspicuously. She left it to the more experienced Qi Younian to refine, merely hinting at key points under the guise of casual remarks, to provide subtle suggestions.

Once the shape of the toddler tricycle was complete, Qi Younian examined it closely, offering praise, “Ye Zi, how did you come up with such an ingenious device? Didn’t you say you wanted to make a moving cart? How is this supposed to move?”

With uncertainty, Ye Xinyan replied, “It should work, I think. Grandfather, you’ve done many projects; you’ll surely come up with a solution.”

The tricycle was essentially a combination of the ancient pedal water wheel, wheel hubs, and a frame. With only a few hints, grandfather or a cart-making carpenter would surely understand the mechanism.

Qi Younian had a solid foundation in craftsmanship, or else he wouldn’t have been capable of leading a diverse group of workers in his younger years. He pondered how the cart could have a transmission function.

After a long contemplation, he said, “Your drawings are quite good, but there are many details that need to be thought out before it can function. I will make this cart. If there’s anything unclear, we can discuss it. It may take more time, but better that than rashly taking it to a carpenter. As a lady, you can’t be expected to stay by a carpenter’s side to discuss the work constantly, can you?”

“I only have a general idea of it. As for how to actually make it, I have no clue. Please don’t hold too high expectations of me.”

Of course, she didn’t believe that just with this outline, a carpenter would be able to make the tricycle. The rough sketch would probably be indecipherable to an ordinary carpenter.

Qi Younian mulled over the outline drawn by Ye Xinyan thoughtfully, “What you’ve drawn here, I think can be made. It’s getting late today, let’s start tomorrow. I’ll source some good, resilient wood tomorrow. By consulting with each other, grandfather and grandson, we will certainly succeed.”

With this novel concept, Qi Younian experienced an excitement he had not felt in many years. He was eager to create this unprecedented amusing object, to flex his skills, and to provide a proper toy for his grandson.

Indeed, it was getting late, and Ye Xinyan glanced at the position of the sun, saying resignedly, “I’ve disturbed your nap today, Grandfather. There’s still a little time; you could lie down and rest for a while. I’ll try to sleep too and see if I can manage. After we rest, I will tell you about that rich young master from today.”

Today, their routine had been disrupted by Prince Yu Jinrong, delaying their closing up the stall for a significant time, resulting in their return also being late. Everyone was preoccupied with preparing and having their meal, and then Ye Xinyan was busy drawing and had almost forgotten about it.

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Qi Younian had been consistently concerned, but since Ye Xinyan had not brought it up, he feared asking directly might touch on her sorrows, and so he had refrained.

Hearing Ye Xinyan mention it now, he went along with her, “Then we’ll discuss it later.”

Speaking of which, he was actually quite curious about that young master’s identity. In his early years, he had encountered some nobles, and during the ten years of military service, he had even seen generals on a border patrol a few times. But compared to those people, today’s young master seemed even more dignified and imposing.