The old woman carefully studied A Bai, raising his head and swishing his tail on her grandson's wrist. She clicked her tongue in wonder. "It's so lifelike."
"Old Wood really is incredible..."
After a long while, the old woman finally looked up again.
Her words were full of emotion. "Old Wood really did carve another one and send it over..."
"...What a stubborn fellow."
And although he had carved another piece that was nearly identical, he had absolutely not phoned it in...
This wood carving was clearly much more finely finished...
The old woman felt admiration.
For her old neighbor's tireless study and refinement of his craft...
"Congratulations to your father."
The old woman smiled until her eyes narrowed.
"His skill has improved again."
"Next time I see your father, I really will have to call him a master."
The old woman's praise of Mu Tan Song's father made him very happy, but her teasing right afterward left him unsure how to respond.
In the end, he put on a broad smile.
"Old Wood really put his heart into this..."
The old woman couldn't bear to put the wood carving down.
"It's so exquisite..."
"It's a work of art..."
"Oh."
The old woman looked puzzled. "Why didn't your father come?"
Normally, after producing such an impressive work, that fellow should have come over to "show off" to them.
Mu Tan Song repeated to the old woman what he had told Xiao Xiao earlier.
The old woman nodded as she listened. "Oh, oh, I see."
She furrowed her brow slightly.
The timing really hadn't worked out.
Inspiration had struck just when things were busy.
But inspiration was mysterious above all; it came without warning and left just as inexplicably.
That was why it was so important to