Yunlan handed the shoes to him and told him to ask Juhua not to make his shoes anymore, lest she prick her hands. She said she would just make them for him herself.
"If Juhua wants to practice, she can make single-layer shoes—their soles are thinner. I'll make her cotton-padded shoes for her, too," Yunlan said.
Qingmu looked at her rough hands and asked with concern, "With so much to do at home, will you be able to manage? Please don't stay up late. Working by an oil lamp is terrible for your eyes. I used to read at night, so I know better than anyone. That's why I started waking up early to read instead."
He gazed at her, feeling a pang of reluctance. 'She said she'd make shoes for me and Juhua, but she'll surely make a pair for my parents, too. She's just too embarrassed to mention it. That would be far too tiring for her.'
