The three little ones looked at her with serious faces, asking what she wanted to play. They were clearly showing their respect for their big sister as brothers should.
Qixun felt gratified, but honestly, she really wanted to say, "Sis is a grown-up now, I really don't need you guys to keep me company while playing games."
But the three little ones, out of gratitude for the sweet dates, felt it was their duty to make sure their big sister had fun.
Qixun had no choice but to pull a stem of sedge and start weaving little animals for them.
The three little ones were over the moon.
Country kids didn't have many toys, and adults hardly ever had the mind to make any—too busy with the fields as it was.
Qixun was nimble-fingered, and the little animals she made were so lifelike that for the three little ones, what started as giving Sister Little Xun face because of the sweet dates—putting up with playing with her as a benevolent gesture—suddenly turned into a real delight.
