If her father and the others see it, they will surely praise her. Perhaps her mother, seeing her progress, might also offer a few words of praise.
Once the ink dried, Lian Hua called for someone to bring her second prepared gift—a collection of ugly dolls and purses. Each piece of paper, written for every person, was neatly folded and tucked into the purse holding the ugly doll. These were made by her own hands, each one unique for its recipient.
By the time everything was done, it was long past the usual bedtime.
Lying in bed, Lian Hua still couldn't sleep, with a fiery warmth in her heart. She wished she could leap straight into the next day. Her spirits were high, shifting from her left side to the right, she couldn't sleep due to the joy and excitement. It was nearly midnight and she was still awake.
