"What exactly is her specialty?" Ouyang Manqing asked, her curiosity piqued.
Zhu Yanyi smiled and said, "Her specialty is that she can do everything, which means she isn't really good at anything specific. But if you want her to perform, sand painting is best. Her hands are very fast."
"Sand painting?" Ouyang Manqing looked at Zhu Yanyi. "What is that?"
Zhu Yanyi realized sand painting wasn't known yet. She explained, "Doumiao dislikes formal things. She knows them but refuses to do them. Once, she drew poorly. Grandpa was angry and made her stand outside. There was a pile of sand there. Bored, she took a piece of glass and drew with the sand. When Grandpa came out, she saw the drawing was more lively than on paper. Sand painting can tell stories. It is more fun. So, Grandpa had a special tool made for her. It is very interesting. If you can make the tool, you can use this act."
"Ani, what do you need for the tool? Write it down for me. I will have people prepare it." Ouyang Manqing had an idea. This new thing would be a great act. Zhu Yanyi knew her thoughts and didn't refuse. "I will write it for you later. But Auntie, are you sure you can make it quickly?"
Ouyang Manqing laughed. "It won't delay the show. We have a prop team. They will find a way to make whatever we need. Don't worry."
Zhu Yanyi was curious about the prop team. She thought she should visit them someday to see how they worked. Xie Yijun saw her curious look and smiled. "I always thought Ani was an adult. Now I see she is still a child."
Zhu Yanyi paused, then touched her cheek. "I am only fourteen. I am a minor. Why do you call me an adult, Uncle Yijun?"
Xie Yijun and Ouyang Manqing looked at each other and smiled broadly. "Ani, you say you are a minor, but you act so steady. You don't look like a child."
Zhu Yanyi blinked. She always did things as she pleased. Hearing their words, she realized she did act unlike a child. Should she change? No. Changing now would seem fake. Better to stay as she is. "That is because I am a genius. Geniuses are like this."
She sounded very proud. Xie Yijun and Ouyang Manqing laughed loudly again. Xie Jingyun, standing nearby, looked at Zhu Yanyi in shock. "Sister Ani, I thought I was arrogant. I didn't know you were more arrogant than me."
"You are the arrogant one. I am confident." Zhu Yanyi laughed too. The dinner table was full of smiles.
Summer camps were popular abroad long ago. In China, they only started recently. The goal was to broaden children's horizons and build independence. Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Zhibin joined the second camp in Shanghai. The activities followed current trends, focusing on rural performances and military life.