Day 2002: The mechanism of the zongzi box, an English character action description
As of this article: 24th book
Chinese and English total: 1.220 million words, 498,000 words in English, 722,000 words in Chinese
"Diary of a Cloud"
2002nd Heaven (5.4) June 7, 2023 (III)
Day 2002, Jun 7, 2023 (Wed)
(Excerpt)
Seldom does Yunduo'er come to the door to greet me at the end of the day. But today, the lock turned with a low clack when I was on the other side of the door. What then emerged from behind the door being slowly opened was her petite figure standing there and gazing up at me as if this were our first meeting. Maybe only-God-knows-who had given Yunduo'er a hunch that she were in for a delightful surprise. "Yunduo'er, look at what I've brought you: a wonderful gift to you from my colleagues," I called. Then, of course, Yunduo'er took the cardboard box from my hands quickly and expectantly.
Every day after work, the clouds rarely come to greet me. But today, while I was still outside the door, the lock turned, and only a low click was heard. The door slowly opened, and a small cloud appeared, standing there looking up at me, as if we had never seen it before. Maybe the clouds will feel that they will get a surprise. "Yunduo'er, look what I brought you, the gift my colleagues gave you," I said loudly. Next, of course, Yun Duo'er eagerly took the carton from my hand.
Yunduo'er put the box on the floor and knelt down beside it, all set to explore the unknown. The moment the outer casing was completely lifted, its grip on the box's four sides suddenly loosened off - the four sides instantly clicked into gear. Lo and behold: four groups of well-conceived cardboard cutouts arranged in a way of depth and in formation stretched for parades. Apparently the box was for sticky rice in bamboo shoots, but it was a contraption with a sideline job: to spring a surprise. The cutouts depicted the legendary animals and characters as well as the time-honored folksy activities associated with Chinese traditional Dragon Boat Festival. Yunduo'er roamed around the box on all fours, studying the thingamabob.
Yun Duo'er put the carton on the ground and knelt beside her, ready to explore the unknown. The moment the shell was completely lifted, the four sides that had been tightly wrapped suddenly reacted violently. Behold: four beautiful sets of cardboard cutouts stretch out, arranged in depth, like a combat team. They are to measure this phase. On the surface, the carton is filled with rice dumplings, but in fact, it is a mechanism, that is, it is to burst a cold by the way. Those clippings depict mythological characters, animals and ancient folk activities from the traditional Dragon Boat Festival of the Chinese nation. Yun Duo'er hovered around the cardboard box, scrutinizing the thing.
Yunduo'er's thanks go to the ayis and one shushu for the wonderful Dragon Boat Festival gift.
More than a dozen aunts and an uncle of the super advanced English reading club gave Yun Duoer a beautiful gift for the Dragon Boat Festival, and Yun Duoer expressed her gratitude.
Fun expressions and slang:
- Set is ready
- (grip) loosen off (grasp hand) release
- Click into gear Get started
- Lo and behold
- Cutout cutout cutouts
- in formation Form a queue
- parade review
- sticky rice in bamboo shoots 粽子
- Shoot shoots
- Contraption complex devices
- Sideline's side hustle
- Spring A Surprise is unexpected, amazing
- Time-honored ancient
- Roam roaming
- on all fours 趴着
- Study carefully
- thingamabob (colloquial expression) Something that doesn't know a name or can't remember a name