Third Uncle’s legs were severed about three inches below the knee. It was estimated that a Northern Qi broadsword had swept through and caused the injury.
At that time, Third Uncle was only thirteen years old. How excruciating that must have been.
However, Concubine Mei said that Third Uncle, who had lost his legs then, did not become discouraged. He persisted in riding and practicing martial arts, truly a teenage hero.
Now, Third Uncle is only thirty-six or thirty-seven years old. He no longer possesses the youthful spirit of the past, but instead has acquired a considerable amount of belligerence, and his entire demeanor has become much more dispirited.
Yet, Bai Sheng felt that given the immense life tribulations Third Uncle had endured, it was already remarkable that he could maintain a kind disposition.
For the rest of his life, she hoped Third Uncle could gradually reclaim the happiness that rightfully belonged to him.
Currently, Third Uncle is quite self-conscious, thus he retreats into himself in reality, afraid to pursue his own happiness.
Bai Sheng decided to enhance Third Uncle’s height, to craft him a pair of long, elegant legs, so that when he stood up, Third Uncle would be as tall and straight as a pine tree, with confidence bursting.
The standard for the long legs was based on Lu Ye’s, so the length of the prosthetics was indeed long enough.
After the prosthetics were made, they would be fitted with extended soap boots, making it impossible to tell from the outside that they were prosthetics.
However, due to the limited materials, there was a technical challenge in making the prosthetics: how to ensure they fit securely without falling off, and without chafing the skin.
Although Third Uncle’s skin was thick and tough, it couldn't be subjected to such excessive wear and tear.
Bai Sheng entrusted this technical challenge to Lu Ye.
Lu Ye’s practical skills were far superior to hers, and he should be able to overcome the difficulty.
Lu Ye had never seen prosthetics before. After Bai Sheng mentally created a wooden model of the prosthetic socket, she explained to him how to wear the prosthetics and how to prevent the skin at the contact points from being abraded during wear. Lu Ye understood instantly.
After pondering for an entire night, Lu Ye fashioned several round leather sleeves of suitable sizes from cowhide, which could be fitted onto the severed limbs to prevent friction and skin breakage.
Then, he drilled several rows of small holes in the prosthetic sockets and threaded cowhide ropes through the holes, binding them to the legs. This would make them more secure and less likely to fall off.
The next day, a pair of simple yet exquisite prosthetic legs was placed before Third Uncle.
This time, Third Uncle finally understood what prosthetics were all about.
He held his two new legs, looking at them from all angles, completely engrossed.
Bai Sheng smiled and said, "Third Uncle, quickly put them on and try them."
"If Third Uncle feels uncomfortable, I can make further adjustments until you are comfortable," Lu Ye said.
"Mmm, good, good!" Third Uncle was so excited that he was almost speechless.
Upon hearing that Third Uncle was about to try on the prosthetics, the family members all rushed over to watch.
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Third Uncle eagerly put on the prosthetics, then stood up with full confidence, preparing to show off his elegant posture. However, as soon as he lifted his foot, he tumbled to the ground with a thud.
Except for Fourth Uncle and Fourth Cub, who let out loud laughter, everyone else present did not laugh. Instead, they looked nervously at Third Uncle, who was lying on the ground.
Lu Ye and Yang Ming immediately went to help him up, but Third Uncle resolutely pushed them away, "I can do it myself."
Third Uncle, with a stubborn expression, got up from the ground, supported himself by the nearby chair, and stood steadily. After walking a short distance, holding onto the chair, he attempted to let go of it, cautiously, step by step, moving forward.
Witnessing him successfully walk several meters, everyone began to applaud and cheer for him.
Third Uncle grinned broadly with excitement.
For the two days before the opening of the "Red Pink Beauty" shop, Third Uncle practiced walking at home. His pace gradually quickened, and his steps became steadier.
Heavens! He had truly stood up again! He no longer had to have his old face mixed with a pile of buttocks every day. At a height of 1.8 meters, far from the madding crowd, the air was truly fresh.
Third Uncle said that on the day the "Red Pink Beauty" shop opened, he would join the security team.
Bai Sheng happily agreed.
Bai Sheng, who had been busy with the preparations for the opening, suddenly noticed that Fourth Cub’s walking posture had become a bit strange.
When the little ones walked, their backs were slightly arched backward, and their legs were stretched straight, like two unbending wooden sticks, slowly shuffling forward, resembling four tiny wooden puppets.
Bai Sheng checked the pulses of all four children, finding no abnormalities. She also examined their leg bones, which were also very healthy.
"Hua Hua, why are you walking like that? Does your leg hurt? Tell Mother," Bai Sheng asked Hua Hua with concern, hugging her.
Hua Hua shook her head, "No, no."
"Ye Ye, Rui Rui, and Yi Yi, do your legs hurt?" Bai Sheng asked the other three cubs.
The three cubs all shook their heads.
"Your legs don't hurt, so why are you walking like this?" Bai Sheng was worried.
Such beautiful children, if they continued to walk like this when they grew up, it would greatly affect their overall temperament!
Lu Ye happened to pass by. Seeing the mother’s worried expression, he curved his lips slightly, walked over, pointed to Third Uncle, who was practicing walking in the distance, then pointed to the four cubs, and looked at Bai Sheng with amusement.
Bai Sheng looked at Third Uncle, then at the four cubs, and suddenly let out a chuckle.
Ah, it turned out that the four little ones were imitating their Third Granduncle’s way of walking.
Bai Sheng slapped her forehead. She had been too busy these past two days, not being home at all, so she hadn't considered this possibility.
"Are you imitating Third Granduncle’s walk?" Bai Sheng squatted down and asked the four cubs with a smile.
The four cubs nodded, then as if to show off in front of their mother, they ran behind their Third Granduncle and imitated his puppet-like walk.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye laughed until their sides ached.
When Third Uncle saw the four cubs imitating his walk, he laughed so hard that he almost choked, lost his balance, and fell on his backside.
When everyone saw this, they burst into laughter again.
Finally, it was the day of the "Red Pink Beauty" shop opening. Except for Little Drum, who guarded the door, the entire household went to help.
The men of the household were not allowed to enter the shop. Bai Sheng divided them into two groups. The young and beautiful group wore matching red outfits and stood in two lines outside the shop entrance, serving as greeters, security guards, and a beautiful spectacle to attract the attention of women.
Third Uncle forcefully included himself in the young and beautiful group, so he wore a red outfit and indeed looked quite dashing.
Due to insufficient numbers, Lu Ye also borrowed a few gorgeously beautiful individuals from the neighboring Wei residence.
Lu Ye was too handsome, and to prevent infatuated women from coveting his beauty, he had to wear a mask. As for Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle, they also had to wear masks to conceal their appearances.
For uniformity, Bai Sheng decided to have everyone in the beautiful group wear masks, specifically matching red fox masks.
This, in turn, added a touch of mystery and further attracted attention.
Fourth Uncle, with his naturally tall stature and exquisite features, was naturally in the beautiful group. However, Bai Sheng worried that he might get playful and accidentally remove his mask, so she applied makeup to him to conceal his true appearance.
Even if the mask were to accidentally fall off, it would be difficult to recognize him as a member of the Baili family.