Li Jin squatted down, placed his hands behind his back, and then hopped forward like a frog.
Duoduo leaned close to Yingniang's ear and whispered.
"This is so fun. He looks exactly like a frog."
Yingniang smiled playfully at Duoduo and made a shushing gesture.
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
"Alright, do you two understand how to do it? If so, let's begin!"
After taking a few hops, Li Jin turned back to look at Duoduo and Yingniang.
Giggling, Duoduo squatted down, put her hands behind her back, and pushed off hard with her feet.
"Ah!"
Duoduo cried out in alarm.
She almost fell flat on her face.
Duoduo scrambled up from the ground and began to reflect on what she had done wrong.
Furrowing her brows, she recalled Li Jin's movements from a moment ago.
It seemed that Li Jin's movements were exactly the same as hers.
Unconvinced, Duoduo squatted down again.
"Hiyah!"
She exerted all her strength.
Because she was being very careful, she didn't fall forward this time.
However, she didn't manage to hop up either.
Why was that?
Duoduo couldn't figure it out.
She had encountered the first Waterloo of her life.
Stubbornly digging in her heels, Duoduo squatted down again to retry the hop.
This time, not only did she fail to jump, but because she used too much force, she pitched forward.
Fortunately, her reflexes were quick, and she caught herself with her hands.
Sweat from her forehead dripped into Duoduo's eyes, stinging them until she wanted to cry.
She raised a hand and wiped away the sweat and tears in one go.
Standing up straight, Duoduo saw that Yingniang had already hopped quite a few paces.
Duoduo began to observe her earnestly.
She watched how Yingniang squatted and what her posture looked like.
When did she initiate the jump? What did her body look like?
Finally, Duoduo noticed the difference.
As it turned out, when Yingniang squatted, she didn't go all the way down; instead, she stayed on her tiptoes.
Duoduo didn't bother to think about the underlying reason. She simply mimicked Yingniang's posture and jumped again.
Sure enough, she hopped up.
Even though it was just a tiny movement forward.
But to Duoduo, it was already a massive improvement!
Overjoyed, Duoduo wiped away her sweat and hurried to catch up.
The dream was beautiful, but the reality was harsh.
In truth, after four or five hops, Duoduo couldn't hop anymore.
Frogs obviously hopped so effortlessly, so why couldn't she do it?
Duoduo felt a bit discouraged.
Li Jin, who had been observing Duoduo from the sidelines, walked over.
He squatted down in front of her.
"Does the Princess feel that her legs are very tired?"
Duoduo nodded in frustration.
This was even more exhausting than making her run laps yesterday!
"Has the Princess forgotten that there are cloth bags tied to your legs?"
"The bags add to your weight, which is why hopping feels so tiring."
"Once you get used to this weight, I will take the bags off, and you will feel as light as a swallow."
Duoduo's previously dim eyes instantly lit up.
"As light as a swallow? Does that mean I can fly?"
Li Jin pursed his lips.
"I cannot guarantee that you'll be able to fly."
"However, I can assure you that you will be able to run very fast and jump very high."
Duoduo deflated again.
"Then never mind. Why would I need to run so fast or jump so high?"
Li Jin smiled.
"What if you encounter danger? These skills could help you escape."
Duoduo still didn't quite understand, but she knew one thing for sure.
The things Li Jin was teaching her were definitely useful.
"Teacher, can I ask you a question?"
Li Jin nodded. "Please ask, Princess."
"Why can't I hop as effortlessly as you? And why can't I hop as far?"
Li Jin nodded.
"Those are two excellent questions!"
"The reason I make it look so easy is that I have been hopping for over ten years."
"If you want to hop far, it's very simple: practice more!"
Hearing Li Jin's explanation, Duoduo opened her mouth wide in shock.
"Teacher, you've practiced for over ten years?"
"Correct."
"Then can you fly like a swallow?" Duoduo asked, her face full of curiosity.
"Do you want to see?" Li Jin asked.
Duoduo nodded excitedly.
"Yes, I want to see!"
"Then finish hopping this lap. Once you're done, I'll tell you!"
Li Jin revealed a smug smile.
Duoduo looked at Yingniang, who was already halfway through the lap, and lacked confidence.
"Teacher, tell me first, can you fly?"
Li Jin pondered for a moment.
"I don't know about flying, but leaping onto roofs and vaulting over walls is certainly possible."
Duoduo's eyes instantly lit up.
"Teacher, you just said that as long as I finish hopping this lap, you'll fly."
"Do you keep your word? You're not tricking me, are you?"
Li Jin looked at Duoduo.
"A gentleman's word is a bond that a team of four horses cannot chase down!"
"Alright!"
Duoduo quickly squatted down and continued hopping forward.
Having just rested for a bit, Duoduo now had some strength back.
Furthermore, she had found the knack for it.
This time, she hopped a little faster than before.
Additionally, Yingniang was deliberately pausing to wait for her.
So, before long, Duoduo caught up to Yingniang.
"Sister, I caught up to you!"
Yingniang turned her head and smiled at Duoduo.
"Duoduo, you're amazing!"
Duoduo was thrilled.
"Sister, let's do our best together!"
"Teacher said that once I finish hopping this lap, he'll fly for me to see!"
"Fly?"
Yingniang was very surprised. How did she not know her father could fly?
"Yes! Fly! Teacher promised!"
"Sister, hurry up, or I'm going to pass you!"
Duoduo hopped forward. Snapping back to reality, Yingniang hurriedly hopped forward as well.
The two chased after each other, while Li Jin cheered them on from the sidelines from time to time.
"Wow! I finished!"
Duoduo plopped her bottom onto the ground.
Yingniang followed closely, finishing her last hop.
Disregarding her image, she sat down next to Duoduo.
"Teacher! Fly, hurry!"
Duoduo clapped her small hands, looking at Li Jin with a face full of anticipation.
Li Jin waved his hand.
"Your teacher doesn't know how to fly."
Duoduo's eyes widened.
"Teacher, you clearly just said you could."
Li Jin denied it.
"I only said I could leap onto roofs and vault over walls; I never said I could fly."
"Huh?" Duoduo was very disappointed.
So she had misunderstood.
Looking at Duoduo's disappointed expression, Li Jin walked over to a large tree.
"Princess, watch closely!"
After Li Jin spoke, he sprang straight up from the ground and disappeared among the leaves.
"Huh? Where is Teacher?"
No longer feeling tired, Duoduo quickly scrambled up from the ground.
Yingniang was also surprised.
"I think he's in the tree."
The two little girls ran to the base of the tree and craned their necks to look up.
Nothing!
They walked in a circle around the tree.
Still nothing.
"Huh? Where did Teacher go?"
Suddenly, Li Jin's voice echoed from behind them.
"Are you two looking for me?"
Duoduo and Yingniang turned around excitedly.
Sure enough, they saw Li Jin standing behind them with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Teacher, you clearly flew up there, so how did you appear behind us?"
"Could it be that you know magic tricks?"
