They ate dinner early, and as the sky turned gray, signaling dusk, Lin Xiaohe pulled out the lard, fabric, and cotton she’d bought that morning.
She hoisted everything onto her shoulder and sneaked over to Aunt Xiang’s house.
She didn’t run into a single soul along the way.
It wasn’t yet bedtime. The yard gate was slightly ajar, not bolted from the inside.
Lin Xiaohe pushed it open and peeked in.
“Uncle Deshan, chopping firewood?”
“Yeah—nothing better to do. Might as well split it all so it’s ready to use.”
“Is Auntie home? I need to see her.”
“She is—probably in there working on shoe soles.”
“Hehe, I’ll head in then!”
“Go ahead, go ahead.”
Wu Xiang had heard the commotion and was already at the door.
“Xiaohe, come here—let me take your measurements. How much room should I leave in the clothes?”
These clothes weren’t meant to be discarded after a year or two when they got too small.
“I’ll tuck the extra fabric inside. When you outgrow it, I’ll let it out and add some new cotton—good as new.”
Lin Xiaohe gestured. “No need to make them too big—enough to last two or three years.”
Wu Xiang was surprised. “Only that much allowance?”
In these times, making a padded jacket was no small feat—it could take years of saving cotton just to make one.
But then she remembered Third Brother’s solid black market connections and didn’t say anything more.
“Alright, leave it to me. I’ve made these clothes plenty of times—I can tell the right size at a glance.”
“Hehe, I’ll be counting on you, Auntie. Oh, could you sew a few hidden pockets inside—big ones?
Preferably with zippers—I brought some.”
“Oh, you’ve got fancy stuff too! Sure, I’ll add them.”
Wu Xiang was confident in her sewing skills—if she had the connections, she could probably work as a seamstress in the city.
“I can’t have you working for nothing. Here’s a jin of lard—consider it your pay.
You have to take it—if you don’t, I’ll find someone else.”
“Fine, fine—I’ll take it.” Wu Xiang gave the girl a helpless look. “I owe you one.”
A jin of lard—even half a jin—would have people fighting to take the job. This girl was looking out for her.
“Auntie, don’t say that. It’s us who should be thanking you—you’ve been running around for us all this time.”
“Alright, enough with the formalities. Come pick up the clothes in a couple days. Since we’re not farming now, I’ll have them done in no time.”
“No rush—it’s not cold yet. As long as it’s done before winter.”
After a bit more chatting, Lin Xiaohe left Aunt Xiang’s house.
“Deshan, go with her to help Third Brother wash up. The man’s been eating, drinking, and sleeping in bed all day—he needs to be cleaned.”
“Alright.” Lin Deshan set down his axe, went inside, grabbed a basin, filled it with hot water, and left.
Though they’d split off, they still lived in the same house—just with a separate courtyard.
The neighboring sister-in-law could hear some of the commotion.
As soon as Lin Deshan left, the neighbor came over to pry.
“Sister-in-law, is Second Brother going over to help Third Brother next door wash up again?”
“Yeah, it’s no big deal. We’ve been neighbors for years—they’re in a tough spot now, and it’s not like it costs us anything.
Just lending a hand. Those two kids can’t handle it all by themselves.”
“That’s true—they’re pitiful. The heavens have no mercy! Disasters and misfortune—how are people supposed to live?”
Chen Pinghua smiled and made small talk, then quickly changed the subject. “Sister-in-law, I caught a whiff of meat at your place a couple days ago—what was that about?”
Wu Xiang smiled helplessly. “Sister-in-law, you sure are direct.”
She actually liked this sister-in-law—not one for roundabout games.
“Should I beat around the bush a bit first?”
“No need. We’ve gone so long without oil or meat, our eyes were turning green from hunger.
Deshan gritted his teeth and made a trip to the black market. Bought some overpriced meat, rendered it into lard, and we’ve been saving it.”
She couldn’t tell the truth, so she made up an excuse.
Chen Pinghua’s eyes went wide. “Second Brother’s got some nerve, going to the black market!”
“Times are tough. We adults can tough it out, but the kids really can’t.”
“Tell me about it. My two boys and two girls wake up every day crying for food.
They’re so desperate for meat they’d chew on my own arm! Sister-in-law, I hate to ask, but if Second Brother goes again, could he get some for me too?
It’d be nice just to let the kids see some meat.”
“Can’t say for sure. If I get any, I’ll let you know.”
Wu Xiang didn’t dare promise anything.
“Alright, then—it’s settled. I’ll head back now.”
They shared the same courtyard, so Wu Xiang hadn’t expected to keep it a secret.
She just hadn’t expected her sister-in-law’s nose to be so sharp—she’d found out so quickly.
—
Yuan Zhiqiang left the shop to his younger brother, who’d helped out plenty before and knew the ropes.
He took the goods and headed out.
His own parents didn’t want to live with the eldest brother, nor with him—they had their own two-bedroom apartment.
His in-laws lived with his wife’s younger brother—one in the south of town, one in the north—so he’d be running around all afternoon.
He dropped off a jar of honey at each household.
When they saw it came in bamboo tubes, they were all delighted.
This had to be something special—how thoughtful of him to think of the older folks!
“Mom, Dad, if you like it, I’ll buy you more next year.”
Old Man Yuan shot him a look. “That little bit won’t last till next year. You’re getting stingier, son!
What, once it’s gone this year, you won’t buy us any more?”
“Dad, you’re wronging me. I’d buy it if I could, but there isn’t any. The honey comes from two kids—they said this is all there is this year. It’s wild mountain honey—you have to wait until the flowers bloom again.”
“Hmm—that’s a problem. Did you buy it all? Don’t let good things slip away.”
His son had been in business for years—he wasn’t about to get cheated.
The old man was 100% certain this honey was good, even before tasting it—he was already thinking of buying it all.
“You and Fangzi think alike—I bought the whole lot.
One jar for you and Mom, one for my in-laws, one for my sister-in-law next door, and one for Third Brother. There’s barely any left.”
“Alright, alright. Make sure you remember—when it’s available next year, buy it right away.”
As they spoke, the old lady had already brewed a few cups and brought them over.
Leave a Reply