The brigade is now peaceful like never before. Not a single person is picking a fight or nitpicking. Uncle Wei's family used to always give Wei Aiguo's family a hard time. But now, things are completely different; they're all getting along wonderfully.

The weaving group has also been reorganized.

The village officials and Li, the head of the weaving group, jointly decided to conduct an exam for the members of the lagging weaving group. Ten additional women from the brigade were also selected to take the exam. Those who passed would be given a trial period in the weaving group; those who failed would be eliminated.

This was to give everyone a chance. Only eight people qualified.

The test takers had no objections to the results, since their work was displayed together, making the quality immediately apparent.

To date, the weaving group has a total of 41 women.

The knitting group was also working feverishly. All the previously knitted items had been sorted. So many substandard pieces were thrown away. It was heartbreaking for everyone!

Only 20% were deemed acceptable. These acceptable woven products were then delivered to the supply and marketing cooperative by Song Yan and Li Yuanzhao.

Although Director Liu's attitude remained the same, Song Yan and his colleague apologized to Director Liu on behalf of the Qingshan Brigade.

Li Yuanzhao spoke with great composure and her apology was exceptionally sincere. It was as if she herself had been the one who made the mistake. She didn't try to shift the blame, arguing it was Cheng Xiuyun's poor manners and had nothing to do with her.

Anyone who heard that would feel much better. Li Yuanzhao is truly suited to be this team leader.

The cooperative relationship between the Qingshan Brigade's weaving team and Director Liu has been re-established.

The money we received this time was divided equally, with no one left out. It was impossible to determine whose fault it was.

Each person didn't get much money. But everyone was thinking the same thing: if all the other things had been done well, it wouldn't have been this much money.

The weaving team is working enthusiastically.

The remaining materials are insufficient to complete this acquisition. Everyone is pinning their hopes on the waste materials.

No salt was added to fix the color when those materials were dyed. Huang Guoqing and Pan Bo rinsed them twice with clean water. After the excess dye was washed away, the deep red and deep green colors became lighter, and the dyed areas were less noticeable.

Song Yan incorporated light-colored materials into the edges of the woven fabrics, making them even more beautiful than before.

Some people were full of praise for it. "This is much prettier than the original."

“But that increases the cost considerably! So much dye was used. You could weave it just as well with the original colored materials,” someone immediately retorted.

There are also disharmonious aspects in the village.

Now, Cheng Qianjin's wife and Cheng Yi's family have a small fight every day and a big fight every two days; they just keep fighting.

In the words of Cheng Qianjin's wife, without Cheng Yi and Cheng Xiuyun, the family would not have reached this level.

Cheng Qianjin's two daughters-in-law are also making trouble every day. If they had been let into the weaving group as deputy group leaders in the first place, would things have turned out this way?

Cheng Qianjin initially thought his two daughters-in-law were too shrewd and he couldn't handle them. Cheng Xiuyun couldn't even do basic accounting; didn't the weaving group have to keep their own accounts? But he didn't expect Cheng Xiuyun to be so stupid and disobedient.

This is something I can't explain to my daughter-in-law.

“If she were your own daughter, I wouldn’t say anything about how much you dote on her. But she’s just a niece. Are you treating your niece like your own daughter?” Cheng Qianjin’s eldest daughter-in-law said this, and Cheng Qianjin’s wife felt particularly hurt. She and Cheng Qianjin got into another fight.

Cheng Xiuyun's husband, Wang Zhuzi, was fairly well-liked in the village, but he had also been ridiculed quite a bit because of the weaving group issue.

Everyone says, when did the knitting group start using yellow dye? It started with Wang Zhuzi's pot of dye. Later, Wang Zhuzi got a nickname: "One Pot of Yellow."

Eighty percent of the orders from the last knitting group were not delivered, and now everyone is working day and night to catch up. As for quality, Li Yuanzhao doesn't even need to supervise them; everyone is paying close attention.

The lesson learned last time was too profound. Wasted materials cost money.

…

This year, there were many more men and elderly people among those shopping for New Year's goods in the village. The women in these households were all working in the weaving group.

Chang Xiaohu now spends every day at home competing with Cheng Youfu to do chores.

Chang Xiaohu has made this place his home. Song Yan even suggested that he become his mother's son. Chang Xiaohu would be more than happy to do so. Aunt Wei also said that she would adopt a godson sometime when the time is right.

But what's the deal with Cheng Youfu staying here every day?

Today, Song Yan and Jiang Xiaoxiao went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy New Year's goods, with Cheng Youfu following behind Jiang Xiaoxiao. He helped carry whatever Jiang Xiaoxiao bought.

"So you were helping her carry her things today?" Song Yan asked.

Chang Xiaohu quickly added, "Second Sister-in-law, I'll carry your things." With Chang Xiaohu around, his second sister-in-law's things would be carried.

Song Yan waved his hand, saying that was not the case at all.

"Sis, I'm very strong. I can carry all the things you bought." Cheng Youfu chuckled.

Cheng Youfu always called her "sister," sometimes "Xiaoxiao," sometimes "sister," and sometimes "Jiang Zhiqing." He didn't know when he started calling her Jiang Xiaoxiao directly.

How could I be so slow-witted? No wonder I didn't get married in my past life. No wonder my mother-in-law says I haven't eaten enough salt.

On the way back, Cheng Youfu drove the car, asking them from time to time if they were cold. After asking everyone, he specifically asked Jiang Xiaoxiao if she was cold.

Every household has cotton curtains to cover their windows at night in winter. During the day, they use them to cover their legs when riding in a horse-drawn carriage.

After asking Jiang Xiaoxiao his questions, Cheng Youfu even reached out to tuck her in, as if afraid of letting in a draft.

Song Yan: My God! Am I stupid? I only realized this today!

Cheng Youfu is only sixteen after the New Year. And he already has these thoughts! Or is he just young and naive? Does he even understand what he's doing?

What is Jiang Xiaoxiao's attitude? She's over twenty now.

A four-year age difference isn't a big deal. But Cheng Youfu isn't an adult yet.

Song Yan observed Jiang Xiaoxiao closely, and she also became uncomfortable.

Song Yan couldn't help but look at Xiaoxiao every now and then.

"Is there something dirty on my face?" Jiang Xiaoxiao noticed that Song Yan kept looking at her.

Having finally made it home, Song Yan went to gossip with her mother-in-law.

Aunt Wei sighed, "It's hard to say whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, so let's not say anything more."

Song Yan: "But Youfu comes here every day, sooner or later people will notice. He's still just a kid, isn't it... isn't it too early?"

"It's not that early. In the past, people of this age were already fathers. I'm just worried that you, Aunt Cheng, won't agree." Aunt Wei frowned.

Song Yan was excited. "What? Jiang Xiaoxiao graduated from high school! She can go to university in the future. I thought Youfu was just a kid!"

“Even if you’re educated, can you put food on the table? Being a teacher is only temporary. Xiaoxiao is a good person, but she can’t lift heavy things. Will she be able to earn ten work points in the future? In our village, people prefer to find wives who are strong and healthy.” Aunt Wei sighed again.

Song Yan really wanted to ask, "Then why did you agree to your son marrying me in the first place?"

Song Yan wasn't completely stupid. She shut up!

This is reality!