Twenty minutes later, Xu Yan finally understood the entire process of making a pair of cloth shoes.

Cut out shoe patterns, use glue to piece together scraps of fabric, and then sew the soles with hemp rope stitch by stitch, because this way the shoes can be worn for a longer time. The uppers are relatively easier, but they are not simple for Xu Yan either.

“Just hem the edge, and then sew the upper onto the sole,” Li Aihua said.

“Ah,” Xu Yan nodded from the side.

“As for hemp rope,” Li Aihua said, “you’ve seen it before, right? People sell it at the market, and the supply and marketing cooperative also sells it.”

I've never seen it before.

Is there?

Xu Yan thought back carefully but couldn't find anything. The original owner of the body had never made shoes.

As for her, needless to say, she has never worn cloth shoes since she was a child.

“It’s the jute stalks that grow on our field ridges,” Li Aihua said.

"Ah," Xu Yan feigned a look of sudden realization, and exclaimed "Ah!" again.

"Cut the stalks down, dry them in the sun, then soak them for a few hours, and finally peel off the bark and twist them into ropes," Li Aihua said. "This year our brigade planted less, and we probably won't even have enough hemp stalks to go around, so we'll have to buy some."

Xu Yan still didn't understand what kind of hemp she was referring to, but she remembered the general name.

He helped Li Aihua trace the shoe pattern, then cut it out along the drawn lines. The two of them chatted for a long time.

Finally, Li Aihua said she would take Xu Yan to the market.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to have clothes made?” Li Aihua had already stood up at the front door, then turned back and said, “It’s a good time to go see Xiao Xue the tailor; his craftsmanship is really good.”

Xu Yan has indeed been thinking of having some clothes made recently.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao have grown a little taller recently, and their old clothes will probably be too short to wear when it gets cold.

And Xie Zhuo.

This man spends money on her without a second thought, even being quite extravagant, but he's incredibly stingy with himself, always wearing the same few clothes over and over again.

Even the shorts he wore to bed at night had several patches on them.

Judging from the craftsmanship, she patched it herself. She's quite skilled at cooking, but not so good with needle and thread; the stitching is very abstract.

“Okay, sister-in-law,” Xu Yan smiled at Li Aihua, “then you can call me when the time comes, and I’ll go with you.”

Li Aihua responded with an "Yes".

Niu Meihua sat under the elm tree at the gate, glaring at them. When she saw Xu Yan smiling at Li Aihua, she immediately said sarcastically, "Like attracts like."

However, Xu Yan and the others ignored her.

Niu Meihua was so angry that she ran over and pinched her grandson's arm.

The child suddenly let out a sharp cry.

Hearing the commotion, Xu Yan glanced in their direction and met Niu Meihua's gaze, then frowned.

Does this person have some kind of illness?

“Ignore her,” Li Aihua said. “She has conjunctivitis.”

"Huh?" Xu Yan was taken aback. "You really are sick?"

As soon as she said it, she realized something was wrong.

Sure enough, Li Aihua looked at her, paused for a moment, and then burst out laughing a few seconds later.

"Oh, you think she's crazy too, hahaha."

Sister-in-law Li's laughter was quite hearty.

Xu Yan pursed her lips somewhat shyly.

“It’s alright,” Li Aihua said. “Everyone in the brigade knows she has conjunctivitis.”

"Pink eye?" Xu Yan didn't react immediately. "Is it contagious?"

Li Aihua laughed even louder, clutching her stomach as she laughed, "Ouch, ouch, I can't take it anymore, my stomach hurts from laughing."

Xu Yan looked at her.

Niu Meihua, who was not far away, was watching the two of them.

“It’s not a real illness,” Li Aihua said after a while, glancing at Niu Meihua. “It’s just envy, the jealousy of seeing others living a good life.”

Xu Yan: "..."

Li Aihua was still smiling for a while on her way home. When Xie Zhuo met her with Da Bao and Xiao Bao, he glanced at her again.

Xu Yan had just stepped inside when Xie Zhuo returned with his two little ones.

The courtyard, which had been quiet for a short while, became lively again.

"Third Aunt, look what we brought you!" Da Bao shouted as he rushed to Xu Yan.

"Your lung capacity is really good," Xu Yan poked his little face, then looked at Xie Zhuo behind him, "What did you bring?"

"Flower!"

Before Xie Zhuo could speak, Xiao Bao also called out.

"Alright, alright, I know. If you keep calling me that, Auntie will really go deaf," Xu Yan poked him on the cheek.

The two little brats immediately turned down their volume.

I've just been too happy lately, I just can't control myself!

Xie Zhuo went out and brought back a bouquet of flowers.

Wildflowers on the edge of the field.

In the middle is a small sunflower.

Looking at this somewhat mismatched bouquet, Xu Yan suddenly remembered the one that Xie Zhuo had stuck on the haystack at the entrance of the educated youth settlement that morning.

It's also a sunflower.

“It looked really nice on the way here,” Xie Zhuo said with a smile. “I’ll bring it back for you to see.”

Xu Yan glanced at him, took the flowers, and smiled, "Thank you, they're beautiful."

Xie Zhuo was initially a little embarrassed, but after hearing Xu Yan say "thank you," that embarrassment vanished completely. He frowned slightly and said, "You don't need to thank me."

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this. "Are you sure?"

Of course I'm sure.

What's there to thank between husband and wife?

Don't be so polite!

Xie Zhuo had countless answers to her question, but looking at the smile on Xu Yan's face, he suddenly seemed to understand something. He quickly looked down at the two kids staring at the flowers, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

“Uncertain,” Xie Zhuo said.

Xu Yan was amused by his words and laughed for a long time.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao thought their aunt was happy because of the flowers, and said they would bring her flowers every day from now on.

Xu Yan really loves them both so much; they're like angels!

Just as she was about to find a vase to put the flowers in, Xie Zhuo tugged at her wrist again.

"Hmm?" Xu Yan turned around.

"I have something else for you," Xie Zhuo said, taking out a small box.

"What?" Xu Yan stared at the box.

In later times, if a man suddenly pulled out such a small box, it would most likely contain a ring. But in the countryside of this era…

She was a little unsure.

“It’s a birthday present,” Xie Zhuo said. “I was planning to give it to you last night.”

He didn't continue speaking.

Why wasn't it given?

Did you forget during sex?

Xu Yan glanced at Xie Zhuo again, then slowly reached out and took it.

Unexpected.

It's an anklet.

The shimmering gold chain had several small red and green beads on it. Her already fair skin was accentuated by the chain, making her ankles appear even more slender.

Xie Zhuo could grasp it with one hand.

Then drag it over...