Fan Hua had thought about this problem a long time ago. In that era, down jackets were not popular. Military coats and fox fur cloaks were the most popular means of keeping warm for wealthy people in the north. Ordinary people would make a flowery jacket out of cotton, take it apart and wash it every year, and they could wear it for several winters.

As for the South, needless to say, the most popular items are wool sweaters and knitted sweaters, while woolen coats are only made of materials that rich people can afford!

So after Fan Hua came back from her last visit to the shopping mall with Zhao Yilu, she contacted the state-owned restaurant and poultry slaughterhouse downstairs and asked them to keep the reed-like down from the ducks and geese when they slaughtered them. She would buy it at a high price!

Although the state-owned restaurants and slaughterhouses didn't understand why Fan Hua wanted these things, they would be thrown away anyway, and if someone was willing to buy them, they would help save them.

By the time Fan Hua and Geng Ailing had finished making their clothes, the state-owned restaurants and slaughterhouses had accumulated a small bag of duck and goose down.

Fan Hua washed the duck and goose down and hung them out to dry. Then, based on her and Geng Ailing's body sizes, she used high-density silk cloth to sew two small down jackets for close-fitting wear.

Geng Ailing thought such a thin piece of clothing wouldn't keep her warm, but she started sweating after Fan Hua let her try it on for just a few moments...

"Lihua, this down jacket is so warm! It's only suitable for northern China, not Guangzhou! I'll really sweat after wearing it for a while!"

Fan Hua smiled and said, "Now I don't have to worry about my teeth chattering from the cold!"

"I'm not afraid anymore, I'm not afraid anymore!" Geng Ailing also laughed.

"We still have some feathers left. Let's make some close-fitting vests for the three kids! Children grow fast, and we're always in Guangzhou, so we won't be able to wear down jackets very often. When they return to Beijing, they can just wear a close-fitting vest inside and a small cotton jacket outside!"

Geng Ailing nodded, "That's a good idea!"

So the two of them started making clothes for the children. After finishing the children's clothes, they also made a Zhongshan suit for their husbands, thinking that they would not only wear it to look good on the wedding day, but also make their husbands look handsome.

They worked like this for a few days, and finally on the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, they finished making all the clothes and were waiting to take the train the next day.

That afternoon, Zhao Yilu started his half-month vacation. After getting off the bus, he rushed to the dormitory building on Wusi Road, hoping to see his wife and children as soon as possible. Just as he got downstairs, he met Xie Yongliang who was riding a bicycle.

After the two entered the house, they were very excited to see their newly made wedding dresses. Zhao Yilu suggested, "Why don't we put on these dresses and take a few photos together today? They'll be our wedding photos. Plus, we have a camera at home, so we can take a few more photos."

Everyone thought this was a good suggestion, so they all changed into their newly made clothes. Fan Hua and Geng Ailing also dressed up. On this bright afternoon, the two families helped each other take many photos.

At night, after the two children fell asleep, Zhao Yilu gently held Fan Hua in his arms and said softly, "Wife, the results of the army's appointment and dismissal have come out. I am now the company commander of the second company. After the New Year, you and the children will follow me to join the army!"

"Isn't he the deputy company commander? How did he become the company commander directly?" Fan Hua was full of confusion.

"I did apply for deputy company commander, but just a few days ago our company went on a mission to Zhuya Island to assist the navy, and I was promoted to company commander. Then the company commander of the second company was transferred to Gancheng, and as soon as the position became vacant, I was directly promoted to company commander."

"Zhuya Island? Is the Kingdom of Yue starting to make trouble again?" Fan Hua asked nervously.

"Well, the Kingdom of Yue has always been uneasy. I think there will be another major confrontation in the next two years."

Fan Hua felt uneasy when she remembered that in the book, Zhao Yilu had his legs injured in a war with the State of Yue. She also wondered whether Zhao Yilu was promoted to company commander so quickly because he was a good person or a bad person.

Zhao Yilu noticed Fan Hua's uneasiness and kissed her between the eyebrows. "Wife, what are you thinking about?"

"Yilu, do you still need to go on missions frequently after becoming a company commander?" Fan Hua asked.

"It's hard to say. It depends on the difficulty of the mission. Generally, those at the level of a group leader won't go on missions easily. The others have to be prepared at all times."