Yu Jihong waited anxiously at home, having bought the fabric from Fang Meili and taken it to the tailor shop in town. The tailor said the new dress would be ready in four days.

On the fourth day, Yu Jihong got up at dawn, prepared breakfast, and took Fang Yu to town.

She had already learned to ride a bicycle. "Ding-a-ling!" Yu Jihong's wheels rolled over the country dirt road, raising fine dust that mingled with the scent of wheat wafting from the wheat fields beside the road.

"Of the three madmen in the village, she's the wildest."

"She's the wildest. She's even more capable than the average woman in the village. She's already learned to ride a bike."

"Riding a bike around gives you more freedom; you can do whatever you want."

Although they did not see or hear anything specifically about Yu Jihong having an affair.

However, if a woman dresses up too beautifully, she will attract this kind of discussion.

Yu Jihong had already ridden far away, so far away that they could no longer hear what they were saying.

Upon arriving at the tailor shop, Yu Jihong entered, and the older woman who was pressing the sewing machine pedal with a "click-clack" sound lifted her foot, stopping the pedal.

The older woman straightened up, a smile plastered on her face. "You're the one in the blue floral dress, aren't you?"

"Yes." Yu Jihong nodded.

"The hem was finished yesterday, and it's just been ironed perfectly smooth." The older woman said, taking the dress down from the bamboo rack and handing it over. "Here, try it on."

Yu Jihong took it into the inner room to change. The dress was designed to be fitted at the waist, with light blue trim around the cuffs and neckline. The hem hung down, crisp and straight from being ironed.

Yu Jihong reached out and touched it; the stitches were so fine, as if they were locked onto the cloth. The little bit of hope that had been hanging in her heart instantly felt real and reassuring.

Yu Jihong changed into her dress and turned around in front of the mirror.

"Mom, it looks so good!" Fang Yu exclaimed, tugging at the hem of the skirt. She liked it too.

"When we get a sewing machine, your stepmother will make you one too."

"Look at that figure, she doesn't look like a mother at all, she looks just like a young girl!" the older sister praised from the side.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Yu Jihong was quite satisfied. "It fits perfectly, no alterations needed."

She wanted to go in and change back, but then she remembered that Fang Meili had told her to make it and wear it for her.

Yu Jihong went inside, folded the clothes she had worn, and put them into a cloth bag.

"Yes, it looks so good. I'll wear it, and when people see it and ask about it, they can say it was made here! It can also help me get some business," the tailor said happily.

Yu Jihong paid the wages and went to Fang Meili's place.

Wearing a skirt isn't as convenient as wearing pants when getting on a bicycle. "Fang Yu, let's walk over."

Yu Jihong pushed her bicycle, while Fang Yu pulled on her skirt as they went to Fang Meili's shop.

Yu Jihong parked her bicycle on the stone path in front of Fang Meili Department Store, tugged at the hem of her skirt, smoothed it out, and walked into the store.

"Oh, Sister Jihong, it's all done and I've put it on." Fang Meili came out from behind the counter, took Yu Jihong's arm and looked her up and down. "It looks good, really good! This style is nice."

Yu Jihong turned to look at the piece of fabric on the shelf. "The pattern on this piece of fabric is actually quite good."

"I also think this pattern is nice."

Yu Jihong twirled around, her new blue floral dress billowing gently with her movement.

Fang Meili saw Fang Yu next to her, went to the counter, took a piece of candy, and handed it to Fang Yu.

"No, you sold it." Upon hearing Yu Jihong's words, Fang Yu shrank back, not daring to accept the candy.

"Oh dear, what's wrong with a child having a piece of candy? Here, take it." Fang Meili stuffed the candy into Fang Yu's hand.

"How much? I'll give you the money." Yu Jihong hurriedly reached for her money.

Fang Meili stopped her, "No need, no need, you're being too polite."

Yu Jihong glanced at the counter and said somewhat awkwardly, "I don't have anything I want to buy today."

"No need to buy it specially. Just buy it when you need something at home." Fang Meili waved her hand.

“Meili, I was there at your wedding last time.” Yu Jihong seemed to have gotten to know Fang Meili better, and they started talking more.

"Oh, haha, I was so embarrassed with so many people watching. I was so clueless and didn't even know how I got through the whole journey." Fang Meili said shyly when she mentioned it.

“I see you have a sewing machine.”

"Yes, I'm in the shop all day long. The sewing machine is just sitting in the room."

"I have an idea,"

"Huh? What idea?" Fang Meili immediately moved even closer to her.

"It would be great if you brought it to the shop! You could sew and mend it in your spare time and earn some money for your work. You could also sew the scraps of fabric in the shop into cloth bags and children's bibs to sell, which would be another source of income."

Fang Meili's eyes slowly lit up, and she clapped her hands. "That's right, I'll sell off the last scraps of this fabric cheaply. Making a small item to sell is more profitable than selling the scraps."

Fang Meili looked Yu Jihong up and down, "Sister Jihong, your brain works better than most women's."

“What’s so useful about it? I like new things, and all these things cost money. I rarely interact with people in the village. I just think about how to make money to buy them.” Yu Jihong continued, “You’re the person I talk to the most.”

“Yes, I haven’t spoken to you for years in the village, but now that we’re out here, we get along so well,” Fang Meili sighed.

“Everyone in the village says I’m crazy, who would want to come and play with me?” Yu Jihong said this calmly and without any emotion.

"Ah, no, no, don't say that. My eldest sister is the same," Fang Meili said, her words becoming somewhat incoherent. "No, you're different from them. In the years after you came, I happened to be at home taking care of my nephew."

"Your little nephew is playing in the fields with Fang Yu and the others now."

“Yes,” Fang Meili said, her eyes filled with affection and longing as she spoke of Fang Dongqiang, “He’s gone to the fields with my parents now.”

“Yes, there’s work to be done in the fields every day, so we have to bring the kids along. My Fangyu was also raised by being brought around to the fields. Oh, I have to go back now, there’s still work to be done in the fields, my third brother is doing it all by himself.”

"Okay, okay, Sister Jihong, please take some things back for me."

Fang Meili took out two bars of soap and a bag of cream plums. "We wash clothes frequently in the summer, which uses up a lot of soap. I just got this bag of cream plums yesterday when I went to buy supplies. It's popular to eat this in the city now. I'll let Dongqiang try it."

Yu Jihong took the package, looked at the creamy preserved plums wrapped in oil-colored paper, and said, "Give me a pack too."

Fang Meili went to get another bag.

"How much?"

"Uh, give it to your daughter."

"No, no, you paid to get in too. If this happens, I'll feel embarrassed to come to your store to buy things next time." Yu Jihong took out the money from her pocket and insisted on paying.

After paying, Fang Meili escorted them to the door.

Yu Jihong lifted Fang Yu onto the crossbar in front of the bicycle, skillfully kicked the support foot away with her right foot, stepped on one of the pedals with her left foot, and looked at the skirt under her body. "Oh, should I change my skirt first?"

"It looks so good, why don't you wear it? But is it easy to ride?" Fang Meili said, "You can exchange it at my shop if you want."

“I want to wear it too,” Yu Jihong said, looking at the skirt. “Do you think I’ll ride a bike without wearing a skirt, or wear a skirt without riding a bike? I’ll just wear it and not change. Let’s go!”

Yu Jihong quietly tucked her skirt into her thighs with her right hand, steadied the handlebars, pedaled her right foot a few times with the wheel, then suddenly lifted her right leg up in a clean arc. Just as her buttocks touched the seat, she deftly placed her right foot on the other pedal and stepped down.

Fang Meili watched Yu Jihong's retreating figure. Her floral dress swayed gently behind the bicycle, and the child's braids on the front beam bobbed back and forth. The bicycle bell occasionally rang, its sound fading into the distance.

Fang Meili wondered why everyone called her crazy.

Yu Jihong rode her old-fashioned bicycle steadily on the handlebars, but couldn't help glancing down at the hem of her skirt. The wind lifted the hem of her skirt and swept across her calves, cool and refreshing, carrying the faint scent of new fabric, filling her with joy.

Even the bumps from the wheels rolling over the stones felt smooth and pleasant along the way.

On his way home from town, Yu Jihong had to pass through the village's fields. As his old bicycle rolled over the clods of earth on the ridges, the bell rattled a few times from the uneven road, drawing the attention of everyone in the fields.

The man who was bending over to weed straightened up, his hoe still hanging in his hand, his eyes fixed on her new dress.

"What are you looking at! Don't you have to do your work?" his wife retorted irritably.

"Who was looking? I just happened to stretch my back," the man argued, continuing to work with his head down.

After his wife finished speaking, he couldn't help but straighten his neck and stare at the way the hem of her skirt swept across the car beam, feeling a tickle in his heart.

The women squatting by the field, drinking water and chatting casually, quickly found something to talk about. One of them curled her lip, "My third brother's getting all greasy in the fields, and she's wearing such a flashy dress and riding her bike. Who's she trying to impress? Respectable people don't have time for this..."

They only look at me because they think I'm pretty. Yu Jihong straightened her back and continued to enjoy the ethereal feeling.

Yu Jihong went to Fang Meixiang's house first when she entered the village, and after parking her bicycle, she carried Fang Yu down.

Fang Meixiang sat at the door, and Yu Jihong smiled at her.

Fang Meixiang's lips curled up slightly, but before the curve of her eyes could fully relax, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were held back by a sense of unfamiliarity.

"Merry asked me to bring something."

Fang Meixiang looked at Yu Jihong with a blank expression.

"Auntie, are you home?" Yu Jihong called out.

Fang Dongqiang ran out first. When he saw Fang Yu, he was stunned for a moment, then immediately ran up to her and excitedly grabbed her hand, "Fang Yu, what brings you to my house?"

"Dongqiang, is your grandma home?"

"Grandma, Grandma, Fang Yu is here." Fang Dongqiang pulled Fang Yu to the back door to find Fang Meixiang's mother.

Fang Meixiang's mother came in through the back door and was stunned to see Yu Jihong at her house. She forced a slightly awkward smile and said, "Oh, Jihong."

"Auntie, I just went to town. Meili asked me to bring you something." Jihong took out two bars of soap and a packet of preserved plums with cream from her bag.

"Thank you for your trouble." Fang Meixiang's mother took the things. "Please sit down."

"No, we're going back. Fang Yu, let's go."

Fang Yu and Fang Dongqiang were playing marbles on the side, and they were still squatting on the ground, refusing to get up.

"Fang Yu, we're going home," Yu Jihong called out again.

“Let the child play here,” Fang Meixiang’s mother said.

"Auntie, let Fang Yu play here. I'll take her home later," Fang Dongqiang added.

"Oh, you're acting like a little adult now," Fang Meixiang's mother said with a smile. "Fang Yu is a bit older than the other one."

"Fang Yu was born in February 1981," Yu Jihong said.

"Dongqiang was born in December 1981, around the time of the Lunar New Year, which would be January 1982 according to the Gregorian calendar."

Yu Jihong pulled Fang Yu up, saying, "Fang Yu, let's go home first and come again next time."

Fang Dongqiang followed to the door, saying, "Fang Yu, I still have toys."

Fang Meixiang's mother saw them to the door, watched Yu Jihong ride away on her bicycle, and then turned to look at Fang Meixiang sitting next to her.

"Dongqiang, your second aunt brought you something delicious." Fang Meixiang's mother looked at the creamy plums in her hand. "Do you want to eat them now?"

"Eat." Fang Dongqiang looked up like a baby bird eagerly awaiting its meal.

Fang Meixiang's mother opened it and gave one to Fang Dongqiang.

Fang Dongqiang frowned slightly, narrowed his eyes, pursed his lips, and then smacked his lips again.

"Is it delicious?" Fang Meixiang's mother asked.

"It didn't taste good at first, but it tasted good later." Fang Dongqiang savored the taste.

"Dongqiang, give one to Mom. Dongqiang always shares his good food with Mom," Fang Meixiang's mother said from the side.

"Oh," Fang Dongqiang took a piece and put it in Fang Meixiang's mouth, "Mom, don't spit it out, it will taste good in a moment."

Fang Dongqiang looked at Fang Meixiang expectantly, "It's delicious, isn't it delicious now?"

He only felt relieved and went to play after watching Fang Meixiang slurp her lips and finish eating.

When Yu Jihong got home, she stood in front of the rectangular mirror hanging on the wall, turned around, and smiled with satisfaction. He would definitely say she looked beautiful when he saw her.

Yu Jihong suppressed her smile. Why was she thinking about him again? Yu Jihong stopped and stared blankly at the mirror, her eyes unmoving.

"Mom, I want the same bag of candy as Dongqiang's." Fang Yu's shout interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, okay." Yu Jihong breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and took out the cream plum from the bag.

"Fang Yu, let's all eat one first, and save one for Dad. When she comes back, we can let her have a taste too. Dad works very hard in the fields."

"Okay." Fang Yu nodded obediently.

I was in a rush this morning and haven't washed my clothes yet. "Fang Yu, you play by yourself, Mom will go do the laundry first."

Fang Meili is also a woman of action; she has already asked Yuan Xinkang to bring the sewing machine to the shop.

The shop already had leftover fabric scraps for sale, and it also had threads of various colors. She could immediately process these fabric scraps and sell them as a product.

"My wife is obsessed with money." Yuan Xinkang watched as she took out a piece of cloth and measured it horizontally and vertically, thinking about what to make.

"Don't just sit around doing nothing. Go find a board or paper and write an advertisement for me. I'll do some sewing and mending when I have time," Fang Meili said without looking up.

"Okay, I'll get right on it!"

Fang Sandi's trouser legs were stained with mud, and the hoe on his shoulder still smelled freshly of earth.

Turning the corner of the threshing ground, you can see Yu Jihong standing in front of the clothesline at the entrance of her yard, unfolding a faded blue cloth jacket in her hand.

The fitted dress, with its perfectly cinched waist, accentuated her supple figure. The smooth polyester fabric clung gently to her legs in the breeze, revealing the shapely lines of her calves.

When Yu Jihong raised her hand to hang clothes, the hem of her skirt swayed slightly with the movement.

Fang San Di paused for a moment, the handle of the hoe in his hand becoming warm from gripping it.

"You're back!" Yu Jihong turned around after hanging up the laundry.

Looking at Fang San Di, who was standing there staring at her, she smiled slightly, "Is it pretty?"

"Beautiful! Beautiful!" Fang San Di nodded hurriedly.

“It’s so hot, why are you still standing there? Come inside.” Yu Jihong went over and pulled him along.

As soon as Fang Sandi entered the door, Fang Yu took out the bag of preserved plums and said, "Dad, you've never tasted them before. Mom said she's saving them for you."

As he spoke, he took one and put it into Fang San Di's mouth.

"Hiss," Fang Sandi frowned and then grinned, "I've never eaten this stuff before."

"I'll go cook." Yu Jihong swayed her skirt as she went to the kitchen.

Yu Jihong's skirt brought Fang Sandi even more guilt.

In the afternoon, as the sun began to set in the west, it became less hot.

"Fang Yu, you stay home, Mom will go pick some cowpeas." Yu Jihong carried a basket to her private plot.

A few steps away from the bean trellis, Yu Jihong heard people talking at the edge of the field.

The two women were picking green beans, but their eyes were glued to her. They were speaking in low voices, and although Yu Jihong didn't hear anything, she guessed that they were talking about her.

Yu Jihong ignored him, tightened the basket in her arms, and went to her own field.

Li Cai's wife followed her to the field. Seeing the two whispering, she guessed they were talking about Yu Jihong.

She leaned closer and said, "Look at this flirtatious look, is she here to work or to seduce someone?" It seemed as if Li Cai's wife was deliberately letting Yu Jihong hear her.

"Be gentle." The two men pulled her up.

“I didn’t say any names.” Li Cai’s wife spoke louder and louder. “Some people, when the men in their own homes are no good, they dress up like vixens to seduce other people’s men.”

"What I wear is none of your business!" Yu Jihong couldn't stand it anymore and walked over to question her.

"We were just chatting, we weren't talking about anyone, why are you yelling? Oh my, did I hit the nail on the head? It really is you, trying to seduce someone else's man." Li Cai's wife retorted, her neck stiff.

Yu Jihong took two steps forward, her skirt brushing against the roadside weeds. "With your house like that, even if I didn't have a man, I still wouldn't be interested."

Li Cai's wife chimed in, "You must be having a hard time without a man, walking around the village in a skirt, acting all slutty."

Yu Jihong's face flushed red, not from embarrassment, but from anger.

She threw the basket on the ground, her back ramrod straight. "I bought the cloth myself, made the skirt myself, and it's my own fault. Who does it bother? Wearing a skirt is considered provocative? Then city girls wouldn't have a chance to live!"

“City girl? Don’t you know your own fate? You’re just a country woman. Why don’t you marry into the city and become a city person?” Li Cai’s wife said with her hands on her hips, exuding an air of authority. “Oh, I remember now, you’re unmarried with a daughter. City people would want someone like you.”

“What kind of goods I am is none of your business. You are good goods. You are a virgin. If you are so good, why don’t you marry into a rich family?” Yu Jihong pointed at her. “Look at the pants you are wearing. They’re so old. Your butt is worn smooth and your knees are bulging.”

Li Cai's wife was so angry that she was panting heavily.

When Yu Jihong uttered the word "virgin," the woman next to her was stunned.

"I can only keep them in check if I go crazy," Yu Jihong thought to herself, and continued to speak loudly what she wanted to say.

"What is slut? Does wearing a skirt make you slut? Does moaning under men every night make you slut? Yes, my third brother is impotent, everyone knows that, is it necessary to bring it up? Your husbands are all very vigorous, aren't you slut enough? If we're talking about slut, you're the ones who enjoy being slut."

The woman next to her looked away after hearing what she said, "This madwoman can say anything."

“I, Yu Jihong, swear to God that I have never had an improper relationship with a man since I came to Fangjia Village. It’s just that some women know they are not as pretty as me and are afraid that their husbands will come looking for me. Let me tell you, I don’t look at other women’s husbands, I don’t look at them at all! Instead of worrying about that, why not dress yourself up nicely? Making a dress uses less fabric than making a shirt and a pair of pants, and you only have to pay for the labor cost of one piece. Plus, it looks better on you.”

Yu Jihong twirled around in front of them, holding up her skirt. "Since ancient times, which woman doesn't love to look beautiful? Don't you want to dress nicely? You don't dare to, but you get jealous when you see others wearing them and talk about them behind their backs. Is that meaningful? Now many women in the city wear skirts, and there are more women wearing skirts in the town too. Skirts are cool and look good. In a few years, when you're all wearing skirts, think back to how ridiculous it was when you saw others wearing them but didn't dare to, were jealous of others, and talked about them behind their backs."

The women were speechless after hearing what she said, and simply turned around and went back to work.

Yu Jihong tossed his head and went back to the field to continue picking cowpeas.

Is she insane or not?

"I don't know how someone who isn't crazy could say such things. Calling her crazy shows that she's got a clearer head than anyone else."

The women were whispering again.

Yu Jihong didn't turn around. Carrying the heavy basket full of cowpeas, she straightened her back and walked home. The cowpeas in the basket had a fresh, slightly fishy smell. The wind rustled her skirt, and she felt a sense of peace and joy in her heart.