The wedding was over and the family members were about to return home one after another. The sadness of parting instantly dispelled the joy of the wedding, but Liu Yanran firmly believed that parting was for a better reunion in the future.
Although the younger ones are all very cute, Liu Yanran still prefers little Jingfan, probably because she named her herself. Hearing the little one calling her "Auntie" and "Auntie", Liu Yanran is willing to buy her anything. After all, human cubs are so cute!
Considering that supplies at the border couldn't match those in Beijing, and there weren't any Friendship Stores, Liu Yanran dragged Liu Pianran and little Jingfan along to go shopping. The children's clothes were especially adorable. Although supplies were scarce in those days, the Friendship Store was, after all, there to serve foreigners, so the best stuff was generally on display there. While prices were high, the staff were much more attentive than those at state-owned stores. Of course, it wasn't that they were more knowledgeable, but rather that they knew how to judge people and could tell at a glance if someone was a major customer.
Although Liu Yanran and Liu Pianran are not dressed in gold and silver, nor are they arrogant, their temperament cannot be deceived. Their natural affinity shows that they were raised with the careful care of their parents. This is why they were both educated youth at the time, and why Lin Ye took a liking to Liu Pianran at first sight and then took advantage of her. It is an eternal truth that kind people are often bullied and kind horses are often ridden.
Liu Yanran had a special fondness for skirts, but living in an era before the invention of leg-revealing gadgets, she was left with only thick cotton trousers. So, she had no choice but to put on a pair of heavy cotton trousers, then layer a long, black, ankle-length skirt over them. She wore a black wool sweater over a long, snow-white down jacket, and clutched a delicate, chic black chain bag.
This bag was something she had purchased earlier at the Friendship Store. It was quite expensive, costing around 300 yuan, almost as much as an ordinary worker would earn in half a year's hard work. After all, the waiters were all shrewd people and naturally knew how to serve their distinguished guests with all their heart and soul.
Liu Pianpian, on the other hand, wore a plain white wool sweater and a pair of standard, unremarkable trousers. She also wore a black down jacket, identical to Liu Yanran's. She also carried the same brown bag as Liu Yanran. While her outfit wasn't particularly striking, it exuded a simple and elegant elegance.
Liu Yanran carefully selected a vibrant red wool coat and handed it to Liu Pianran, enthusiastically inviting her to try it on to see if it fit her. However, Liu Pianran gently shook her head, indicating that she didn't need to buy new clothes. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Liu Yanran had already bought her many beautiful clothes, specifically explaining that they were intended for Liu Guoxing's wedding. She absolutely couldn't let her fourth brother lose face.
In fact, at first, Liu Pianran didn't think too much about this matter. After all, for her, clothes that cost a few dozen yuan were still affordable. But unexpectedly, Liu Yanran actually took her directly to the Friendship Store.
Here, Liu Yanran not only bought two sets of exquisite clothes for Liu Pianran, but also bought an extra fashionable bag. Not only that, Liu Yanran also picked out several new sets of clothes for Jingfan as well.
Throughout the entire shopping process, Liu Yanran never asked Liu Pianran to pay a cent, not even revealing the prices. However, as Liu Pianran was trying on the clothes, she accidentally caught a glimpse of the hanging tags and was surprised to discover that each piece cost at least one or two hundred yuan. Thinking back on the items Liu Yanran had purchased for her and her daughter that day, the total price was probably well over two thousand yuan.
She knew full well that her sister was capable of earning money to support the family, but she didn't want her to spend too much on her. The reason was simple: she knew all too well the hardships of working away from home. Her time in the countryside had made her realize how hard every penny was to earn. Today, she's long since abandoned her former extravagant spending habits.
Looking back, when she was the only one embarking on the journey to the countryside, she did indeed feel some resentment deep down. After all, rural life was far more difficult than she had imagined. Initially, she was filled with enthusiasm, determined to serve the country and devote herself to national development.
With two older brothers serving in the military, she naturally harbored a fervent patriotism. However, reality was often more cruel and unforgiving than ideals. Every day in the countryside was filled with endless suffering and torture. For half a month, not only was she unable to eat any meat, but she also had to toil in the fields all day. Before long, her once delicate hands were covered in blisters, and at night, she could only curl up in bed and cry silently.
When she first went to the countryside, she actually brought a large amount of banknotes with her. However, because she was naive and unguarded, the money was unfortunately stolen on the way, leaving her penniless when she arrived at the village.
At first, she tried to grit her teeth and persevere, but a deep sense of resentment gradually welled up in her heart: Why could her younger brothers and sisters stay at home and enjoy a comfortable life, while she had to suffer in this remote and impoverished place? After careful consideration, she resolutely decided to write a letter to her parents to inform them of the lost money and notes, and described in detail her difficult situation here - she had no food to eat, no clothes to wear, and her life was extremely difficult and hard.
Not long after, a large amount of money and bills arrived from home. Some of the money was specially placed in a separate box, and her mother explained in a letter that it was prepared specifically for her. The package was also filled with candies, cookies, and other delicious snacks. Originally, these were gifts for Yanran, but the kind and lovely Yanran saved them and sent them to her sister far away.
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