Chapter 117 New Clue Aji, whom she had missed day and night, was finally coming back…
A classroom at Utsu University.
As soon as the exams ended, all the candidates' papers were transferred here for unified grading, while the additional exams were reviewed by the professors of each major in conjunction with the application materials.
Ruan Ziping quickly flipped through the picture album in his hand, his brows furrowed.
Most students who apply for fashion design majors have a background in drawing, and many even switched from drawing majors.
However, being able to draw and being able to design clothes are two completely different things.
Just like the sketchbook he's holding, the lines are beautiful, and the choice of colors shows that the artist put a lot of thought into it.
However, the overall finished product can be summed up in two words: "ordinary".
"So, are there any outstanding candidates this year?"
As both husband and wife and longtime colleagues, Yu Ying understood her husband's feelings very well.
He had been immersed in fashion design for decades, teaching and nurturing students. Having seen too many conventional, craftsman-like students, he wanted to find a student who had not undergone systematic training but was full of wild charm.
Yu Ying is also a teacher in this major, but the courses she is responsible for are more focused on aesthetic theory and she rarely participates in design practice.
Ruan Ziping didn't reply. He put down the picture book in his hand and quickly picked up another one to start flipping through.
The clock on the wall ticked away, and sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns on the table.
Time passed second by second, and the sun outside gradually began to set in the west.
When he turned to the last book, Ruan Ziping suddenly burst into a hearty laugh: "Hahaha... I've finally waited for this one! I'm going to have this student, and nobody can take him from me."
"Great! That's wonderful! Hahaha..."
Yu Ying was drawn by his laughter, so she dragged her chair and leaned over to see what was going on.
The picture album Ruan Ziping was holding was different from ordinary albums just by looking at the cover; it was made of cloth and embroidered with several clivia flowers.
Just the cover alone was enough to pique Yu Ying's curiosity.
She now desperately wanted to know what kind of wonderful person could have such ingenious ideas and evoke such admiration from her husband.
Turning to the first page, the owner of the album wrote down his three professions: farmer, mother, and chief designer of the Mori Girl Company.
“Mori Girl…” Yu Ying touched the dress she was wearing thoughtfully. “Isn’t this the brand I usually wear?”
She has loved this brand ever since it was launched, and buys all her clothes from them all year round.
"Why would the chief designer of Mori Girl Company be taking the exam?"
Yu Ying continued reading with doubt. A young girl wearing clothes she had sewn herself was walking through the fields. Soon after, she was wearing a wedding dress she had made herself and got married.
Before long, the child was born, and the young mother began to sew clothes for the child by hand.
Later, by chance, she was pushed along by her daughter, and that's how she ended up as the chief designer.
The album concludes with these words: "At middle age, my life is just beginning. Lin Huijun."
Every piece of clothing in the story is imbued with Lin Huijun's personal style, reflecting her gentle approach to the world and to women.
Yu Ying gently wiped away the tears that had slipped from the corners of her eyes, as if she were seeing, through the picture book in her hand, the path of awakening of a traditional woman, both ordinary and extraordinary.
“Ziping, you must accept this student.” Yu Ying held her husband’s hand tightly, her eyes sincere. “She will definitely bring you surprises.”
"I know what my work is missing: love."
My skill in designing the clothes made me forget my original intention: to make a garment by hand for my loved one.
Ruan Ziping's eyes were also a little moist. He held his wife's hands in his own, his eyes full of guilt. "Do you remember how long it has been since I made clothes for you?"
"Let's go take a look at the dress designed by Lin Huijun."
He raised his hand to try to smooth out the fine lines at the corners of his wife's eyes, but after failing, he paused and then said, "After we finish looking at this, we'll go home, and I'll take your measurements to make you a new dress."
…
"Manager Zhi, who are you making clothes for? Why do they look so small?"
"I'm making a thick coat for my son. It's getting cold, and I'm worried he'll get cold."
"You have such skillful hands, your stitches are so even. But why have I never seen you bring your son with you?"
After the Mori Girl clothing line became a huge success, Wu Wei couldn't wait to build a clothing factory and hire more female workers.
These people were still left in the care of Zhijia. She understood that it was not easy for women to work, so she made a special rule: they could bring their children to the factory to work together one day a week.
There is a dedicated auntie in the factory who is responsible for taking care of these children.
Of course, if the child is well-behaved, you can give her a small stool to sit next to her mother.
Everyone in the factory knows that Manager Zhi has a very smart and adorable son who is over two years old, but she has never been seen bringing him to the factory.
Whenever the topic comes up, Zhijia always says that the child is too young and she is too busy with work, so bringing the child along might affect her work.
But whenever she has free time, you can see Zhijia making clothes and socks for the children.
Everyone praises her as an absolutely wonderful mother, as she makes all her own clothes for all four seasons.
Every time she heard these things, Zhijia smiled gently and didn't respond.
Only she knew that she was using handicrafts to pray for her child's well-being.
Every stitch is a token of longing and blessing for Aji, a longing for what Aji looks like now, and a hope that Aji's adoptive parents will treat him better.
Don't hurt her, Aji.
That day, during her break, Zhijia was knitting a sweater for Aji. The tender green yarn flew quickly in her hands, exuding a vibrant life force.
Recent developments in the case have rekindled a glimmer of hope in Zhijia's heart; she feels that her Aji will be back soon.
Chen Mian accompanied her to search the streets and alleys of Wumu City for several days, but still found no useful information.
Exhausted from many days of work and burdened with worries, Zhijia was forced by Chen Mian to rest at home for a few days.
She started making clothes day and night again.
"Ring ring—"
The office phone rang.
Zhijia put down the half-knitted sweater she was making. "Hello, Mori Girl Clothing Factory, who are you looking for?"
"Ebony City Public Security Bureau, looking for Zhijiayi."
Manlikanmu's clear voice came from the other end of the phone; she was a college graduate who had just been assigned to the company this year.
After spending several months compiling materials at the bureau, this was the first time I had formally come into contact with a case.
Zhijia was surprised by the police's speed; she was both happy and scared, and for a moment she was speechless.
"Hello? Are you still there? I'm looking for Zhijiayi."
"...Yes, I am." Zhijia's voice was low and hoarse, her hands gripping the microphone tightly, as if afraid of mishearing a single word.
Manlikanmu checked the information against the prepared notes on the paper: "Did you lose a boy two years ago named Aji, who had single eyelids?"
"Yes, yes, it's me...it's my Aji who's lost." Tears welled up in Zhijia's eyes as she asked tremulously, "Officer, is there any news about my Aji?"
Manlikanmu, on the other end of the microphone, was startled by her emotions. Looking at the documents in her hand, she organized her thoughts before continuing.
"Sister, don't get agitated. We received a tip from a young girl who said that when she was ten years old, her parents suddenly brought home a boy from outside, saying he would be her younger brother..."
Palida was young at the time and only knew that her parents really wanted a younger brother, but they had two younger sisters in a row and their wish had not come true.
The atmosphere at home was heavy, and Mom was always crying. Laughter only returned when they brought their little brother home, and they named him Aji.
A year later, Mom gave birth to another baby boy. Mom said that this was her real brother.
Manlikanmu: "Based on what the little girl said, we initially judged that this boy is very likely your lost Aji."
"However, we would like to ask you to come to the bureau as soon as possible to confirm the specific situation."
The phone slipped from Zhijia's hand and slammed heavily onto the table with a dull thud.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she covered her mouth tightly with her hands, sobbing in disbelief.
His body felt so limp, as if he had no bones, that he collapsed onto the ground.
Will Aji, whom she misses day and night, finally come back?
"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"
When Manlikanmu didn't hear a reply, he thought the call had been interrupted, so he put the microphone back in his hand and dialed again.
"The number you dialed is busy, please try again later."
"Never mind, let's notify the next one first." Manlikanmu shook her head and picked up another file.
Ten minutes later, Zhijia slowly came to her senses, her face still wet with tears.
She struggled to her feet, muttering, "Aji, Aji, I'm going to go get my Aji back."
As I passed the corner of the table, I tripped over a ball of yarn on the floor and stumbled toward the door.
When she reached the first-floor steps, she missed a step and fell heavily to the ground.
"Manager Zhi!"
"Manager Zhi, what's wrong?"
When Chen Mian got off the car, she saw Zhijia sitting on the ground with her hair disheveled and looking lost, surrounded by two or three female workers who were trying to help her up.
"What's wrong?" Chen Mian walked over quickly.
"Mr. Chen, please come quickly and see Manager Zhi. She fell and this is what happened to her."
"Did you lose your soul in the fall?" another female worker whispered cautiously in Chen Mian's ear.
Chen Mian glared at them, her expression serious. "Go back to work right away, stop crowding around here, and don't spread rumors."
"Understood, Mr. Chen."
"Then we'll be going now, Mr. Chen."
After everyone had left, Chen Mian slowly sat down next to Zhijiayi and gently stroked her back.
"What's wrong? Are you missing Aji again?"
“Aji…” Zhijia heard her son’s name and her eyes slowly focused. “My Aji is back. I’m going to take him home.”
"Kapok, my Aji is coming back..."
Zhijia grabbed Chen Mian's hand with great force, her nails scratching the skin on the back of her hand.
Ignoring the stinging pain in the back of her hand, Chen Mian squeezed her hand back and continued to comfort her: "Tell me slowly, what happened? Is there any news about Aji?"
Zhijia's voice was hoarse, her eyes bloodshot. "I can't be slow! I need to get to the police station right away. My Aji is waiting for me."
“Okay, let’s go now. Don’t rush, I’ll drive you there.” Chen Mian helped her to her feet.
"Is your foot alright? Can you still walk?"
"able."
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