Yun Tangyin stuffed a handful of greens into Yu Xia's hand: "Help stop them, this rabbit is gnawing on firewood."
She tiptoed and peeked into the woodshed. "It just ran down from the back mountain, its fur is very smooth."
Yu Xia rolled up her sleeves and laughed: "I'm the best at catching rabbits. When I was little, I often went to the fields with my brother to catch them."
She moved closer to the corner of the wall. "You lure it out with a carrot, and I'll guard the door."
After struggling for a while, the three of them finally managed to put the rabbit into the bamboo cage.
Yu Xia wiped her sweat and laughed: "This rabbit is fat enough. We can make two pairs of gloves or a hat by skinning it."
She slipped a cloth bag into Yun Tangyin's hand. "These are the soles I just made. Do you think the stitches are even?"
Yun Tangyin touched the sole of the shoe and praised, "It's more tightly stitched than mine. By the way, has Second Sister-in-law's family received their coal yet? My family got two baskets, enough to burn until spring."
"Not yet," Yu Xia tossed a handful of alfalfa into the cage. "I heard Yuanshan went to the regimental headquarters to help repair the water pipes. We'll go when he gets back."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a sweet potato into her hand: "It's freshly steamed, have a taste. We have enough firewood; Zhou Desheng delivered a big bundle this morning."
He suddenly remembered something, "Is Director Wang going to his grandson's one-month celebration?"
“Go ahead,” Yu Xia straightened her clothes. “I embroidered a pair of tiger-head shoes, and I was just worried I wouldn’t have a chance to give them to you. By the way, have you picked up the camel hair fabric that the textile factory sent? I made a little vest for it; it’s so warm.”
Just then, Aunt Li came over carrying a child: "I heard you caught a rabbit?"
She peered into the cage. "Its fur is so white."
She slipped a piece of fabric into Yun Tangyin's hand, "I just got some floral fabric, I saved a piece for you."
Yun Tangyin slipped a biscuit into the child's hand: "It's freshly baked, have a taste. Let's keep the rabbit for now, and kill it in a few days. It'll be a good addition to Director Wang's family's menu."
Fu Yucheng added a piece of coal to the stove: "I'll have a stew of mutton for lunch. I got it from the canteen yesterday. It'll help you guys replenish your strength."
He shoved a pair of scissors into Yu Xia's hand. "Sister-in-law, help me cut the wire in the rabbit cage. It's too dense and it can't breathe."
Yu Xia had just finished cutting the wire when Zhou Desheng came in carrying an axe: "I heard you caught a rabbit? I have a bottle of good wine at my house, come over for a couple of drinks at noon."
He placed a bundle of firewood on the ground. "This is freshly chopped hardwood; it burns very quickly."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of fabric into his hand: "I just got some corduroy, I'll make you a pair of cotton pants. I'll bring some cold shredded radish salad when I come to your house for lunch."
Zhou Desheng's wife came over carrying an earthenware basin: "I just pickled some green beans, I brought some for you."
She glanced into the cage and said, "These rabbits are a waste of food; we might as well kill them and pickle them."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into her hand: "It's a freshly steamed brown sugar bun, have a taste. I plan to raise it until the New Year, I don't plan to kill it now."
I went to Zhou Desheng's house for lunch. As soon as I sat down, Director Wang came in holding a red cloth bag: "I just made a patchwork quilt. Do you think it looks nice?"
She laid them on the table, saying, "I've collected scraps of cloth from twenty different households; I'll sew them together for good luck."
Yun Tangyin touched the quilt and praised, "The stitches are so even, better than mine. By the way, I embroidered a pair of tiger-head shoes for the child, I'll bring them to you tomorrow."
"No need to send anything," Director Wang slipped a silver lock into her hand. "This is from my family. Keep it for your child. Don't bring anything for the baby's one-month celebration the day after tomorrow. Just show up."
Yu Xia put a piece of mutton into Director Wang's bowl: "This 'hundred-family quilt' is really thoughtful. My husband said he wanted to make a 'hundred-family lock' for the child, and he was worried about where to get copper coins."
Director Wang shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth: "I have a string of old copper coins. I'll bring them to you later. They've been passed down from my grandmother for three generations."
She suddenly slapped her thigh. "I almost forgot, the regimental headquarters is distributing yarn to military dependents this afternoon. They say it's fine wool yarn from Shanghai. Are you going to go get it?"
Yun Tangyin's eyes lit up: "Go ahead, I was just thinking of knitting a little sweater for the child."
She slipped a piece of fabric into Director Wang's hand. "This is some floral fabric I just received. I'll make you a new jacket to match your silver bracelet."
Fu Yucheng poured wine into Zhou Desheng's glass: "I heard that yarn comes in different colors. Save me two skeins of navy blue, and I'll knit a scarf for Yinyin."
Zhou Desheng's wife brought in a bowl of dumplings: "Freshly made mutton filling, eat it while it's hot."
She scooped a spoonful of vinegar into Yun Tangyin's bowl, "To dip it in and cut through the greasiness. Oh, by the way, let me know when you're picking up the yarn this afternoon. My husband wants to knit a gray one to make a vest."
After finishing her meal and returning home, Yun Tangyin had just put the tiger-head shoes into the wooden box when Old Zhang came in holding a paper package: "I just brought some soap from the supply and marketing cooperative, here are two for you."
He peered into the cage and said, "This rabbit looks healthy. I have a bag of soybeans; feeding it these will help it gain weight."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a piece of mutton into Old Zhang's hand: "It's freshly stewed, have it with your drinks. What time will the yarn be distributed this afternoon? I'll go queue up."
"Start at two o'clock," Old Zhang said, stuffing mutton into his pocket. "Don't go too early, I'll have Xiao Li save two portions for you."
Just after 2 p.m., a long queue formed at the entrance of the residential compound.
Aunt Li, holding her child, stood at the end of the line: "Yinyin, could you help me get a set of pink ones to knit a pair of little socks for the child?"
She slipped a piece of candy into Yun Tangyin's hand. "My husband got it from the regiment headquarters. He said it's fruit-flavored."
Fu Yucheng squeezed into the line: "You guys wait here, I'll go check the front."
He had just reached the front of the line when he saw Yu Xia holding up a ball of yarn and shouting, "I saved you a navy blue one, come and get it."
Yun Tangyin took the ball of yarn and smiled, "The color is really good, it will definitely look good when knitting a scarf."
She slipped a pink ball into Yu Xia's hand, saying, "Here you go."
After collecting the yarn, I walked home and saw Director Wang posting a notice on the wall.
Only when you get closer can you see that it is a notice for each household to collect winter coats.
"Two sets per household, one for adults and one for children," Director Wang handed Yun Tangyin a ticket. "Take this to the warehouse to pick it up. If you're late, they might not have the right size."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a ball of yarn into her hand: "I just got this maroon color, I'll knit you a scarf. We'll get the cotton coat later, let's feed the rabbit first."
Back home, Yun Tangyin had just finished winding the yarn into a ball when Zhou Desheng's wife came in carrying a bamboo basket: "I just cured some fish, I'll hang two for you."
She rummaged into the basket, "There's also chili powder my mom sent; it makes really fragrant chili oil."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a ball of yarn into her hand: "I just got the gray one. Knit a vest for your husband. By the way, have you gotten your cotton-padded coat yet? My family plans to eat later, so we'll eat after we get it."
"No," Zhou Desheng's wife stuffed some yarn into her pocket. "My husband went to fix the water pipes and hasn't come back yet. We'll go together when he gets back. Do you have any extra needles and thread? Our needle broke."
Fu Yucheng slipped a box of needles into her hand: "I just bought these from the supply and marketing cooperative. They'll last you for half a year. I'll get you your cotton-padded coat; just tell me your size."
"Thank you so much," Zhou Desheng's wife told him the measurements. "I'm going back now; the baby must be hungry."
After returning from collecting the cotton-padded coat, Yun Tangyin placed it on the bed: "This cotton-padded coat is so soft, it's perfect for you."
She shoved a military green shirt into Fu Yucheng's hand. "Try this on, it looks like it fits you well."
Fu Yucheng put on his cotton-padded coat and twirled around: "It's just right, warmer than last year's."
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