Fu Yucheng held Yun Tangyin's hand, his fingertips brushing against the thin calluses on her palm.
Those were the marks left by daily embroidery and mending, and my heart softened with warmth: "Don't worry, I'll pick out several colors of embroidery thread, red, green, and light yellow, I guarantee that Second Sister-in-law can embroider the patterns she likes."
Then he remembered something and added, "Last time I went to town, I saw that the supply and marketing cooperative sold embroidery hoops. They were made of wood and were more stable than the bamboo hoop you're using now. I'll get one for you and your second sister-in-law too, so it will be easier for you to do embroidery."
Yun Tangyin smiled and nodded, leaning closer to him. The flames in the stove made them both feel warm and cozy. "You've thought of everything. With the new embroidery hoop, I can embroider the patchwork quilt for the child much faster."
She gently traced the outline of Fu Yucheng's clothes with her fingertips. "When Second Sister-in-law comes back, let's embroider a big handkerchief together, using the locust flowers in the yard as inspiration. It will be covered with locust flowers and bamboo, and we can hang it in the house as decoration. It will definitely look beautiful."
“Okay,” Fu Yucheng lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll build a bamboo frame for you then, and hang the handkerchiefs under the locust tree. When the wind blows, the handkerchiefs will flutter, just like a painting.”
Under the moonlight, the two chatted about their plans for spring, until the coal in the stove gradually burned to ashes. Then they fell asleep in each other's arms, their dreams filled with the sight of locust blossoms in full bloom.
The next morning, before dawn, Fu Yucheng left home with his money bag in his pocket.
The chill of the snow carried the fragrance of pine branches; he tightened his cotton-padded coat and walked briskly.
Thinking about being able to buy floral fabric for Yun Tangyin, embroidery thread for her second sister-in-law, and even go to the post office to inquire about mail, her heart was filled with anticipation.
As soon as the town's supply and marketing cooperative opened its gates, Fu Yucheng walked in. The saleswoman behind the counter greeted him with a smile, "Comrade Fu, here to buy things for your family again?"
Fu Yucheng nodded and pointed to the floral fabric on the shelf: "Comrade, I want that piece of fabric with light pink floral patterns to make a small quilt for the child. Also, please weigh out three catties of brown sugar for me."
He then pointed to the embroidery thread in the corner, "Give me two rolls of each color of embroidery thread, and two wooden embroidery hoops, and please wrap them all up for me."
The sales clerk quickly packed the items, Fu Yucheng paid, and then hurried off to the post office.
As soon as he arrived at the door, Old Wang from the post office waved to him: "We've been waiting for you! There was a letter for you yesterday, sent by Comrade Fu Yuanshan. I thought you would come today, so I specially saved it for you."
Fu Yucheng took the letter, his fingertips touching the familiar handwriting on the envelope, and his heart jumped.
He carefully opened the package, and Fu Yuanshan's handwriting, with its cheerful spirit, leaped off the page: "Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person! Jianhua and I are doing well in the city. Jianhua isn't busy lately and keeps talking about home, saying that when we go back in the spring, he must eat three big bowls of rice first thing."
"We're planning to set off in early March. We'll bring the children some crispy candy from the city, and two jin of donkey-hide gelatin for Yinyin—it'll help her recover. Oh, and don't worry about Aunt Zhang, I brought her some fine needles from the city; they'll make her embroidery easier..."
Fu Yucheng read the letter twice before carefully folding it and putting it in his pocket, his steps even lighter than when he came.
On his way back, he passed a pastry shop and remembered that his second sister-in-law missed the taste of home, so he bought two pounds of sesame cakes.
That was Jianhua's favorite food, and I thought I'd let her have a taste first.
When I got home, the aroma of scallion pancakes was already wafting through the yard.
Yun Tangyin was sitting under the eaves, sorting dried shepherd's purse with Zhou Desheng's wife. When she saw Fu Yucheng return, she hurriedly went to greet him: "How was it? Did you buy brown sugar and floral fabric? Any news?"
Fu Yucheng placed the items on the stone table, first taking out a letter and handing it over: "There's a letter! Second Brother said they'll be back in early March, and they've brought some crispy candy and donkey-hide gelatin, as well as a fine needle for Aunt Zhang!"
Yun Tangyin took the letter, her hands trembling slightly. Zhou Desheng's wife and Aunt Zhang, who had come over after hearing the commotion, also gathered around to look. The three women huddled around the letter, and as they read, their eyes reddened.
"That's great! She'll be back in early March!" Yun Tangyin wiped her eyes and said with a smile, "Jianhua is still thinking about shepherd's purse dumplings, so we need to freeze more so she can eat her fill when she gets back."
Aunt Zhang held the "fine needle" mentioned in the letter and couldn't stop smiling: "This child still remembers that I needed a fine needle for my embroidery. She's so thoughtful."
Zhou Desheng came out of the house and, seeing everyone's happiness, came over and asked, "What did the letter say? Is he coming back soon?"
Fu Yucheng patted his shoulder: "I'll be back in early March. We'll have a good drink together then, and I'll learn how to fluff cotton from my second brother. I can even make a new cotton quilt for your family tomorrow."
Zhou Desheng's eyes narrowed with laughter: "Great! I'll have my wife cook some fancy dishes, and we'll drink until we drop!"
Xiao Lan ran in with Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang, holding a newly woven bamboo basket with a red ribbon tied to it: "Sister-in-law! Brother Fu! Are Second Uncle and Second Aunt coming back? I've finished weaving the bamboo basket, it can be filled with a whole basket of dried shepherd's purse!"
Yun Tangyin took the bamboo basket and touched the smooth bamboo strips: "It's so beautiful. Lan'er is so skillful. When Second Aunt comes back, she will definitely treasure this basket."
The afternoon sun was warm and cozy. Fu Yucheng brought out some pine wood and started making small wooden boxes.
He first used a plane to make the wooden board smooth as jade, then used a ruler to measure the dimensions and drew a pattern of locust flowers on the board.
The saw was exceptionally obedient in his hands, and in no time, the basic shape of the wooden box was taken out, with the edges and corners polished smooth to prevent them from scratching his hands.
Yun Tangyin sat beside her, holding the newly bought floral fabric in her hand, and began to cut out small quilts.
The light pink fabric was adorned with tiny white flowers. She cut along the pattern, the stitches so fine they looked like a handful of grains of rice.
Aunt Zhang sat under the eaves, knitting a scarf for Jianhua. The dark blue yarn was mixed with a little light yellow, and the pattern was woven into locust flower patterns. From a distance, it looked like real locust flowers had fallen on it.
Zhou Desheng's wife was busy in the kitchen. She took out the sesame cakes that Fu Yucheng had bought, wrapped them in oil paper, and roasted some pumpkin seeds, putting them in a cloth bag: "These are all Jianhua's favorite foods. When she comes back, she can eat them slowly."
She added another piece of coal to the stove. "I'll cook some more sweet potato porridge so the children can have something to eat later, and then we can help dry the radishes this afternoon."
As evening approached, Fu Yucheng's small wooden box was almost finished. He carved the last stroke of a locust flower on the lid and carefully sanded it. The fragrance of pine wood mixed with the patterns of the locust flower made it more and more pleasing to the eye.
"Yinyin, what do you think of this wooden box?" He handed the box over. "Once it's varnished, it will be even shinier. It'll be perfect for storing Second Sister-in-law's woolen rabbit and handkerchief."
Yun Tangyin took the wooden box, her fingertips touching the carved locust flowers, and nodded with a smile: "It's really beautiful, even more exquisite than the ones bought in town. If Second Sister-in-law received it, she would definitely put it by her bedside every day and wouldn't be able to bear touching it."
She put the lining she had made for Jianhua and the embroidered handkerchief into the wooden box, filling it just right. "Look," she said, "it's just the right size, not too big or too small."
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