Chapter 49: Counterfeits Appear [Third Update]
With Qingming Festival approaching, rainfall is also increasing.
This is the first Qingming Festival since the Jiang family settled on the island, and Jiang's mother attaches great importance to it.
The day before Qingming Festival, Jiang's mother took out Jiang's father's memorial tablet from the bottom of the camphor wood chest, unwrapped the tightly wrapped red cloth, carefully wiped the tablet clean, and placed it on the table in the center of the main room of the new house in Coconut Grove Village.
According to the customs of Qingshui Village, Jiang's mother prepared red bean paste in advance, steamed Qingming buns with millet flour, and dotted them with red dots. These are essential offerings for Qingming. In addition, she also prepared sorghum wine that Jiang's father liked to drink, a small dish of peanuts, and a dish of sliced apples.
Early in the morning, Jiang Suining and Lu Ye came from the family compound. She carried a bamboo basket containing several plump zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), tightly wrapped in dark green bougainvillea leaves and tied securely with hemp rope. She had specially consulted with local military families and learned how to make them.
“Mother, brother, this is a Qingming custom on the island. We eat these rice dumplings wrapped in leigu leaves, which are also called ‘leigu rice dumplings’.” Jiang Suining placed the rice dumplings on the altar, alongside the Qingming steamed buns.
Jiang's mother nodded: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let your father taste the flavors of this island." She understood that since they had decided to settle down here, they had to gradually integrate into the local life.
Just as the family was about to pay their respects, Liu Hong arrived. Jiang's mother was surprised, as Liu Hong was not yet married. Jiang's mother was grateful that Liu Hong could come.
Liu Hong carried two strings of leu zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and also brought a small handful of fresh leu leaves.
“Auntie, Brother Jiang,” Liu Hong said shyly, “we have a custom of putting these on the door or inside the house during Qingming Festival, for good luck.”
The sadness that had been building was somewhat dispelled by Liu Hong's arrival. Jiang's mother took the leaves with their sharp outlines, her heart filled with emotion, and solemnly placed a few bougainvillea leaves in the vase next to the memorial tablet.
The memorial service began without any elaborate formalities. Jiang's mother lit three incense sticks, and the rising smoke blurred the words on the memorial tablet, as well as her own eyes.
She murmured softly to the memorial tablet, "Old man, this is the home that Danian and I settled on the island. Take a good look at it, don't worry, we're both doing well. Danian and Suisui are both doing great. Our family opened a tailor shop called 'New Breeze,' and business is good... This house has a yard where we can grow vegetables, and it's warmer than our old home. My legs are much better too... I hope you're doing well over there too..."
Jiang Fengnian and Jiang Suining stood behind their mother, silently gazing at their father's memorial tablet, their hearts heavy with sorrow. Jiang Fengnian clenched his fist, secretly resolving to make their mother's life better. Jiang Suining gently patted her brother's arm, offering silent support, while Lu Ye gently put his arm around Jiang Suining's shoulder.
After the Qingming Festival, the air was sticky and damp, as if you could wring water out of it. Jiang's mother sat in the shop, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan, but beads of sweat still seeped from her forehead.
Jiang Fengnian returned from work at the construction company, his vest soaked through, and he complained that this awful weather was even more unbearable than the dog days of summer back home.
The humid climate of the island was completely different from that of her hometown, Qingshui Village. Jiang Huining felt bad seeing her mother and brother suffering, so she learned from the locals and bought bamboo leaves, selfheal, and monk fruit to make herbal tea.
This herbal tea has a mild, sweet taste and can relieve summer heat. I brew a large pot of it every few days and drink it like water; it really does relieve the summer heat.
Lu Ye was even more determined. He used his connections and favors to scrape together enough industrial vouchers to buy three "Huasheng" brand table fans. One for his own home, one for the shop, and one for his house in Coconut Tree Village.
The electric fan and herbal tea provided some relief from the summer heat for Jiang's mother and Jiang Fengnian.
Just as the discomfort of the summer heat was being resolved, another incident occurred at the store.
After the implementation of the individual economy, people on the island opened shops one after another, including tailor shops.
Xinfeng Clothing Store is renowned for its novel designs and exquisite workmanship. However, new designs cannot be kept secret. The 'Jasmine Skirt' with polka dot cheongsam collar and a cleverly fitted waist, designed by Jiang Suining, only sold seven or eight pieces. Other tailor shops saw similar designs, but the materials were inferior and the workmanship was rough, yet the price was more than three yuan cheaper.
Next, her design of "workwear overalls" that made movement easy was even copied and displayed on the wardrobe counters of department stores. Although the button style was changed, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the original was the same.
“We’ve stayed up all night drawing patterns and figuring things out, and someone else just takes a look and copies it. Where can we go to reason with this?” This month, there are only two customers left who have ordered “jasmine dresses.” Jiang’s mother looked at the account book with worry and complained to Zhong the tailor.
There was nothing Zhong the tailor could do; this kind of thing had always happened.
What made Jiang's mother even more uneasy was that the proprietress of the newly opened "Hongxia Sewing Shop" across the street walked in with a smile and said with a hidden meaning, "Sister Jiang, your daughter is quick-witted. When she comes up with new designs, let us see them and benefit from them!"
Jiang's mother was so angry that she ate half a bowl less rice that night.
Jiang Suining felt a tightness in her chest, but she had anticipated this situation. In this era where everyone is used to "imitating" and "borrowing," pointing fingers and cursing is useless, and sulking in private is only making things harder for oneself. She had to find a way to break the deadlock.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
