Feng Mingshu began her apprenticeship at a tailor shop, leaving early and returning late every day.
She had a background in drawing, so she learned relatively quickly. After only two days, Master Qin started having her use the sewing machine.
The fourth apprentice was the first to raise an objection: "Master, we only have three sewing machines in our shop. We're already almost too busy with the daily work. If our junior sister takes up one of them, it will be even more insufficient."
Feng Mingshu opened her mouth to speak, but Master Qin stopped her with a hand and said coldly to his fourth apprentice, "Two years ago when you first came here, you also used the sewing machine. Did your senior brothers raise any objections? Apologize to your junior sister!"
The fourth apprentice was scolded until his face turned red, and he bowed his head to apologize to Feng Mingshu.
Feng Mingshu quickly said it was alright, but she noticed that from then on, the senior apprentices at the tailor shop became increasingly polite and distant towards her.
She tried bringing some snacks to ease tensions with her senior classmates, but it had little effect, so she gave up.
In fact, Feng Mingshu had mentioned bringing his sewing machine to the shop, but Master Qin refused.
The next day, Feng Mingshu prepared his own drawing paper and cloth.
These days, fabric is hard to buy. The cloth ration coupons alone are a major hurdle. You can only get defective fabric without coupons by sheer luck.
So she took apart her old dress and took it to the tailor shop to practice.
Master Qin recognized the origin of the fabric because some of the dresses were made by his own hands.
Feng Mingshu felt a little guilty and explained in a low voice, "Master, these days we advocate frugality and simplicity. These dresses aren't suitable to wear out, so I was thinking of taking them apart and making other things from them. It's a way of making the most of them..."
“No need to explain, Master Qin knows.” Master Qin said calmly, picking up the unfolded fabric. “There were different styles before, and there are different styles now. The difference lies in how you use the scissors and how you determine the correct dimensions…”
Feng Mingshu quickly gathered his thoughts and listened attentively.
Even with several senior brothers coming and going, she wasn't distracted, because she knew she wouldn't be in this tailor shop for long, so she had to make the most of her time to absorb what her master was teaching her.
After returning home in the evening, she would continue practicing with her sewing machine, making small items.
So, Xiaomingxue got a few more hair flowers, Mingyu got a schoolbag, and her mother got a few handkerchiefs with an orchid sewn into the corner.
It's not as good as the rusty one, but it's passable.
After Master Qin checked her basic skills, he formally taught her how to cut and sew clothes. Feng Mingshu became more and more focused, and time quietly passed by in her busy work.
That afternoon, she was in the back room of the tailor shop, clattering on the sewing machine, making trousers.
The fourth senior brother, who had always ignored her, suddenly called out to the inner room, "Junior sister, someone is looking for you."
"Who's looking for me?" Feng Mingshu asked without looking up. She was in a hurry to finish making the pants; only the last bit of the hem was left.
Fourth Senior Brother did not respond. Feng Mingshu assumed he was acting up again. He finished sewing the last bit on the sewing machine and reached for scissors to cut the thread.
Unexpectedly, instead of touching the scissors, I touched a warm, large hand.
She quickly withdrew her hand, but it was caught. Feng Mingshu looked up in surprise and met a handsome face with obvious stubble on his chin, which looked like he hadn't shaved properly.
"Don't you recognize me?" the man asked, leaning down. His voice was deep and slightly amused as he played with her fingers.
The calluses on the man's hands rubbed against her soft skin, sending a tingling sensation through her. It also brought back memories of their kiss in the kitchen. Feng Mingshu's face flushed instantly, and she stood up, pulling her hand away and asking, "Why are you here?"
The man straightened up and looked down at her, saying, "The sea training ended today. I went to your house to look for you, but Mingyu said you were at the tailor shop, so I came here."
The man spoke slowly and deliberately, but his eyes were burning with desire, making Feng Mingshu's heart tighten. She quickly grabbed the scissors and, while cutting the seams on her pants, said, "You can actually wait for me at home. I'll be back in half an hour."
"Ming Shu, don't you want to see me?" The man asked, but his tone already betrayed a hint of disappointment.
"No." Feng Mingshu immediately denied it. She was just a little flustered when she suddenly saw him, but she didn't want him to misunderstand. She pursed her lips and said, "I'll go tell my master that I'm leaving early today."
The man's brows immediately relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face: "Let's go together."
"good."
Feng Mingshu agreed, packed his things, went to the shop in front, and asked his master for leave early.
Master Qin glanced at the man in military uniform beside her and nodded, saying, "Go back now, and come early tomorrow."
Feng Mingshu agreed immediately, and Zhou Jinshan also spoke up: "I'll bring her over tomorrow morning."
Master Qin glanced at him again, nodded, and waved for them to leave.
The apprentices had been secretly watching them. After they left the shop, the fourth apprentice couldn't help but ask, "Master, what's the relationship between that guy in the military uniform and Junior Sister?"
"Can't you tell? That's her boyfriend." Master Qin raised his eyelids and glanced at his apprentices. "I know what you're thinking. You're all eyeing the next permanent employee position in our shop, thinking I favor your junior sister and want to save this position for her. But have you ever considered that your junior sister might not even care about this position?"
The apprentices looked at each other, their faces showing a hint of disbelief.
Master Qin understood, and his face showed a hint of sadness: "I took you on as apprentices because I wanted you to really learn the skills and become craftsmen. No matter when, if you master the skills, you will never lack food in the future."
The apprentices suddenly realized what was happening and tried to explain, but Master Qin had no patience to listen and waved them away before going into the inner room.
With his spotted hands, Master Qin picked up a few sketches left on the table by his young apprentice and slowly examined them, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
...
As they left the tailor shop and walked down the street, Feng Mingshu looked up and asked Zhou Jinshan, "Why are you free to bring me to the shop tomorrow morning? Aren't you supposed to be doing morning exercises?"
"Mingshu, tomorrow is Sunday. I'm getting married, and the political commissar has given me special permission to take Sunday off," Zhou Jinshan said with a smile.
Feng Mingshu: "..."
She subconsciously quickened her pace, but soon realized that walking fast wouldn't do any good, so she slowed down again.
At this moment, Zhou Jinshan pointed to the back seat of the bicycle and said, "Mingshu, get on. Mother should be home soon."
With the day of parting from her mother drawing ever closer, Feng Mingshu didn't have time to think about anything else. She jumped onto the back of the bicycle and patted Zhou Jinshan on the back in a hurry.
"Hold on tight," Zhou Jinshan reminded him with a smile, then pushed off with his feet, and the car shot forward.
"Slow down!"
Feng Mingshu gasped and quickly hugged his waist, but all she heard was the man's low, deep laughter, which, along with the cool breeze, entered her ears, making her ears burn and her cheeks flush.
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