Zhou Xiaozheng watched him smile at everyone and then rush into the inner room, but he didn't pay any attention. He still sat there listening to Mr. Cheng talking about biographies and their casual chat.
If he knew that his daughter was busy making his jacket, he would have jumped up in fear that his precious daughter would hurt her hands or eyes.
Zhou Jiao saw him rushing in with a bag of furs, and her eyes lit up. Because her son was asleep, she slowed down and walked over to Zhang Guoqing. "You found the mink fur, you're really good. Put it on the table and let us see it."
"I've found a tailor, but he can't make it tomorrow. I have no choice but to bring it back to you. Can you sew before you finish your confinement? If not, I'll take the fabric and go back to the village to find my second sister-in-law."
Zhou Jiao opened it and looked at the contents. She picked up a few pieces of mink and compared them. "It's okay. I made clothes for my little girl a few days ago. They're not embroidered, so just one or two pieces won't be a problem. You'll understand when you see me make them. I dislike other people's work. The colors need to be well spliced to look classy."
After saying that, he walked to the bed, took out the army green cloth from the space, and moved it to the table. "Look, everything is ready. I'll be ready soon. Put these things in the cabinet first. We'll clean them up in the evening."
Zhang Guoqing hid his stuff and sat beside her, watching her swiftly thread the needle, then snap-snip two pieces of fabric with her scissors and gather the remaining fabric. Her hands flew like this, and soon she had fashioned two army-green jackets. He glanced at his watch in disbelief: it hadn't taken more than fifteen minutes.
Then he saw her put strips of mink hair on her hands and start moving them left and right, back and forth on the table. He understood that she was going to create a gradient color.
Zhou Jiao quickly sewed the pieces together with needle and thread. She picked up the green jacket and placed it on the table. She spread it out, placed the sewn fur on top, and began to work quickly. Soon, she had it done. She shook it and began to sew the fur that extended beyond the fabric back into the jacket. Half an hour later, the two jackets were so exquisitely crafted that they looked like they were machine-sewn.
Zhang Guoqing exclaimed, "I've heard you say your work is excellent. This isn't just excellent; it's a master's level. You finished two garments in less than an hour. Take a break first. I'll go find some buttons in the closet and sew them on for you."
Zhou Jiao smiled as she watched him busily unbuttoning. "Is this mastery?" She had planned to use the red silk in her space to make a full-moon suit for her son. She would simply embroider a tiger on it and add gold lockets. It would be a festive outfit, just in time for the New Year in Beijing at the end of the year.
Looking at the remaining fur, which contained pure white mink, Zhou Jiao measured its length with her hands. She thought that if she joined two pieces together, she could make a scarf for her mother, which would look very elegant. She found some light-colored fabric in the space, cut a long strip, and began to work. When Zhang Guoqing finally got a few buttons, he found that Zhou Jiao's hands were almost finished.
Zhang Guoqing watched her finish it, took it and examined it carefully. He found that the seams had been processed and it was impossible to tell that it was spliced together. It was exactly the same as the one he bought. "This white one will definitely look good on you. I'll find someone with sable to make you a scarf later. If you're lucky, I can also make you a short coat. It will definitely look great."
Zhou Jiao nodded cheerfully. "Okay, I'll wait for your fur. It will definitely keep you warm. It's a pity I don't know how to make shoes, otherwise I could make you furry boots. They'd be light and warm, unlike heavy military boots. The last time I tried on military boots, I was afraid I wouldn't have the strength to lift my feet and walk."
Zhang Guoqing listened and looked at her small frame. She laughed so hard she fell over the table, unable to get up. Worried about waking her son, she held her laughter so tightly that the table began to tremble. This reminded him to find a shoemaker and have him make a few pairs of lightweight boots.
Zhou Jiao looked at him and laughed softly, "It's nothing strange. Don't you think military boots weigh twenty pounds? And military coats are very warm, but they feel heavy after being used to wearing down jackets. Just imagine, when I put on a military cap, military boots, and a military coat, can I still move?"
Zhang Guoqing was so happy just thinking about it that he waved his hand and walked out quickly. He stood in the yard and laughed out loud. The more he thought about it, the funnier it became. Until he was tired of laughing, he straightened up and saw Zhang's mother and others looking at him worriedly, and he laughed again.
Old Cheng asked curiously, "Xiao Wu, tell us quickly, what happy thing happened to you that made you laugh like this?"
Zhang Guoqing hurried to the living room. "Nothing, just thought it was funny. Jiaojiao just said she tried on some military boots and they were so heavy she was worried she wouldn't have the strength to walk. I thought her small body would struggle. But then this silly girl asked me to try and see if she could move with a military cap, coat, and boots on. Oh, the more I think about it, the funnier it gets."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at everyone laughing, but he didn't laugh. He was worried. "Have you come up with a solution? This child needs to be nourished. He's too weak."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. "I've thought about it. I'll ask a shoemaker to make a few pairs of boots. After the hat is knitted with wool, it can be stuffed with fur to keep it warm. It's okay to wear the military coat when you go out."
"Well, after she's done with the confinement, you supervise her running to exercise. I saw those new recruits couldn't run at first, but they got better later. Dad will go back and see if there are any light warm clothes. Xinjiang does have sheepskin boots and gloves, so you guys can make do with them for now. I'll go back and find someone from Xinjiang and pay them to bring them back."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head. "That's really not necessary. I'll find someone local to do it. It's quicker. It's too much trouble for you to find someone, and you'll owe her a favor. There's no shortage of fur here, and I can even find someone to do it that she likes."
Lin Lishan frowned and thought for a long time before finally finding a solution. "Leave it to me. I can have someone send it directly to me. If Jiaojiao hadn't told me, I wouldn't have thought of this. I also felt it was very heavy when I first put it on."
"Mom, if you go in and see what Jiaojiao has done, you'll know there's no need to look for anyone. She's very skillful."
Lin Lishan, Zhang's mother and Old Lady Cheng went into the bedroom and saw Zhou Jiao blushing and smiling at them shyly, probably because she heard the noise outside.
As soon as Mrs. Cheng came in, she saw two jackets placed on the table. Judging from the styles, they were probably just prepared by her child for her father. There were scraps of cloth on them, and needle and thread were also on the table.
"You are still in confinement after giving birth. You can do needlework when you have time later. Don't do it next time. Well, the craftsmanship is really good. It's made of mink, which is warm." Old Mrs. Cheng touched the inside and nodded with satisfaction.
Zhou Jiao nodded quickly, "I know. I won't do anything complicated or tiring for my eyes. This is simple. It only takes a few stitches. It's just right for my dad to wear inside when he takes it back."
Old Mrs. Cheng touched the cloth-wrapped buttons with a smile and nodded secretly. What a clever idea! This child was meticulous in everything she did. "Your father loves you well. Good child, you deserve your father's love. Having a girl is good, but having a son is not. Your father would be so sad when he puts it on. Who else are you going to give it to besides your father?"
Zhou Jiao saw Old Lady Cheng's eyes looking at Zhang's mother's ticket and immediately understood. "I originally wanted to prepare some for my parents and my in-laws, but firstly, we didn't have enough material, and secondly, I'm still in confinement after childbirth, and I was worried they would blame me for not taking good care of myself. Xiaowu and I are planning to collect furs during this period, and make some for them to wear for the winter just after they finish their confinement."
Old Madam Cheng smiled and continued, "That's the right thing to think. You should take good care of yourself during the confinement period. You'll have plenty of opportunities to be filial to them in the future."
Mother Zhang quickly shook her head. "Don't bother with ours. Your parents are always away from home for work, so they'll need it. We're staying here in the winter, so we don't need any of this. Don't bother with it. Once you're done with the confinement, you can knit sweaters and trousers for your dad. Your mom works every day, so she definitely won't have time. You know how to sew, so you can try it out."
Zhou Jiao complained with a smile: "Mom, you forgot again. You should have said that I'm waiting for you to bring clothes over and should happily accept them. Be careful, if you say that, I will take it seriously and forget you."
Mother Zhang laughed heartily and said cheerfully, "Okay, I'll do as you say. We'll do it in the spring. You go take care of your dad first. Jiaojiao, I'll let Xiaowu take me to your eldest sister's house first, and you can chat with your aunt and the others. I'll be back soon."
Zhou Jiao quickly stood up, watched her leave, breathed a sigh of relief, and made a face at her mother. She took out a scarf from the closet and handed it to her, "Mom, this is for you. Do you like it? I don't have any material to make you a jacket. Don't be angry or think that I'm not close to you.
I'm worried my dad isn't having a good time outside these years, afraid he's getting cold. I'm keeping him warm first, and putting on some clothes to protect his chest. Otherwise, he'll freeze if he goes out for exercise in the middle of winter without a coat. Don't knit Dad's sweater and pants, I'm a fast knitter. I'll send them to you when I'm done. Remember to check on Dad to see if he has stomach problems. Be sure to remind him to take care of himself. I heard scrambled eggs with badger oil can cure stomach upset, so I prepared some for him.
Don't keep the ginseng, you two. Stew it with chicken and eat it. I'll buy two more when I see it later. My aunt also needs some nourishment. We're in such a hurry this time. You're leaving tomorrow, and I haven't prepared anything yet."
Lin Lishan fondly touched her scarf, listening to her chatter, and complained, "I know, housekeeper. I will definitely take good care of your father. How can you worry about it at such a young age?"
Old Mrs. Cheng nodded in agreement. "You are still young, so don't prepare anything. Aunt is not an outsider, and the family doesn't lack those things. It's very troublesome to send them back and forth. I will ask your father to have his health checked, and we have ginseng at home to nourish him. You have food to eat by yourself, and if you need anything, write to Aunt and tell her. Don't worry about us. Aunt has her own money and a good salary every month. It is very convenient to buy things in our compound, and you can buy whatever you want. Don't owe anyone a favor if you need it, Aunt will send it to you. Don't buy baby formula or anything like that."
"Oh, don't buy any more milk powder. I can't finish it all. My mom brought some last time, and Xiaowu bought some more. I gave all the bags to my mother-in-law for the kids at home. We still have a lot of brown sugar at home, and we can't finish it all. The cabinets are full of fabrics and other things. Aunt, my mom always buys me cartloads of things. My family is very wealthy, so there's really nothing we lack. You and my mom, please don't send any more. I'll ask you for it when it's gone."
Lin Lishan was so amused after hearing this that she rolled her eyes at her. "What a silly girl! If you didn't know, you'd really think you couldn't even fit all your stuff in. With just two or three rolls of cloth, you can barely make a few pairs of underwear, and you can't even stuff them in."
Aunt, don't listen to her. Don't send anything yet. I'll come to you if I can't find it. This girl is afraid that I'll buy something, so she always stares at me and frowns. Mom, be more low-key. Mom, save some money.
Look at you, you're so thin you could be blown away by a gust of wind. You haven't rested during this confinement period, and your face is still pale and thin. You're still worried about your father, so take care of yourself first. If you can stay in the county, don't be stupid and go back. If you don't feel like cooking here, just go to Fat Chef's for dinner, it won't cost much.
Keep the stove on and keep cooking. You have a small appetite, so come to the kitchen and eat when you're hungry. We'll have someone else wash all the clothes and sheets. Your Aunt Cheng and I have already agreed, and she'll help find someone. If your father wasn't worried about your mother-in-law and the others, he would have hired someone to take care of you. Take good care of yourself this time, close the door, and ignore everything. Once you're safely through the full month, come over immediately. I've told Xiaowu, and he's agreed. Remember that?"
Zhou Jiao smiled at her flatteringly, "Mom, don't make me more angry. Your daughter is very smart. I will definitely turn into a fat man when you see me later."
Lin Lishan sighed and said helplessly, "You are smart, but you are easily taken advantage of. You are always thinking about others and you are soft-hearted. You must always remember that you are only 17 years old. You can act like a spoiled child and you can act like a spoiled child. There is no need to be so sensible. Just do whatever you want. Why put yourself in a difficult position for others?"
Zhou Jiao laughed and winked at Old Lady Cheng. "Mom, it's a good thing my aunt is here. Others would be terrified if they heard this. Don't worry, I won't suffer any loss. If I do, I'll write to you and ask you to help me get back on track."
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