Meng Shuyun looked at Xiulan's smiling face, but she keenly noticed a hint of weariness in her eyes.
Could it be because of that beast Ye Jianguo that Old Lady Zhao bullied Xiulan?
Last night, Su Xiulan went to the hospital to deliver food and saw a heavily pregnant woman standing by Ye Jianguo's bedside. She also witnessed Ye Jianguo stuffing a wad of cash into the woman's hand.
The pregnant woman was a complete stranger; she had never seen such a relative in the Ye family before. When she went in to ask, Ye Jianguo vaguely replied that she was his cousin.
Although Su Xiulan had her doubts, Liu Xiaomeng took her arm and sweetly thanked her, calling her "cousin-in-law".
She felt an inexplicable unease, sensing something strange in the woman's eyes, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
At this moment, the saleswoman brought out a box of gauze: "Ma'am, all the gauze is here, in two colors. Each roll is ten feet long, and there are eight rolls left. Do you want them all?"
Su Xiulan turned to look at the box of gauze on the ground and said with some confusion, "Mother, why did you buy so much gauze? Although gauze is cheap now, it's not suitable for making clothes."
Meng Shuyun then told Su Xiulan about her idea of making hair accessories.
With the rapid economic development, children's needs are increasing, and this market segment is currently almost entirely untapped. Doing this business could be incredibly profitable.
Meng Shuyun took a few more hair clips and picked out a pair of leather shoes that cost fifteen yuan.
Su Xiulan nodded, told someone to pack the items, and said with a smile, "Family members can get a discount on purchases; this gauze will only cost four cents per foot."
"Why didn't Xiuju come with us?" Su Xiulan glanced outside to make sure that only her mother had come to the supply and marketing cooperative.
Mentioning Xiuju, Meng Shuyun smiled and said, "I've been so busy these past few days that I forgot to tell you. Xiuju went for an interview today for a railway broadcaster job, and she'll be starting work there tomorrow."
"Really!" Su Xiulan was genuinely happy for her younger sister, not expecting her to find a suitable job so quickly. "That's good. I'm free next Sunday, so I'll go back and celebrate with my little sister."
Meng Shuyun patted Xiulan's hand, her heart filled with emotion. It had indeed been a long time since the family had gathered for a meal together. She wondered how her eldest daughter, Su Xiumei, was doing now.
"Okay, be careful on your way back. I'll have Da Shun pick you up, just be careful. You go about your business, don't bother seeing me off, I can manage on my own."
When Meng Shuyun returned to the courtyard, she found two bicycles parked inside.
Li Dashun came out of the house covered in sweat and helped carry the boxes inside, saying, "The sewing machine was just moved in and placed in the main room. Xiuju is inside."
As soon as I entered the room, I saw Su Xiuju sitting on a stool as if she had seen a treasure, gently stroking the sewing machine with her fingers, looking here and there.
When Meng Shuyun saw the sewing machine, a smile appeared on her face. She said to Li Dashun, "It's still early, so don't go back yet. Stay and help out, and I'll pay you."
Upon hearing this, Li Dashun quickly shook his head and waved his hands, saying, "It's just a small favor, no need to pay me."
Meng Shuyun didn't argue with him. She opened the cardboard box and took out the needles, thread, elastic bands, and other items one by one.
She took the gauze to measure the size, and Su Xiuju quickly handed her the scissors.
After taking the measurements, Meng Shuyun swiftly and decisively wielded the knife.
Then, she stepped on the sewing machine thread, neatly arranged the gauze and elastic band, and the sewing machine began to clatter.
In just two minutes, a pink hair accessory was completed.
Su Xiuju held the hair accessory, looking at it from left to right, her eyes filled with amazement: "Mom, you're so amazing, you even know how to use a sewing machine. How did you come up with the idea to make this hair accessory? It's so beautiful."
Meng Shuyun teased, "Come here, I'll braid your hair into two little braids and put a hair flower on you, and see if it really looks that good."
Su Xiuju's cheeks flushed instantly, like the clouds on the horizon. She gently placed the hair accessory on the table and said reproachfully, "I don't care for it. This is clearly something little kids like. I'm way past that age."
Li Dashun, standing to the side, smiled slightly and softly agreed, "That may be true, but this flower will definitely look good on you."
The three of them each performed their duties and cooperated seamlessly.
Meng Shuyun sat upright in front of the sewing machine, her feet rhythmically pressing the pedals, the sewing machine making a "clack-clack-clack" sound; Li Dashun held scissors, carefully cutting along the texture of the fabric, his movements skillful and neat; Su Xiuju, on the other hand, sewed pieces of fabric into masks with flying needles, the stitches fine and even.
Busy times always fly by in the blink of an eye.
As night fell, the three of them worked together to make a total of sixty pairs of flowers and forty face masks. Since it was late, Li Dashun stayed overnight at Su Xiangyang's house.
Meng Shuyun moved the oil lamp next to the sewing machine to make its light brighter.
She took out scissors, carefully drew a pattern on the red fabric, then cut along the lines and sewed it together with a sewing machine.
Before long, a skirt gradually took shape.
She then used the remaining fabric scraps to make several exquisite large bow hair clips.
Meng Shuyun slowly got up, holding the sewing machine, and gently rubbed her sore lower back.
She unfurled her skirt with both hands, her eyes sparkling. The square neckline was adorned with a playful bow; the puff sleeves were light and airy, adding a touch of liveliness; the cinched waist was perfectly designed, outlining her slender figure; and the folded hemline, ending just below her knees, added a touch of elegance.
Meng Shuyun's face was full of smiles, eagerly anticipating how Su Xiuju would look in the dress the next day; she imagined she would be extremely beautiful.
She went to the courtyard, fetched water, carefully washed the clothes, then started a fire to dry them. She folded the clothes neatly and placed them beside Su Xiuju's bed before finally going to sleep peacefully.
The next morning, a startled cry came from inside the house. She was seen running out quickly, clutching her clothes.
"mother!"
"This dress was made for me by your own hands!" Su Xiuju's beautiful almond-shaped eyes sparkled, and her small face flushed with excitement, full of anticipation and joy.
Meng Shuyun was scooping noodles from the pot when she heard the voice and replied with a smile, "Yes, it's your first day at work today, so I made this especially for you. Go wash up, change your clothes, and come eat breakfast."
Su Xiuju happily carried the clothes back to her room, still smelling the detergent from the wash, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Mother is so kind; this dress was made especially for me.
Li Dashun was setting out chopsticks when the door opened. He looked up and his dark eyes were filled with amazement.
The first rays of the morning sun shone on Su Xiuju, making her red dress seem tailor-made for her, highlighting her curvaceous figure and radiant smile. Her hair was loose, with a matching hair clip at the back of her head, subtly echoing the details of the dress. From the front, the ends of the bow were clearly visible, and her every smile and gesture exuded playfulness and charm.
Meng Shuyun placed the last bowl of noodles on the table and looked at Xiuju standing in the sunlight, dressed as she had imagined.
This is how girls of this age should be.
She exclaimed, "It looks beautiful! Come and have breakfast, you have to go to work soon."
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