After dinner, Wang Shuning did not get off the kang. He wrapped himself in a blanket and stared at the snow outside in a daze.
After washing the dishes, Song Guiying and Zhang Xiuzhen came over and asked, "Are you really not going?"
Wang Shuning shook his head and said, "No, it's too cold outside."
There are so many people during the Chinese New Year that even the state-owned shopping malls are crowded.
Song Guiying used her hands to search for other fabrics underneath the red fabric, but couldn't find any light yellow ones.
"Comrade, do you have any light yellow fabric?"
The busy staff raised their eyebrows and said, "Auntie, where can we get light yellow fabric in this season? It's fine in the summer. Red is the best-selling color during the Chinese New Year. It's the most festive."
Song Guiying frowned and was a little embarrassed. "My daughter doesn't want red. Is there any other lighter color?"
Zhang Xiuzhen stood aside and flipped the red cloth with her hands. She also wanted to buy some cloth to make clothes, but this trip was for her sister-in-law, so she had to wait until her mother-in-law bought the cloth before she could mention that she also wanted some.
The staff member thought as he sorted the fabrics, "There are some fabrics in the warehouse that were not sold out in the fall. If it's not too much trouble, you can go in and look for them yourself."
Song Guiying hurriedly followed the direction and went into the warehouse.
As the door opened, a heavy cloud of dust blew in my face.
Zhang Xiuzhen, who was standing behind him, quickly covered her mouth and nose. It had been a long time since she opened it and it was so dirty.
Walking into the warehouse, all the fabrics were covered with transparent film. Song Guiying bent down to look at the color from the side.
"These are all light-colored. Take them out and let us see." Seeing a pile of light-colored fabrics, Song's mother hurriedly called her daughter-in-law for help.
When they lifted the transparent film, their hands were covered in dust. Afraid of staining the fabric, they took handkerchiefs from their pockets to wipe their hands clean before starting to search.
"Mom, isn't this color too light?" It feels awkward no matter how I look at it.
Song Guiying pulled out a piece of bright yellow waterproof cloth. This color is beautiful. "Xiao Ning likes to wear yellow, so let her wear yellow. She finally comes home for the New Year, and she doesn't have to work, so she can't get her clothes dirty. When she leaves, just throw her clothes at home, and I'll wash them for her."
Zhang Xiuzhen curled her lips and smiled faintly. She went home and didn't work for a month because she wanted to be supported as a lady.
, never mind, my sister-in-law always sends things back when she is not at home, and I eat a lot of those red dates and longans myself.
"Mom, why are you still taking pink and blue?" Song's mother drew several colors and a piece of white cotton cloth.
Song Guiying counted the four batches of cloth on her arm. They should be able to make three sets of clothes. "Xiao Ning gave me a lot of cloth coupons. She doesn't leave the island and doesn't buy clothes often. She doesn't know how to make them herself. I'll make her a few more spring and summer clothes to take back."
Zhang Xiuzhen pursed her lips, thinking that if she bought like this, her new clothes would probably turn yellow.
When the two of them came out of the warehouse with their heads covered in dust, the staff saw that the colors Song's mother had picked were not seasonal, which was a bit too special.
Taking the cloth and looking through it, he said, "Aunt, although this is the leftover cloth from this fall, you picked out good colors and the price is not discounted at all."
Song Guiying raised the corners of her mouth, her pupils expressing a hint of confidence and pride, "My little daughter is an elementary school teacher, so she has to dress decently. I'll buy her another red dress, and you can give me a discount. I'll come back in a couple of days."
Staff: “Okay.”
The prices of things in state-owned stores are fixed, and the prices of unsold fabrics would normally be lower. The staff said this simply because they were afraid that Song Guiying would think the fabrics were too expensive and would not buy them.
The warehouse is open, and if you pick things but don’t buy them, they have to put them back and pack them up.
Song Guiying walked to the side of the stall and pulled out a piece of darker red cloth. "This is it. Make new clothes for my eldest daughter-in-law."
Zhang Xiuzhen grinned happily, "Thank you, Mom."
Song Guiying squinted her eyes, "How can I do without you if you come with me?"
Zhang Xiuzhen smiled while holding the cloth.
After buying the cotton, the two returned home. They had bought food and daily necessities and kept them at home long before Wang Shuning came back. It was snowing today, so they decided not to stay outside for long.
After arriving home, Song's mother saw Wang Shuning sitting on the kang with a blanket on his back, eating melon seeds. "Have you come down after dinner?"
Wang Shuning shook his head. "It's cold when I leave the kang. I've finally warmed myself up. I don't want it to get cold."
Putting down the cloth and cotton, Song's mother took out a tape measure to measure Wang Shuning's size. "Take off your cotton coat. I'll measure you for two more outfits for spring and summer."
Wang Shuning looked down at the pink and sky blue fabrics, and found that they were bought for her. "Mom, you have a good taste. The sky and sea of Jinshan Island are blue, so blue is suitable for her."
While measuring the size, Song's mother said, "I'll make you two nice sets of clothes so that you can find a good partner on the island. Did you ask about what I wrote to you before?"
Wang Shuning looked up and didn't want to listen anymore. They were urging him to get married the very next day after he came back. He would have to keep talking about it every day for the next month.
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Song's mother glared and said, "I think you didn't take my words to heart. You'll be twenty after the Chinese New Year, and you're not young anymore."
Wang Shuning raised his voice to defend himself, "Who said I didn't take it seriously? I even attended a social gathering on the island. So I didn't take it seriously."
After hearing this, Song's mother asked, "Who are the people attending the social gathering? You don't like any of them?"
Wang Shuning groaned and thought, "They are all from the army. I have talked to a few of them, but none of them are suitable."
Mother Song frowned, "Is it that they don't like you, or that you don't like them?"
Wang Shuning replied: "The one I like doesn't like me, and the one who likes me, I don't like."
Zhang Xiuzhen was cutting clothes for herself with red cloth. "You look good, with a thin waist and a big butt. You look like a fertile woman. You have a respectable job and our family conditions are not bad. Who would look down on you?"
"Of course, dating isn't just about looks, it's also important to be compatible. I guess my destiny hasn't arrived yet."
Song's mother said disdainfully, "I think they are too picky. Someone like you is very popular in the compound. If you didn't work on Jinshan Island, I don't know how many matchmakers would rush to your house during the Chinese New Year. Unfortunately, your workplace is too far away, and the man is unlikely to follow you. There is no job available on the island."
It would be better to find a soldier than to wait for three years to provide support and then return to Yihe Town to find a partner.
After taking the measurements, Wang Shuning put on his long cotton coat and sat cross-legged on the kang to continue eating melon seeds. The melon seeds were roasted at home, and Song's mother specially roasted them to make them more fragrant.
The snow outside was falling intermittently, and the snow on the ground was getting thicker and thicker. Without the sound of the radio in his ears, Wang Shuning felt a little bored.
Looking at the two people sitting opposite him concentrating on making clothes, Wang Shuning asked, "Mom, is that used bookstall on the corner still there?"
Song's mother raised her head and said, "I don't know, but she should be here."
Wang Jianjun, who was just coming back from carrying honeycomb coal, said loudly: "The bookstall is still there, but I don't know when it will close before the New Year."
Wang Shuning's eyes flashed, "Is it open today?"
Wang Jianjun pursed his lips and answered uncertainly: "It should be open."
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