Chapter 161 This is the Textile Factory
Yun Tangyin took a bite of her sweet potato and smiled, "You just know how to tease me. By the way, Sister Li's child said a few days ago that he wanted a cloth tiger. I just wanted to use the time I spent making the mattress for him to embroider one for him."
Fu Yucheng added a piece of coal to the furnace: "I will go to the back mountain to pick up some bamboo strips tomorrow and make you a frame so that it will be easier to embroider."
He suddenly remembered something. "Director Wang said her grandson is one month old and she wants to invite the military wives to a banquet. What do you think we should give her?"
"Give me two feet of red cloth," Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of cloth into his hand, "This color is bright, it can be made into a small bellyband to make it festive."
She looked out the window and said, "How about we embroider a pair of tiger-head shoes? It would look more thoughtful."
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Fu Yucheng placed a bamboo basket on the table. "When I go to the cafeteria to get food tomorrow morning, I'll ask Director Wang about the specific date for the banquet."
As he was speaking, there was a knock on the door outside.
Fu Yucheng opened the door and saw Zhou Desheng's wife holding a cloth bag. "I'm giving you a sample of freshly dyed blue cloth to see if it's suitable for making a cotton-padded jacket."
She stuffed a piece of candy into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "My husband got it from the regiment headquarters. He said it was fruit candy produced in Shanghai."
Yun Tangyin touched the blue cloth and smiled, "The color is really even. It looks better than the ready-made cloth you buy. By the way, can you make a cotton-padded jacket? We can work on it together later."
"How could I do that?" Zhou Desheng's wife glanced at the table. "The peony red cloth you picked is really eye-catching. It will definitely look great on a new coat."
She suddenly lowered her voice. "I heard the regiment is going to distribute coal to the military families for the winter. The distribution will start the day after tomorrow. Did you know?"
Fu Yucheng stuffed a sweet potato into her hand and said, "I just heard from Old Zhang that there will be a lot of food this year, enough to burn until the beginning of spring."
He pointed toward the yard and said, "Do you have enough firewood? If not, go to my woodshed and get some."
"That's enough," Zhou Desheng's wife said, stuffing sweet potatoes into her cloth bag. "I'm going back now. The child should be awake by now. Oh, call me tomorrow when you go get the coal."
After seeing Zhou Desheng's wife off, Yun Tangyin picked up some fabric from the basket and said, "Save this pink piece and make a small coat for Director Wang's grandson."
She stuffed a needle into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Help me thread the thread."
Fu Yucheng had just finished threading the thread when he saw Mrs. Li standing at the gate, holding the child. "Yinyin, my husband said the textile factory will deliver the fabric tomorrow and asked everyone to go to the reception room to register their sizes. Did you know?"
"I don't know," Yun Tangyin stuffed a cloth cushion into her hand, "Come in and sit down. Why do you want to register your size?"
"They said they were making uniform cotton-padded jackets for military families," Mrs. Li stuffed a biscuit into the child's mouth. "My husband said they wanted thicker ones, just enough to last through the winter."
She glanced at the table and said, "The floral fabrics you picked out are really beautiful. Could you please save some for me?"
"I left two pieces for you," Yun Tangyin stuffed the cloth into her hands, "This one has little yellow flowers on it, it's perfect for making a small bib."
She suddenly remembered something and said, "Tomorrow when we collect the coal, let your wife help carry it. Ah Cheng is the only one in my family."
"No problem," Mrs. Li stood up, holding the child. "I'll go back first. Meet in the reception room at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning to register the size. Don't forget."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a sweet potato into Mrs. Li's hand and said, "It's just heated up. It's a snack for the child."
He pointed toward the yard and said, "Your firewood pile should be moved. It's too close to the wall and it's not safe."
"Got it. I'll ask him to move out later." Mrs. Li smiled and walked out. "See you tomorrow morning."
The next morning, Yun Tangyin had just finished combing her hair when she saw Fu Yucheng carrying a sack into the yard. "I just got some new cotton from the logistics department. It's whiter than last year's."
He stuffed a ball of cotton into her hand and said, "Feel the texture of this. It will definitely be warm enough to make a cotton-padded jacket."
Yun Tangyin put the cotton into the basket and said, "Go register your size first. Don't be late and miss the queue."
She stuffed a brown sugar bun into his pocket and said, "It's something to eat on the way."
A long line had already formed in the reception room. Director Wang, holding up a notebook, shouted, "When you give us your measurements, please specify whether you want a cotton-padded jacket or cotton-padded trousers. Don't make any mistakes."
She stuffed a pen into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "Please help me write this down. My hands are a little stiff from the cold."
Yun Tangyin had just picked up the pen when a textile factory worker came in carrying a roll of cloth. "My dear military wives, this is the new camel-hair cloth we've just received. We're making windproof cotton-padded jackets. Would you like to take a look?"
"Give me a ruler," Mrs. Li shoved the ruler into the hand of the craftsman, "make me a big cotton-padded jacket, the kind that can cover my cotton trousers."
She stuffed a piece of cloth into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "Feel the texture of this. It's much better than the coarse cloth we bought at home."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into the chef's hand and said, "Just bought it, it's still warm. Make a long cotton-padded jacket for my family, knee-length, to protect my stomach."
He leaned closer to Yun Tangyin and said, "You do one too."
After registering the measurements, Yun Tangyin was walking home when she saw Old Zhang nailing a sign on the wall. "What is this?"
"The distribution map of the coal yard," Old Zhang stuffed a piece of paper into her hand. "It tells you how much each family gets. Don't make a mistake when you go to collect it."
He pointed into the distance and said, "The tricycle from the textile factory has arrived and is unloading the cloth. Go and have a look."
Rolls of cloth were already piling up outside the warehouse. The factory manager, wearing a blue cloth cap, called out, "Everyone, please take the cloth according to the registered size. No more, no less."
He stuffed a piece of cloth into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "This is the new corduroy we've just arrived. It's made into durable cotton trousers. Would you like some?"
"Give me three feet," Yun Tangyin stuffed a ticket into his hand, "Is this the cloth ticket I just received enough?"
She stuffed the cloth into Fu Yucheng's hands and said, "Look at this color, it's perfect for making a pair of cotton pants."
Fu Yucheng touched the fabric and said, "This material is thicker, better than last year's canvas."
He stuffed a sweet potato into the factory director's hand and said, "I just got it from the cafeteria. Try it."
"Thanks," the factory director pressed a piece of fabric into his hand. "This is our new tweed. It'll make a great coat, so I've saved a piece for you."
As they were walking home after collecting the cloth, Yun Tangyin suddenly pointed ahead and shouted, "Look, Zhou Desheng and the others are moving the firewood pile."
Fu Yucheng looked over there and said, "Let's move the firewood away from the window."
He stuffed a piece of candy into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "I just bought some fruit candy. It's sweet."
Yun Tangyin peeled off the candy wrapper and smiled: "It's still better to be lively like this."
Fu Yucheng hugged her in his arms: "It will be more lively in the future."
The laughter of the military wives could be heard in the distance, accompanied by the shouts of the textile factory masters unloading cloth. This ordinary morning was full of the warmth of life.
Fu Yucheng helped Yun Tangyin carry the cloth into the yard. As soon as he put it down, he heard rustling sounds coming from the woodshed.
He picked up the shoulder pole in the corner and looked inside, and saw a gray rabbit gnawing on firewood.
"Where did this rabbit come from?" Yun Tangyin came over. "Did it run down from the back mountain?"
Fu Yucheng put down the carrying pole and smiled: "I'll make you a rabbit fur scarf when I catch you."
He stuffed a carrot into her hand and said, "Go and lure it away. I'll block it from behind."
The two were surrounding the rabbit when Yuxia heard the noise and came over: "What are you doing? It's so noisy."
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