Chapter 162 Catching a Rabbit
Yun Tangyin stuffed a handful of greens into Yu Xia's hand and said, "Help stop it! This rabbit is chewing on firewood."
She stood on tiptoe to peek into the woodshed. "It just ran down from the back mountain. Its fur is very smooth."
Yu Xia rolled up her sleeves and smiled, "I'm the best at catching rabbits. When I was little, I often went to the fields with my brother to trap them."
She moved to the corner and said, "You use the carrot to lure it out, and I'll guard the door."
After a while of struggling, the three of them finally managed to put the rabbit into the bamboo cage.
Yu Xia wiped the sweat off her face and smiled, "This rabbit is fat enough. I can make two pairs of gloves or a hat out of the skin."
She stuffed a cloth bag into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "I just made these soles. Do you think the stitches are even?"
Yun Tangyin touched the sole of her shoe and praised, "It's tighter than mine. By the way, has my second sister-in-law received her coal? My family got two baskets, enough to burn until spring."
"Not yet," Yuxia threw a handful of alfalfa into the cage. "I heard Yuanshan went to the regiment headquarters to help repair the water pipe. I'll go after he comes back."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a sweet potato into her hand and said, "Freshly steamed, try it. We have enough firewood. Zhou Desheng sent a large bundle this morning."
He suddenly remembered something, "Director Wang's grandson's full moon party, are you going?"
"Go ahead," Yuxia straightened her clothes. "I embroidered a pair of tiger-head shoes and was just worried I'd have the chance to give them to you. By the way, have you received the camel-hair cloth from the textile factory? I made a small vest for you. It's very warm."
As she was talking, Mrs. Li came over with the child in her arms: "I heard you caught a rabbit?"
She peered into the cage and said, "This fur is so white."
She stuffed a piece of fabric into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "I saved a piece of the floral fabric I just received for you."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a cookie into the child's hand and said, "Freshly baked, try it. Let's keep the rabbit first and kill it in a few days. It will be a perfect dish for Director Wang's family."
Fu Yucheng added a piece of coal to the stove: "I'll stew a pot of mutton for lunch. I got it from the cafeteria yesterday. It's for you to nourish yourself."
He stuffed a pair of scissors into Yuxia's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, please help me cut the wire of the rabbit cage. It's too dense and it can't breathe."
Yu Xia had just finished cutting the wire when Zhou Desheng came in carrying an axe. "I heard you caught a rabbit? I have a bottle of good wine at home. Come over for a couple of drinks at noon."
He placed a bundle of firewood on the ground. "This is freshly split hardwood. It burns well."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of cloth into his hand and said, "I'll make you a pair of cotton pants with the corduroy I just got. I'll go to your house for lunch and bring you some cold shredded radish."
Zhou Desheng's wife came over with a clay pot: "Here are some freshly pickled sour beans for you."
She peered into the cage and said, "It's a waste of food to keep this rabbit. It's better to kill it and pickle it."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into her hand: "Freshly steamed brown sugar bun, try it. I plan to keep it until the New Year, not kill it now."
At noon, I went to Zhou Desheng's house for lunch. As soon as I sat down, Director Wang came in holding a red cloth bag and asked, "I just made a patchwork quilt. Do you think it looks good?"
She put them on the table and said, "I've collected scraps of cloth from twenty families and sewn them together for good luck."
Yun Tangyin touched the quilt and praised, "The stitches are so even, they look better than mine. Oh, and I embroidered a pair of tiger-head shoes for the child. I'll send them to you tomorrow."
"No need to send it," Director Wang stuffed a silver lock into her hand. "This is a gift from my parents. Keep it for your child. Don't bring anything to the full moon banquet the day after tomorrow. Just show up."
Yu Xia put a piece of mutton into Director Wang's bowl and said, "This quilt is really thoughtful. My wife wanted to make a quilt for her child, but she was worried about where to get coins."
Director Wang took a bite of rice and said, "I have a string of old copper coins. I'll give it to you later. They were passed down from my grandmother and have been passed down for three generations."
She suddenly slapped her thigh and said, "I almost forgot. The regiment headquarters distributed wool yarn to the military families this afternoon. They said it was fine wool yarn from Shanghai. Would you like to go and get it?"
Yun Tangyin's eyes lit up: "Go ahead, I was thinking of knitting a little sweater for the child."
She stuffed a piece of cloth into Director Wang's hand and said, "I just got this tweed. I'm going to make you a new coat. It will be perfect with your silver bracelet."
Fu Yucheng poured wine into Zhou Desheng's cup. "I heard that wool comes in different colors. Leave me two balls of navy blue. I'll knit a scarf for Yinyin."
Zhou Desheng's wife came in with a basin of dumplings: "Freshly made with mutton filling, eat them while they're hot."
She scooped a spoonful of vinegar into Yun Tangyin's bowl and said, "Dip it in to eat and it will make you feel less greasy. By the way, call me this afternoon when you need some wool. My wife wants some grey wool to make a waistcoat."
After finishing her meal and returning home, Yun Tangyin had just put her tiger-head shoes into the wooden box when she saw Old Zhang come in holding a paper bag. "I just brought back some soap from the supply and marketing cooperative. Here are two pieces for you."
He peered into the cage and said, "This rabbit is well-fed. I have a bag of soybeans. Feeding it will help it gain weight."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a piece of mutton into Old Zhang's hand and said, "It's freshly stewed. You can have it with your wine. What time will the wool be delivered this afternoon? I'll go and queue up."
"It starts at two o'clock," Old Zhang said, putting the mutton in his pocket. "Don't go too early. I'll ask Xiao Li to save two balls for you."
As soon as two o'clock arrived, a long line formed at the entrance of the family compound.
Mrs. Li stood at the end of the line, holding her child. “Yinyin, help me bring a ball of pink so I can knit a pair of socks for the child.”
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 fruity."
Fu Yucheng squeezed into the team and said, "You guys wait here, I'll go take a look ahead."
As he reached the head of the line, he saw Yu Xia holding up a ball of yarn and shouting, "I saved the navy blue one for you, come and get it."
Yun Tangyin took the ball of yarn and smiled: "This color is real, it will definitely look good when knitted into a scarf."
She stuffed a pink ball into Yuxia's hand and said, "Here you go."
After receiving the wool, I walked home and saw Director Wang posting a notice on the wall.
Only when I got closer did I see clearly that it was a notice for each family to collect cotton clothes for winter.
"Two sets per household, one for adults and one for children," Director Wang stuffed a ticket into Yun Tangyin's hand. "Take this to the warehouse to get them. If you're late, they might not have the right size."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a ball of wool into her hand and said, "I just got this maroon color. I'm going to knit you a scarf. We'll get the cotton-padded jacket later. Let's feed the rabbit first."
When Yun Tangyin got home and just finished winding the wool into a ball, she saw Zhou Desheng's wife come in with a bamboo basket: "I've got two freshly pickled fish for you."
She reached into the basket and said, "There's also some chili powder my mom sent me. It makes really delicious chili oil."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a ball of wool into her hand and said, "I just got the gray one. I'm going to knit a waistcoat for your wife. By the way, have you got your cotton-padded jacket? My family plans to have dinner later, so you can eat after you get yours."
"No," Zhou Desheng's wife put the wool in her pocket. "My husband is out fixing the water pipes and hasn't come back yet. Let's go together when he comes back. Do you have any extra needles and thread? My needle is broken."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a box of needles into her hand: "I just bought them from the supply and marketing cooperative. They'll last you for half a year. I'll get your cotton coat for you. Just tell me the size."
"Thank you so much," Zhou Desheng's wife reported the measurements. "I'll go home first. The child must be hungry."
After getting the cotton-padded jacket, Yun Tangyin put it on the bed: "This cotton-padded jacket is so soft, it's perfect for you."
She stuffed a military green one into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Try this one, it looks like a good fit."
Fu Yucheng put on his cotton-padded jacket and turned around: "Just right, warmer than last year."
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