Chapter 163: It’s a Good Time to Knit a Sweater
He added a piece of coal to the stove: "Cook some sweet potato porridge tonight and eat it with Zhou Desheng's cured fish."
He suddenly remembered something, "Yinyin, have you cast on your sweater? I think that ball of pink yarn is just right."
Yun Tangyin picked up the knitting needle and gestured: "I just made ten stitches. Do you think the tightness is okay?"
She stuffed a needle into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Help me hold the thread, I can never reach it."
While I was knitting, there was a knock on the door.
Fu Yucheng opened the door and saw Xiao Li holding a cloth bag. "Sister-in-law is knitting a sweater. My mother sent me two balls of wool. I'll give you two."
He peered into the cage and said, "This rabbit is well-fed. I have a bag of cabbage seeds. Plant them in the spring. It will be enough for it to eat all spring."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a small cotton-padded jacket into his hand and said, "I just got it. Give it to your little niece. By the way, will the patrol be on duty tonight? I cooked some sweet potatoes and saved two for you."
"Add more," Xiao Li put his cotton coat into his pocket, "There's some movement on the hill behind us, and the commander asked us to send two more people. If you hear anything, don't come out to see what's going on, just call me."
Fu Yucheng stuffed an axe into his hand: "I just sharpened it. I'll carry it with me for self-defense when I'm on patrol. Have you had dinner? My porridge is almost ready. Go get me a bowl."
"No," Xiao Li took two steps back. "I have to go change shifts. Uncle Zhang is still waiting in the reception room."
After sending Xiao Li away, Yun Tangyin added a ladle of water to the pot: "Cut the cured fish in half and stew it until it's tender. Send a bowl to Old Zhang."
She stuffed a piece of cloth into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "I'll make you a pair of cotton trousers with the corduroy I just got. They'll go perfectly with this military cotton jacket."
Fu Yucheng was cutting up salted fish when Yu Xia came in holding a sweater. "What do you think of my pattern? It looks a bit crooked."
She stuffed a stuffed doll into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "I just made a rabbit lamp. Give it to the child to play with."
Yun Tangyin took the sweater and smiled, "The wheat ear pattern is so evenly woven, much better than mine."
She stuffed a knitting needle into Yuxia's hand and said, "Use this one to knit. It's thinner than yours, and the pattern it produces will look better."
"You're really good with your hands," Yuxia glanced at the stove, "Are you cooking sweet potato porridge? I made some steamed buns at home, I'll give you two."
She suddenly lowered her voice and said, "My husband said that the regiment headquarters is going to build a bathhouse for the family compound and construction will start in the spring. From now on, we don't have to run three miles to take a bath."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a piece of salted fish into her hand and said, "It's freshly stewed. Try it. Where is the bathhouse? Is it far from our courtyard?"
"It's being built next to the warehouse," Yu Xia said, putting the cured fish in her pocket. "My husband is helping to level the ground, so it'll be ready for next winter. By the way, do you have any extra soap? We've run out of soap."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a bar of soap into her hand. "I just got it. It's made in Shanghai. It smells nice. We're going to Director Wang's house tomorrow to celebrate the full moon. You'll look great in that camel-hair waistcoat."
Just as dinner was on the table, Zhou Desheng came in carrying a bundle of firewood. "Is the porridge ready? I smell the fragrance."
He put the firewood on the ground. "This is freshly split pine wood. It burns very fragrantly."
Yun Tangyin poured porridge into his bowl: "Eat quickly, it's freshly cooked. By the way, does your cotton-padded jacket fit you well? Fu Yucheng said the one he got for you is a little big."
"That's perfect," Zhou Desheng said, scooping his porridge. "I'm planning to wear a sweater underneath. It's perfect for winter. My wife asked me if you have enough yarn at home. She wants to knit a little cloak for the child."
Fu Yucheng put a piece of salted fish into his bowl and said, "That's enough. I got six large balls, two for your family. Go to Director Wang's house tomorrow and ask your wife to learn from Yinyin. She can knit beautiful patterns."
After dinner, Yun Tangyin had just piled up the bowls when Director Wang came in holding a red cloth bag. "I just embroidered this purse. Do you think it looks good?"
Yun Tangyin picked up the purse and praised: "This tassel is so skillfully woven, better than mine. Oh, by the way, for the full moon banquet tomorrow, I'll bring you some brown sugar steamed cakes, which symbolizes the prosperity of the child."
"No need to bring it," Director Wang showed a silver bracelet tucked into his hand. "This is what I prepared for the child. It's all I need. Come early tomorrow and help me set up the stage. The troupe has hired a storyteller."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a hot water bottle into Director Wang's hand and said, "It's freshly filled with hot water. Keep it warm. Where is the stage? I'll move the tables tomorrow morning."
"It's set up in the middle of the courtyard," Director Wang said, putting a hot water bottle in his pocket. "I asked Old Zhang to leave two lanterns on so we can sing at night. You guys should go to bed early. We'll be busy tomorrow."
The next morning, Yun Tangyin had just finished steaming the steamed cake when she saw Mrs. Li come in with her child in her arms: "This steamed cake smells so good. Save some for my child."
She stuffed a cloth bag into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "I just made some insoles for your new cotton shoes."
Fu Yucheng carried a table and walked out: "I'm going to set up the stage. You steam the steamed cakes and send them to Director Wang."
He stuffed a key into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "Lock the door and don't let the rabbit run away."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a biscuit into the child's hand and said, "Freshly baked, try it. I'll go over after I finish steaming it. Be careful when you set up the stage, don't bump into it."
Just as I put the steamed cakes into the bamboo basket, Yu Xia came in holding a new dress. "Do you think this jacket of mine looks good? It's made of the flowered fabric the textile factory sent me."
She stuffed a red hairband into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "Keep it. It will look good when you tie your hair into a braid."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of steamed cake into her hand and said, "Freshly steamed, try it. Let's go quickly, Director Wang must be waiting anxiously."
As soon as the two of them walked to the center of the courtyard, they saw that the stage had been set up.
Old Zhang was holding a lantern and hanging it on a pole: "Come and help me hold it up. I'm old and weak, and I'm afraid I can't stand steadily."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of steamed cake into his hand and said, "It's freshly steamed, you can eat it. When will the storyteller come? The children are waiting."
"It's almost here," Old Zhang stuffed steamed cake into his mouth. "I asked Xiao Li to pick him up. He said it was an old man who could sing 'Bao Gong An's Cases.'"
As he was speaking, Director Wang came out holding his grandson in his arms: "You guys are here, come and greet them for me."
She stuffed a red cloth bag into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "This is a meeting gift. There's a silver dollar in it. Keep it for the bottom of the box."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a silver lock into the child's hand: "Director Wang just gave it to me. I wish you a long life."
She stuffed a piece of steamed cake into Director Wang's hand and said, "Try it quickly, it's still hot."
Fu Yucheng finished setting up the stage and came over: "The storyteller is here, and the children are all gathered around him."
He stuffed a hot water bottle into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "It's cold, keep it covered."
Yun Tangyin leaned on his shoulder and smiled: "Look at this compound, it's even more lively than during the Chinese New Year."
Fu Yucheng hugged her in his arms and said, "It will be more lively in the future. When the bathhouse is repaired, we can take a bath every week."
Yun Tangyin laughed out loud: "The men's and women's bathhouses are also separate. Can I still go to the men's bathhouse with you to take a bath?"
Fu Yucheng also reacted, hugged Yun Tangyin and laughed along.
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