Chapter 196 Thinking About Them
Zhou Desheng's wife sat beside Yun Tangyin, looking at the handkerchief in her hand, her fingertips gently brushing the locust flower embroidery: "Yinyin, your embroidery is really getting more and more delicate. Look at the pattern of the petals, it looks like the real thing."
She stuffed a spool of thread into Yun Tangyin's hand. "This is the mulberry silk thread my mother gave me. It's bright in color and strong. If you don't mind, use it to embroider the remaining pattern. Jianhua will definitely be happier when he sees it."
Yun Tangyin took the spool and twirled the thread with her fingertips. The soft thread shone with a light golden luster in the sunlight. "This thread is really good. It's much softer than the coarse cotton thread I used. It will definitely look more exquisite when embroidered on the handkerchief."
She raised her head and looked towards the kitchen. "I'll embroider another bamboo flower later."
Xiaolan held the old cotton quilt that had just been changed and went under the eaves to bask in the sun. There were still a few rabbit hairs on the cotton quilt, like a handful of fine snow.
"Sister-in-law, what should we do with these old cotton wool?" She poked the cotton wool. "It's a pity to throw it away. It would be nice if we could make a small cushion for the rabbit."
Yun Tangyin put down the handkerchief, smiled and nodded: "Let's take apart the old cotton batting, fluff it up again, and sew a small cushion for Snowball. He is very delicate and will definitely like something soft."
Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang were tired from chopping wood, so they squatted beside Xiaolan and watched her playing with the cotton. Zhou Ming suddenly remembered something and tugged at Fu Yucheng's clothes: "Uncle Fu, can you teach me how to fluff cotton when my second uncle comes back? I want to fluff new cotton for my mother's bed. She always says the old cotton isn't warm enough."
Fu Yucheng put down the hatchet and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Wait until your second uncle comes back and ask him to teach you how to use the tools. You need to be clever to fluff cotton. You don't have much strength now, so you have to learn slowly."
Aunt Zhang came over with some freshly dried peanuts, the shells still warm from the sun. She stuffed a handful into each of the children's hands and said, "Try them! These peanuts are sun-dried and delicious. When your second uncle was little, he loved the peanuts I fried. He always ate a whole plateful."
She sat on a stone bench, watching Fu Yucheng chopping wood from behind, and suddenly sighed: "Yuanshan has been sensible since he was young. He knows how to help with housework. Now he works so hard outside, all for this family."
When Fu Yucheng heard this, he stopped what he was doing and said with a smile, "My second brother wants to make more money so that his second sister-in-law and future children can live a good life. He always says that he can't let his second sister-in-law suffer with him."
He picked up a piece of chopped wood and handed it to the kitchen. "Yinyin, use this piece of wood to light the fire. It's perfect for cooking some sweet potatoes. The kids will definitely love it."
Yun Tangyin took the firewood and walked towards the kitchen. When passing by the rabbit cage, she saw the mother rabbit holding the little rabbit in her arms, picking at the cotton wool with her little paws, as if protecting a baby.
"Look how affectionate they are," she whispered to Xiaolan who had followed her. "When my second brother and sister-in-law come back in the spring, let's show them this warm and cozy scene. It will definitely remind them of the good things at home."
During dinner, the sweet aroma of sweet potato porridge wafted through the kitchen. Fu Yucheng also fried a plate of vegetables. The lush green vegetables were covered in oil, which made people's appetites just by looking at them.
Yun Tangyin poured a bowl of sweet potato porridge and brought it to Aunt Zhang: "Aunt Zhang, try it quickly. This porridge has red dates and longans added to it, which replenishes your qi and blood. You are old, so you need to eat more."
Aunt Zhang took the bowl and scooped a mouthful of porridge with a spoon. The sweet fragrance spread in her mouth, and she couldn't help nodding: "It's delicious. Yinyin, with your cooking skills, if you open a small restaurant, it will definitely be a big hit."
Zhou Desheng took a sip of wine and suddenly remembered something. He said to Fu Yucheng, "Brother Fu, let's go to town tomorrow to buy some brown sugar for my sister-in-law. She's pregnant and needs a lot of nourishment. Brown sugar can warm the body and is better than white sugar."
Fu Yucheng put down his wine glass and nodded: "Okay, I'll go there early tomorrow morning and ask the post office to see if the package for my second brother has arrived, so they don't have to worry about it."
Yun Tangyin picked up a piece of greens and put it in Fu Yucheng's bowl. "Don't buy too much brown sugar when you go. We still have some at home, enough for me to eat until spring."
She pointed to the cloth bag in the corner and said, "I made a small cotton jacket for my second sister-in-law. When you go to town, find a tailor to make the collar smaller so it fits better."
The next morning, Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng walked towards the town, and their footprints on the snow were soon covered by the newly fallen snow.
As soon as the supply and marketing cooperative in the town opened, Fu Yucheng walked in. The brown sugar was packed in a coarse porcelain jar, glowing a dark red light. He bought two kilograms of it and some fruit candies for the children before heading to the post office.
The comrade from the post office saw Fu Yucheng coming and smiled and handed over a notice: "The package you sent to Comrade Fu Yuanshan has arrived. He has signed for it and asked me to bring you a message saying that the item is very satisfactory and thanking his family."
Fu Yucheng took the notice, and the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground: "Thank you, comrade, for your trouble."
When Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng returned home, the yard was already bustling with activity. Zhou Desheng's wife was helping Yun Tangyin sew a small cotton-padded jacket, and Xiaolan, Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang were feeding the rabbits with fresh green leaves.
"Has the package arrived?" Yun Tangyin hurried over to greet Fu Yucheng upon his return. Fu Yucheng nodded and handed her the notice: "It's here. My second sister-in-law said it was very satisfying and told us not to worry about it."
Yun Tangyin took the notice. Although the handwriting was sloppy, it was full of warmth. She couldn't help but smile: "That's great! I was worried that the bacon would go bad on the way. Now I feel relieved."
She stuffed a cup of hot tea into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Warm your hands quickly. It must be very cold outside."
The afternoon sun gradually set in the west, casting a warm yellow light on the old locust tree in the yard. The snow on the branches slowly melted and dripped onto the ground, leaving small wet marks.
Yun Tangyin sat under the eaves, holding the handkerchief embroidered for Jiang Jianhua in her hand, and continued to embroider the remaining bamboo pattern. The silk thread moved on the cloth, and soon the outline of the bamboo was outlined.
Fu Yucheng sat beside him, polishing bamboo strips, preparing to weave a new feeding trough for the rabbit. The bamboo strips turned rapidly in his hands, and wood chips fell to the ground like a handful of fine snow.
"When Second Brother comes back in the spring, we'll move the rabbit cage under the locust tree," he suddenly said. "We'll set up a small table under the tree. When you get tired of embroidery, you can sit and drink tea. I'll take the children to play with the rabbits. If Second Sister-in-law likes, she can come and bask in the sun with us."
Yun Tangyin looked up, her eyes full of anticipation: "Okay, I also want to plant some sunflowers under the locust tree. When they bloom in the summer, the whole yard will be golden yellow. It will definitely look beautiful."
She looked down at the locust flowers and bamboo on her handkerchief, and suddenly felt at ease.
Although Fu Yuanshan and Jiang Jianhua are not around, every concern and every handmade item brings everyone's hearts together.
Xiaolan held the bunny mat she had just sewn and came under the eaves. "Sister-in-law, do you think this bunny mat is pretty? I sewed some lace on the edge. I'm sure Xueqiu will like it."
Yun Tangyin took the rabbit cushion. The lace on it was crooked, but it showed the child's love. She couldn't help but nod: "It's beautiful. If Xueqiu knew you made it, he would definitely lie on it every day."
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