Chapter 52 Size
She glanced at a pair of men's shorts that were half-finished on the cutting board and asked, "Sister-in-law, are these shorts easy to make?"
Sister Wu picked up the underwear and shook it open. "It's much simpler than outer clothes! Look, it's just two pieces, front and back, sewn together at the waist, and an elastic band. Just make sure the stitches are close together."
She gestured the steps of cutting and sewing.
Nan Zhiyi listened attentively.
There are still a few pieces of fine cotton cloth at home; we can sew him a few new ones.
After leaving the Wu family's house, the sun became even more scorching.
Nan Zhiyi went to the military service center.
There was a queue in front of the butcher's block, and when it was her turn, all that was left on the cutting board were some fatty parts with little lean meat and a large bone.
"Comrade, what do you want?" The butcher wiped his sweat.
She looked at the bone: "I'll take the bone... and cut two pounds of lean and fatty pieces."
Gu Xiao loves to drink soup, using bones to make the broth and rendered fat from pork to stir-fry vegetables.
She paid for the ticket and carried the meat and bones home.
After blanching the bones, put them into a clay pot and simmer them slowly on a coal stove. The soup gradually turns white, and the kitchen is filled with steam.
The bone broth in the pot bubbled and simmered, filling the air with a rich aroma.
She washed her hands and started kneading the dough. Now she is quite skilled at kneading dough, but she is too slow and it takes her a long time to make pasta each time.
When Gu Xiao returned at noon, the bone broth noodles were just ready, and cold cucumber salad, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and two fried eggs were also placed on the square table.
Gu Xiao noticed the damp stray hairs at her temples and wrung out a cool towel. "Let me wipe them off for you."
Nan Zhiyi lifted her face and let him wipe it. The coolness touched her skin, and she sighed comfortably.
Gu Xiao moved the fan to the living room, facing the square table.
He picked up the noodles from Nan Zhiyi's bowl and held them up to the fan to cool them down.
"It's hot, so it's easier for me to get it from the cafeteria."
She poked his forearm with her chopsticks and muttered, "I wonder what the women in the compound will say about me."
"You should just focus on making yourself comfortable in life. Don't worry about what others think."
Nan Zhiyi remained noncommittal; she genuinely disliked being the subject of gossip.
Gu Xiao knew what she meant from her little expression, so he didn't say anything more.
After finishing his meal, he went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
When he returned to the living room, Nan Zhiyi took out a measuring tape and said, "Let me measure your dimensions."
Gu Xiao cooperated and stood in front of her, his tall stature blocking out most of the light.
Nan Zhiyi tiptoed and wrapped the measuring tape around his body.
He looked down at her.
She was focused, her lips slightly pursed, and there was still some sweat on the tip of her nose. A strand of hair slipped down her cheek and swayed gently with her movements.
His Adam's apple bobbed silently.
When measuring his waist, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held the ends of the measuring tape in front of him with her fingers, a natural and intimate gesture.
She's getting closer and closer to him now, and Gu Xiao, a smile playing on his lips, lets her do as she pleases.
After a while, Nan Zhiyi quickly jotted down the various figures on the paper.
"alright."
Gu Xiao sat down on the sofa and pulled her onto his lap.
She didn't struggle, but complained softly, "It's so hot, and I'm still wearing this!"
Gu Xiao nuzzled her nose. "Actually, I know my size."
Nan Zhiyi glared at him reproachfully, her cheeks puffed out in anger: "Then why didn't you say so earlier? You made me measure for so long for nothing."
He raised his hand and pinched her cheek. "Little blockhead, I just want to be closer to you a little longer."
Nan Zhiyi blushed and slapped his hand away.
The two cuddled together on the sofa for a while.
Gu Xiao played with her fingers. "Recently, several old acquaintances from the compound have been transferred to this military camp."
"oh."
Nan Zhiyi leaned lazily on his shoulder. She knew that Lu Linlang was one of them, but no matter who else was transferred, she felt that it had nothing to do with her.
"How about we have dinner together tomorrow night to have some fun?"
Nan Zhiyi sat up straight: "Huh? I'm going too? Would that be inappropriate?"
"What's wrong with that?"
She looked at Gu Xiao's smiling face and gentle eyes, and couldn't help but reach out to stroke his chin.
Faced with such beauty, she refrained from saying anything discouraging.
Gu Xiao rubbed his chin against her hand, secretly pleased by her infatuated gaze.
...
The following afternoon.
When Nan Zhiyi had some free time, she remembered that when she went to deliver the measurements that morning, she asked Sister Wu for some tips on making shorts.
So, with exceptional confidence, she found a few pieces of cotton cloth, measured the size, and took a needle and thread.
What Sister Wu described as "simple" proved to be exceptionally difficult for Nan Zhiyi.
The stitches were crooked and uneven, the fabric edges were misaligned, and it had to be sewn up and then unstitched, then sewn up again.
My finger was pricked several times by the needle, and tiny beads of blood appeared.
She frowned and, imitating her mother, put her fingertips in her mouth.
After a busy afternoon, it finally took shape, albeit barely.
She picked it up and saw that the two trouser legs were of different lengths, and the stitches were like earthworms.
Nan Zhiyi herself laughed in anger.
"Forget it." She threw the wad of cloth on the table in frustration and rubbed her sore eyes.
Gu Xiao came home to pick her up for a dinner party and saw her with her chin resting on her hand, looking sullen.
"What's wrong?"
Nan Zhiyi was in a daze; she felt extremely frustrated.
Hearing Gu Xiao's voice, she was startled and instinctively covered the wad of cloth with her arm, her eyes flickering: "It's nothing."
Gu Xiao saw right through her thoughts and reached out with his long arm.
Gu Xiao's gaze lingered for a moment on the rough needlework before falling on her slightly swollen fingertips.
"For me?"
Nan Zhiyi's face flushed, and she retorted defiantly, "It's ruined! Don't look at it anymore!"
She tried to snatch it again.
Gu Xiao easily dodged it with a flick of his wrist.
He carefully folded the shorts and put them in his drawer.
"It's wonderful. My wife's thoughtfulness is priceless."
Nan Zhiyi stared wide-eyed suspiciously: "Gu Xiao! Are you praising me while subtly criticizing me?"
"Wear it when you get back tonight."
Seeing that she was still arguing, he reached out and gently rubbed her slightly puffed-up cheek with his fingertips. "Be good."
Nan Zhiyi's face flushed even more. She reached out to pat him, but he grabbed her hand and carefully examined the needle marks on her fingertips.
"Does it hurt?"
She shook her head. "Why be so dramatic?"
Gu Xiao blew a breath on her fingertips, which was very natural. Nan Zhiyi was extremely embarrassed, as she was not used to Gu Xiao's affectionate manner in private.
"Change your clothes," he changed the subject, "We're having a get-together in a private room in the third canteen. Li Weidong and Zhao Yaqin are there, you know them..."
Nan Zhiyi turned away, pouting, "...I don't want to go."
Those old acquaintances…
Now her position is awkward. She's afraid of causing gossip for Gu Xiao because of her parents' situation, and she's even more afraid of facing those familiar yet unfamiliar gazes.
Gu Xiao took a step closer, leaned down slightly, and coaxed her softly, "They've been transferred to this military region, we'll have to see them sooner or later. What are you afraid of? I'll take care of everything. Just stand by my side."
His gaze was so gentle and resolute that Nan Zhiyi hesitated for a moment before finally nodding reluctantly.
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