Zhang Hongmei moved two small stools and the two sat down. Because there were corn husks underneath, their hands didn't get sticky, so she picked them up and handed them to Liu Erya.
"Eat it quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold." After saying that, she took a big bite.
"It would taste even better if it were filled with red bean paste, but I don't know how to make red bean paste."
Liu Erya also took a bite. It was so delicious! She never got to eat candy at home, and today she finally got to taste it. She then heard Zhang Hongmei say, "I know how to make bean paste; I'll teach you later."
"Sister Erya, don't wait until later. Teach me this afternoon. I've been craving it for a long time."
Liu Erya glared at Zhang Hongmei, "You can't be so careless with your words. How can this young lady always be so greedy and put things on her lips?"
"I know, Sister Er Ya. It's not that I'm craving it, it's that I want to eat it." Zhang Hongmei really liked Liu Er Ya; she had a good eye for people.
"You're good, I'll teach you this afternoon."
Zhang Hongmei handed Liu Erya a sweet potato ball, saying, "Erya, let's each have three. We can reheat them in the afternoon and eat them again. It's always more enjoyable to have someone to eat with."
Liu Erya felt sorry for her as she listened to her words. She was two years younger than her, but had been living alone for a long time. How lonely must she be?
After the two finished eating, they tidied up the kitchen and went into the house. All the fabrics were laid out on the kang (a heated brick bed). Zhang Hongmei lit a candle and said, "Sister Erya, you come here. I'll keep an eye on things."
Liu Erya climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), took a wad of white cotton cloth from her pocket, and handed it to Zhang Hongmei. "Oh, right, these are socks. I brought you two pairs. Try them on on the kang. I'll cut them up. What kind do you want them to be?"
Zhang Hongmei took the socks, took off her shoes, and got onto the kang (heated brick bed). "What you're wearing now is fine. Which piece of cloth do you think is suitable?"
"What's the difference between suitable and unsuitable? Blue is fine too. How many do you want to make?"
"I want to make two shirts and two pairs of pants. My old clothes are all too small."
"In China, should they all be the same?"
"What other kinds can be made?"
"It can also be made with a stand-up collar and side opening, but this blue fabric doesn't look good with a side opening."
"Sister Er Ya, do you know how to make military uniforms?"
"No, but I can make it if I have a design. You want to make military uniforms?"
"Okay, wait a minute, my mom has some clothes at home, I'll get them for you." Zhang Hongmei said as she got down from the floor and went to the other room to look for them.
A moment later, he brought over all his clothes and placed them on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Liu Erya carefully examined it for a while. "I can do it. Don't worry, I promise I won't mess it up. Just hold it up. I'll take your measurements first."
Zhang Hongmei looked at Liu Erya on the kang (a heated brick bed) and was truly envious. She felt clumsy when she tried to do it herself, while Liu Erya's movements were smooth and graceful, a pleasure to watch.
Liu Erya finished cutting it in a few snips, her eyes bright and excited in the candlelight. "Hongmei, we can make the civilian clothes later. I'll make your military uniform first, and then we can see how it looks."
"Sister Er Ya, you're going to sew it for me again? That's wonderful!" Zhang Hongmei was secretly hoping someone would help her.
Liu Erya ignored Zhang Hongmei and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) to start sewing, her focus intense. Zhang Hongmei tried to talk to her several times, but Liu Erya brushed her off with "uh-huhs."
Not wanting to make a fool of myself, I took out a book and sat down next to him, creating a quiet and harmonious atmosphere.
I've already read half the book, and looking at the time, it's time to make lunch. I don't want sweet potato balls for lunch. I'll make pancakes then. Anyway, I like Liu Erya, so I want to give her something good to eat.
"Sister Er Ya, you keep cooking, I'll go make the food. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"I'm not eating. You can eat whatever you want."
Zhang Hongmei got off the kang (heated brick bed) to knead the dough. I had only asked her casually, and I knew she would say that. I even felt hypocritical.
I didn't use peanut oil this time; I used soybean oil instead. Peanuts are hardly grown here, so there's no peanut oil available.
The enticing aroma made Liu Erya, who was sewing clothes inside, swallow hard. It smelled so good!
Zhang Hongmei made the pancakes, stir-fried some hot and sour shredded potatoes, and made a cabbage soup. That was it.
"Sister Er Ya, dinner's ready. Don't wait to be invited."
Liu Erya had given up all hope and went to eat whenever she was asked, but she told herself that she would definitely share any good things she had with Zhang Hongmei in the future.
Neither of them spoke at the dinner table; they were both focused on eating. Seeing that Liu Erya had finished one sheet and wasn't eating anymore, Zhang Hongmei handed her another, saying, "Eat up. It's rare to have such a good meal today; we should both eat our fill. Otherwise, it won't taste the same when it gets cold."
Liu Erya ate three sheets in a row, ate more than half a plate of shredded potatoes, and drank a bowl of cabbage soup. She patted her stomach and said she was really full this time.
Zhang Hongmei ate as much as she could, but only managed two pieces. She didn't even drink the soup; her stomach had limited room, and she simply couldn't eat any more. The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"I wish we could eat red plums like this from now on."
"Sister Er Ya, you really have no ambition. You should be eating meat every day from now on."
"I wouldn't dare dream of that; having fine grains to eat is a blessing."
Liu Erya helped clear the table. Since they were both too full, they didn't dare sit directly on the kang (heated brick bed), so they went for a stroll in the yard to digest. This meal forged a deep friendship between them.
In the afternoon, the two did the same thing as in the morning: one made clothes, and the other read a book.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Sanya came to call Liu Erya to go back for dinner, but the clothes weren't finished yet, and she was reluctant to leave, so she didn't go back for dinner. Also, she wasn't hungry; pancakes are the most filling food.
As darkness fell, Liu Erya finally sewed up the last hole. Zhang Hongmei had also prepared dinner: garlic and cabbage soup. The two ate first before trying on the clothes. Zhang Hongmei didn't think they were particularly good, but Liu Erya's eyes lit up; she really liked them.
"Sister Er Ya, how do you like this dress?"
"It looks so good, I'm sure people will envy me if I wear it out."
"If it really existed, would it be beautiful?"
"That's right, look who made it. Alright, I have to go back now, I'll come back tomorrow to make you some casual clothes."
"Okay, I'll see you off."
"Forget it, I'll come and take you home later? I can get back by myself. You should rest."
Zhang Hongmei smiled, recalling the Errenzhuan (a type of folk performance) from her past life; it really was that word. "Alright, I won't see you off then. Take care, it's getting dark, watch your step."
"Do I need you to tell me that? Lock the door and go to sleep." After Liu Erya left, Zhang Hongmei felt especially happy today, as she was truly afraid of being alone.
Entering the space and seeing the soybean seedlings sprouting from the ground was quite a sight; it made me feel gratified to see the fruits of my labor.
I decided to take a bath today. Sitting in the tub, I felt like I'd gained weight; everything felt soft and supple. I'm one step closer to my goal. My goal in this life is to be 168 cm tall. I'll organize the things in my storage ring later.
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