Cheng Yaoyao just asked casually, but Xie Fei's reaction was like a little rabbit with its ears pulled, and her cheeks turned red.
She was trying to cover up her guilt, which caused Xie Zhao and Cheng Yaoyao to look at her.
Xie Fei grabbed the hem of her clothes, her heart beating so hard that it was about to jump out of her mouth. She rarely lied, but when she did, her face turned red and she felt that the whole world saw through her.
Fortunately, Cheng Yaoyao didn't ask too many questions, and just said, "Xiao Fei, have you made my New Year's clothes for me?"
Xie Fei heaved a sigh of relief and said, "It's almost done. I'll bring it home to show Sister Yaoyao when I'm on vacation!"
Cheng Yaoyao ordered: "Well, bring the paper pattern back as well, I will need it."
Xie Fei was puzzled but agreed. She was still at work, carrying a bag of delicious food and a candy painting, and went back to the factory.
Xie Zhao was still staring at her back, as if thinking about something.
Cheng Yaoyao raised his hand and waved it in front of his eyes: "What are you looking at?"
Xie Zhao said: "Xiao Fei is not right."
Cheng Yaoyao thought, you just noticed it? She was not too reassured by Xie Fei's young and sensual look, so she asked, "Didn't you ask someone to keep an eye on Xiao Fei? Has Xiao Fei been involved with any boys recently?"
"No." Xie Zhao frowned. This was the crux of the matter. But as a brother, he was not good at asking many questions. He just said, "Sister, you can talk to Xiao Fei when you have time."
Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, "It just so happens that I also want to talk to you about Xiao Fei's matter."
"What is it?"
"Let's talk about it after Xiao Fei comes home!" Cheng Yaoyao sat on the back seat of the bicycle, "Take me home."
At that time, Xie Zhao often had to travel between Lin'an City and Tianshui Village, and also went to the newly opened wood processing factory, so he bought this bicycle.
The most popular and hardest to buy Phoenix 28-inch bicycle bar has strong load-bearing capacity and a high body height, which is very suitable for Xie Zhao's long legs.
Cheng Yaoyao likes to ride a bicycle with Xie Zhao the most. Xie Zhao even put a small cotton pad on the back seat so that it is not uncomfortable to sit on.
Xie Zhao stepped into the car with his long legs, while Cheng Yaoyao sat obediently on the side, holding Xie Zhao's clothes. The crisp bells rang, and the handsome young man drove the beautiful girl through the street, attracting countless envious glances.
Some people also said: "Shame on you! Young people nowadays!"
As if to verify his words, a group of young people in military coats walked by with tape recorders on their shoulders, and soft and gentle singing flowed out of the tape recorders.
The man was so angry that he stamped his feet and said, "The world is going downhill, the world is going downhill!"
The young people sang louder and louder, and walked away.
"I didn't forget you, you forgot me. You even said my name wrong, which proves that you were lying to me."
In the Xie family courtyard, Cheng Yaoyao was singing along with the tape recorder. Xie Zhao, who had just walked in, heard the last sentence and tensed his muscles reflexively: "No..."
Cheng Yaoyao poked him between the eyebrows: "See what you say today!"
The cool fingertips poked at his forehead, and it felt like an electric current was spreading through his body. Xie Zhao held her fingertips, looked at Cheng Yaoyao's sly and smiling eyes, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but curl up.
Grandma Xie came out of the kitchen carrying rice. She clicked her tongue when she saw the situation, and the two of them quickly let go of each other's hands.
Cheng Yaoyao ran over and said, "Grandma, let me help you wash the rice!"
Grandma Xie watched Cheng Yaoyao obediently scoop water to wash rice and taught her, "The lyrics of the songs nowadays are too straightforward. Young girls talk about love all the time, which makes people laugh."
Xie Zhao said, "Grandma, I'll find you two Kunqu opera tapes later."
Grandma Xie was delighted, but also a little worried: "Can I put this in now?"
Cheng Yaoyao rushed to say, "Yes. There's news in the newspaper that the Kunqu Art Troupe has been invited to perform abroad."
Grandma Xie murmured, "This is a big change. I don't know if the wind direction will change..."
As the private economy was encouraged to develop, several new policies were introduced one after another, and new and old thoughts were in fierce conflict. There was a radical young force among the reformists, and this "decadent music" that was controversial when it first appeared has now appeared openly on the streets.
This is a huge step, and while most people are keeping a wait-and-see attitude, some are taking decisive action and taking advantage of the situation.
Xie Zhao was undoubtedly the latter. His factory was originally a wood processing factory that was closed down due to poor management. The machines were all ready-made, and he could start working after hiring someone to repair them.
The clients who purchased timber were all state-owned factories. As timber was in short supply, they were very happy to pay the money and deposit. The timber factory only needed to pay a deposit to purchase timber from the villages and brigades, and the balance could be paid in installments within a year. Xie Zhao used the large deposit to order two latest machines from Shanghai and put them into production.
Unlike state-owned factories, private enterprises need approval and procedures for everything. Nowadays, with the encouragement of private enterprises, the factory's machine tools are like money-printing machines, continuously transporting wood to the provincial capital.
In the second month, the factory's turnover almost surprised Cheng Yaoyao. This small processing factory looked inconspicuous, but its profit was beyond his expectation.
Not to mention the processing factories, these days selling melon seeds can make tens of thousands of yuan. But in most people's minds, workers are the ones with the real iron rice bowl.
When Xie Fei resigned from the textile factory, the people of Tianshui Village discussed it for the entire first month of the lunar year: "Has the Xie family gone crazy?"
It was Cheng Yaoyao who suggested asking Xie Fei to resign.
When Xie Fei went home for vacation, the whole family held a meeting.
Cheng Yaoyao put forward his ideas seriously: "First, the products of the textile factory remain unchanged. Under the impact of private textile factories, the efficiency of the textile factory will become worse and worse, and it will no longer be a stable job. Second, Xiao Fei's original interest is not in textiles, but in clothing design. I think Xiao Fei should study and take the clothing design exam. Third, Xie Zhao and I will go to college soon, and Xiao Fei and grandma should also go to Shanghai with us."
After Cheng Yaoyao finished speaking, he saw that the other three were just looking at him, so he reminded them, "I'm done, please applaud."
Xie Zhao was the first to react and led the applause. Grandma Xie and Xie Fei also followed suit.
Grandma Xie sighed and said, "When Yaoyao gets serious, he's quite presentable."
"?" Cheng Yaoyao took this as a compliment and asked seriously, "What do you think of my proposal?"
Grandma Xie said, "Yaoyao has some truth in what he said. But I still need to listen to Xiaofei's opinion on this matter."
Xie Fei twirled her fingers and said, "But my brother spent a lot of effort to find me this job. If I quit..."
"Your brother helped you find a job for you, and now he's asking you to quit for you," said Grandma Xie. "You don't have to worry about your brother. What do you think?"
Xie Zhao also nodded gently.
Xie Fei hesitated for a long time and said, "I don't want to work in the factory anymore. But if I quit, what can I do?"
Grandma Xie and Xie Zhao also looked at Cheng Yaoyao.
Cheng Yaoyao was confident and said with a smile: "Do what you are best at and what you like the most!"
It is the end of the year. The newly built No. 1 shopping mall in Lin'an City is doing a booming business. A month ago, the mall was almost empty, but now there are long queues.
The three largest shops were connected into one, freshly painted, with a wide variety of women's clothing hanging on the snow-white walls.
Six young girls in the same dresses and with sweet smiles were greeting the guests.
"Sister, you have fair skin, so this yellow skirt is perfect for you."
"It's okay if you're not sure. There's a fitting room over there. You can try it on."
"I'm so sorry, there's only one of that coat. Restocking? It's a foreign product, and it will be gone once it's sold out."
The women in Lin'an City have been trapped in gray-blue work clothes for more than ten years. These fashionable and brightly colored women's clothing simply drive them crazy.
Especially under the "one piece only, no more until sold out" hunger marketing, the buying mood is even more exciting. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and everyone wants to buy a beautiful dress for the Chinese New Year!
It is a seller's market now and no one is bargaining. The only people are almost fighting over a piece of clothing.
The sales girls were busy packaging and collecting money while also being responsible for persuading people to stop quarreling. However, after a busy day, they were still smiling and eloquent, which was a refreshing change compared to the cold sales staff in the supply and marketing cooperative.
They sell clothes here and their wages are calculated based on commission. They can earn one dollar for each piece of clothing sold, so it's worth it even if they shout themselves hoarse!
Only three days after opening, "Zai Shui Yi Fang Fashion Store" has become a hot topic among the women in Lin'an City.
Deng Lijun's songs were popular, so the girls simply simplified the name of the store to "Zai Shui Yi Fang". If a fashionable girl didn't have a piece of "Zai Shui Yi Fang", it would be really embarrassing.
"Zai Shui Yi Fang" is a store jointly opened by Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Fei. The store is managed by Monkey, who never shows up in the store and is only responsible for selecting styles.
The timber factory's trucks were transported to the provincial capital, and when they came back they brought with them a lot of other goods, including a large number of fashionable women's clothing from Guangzhou.
Cheng Yaoyao has been a young lady for twenty years and it’s not for nothing. She has a very discerning eye and can easily select the most classic and beautiful styles, making them popular in the small city of Lin’an.
What surprised her was Xie Fei's vision. Her aesthetics were always consistent with Cheng Yaoyao's, and she was keen on disassembling the clothes, studying them, and modifying them to make them more elegant and fit.
Xie Fei used to study only Cheng Yaoyao's fashionable dresses. Now with a wider range of clothing samples, inspiration keeps flashing.
Xie Fei took apart the coat she made for Cheng Yaoyao and reworked it. When Cheng Yaoyao put it on, he couldn't help but be amazed.
It was a waisted woolen coat, with the hem falling straight to the calf, outlining her slender curves. The small stand-up collar and buttons were men's style, with a few rare metal buttons.
Xie Zhao looked at Cheng Yaoyao deeply, and felt that when she put on this dress, she looked even more heroic, and the combination of heroism and gentleness made her particularly charming.
Cheng Yaoyao could see that this was an imitation of the style of foreign riding clothes, and then improved. Cheng Yaoyao knew that Xie Fei had a talent for clothing design, but he didn't expect her to be so talented. She had never been to school or received any training, but she was able to integrate Chinese and Western styles and make such beautiful clothes.
Xie Fei suggested to Cheng Yaoyao that they sell the clothes they made in the store. She had the drawings and knew a few workers in the textile factory. She could set up a small clothing workshop, and the profit would be higher than selling ready-made clothes.
Cheng Yaoyao refused and told her to just make clothes. Xie Fei was always obedient and thought that her skills were not good enough, so she stayed at home and designed a new set of clothes for the whole family.
During the Spring Festival of 1978, Tianshui Village experienced a rare heavy snowfall.
When Cheng Yaoyao woke up in the morning, he found the room exceptionally bright. Looking out the half-open window, the sky was still filled with dandelion-like snowflakes.
Cheng Yaoyao sat up happily and shouted Xie Zhao's name. Not long after, Xie Zhao pushed the door open and entered the room, bringing in a gust of cold snow.
Cheng Yaoyao showed a look of surprise.
Xie Zhao was wearing a black coat made by Xie Fei today. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and a tough military stand-up collar, which highlighted his abstinence, making him look like a handsome party guard.
When the two people looked into each other's eyes, it was as if a chemical reaction was triggered and their gazes were inseparable.
Cheng Yaoyao couldn't help but lift the quilt and sit up, and immediately shivered from the cold. Xie Zhao strode over and pulled him into his arms.
"Happy New Year, Xie Zhao! May everything go smoothly and you be happy every day!"
"Happy New Year, sister. May everything go smoothly and you be happy every day."
Fortunately, the two of them had not forgotten Grandma Xie's instructions, and they greeted each other first to wish each other a good new year.
Cheng Yaoyao immediately laughed at him: "You are copying my words, but where are your own auspicious words?"
Xie Zhao hesitated for a moment and said, "Sister, marry me soon."
Cheng Yaoyao couldn't help but knock his head against his chin. Xie Zhao had shaved early in the morning, but Cheng Yaoyao's delicate skin was still hurt, and he raised his face to Xie Zhao with tears in his eyes.
Xie Zhao rubbed her forehead, and the red spot on her snow-white forehead became more conspicuous.
Xie Zhao silently put down his hand and said, "Sister, get dressed and get up, and go out to see the snow."
Cheng Yaoyao put his hand into Xie Zhao's coat and buried himself in his warm embrace: "I thought there was no snow in Tianshui Village."
Xie Zhao said: "Rarely, this is the second snow I have seen."
"I seldom see snow. I want to build a snowman!" Cheng Yaoyao became excited.
Cheng Yaoyao washed up and dressed up. She wore a waisted long coat made by Xie Fei, with a slightly exposed hem, a pair of short leather boots she brought back from Shanghai, her long black hair braided into a bun, and a beret. She looked like a fashionable girl from a Hong Kong magazine.
The whole family looked at her in amazement. Cheng Yaoyao was not shy at all, and proudly showed off her arms and posed for photos: "Does it look good? I asked Xiao Fei to tighten the waist a little bit, is it thin?"
Xie Zhao cut the nails and cut the iron: "It looks good."
Xie Fei nodded quickly: "It looks good!"
Grandma Xie was amused and angry: "It looks good, but stop showing off. How can you help grandma cook with such a tight waist?"
Xie Zhao immediately said, "I'll help."
Xie Fei also said: "I can help!"
"And us!" Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng walked in with a smile and said, "Happy New Year! I wish Grandma Xie good health and a long life."
Grandma Xie was immediately delighted: "Happy New Year! Happy New Year! I also wish you good health and admission to a good university!"
Everyone was wishing each other a happy new year. Cheng Yaoyao couldn't wait to say, "Look at my new clothes!"
Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin immediately pulled Cheng Yaoyao over and looked him up and down: "Your outfit is so beautiful! Why isn't it sold in the store?"
They were both wearing new clothes from Zai Shui Yi Fang, but they were nothing compared to Cheng Yao Yao's. This set of clothes was noble and exquisite, but Cheng Yao Yao's beauty and aura were enough to surpass the clothes.
Cheng Yaoyao said proudly: "This outfit was made by Xiao Fei!"
Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin naturally praised Xie Fei greatly and begged her to make a new dress for them. Han Yin said, "Just make it like Yaoyao did. Your craftsmanship will be as good as the dresses sold in department stores! You can open a shop and make money!"
Xie Fei's heart was pounding with praise. After a long while, she mustered up her courage and said to Cheng Yaoyao, "Sister Yaoyao, can I take this dress I made to the store and sell it?"
"No." Cheng Yaoyao rejected it outright.
Xie Fei uttered an "ah" sound. Her proposal was rejected in public. Her cheeks turned red and she lowered her head in frustration. She really couldn't do it...
"It's a waste to sell the clothes you made here." Cheng Yaoyao continued, "Continue to study your drawings and clothes, and keep each one well. I guarantee that the clothes you design will be popular all over the country one day."
Cheng Yaoyao's words made Xie Fei's eyes widen. Famous all over the country? This was something she dared not even think about. But Cheng Yaoyao's words were so firm that she couldn't help but believe her.
"Yeah!" Xie Fei regained his confidence, clenched his fists, and his eyes were shining with anticipation.
He ran in from outside barking angrily, and seeing a room full of people talking and laughing, he became even crazier and started walking around.
Today the ground and the vegetable fields were covered with thick snow. The snow was white, soft, and fluffy. I kept sticking my face into the snow, digging and scratching at it.
Cheng Yaoyao happily suggested: "Let's build a snowman!"
Zhang Xiaofeng was from the north, and this kind of snow was just drizzle to her. But the others were from the south, and they all ran into the yard excitedly.
They worked together to make snowballs in the yard. Xie Zhao climbed up the ladder to the roof and shoveled down a lot of snow, burying Xun Xun in it.
Xun Xun suddenly jumped out of the snowdrift, sticking out his tongue and jumping happily. Jian Jian also woke up, observed curiously for a long time, and then walked into the snow.
Leaving a small plum blossom mark on his face, he decisively turned around and went back to sleep by the stove.
Cheng Yaoyao smiled and made a snowball. He then snatched the branches that Xun Xun had found and inserted them as arms, and pressed two red dates on them as eyes.
Han Yin put her woolen hat on the snowman, looked at it and said, "What's missing?"
Grandma Xie had been nagging them to be careful of freezing their hands, and now she took out a carrot and said, "Nose, nose!"
Cheng Yaoyao put the carrots on the snowman, and a cute snowman appeared in the yard. Dong Dong barked around the snowman, trying to strike up a conversation with this new friend.
Han Yin held a snowball in her hand and shouted, "Yaoyao, look at me!"
When Cheng Yaoyao turned around, he saw a snowball flying towards him.
It burst into flowers on the face.
Cheng Yaoyao was pulled away by Xie Zhao in time, and the person who was hit was...
"Ouch!" Huang Liu covered his nose and the gifts he brought fell to the ground.
Han Yin quickly went over to help pick it up: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
Huang Liu was so shocked that his eyes were blurred with tears, but he still smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay. I just call it a happy occasion. Haha."
Grandma Xie smiled and said, "Sixth son, happy new year, what gifts do you bring for the New Year's greetings?"
Huang Liu said happily: "I came to wish you a happy new year, how can I come empty-handed! Happy New Year, Grandma! Happy New Year, Brother Xie and Sister-in-law! Happy New Year, Sister! Happy New Year, both comrades!"
As soon as Huang Liu arrived, he began to help Grandma Xie diligently, doing this and that, not treating himself as an outsider at all.
Cheng Yaoyao and the others also crowded into the kitchen, helping to mix the stuffing and roll out the dumpling wrappers. Xie Zhao stretched out his long legs and lit the fire beside the stove. Jianjian lay on his lap and fell asleep. Xie Zhao watched the fire and occasionally moved away some of the little cat dumplings that were near the stove, especially the little black cat sesame, which could not be seen even if they were burnt, and were the most dangerous.
Grandma Xie said, "Sixth son, you are the guest. Go outside with Zhao'er to have tea. I can come here."
Grandma Xie used to call him Xiao Huang, but it sounded like calling him Xiaogouzi. Huang Liu said that his mother, who passed away early, used to call him Liuzi, and asked Grandma Xie to call him that too.
Huang Liu said aggrievedly: "Grandma, are you treating me as an outsider?"
Grandma Xie had no choice but to agree with a smile: "Then you can keep an eye on the heat for me."
Huang Liu was happy: "Okay!"
The kitchen was warm, and everyone was talking and laughing while working together. The aroma of the food made all the hard work of the year worthwhile.
The meatballs fried by Grandma Xie were very popular last year, and this year there are also fried chicken and fried vinegar pork. Pieces of golden crispy meat, chicken and meatballs are sizzling in the oil pan, fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the aroma is so fragrant that it can overturn the roof of the house.
Young people in their twenties are still children in front of their grandmother. They scramble for food and make Grandma Xie laugh.
Xie Zhao smiled as he just watched Cheng Yaoyao making noises. She grabbed the most perfectly fried piece of chicken and handed it to Xie Zhao: "Xie Zhao, eat this quickly!"
Xie Zhao just looked at her and took it.
Cheng Yaoyao was startled, and the people who were laughing were also stunned when they saw this.
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