Chapter 44 Transition
The weather is getting colder and colder, and the heavy snow outside has turned this small village into a silver-clad landscape.
Gu Zuozuo wore a thermostat under a thick military overcoat, and the rabbit fur hat on her head made her small face look even whiter and more delicate.
Tiny beads of frost covered her long, curled eyelashes, and even her eyebrows were covered in frost.
Stepping into the knee-deep snow, my snow boots were instantly submerged.
"Sister Gu! What brings you here now! Come in quickly!"
When Ma Liang opened the door and saw Gu Zuozuo, he was shocked. The temperature outside was now below minus sixty degrees Celsius. Going out in this weather would freeze your legs.
Gu Zuozuo entered the room, stomped the snow off her feet, took off her military overcoat, revealing a turtleneck sweater disguised as a thermostat underneath.
“Your sisters Meng and Qi sent you and Grandma Ma some things, so I’ve come to deliver them to you.”
As he spoke, he placed a large package he was carrying on the table.
Grandma Ma carried in a bowl of piping hot ginger and brown sugar water, her steps unsteady. When she saw the large package, a mixture of gratitude and disapproval flashed in her eyes.
"These days, no one has it easy. Why are those two kids sending things here? What a waste!"
Gu Zuozuo took the bowl with one hand and helped the old lady to the kang (a heated brick bed) with the other. The old lady was old and her health was not good, so she should try her best to avoid getting cold.
"They are grateful for the cloth shoes you made for their family, saying they are very comfortable to wear. These items were specially sent by their family to express their gratitude to you."
The heavy snow had just fallen, and Grandma Ma, having nothing to do at home, made eight or nine pairs of cloth shoes and gave them all to her so that she could send them to her two sisters who were going home.
Although the shoes were hand-sewn stitch by stitch and didn't look fashionable, they were still embroidered. A pair would cost about three yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative, but they looked very exquisite, and she liked them very much.
Grandma Ma smiled, revealing her four remaining teeth, and all the wrinkles on her face smoothed out. Even at her age, she was still remarkably accurate in judging people.
When she first met these three girls, she found them to be very warm-hearted and sincere. Even Gu Zuozuo, who was the most aloof and scheming among the three, was the kind of person who would not bother others unless provoked.
I thought we wouldn't have much interaction, but who knew that we would become closer to them because of my grandson.
The grandmother and grandson had received a lot of help from them, and they thought that making a few pairs of shoes would repay the favor, but who knew that the other party would give them something in return.
"If you like wearing them, I'll make more for you. It's easy and doesn't take much effort."
Gu Zuozuo didn't refuse, fearing that if she refused, the other party would take the things back exactly as they were.
"Oh, right, wait a minute..."
As she spoke, Grandma Ma went to the side room and took out a large basket. It was so heavy that she almost stumbled, which startled Ma Liang and Gu Zuozuo, who quickly reached out to help her.
"Oh dear, I'm getting old, my strength isn't what it used to be..."
Grandma Ma lifted the bamboo lid on her basket, and her kind face showed a rare, childlike smugness.
"Someone sent us frozen pears, frozen persimmons, dried squid, dried shrimp, seaweed, and other things. My grandson and I kept enough for ourselves, but this is for you. Take it back with you later."
Gu Zuozuo raised her eyebrows in surprise. There was even seafood. She hadn't realized they had this kind of relative.
"Okay, I'll take it back later."
Gu Zuozuo stayed for lunch, then took out her prepared elementary school textbooks and began teaching the illiterate Ma Liang to recognize characters and do arithmetic.
Their family was too poor to afford the five yuan tuition fee per semester. Ma Liang was almost ten years old this year but had never been to school and did not know a single word. After Gu Zuozuo found out, she would often stay over to eat and act as his tutor.
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