"She should dress up beautifully. Look at my granddaughter. She's naturally beautiful, and with the right clothes, she's a real beauty."
"I see, grandma. Look, didn't I buy these beautiful fabrics and plan to make some new clothes?"
Although Xu Qinghe herself was not good at needlework, she knew that Zhu Yunxiu's craftsmanship was well-known far and wide.
In that era of material scarcity, people of their generation had to do almost everything by themselves, so they developed good skills, and were adept at sewing and knitting.
She carefully spread two pieces of delicate and soft cloth printed with fresh floral patterns in front of Zhu Yunxiu, her eyes flashing with anticipation.
The sun shines through the window lattice.
"Grandma, I have drawn the style of the skirt I have always dreamed of. Can you help me realize it with these fabrics?" Her words were full of childlike pleading and trust.
Zhu Yunxiu took the drawing, her eyes gently moving back and forth between the fabric and the drawing, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously rose.
She looked at the two pieces of floral cloth, and an indescribable joy surged in her heart.
The fabric was playful yet elegant, just right for her energetic granddaughter.
What made her even happier was that Xu Qinghe was no longer the little girl who only followed adults. She had her own career, could live a decent life, and wear such beautiful clothes.
Of course, my dear granddaughter, just go ahead and draw, and grandma will do her best to help you make it."
Xu Qinghe's face lit up with a bright smile when he heard this.
Back in her little room, she sat at her desk. Although she knew nothing about complicated designs, she sketched out her ideal outfit with just a few simple strokes: a slip dress with smooth lines; the other was a half-length skirt with a slightly flared hem, paired with a well-tailored shirt and a pair of small leather shoes.
She knew very well that as a business representative now, every time she went out was an opportunity to show her self-image, and she could no longer be as casual as she was in the countryside and wear patched clothes.
In the following days, Xu Qinghe's life became peaceful and fulfilling.
Except for occasionally going to the village workshop to watch the craftsmen working attentively, she stayed at home and accompanied her grandmother.
However, the peaceful days did not last long.
With the news that a group of educated youths are about to move into the village, Xu Qinghe's life is once again caught in new waves.
Just as the rice fields were turning green and farming was in full swing, the village chief seemed a little overwhelmed by the dual tasks of organizing rice planting and receiving educated youth.
Finally, he found Xu Qinghe, his eyes filled with helplessness and anticipation. "Qinghe, I'm sorry to bother you this time. Just take them from the city to the village, and I'll take care of the rest."
After hearing this, Xu Qinghe agreed without any hesitation.
She knew that although it was not her responsibility, everyone in this big family had an obligation to lend a helping hand at critical moments.
As for the luggage problem of the educated youth, after some discussion, the village director suggested that the young men in the village help share the burden. After all, it was really difficult for the village to spare more manpower at that time.
"This is the only way." Xu Qinghe thought to himself, and at the same time, he couldn't help feeling a little worried.
Before leaving, Xu Qinghe went to the kitchen and took out two freshly baked meat buns, which were steaming hot and fragrant.
She held the handlebars of the bicycle with one hand and nimbly ate her breakfast with the other. After finishing her meal, she wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve and then pedaled like the wind. Two pet puppies chased her happily from behind, and only stopped reluctantly when they were exhausted and watched her go away.
Xu Qinghe steered the bicycle with one hand and rushed towards the station.
The sun gradually rose higher, shining on her back.
Finally, before the noon bell rang, she arrived at the station on time, silently praying that the educated youth's train would arrive at 1:10.
There were indeed quite a few educated youth in this group, and their arrival brought liveliness to several neighboring villages.
Xu Qinghe stood in a corner of the station, his eyes inadvertently sweeping over a few familiar faces from the neighboring village, whom he occasionally crossed paths with. They were also anxiously waiting.
She had originally planned not to get involved, after all, each village had its own arrangements, but the curiosity hidden in her heart drove her steps involuntarily towards them.
"Hey, have you arranged for a bullock cart to pick up the educated youth?" Xu Qinghe asked cautiously, with a hint of tentativeness in his voice.
Hearing this, the man turned his head and glanced at her, a helpless smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, and then waved his hand: "At this time, what cow can be idle? I just rely on these two legs to walk step by step!"
On the other side, another person joined the conversation, his face full of complaints: "The work of picking up people is the most troublesome. I work hard all day and don't get any work points. It's better to dig in the fields!"
"That's right. The educated youth in the city are all spoiled. It's really not easy to serve them!" The third person echoed, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his words.
Xu Qinghe listened to these complaints and wisely chose to step aside and quietly listen. The little thought of wanting to take a ride in his heart also faded away.
Time passed quietly, and finally, a bus full of educated youth slowly drove into the platform. The crowd began to surge, and noise rose and fell.
Xu Qinghe looked at the crowd in front of him. Although he was unsure which ones were heading to Fengtai Village, he still mustered up his courage, cleared his throat, and shouted loudly: "Friends from Fengtai Village, please gather here!"
Her voice cut through the noise, coming out exceptionally clear.
Inspired by her, the responders from other villages also began to follow suit, each calling out the name of their own village.
The educated youth seemed to have found their direction and moved towards the corresponding calls.
At this time, a young man who looked to be in his early twenties, with a clean face and outstanding temperament, took the initiative to walk towards Xu Qinghe. He had elegant manners and a gentle smile.
"Hello, I'm Wang Song, a new educated youth. I don't know what to call you?" he asked politely.
Xu Qinghe nodded slightly and responded, "My name is Xu Qinghe. I will be responsible for welcoming you and arranging accommodation in the village."
When Wang Song heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes and his smile became even brighter.
"Thank you so much, but why did other villages send strong men to pick us up, but our village sent a young girl? You must have worked so hard."
Xu Qinghe looked at Wang Song and thought to himself, this guy is really outgoing. He used the term "our village" when they first met.
Despite this, she didn't worry too much and explained frankly: "It's the busy farming season now, and everyone in the village is busy planting rice. I'm the only one who has some free time, so the village director asked me to come and pick you up."
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