Chapter 18

“This dress, my sister-in-law made it herself. Isn’t it pretty?”

Gu Keqing blinked playfully at Qi Zhiyun as she spoke.

A completely baffled Qi Zhiyun: ??? I made it?

“Oh my, this craftsmanship—looks exactly like the ones sold in the department store in the city.”

“Right, right, Shen Long’s wife’s hands are really skillful.”

“Mom, I want to make one like this too.”

The group of women working in the fields all started talking at once.

“Shen Long’s wife, could you make one for us too? It’s so beautiful—perfect for wearing when visiting relatives, it would be such a show-off piece.”

“Yes, yes!”

Qi Zhiyun awkwardly tugged at her lips, casting Gu Keqing a pleading look.

“No problem—one dress for one yuan.”

Gu Keqing said with a smile.

“Oh my, that’s expensive!”

“It’s not expensive, auntie. In the department store, even skirts not as pretty as this cost over ten yuan.”

Gu Keqing paused, then added, “And if you wear this home, won’t it just make your man fall head over heels for you?”

Qi Zhiyun was stunned by her ‘bold’ words.

Were these kinds of things really appropriate to say out here in the fields?

“That’s true—when you put it that way, one yuan isn’t expensive at all. Shen family’s wife, make me two. My man hasn’t touched me for a month, the scoundrel. Once I put on such a beautiful dress, just wait until I have him dizzy with desire.”

“I’ll take one too—my eldest daughter is about to be engaged, doesn’t she need a couple of decent outfits?”

For a moment, Gu Keqing’s words had stirred the village women into excitement.

“No problem. But let me be clear—quality takes time. You’ll need to pay a deposit and reserve your place in line.”

Gu Keqing still spoke with a smile.

“No problem—once I get home, I’ll bring you the money, Shen family’s wife, make sure you do mine first!”

“I want one too—I’ve got one yuan on me right now. I’ll be the first to order.”

“And me!”

After making a round through the fields in their flashy floral dresses, Gu Keqing and Qi Zhiyun returned home with 21 yuan in hand.

Meanwhile, Qi Zhiyun, holding two baskets of lunch boxes, still hadn’t figured out what had just happened.

“Li–Little sister… did I just… get rich?”

Qi Zhiyun stammered.

“Of course, big sister. Your skills are so good—not only can you make dresses, in a few days we’ll wear some pretty blouses and pants, stroll through the fields again, and I guarantee you’ll have a bumper harvest this year!”

Gu Keqing patted her on the shoulder with a smile.

“Little sister, thank you… I don’t even know what to say.”

Qi Zhiyun’s voice was choked, her eyes welling with tears.

“Big sister, your health isn’t good, and you can’t earn many work points. It’s better to make use of your strengths to earn some money instead,” Gu Keqing continued. “I’ll provide the fabric, you just follow the pattern and make the clothes. You have a sewing machine at home—it’ll be easy to make a few dresses a day.”

Little did they know, while the two sisters-in-law were discussing excitedly…

Qi Zhilán, who was cutting pigweed, and a few female educated youths were watching with eyes almost falling out of their sockets in jealousy.

“Qi Zhiqing, that woman who can make clothes—isn’t she your cousin? I just saw her collect a thick stack of cash in no time. Amazing, right?”

Lin Shulan, an old educated youth who had been in Caohua Brigade for two years, spoke enviously.

“Who can’t make clothes?”

Sun Lili was jealous too, but refused to admit it.

“Then you make one. If you can make such a beautiful dress, I’ll give you two yuan!”

Lin Shulan sighed. “Next month when my family sends living expenses, I’ll ask for a few more yuan and have some pretty dresses made, so I can wear different ones.”

“Mm, I think Shen family’s eldest sister-in-law’s skills are even better than the department store’s. Really, you can’t judge a person by appearances—she might not be good at farm work, but she sure can make clothes.”

Wang Zishan commented fairly.

The chatter of the female educated youths nearly made Qi Zhilán explode with anger.

She never expected Gu Keqing and Qi Zhiyun to have such a trick up their sleeves—making a name for themselves in the brigade and making money at the same time.

While she had to sneak into the back mountain to gather mushrooms and wild goods.

“Qi Zhiqing? Qi Zhiqing?”

Xia Ye had already noticed the change in Qi Zhilán’s expression. She nudged her with her elbow and deliberately asked, “Why do you look so upset?”

“I—I don’t!”

Qi Zhilán hacked at the pigweed viciously, her teeth grinding audibly.

“Shen family’s eldest sister-in-law is your cousin, right? You should learn from her. Then we can buy a sewing machine for the educated youth spot and make our own clothes. No need to waste money buying them.”

Sun Lili seemed oblivious to Qi Zhilán’s dark expression and kept talking.

“Oh, by the way, I heard from the old women in Chen Granny’s gossip group that you went to the Shen house yesterday and got kicked out.”

Xia Ye’s words struck Qi Zhilán’s already wounded pride again.

“They just don’t know what’s good for them! I kindly went to visit Qi Zhiyun, and she put on airs. What, being able to make clothes makes her so great? It’s not like I haven’t worn nice clothes before.”

At this moment, Qi Zhilán’s hatred peaked.

She shot Sun Lili and Xia Ye a vicious look, cursing in her heart: Just you wait, I’ll deal with you sooner or later!

As the female lead who had lived two lifetimes, Qi Zhilán naturally wouldn’t be defeated so easily.

She had worn countless beautiful dresses in her past life. Once she married Shen Yan in the future, wouldn’t she be able to buy whatever she wanted?

Life was hard now, but she just needed to endure.

Qi Zhilán comforted herself reluctantly.

…

“Big brother, second brother, the food’s been so good these past few days—if I keep eating like this, I might actually grow taller.”

Shen Ming happily munched on a watermelon.

“Mm, it’s all thanks to your two sisters-in-law. Third son, you’d better treat them well from now on.”

Father Shen said.

“Yes, sir, Dad!”

Shen Ming’s stomach was stuffed, but he still wanted another piece of watermelon—it was just too sweet and refreshing.

“Second brother, go back and thank my sister-in-law for me. I know making clothes was all her idea, and that the medicine Zhiyun is taking also came from her.”

Shen Long looked sincerely at Shen Yan. “Our family owes you two too much.”

“Big brother, we’re family—no need for formalities. If big sister-in-law didn’t have such good skills, even if my wife wanted to help, she wouldn’t be able to.”

Hearing his family praise Gu Keqing, Shen Yan’s lips curved into a rare smile.

“Shen big brother, your wife is amazing. I also want to marry a wife as beautiful and capable of making money as she is.”

Li Xigou and Han Dashuan sat on either side of Shen Yan, flattering him.

Earlier, when Gu Keqing wore that dress, her graceful figure had stirred the hearts of the men working in the fields.

“My wife is an educated youth. You can look around the educated youth spot—if you see a girl you like, try pursuing her.”

Shen Yan was speechless toward the two of them. His wife was one of a kind—heaven above, earth below.

Finding a fairy like her? Unlikely. But he didn’t want to crush their hopes either.

“Look at yourself—thinking you could marry an educated youth, huh?”