Chapter 40: Borrowing the Sewing Machine

She thought about it, but she didn’t say anything against it.

She watched as he got closer to the bed, and she felt a little nervous.

Of course, along with the nervousness, there was a little anticipation. It seemed she had been single for too long.

But just as Zhao Sihai bent down to put her on the bed and was about to take off his clothes,

The courtyard door was suddenly knocked on with a “bang, bang, bang.”

The room instantly fell into a deathly silence.

After a while, Bai Ruojiao suddenly turned over, burying her face in the pillow, laughing so hard that her shoulders shook.

Zhao Sihai’s face turned black.

At this time, the knocking on the door outside became more urgent, accompanied by a few shouts.

Bai Ruojiao tried to hold back her laughter, her voice trembling, “Cough, cough, it must be the sewing machine delivery. You go quickly.”

Zhao Sihai’s face stretched long, his teeth grinding together.

Seeing his wife laughing so hard that tears were welling up in her eyes, he thought, “This little heartless thing.”

Then, he suddenly lowered his head and bit her lips before turning around and storming out.

Bai Ruojiao covered her lips, which were a little sore from the bite, and quickly grabbed a mirror to look.

Seeing that there wasn’t a deep mark, she breathed a sigh of relief. She almost couldn’t go out to see people.

It was indeed the sewing machine delivery.

She vaguely heard a few conversations, followed by the sound of the door closing.

Then, she saw Zhao Sihai carrying the sewing machine on his shoulder, coming in.

She quickly got up, “Put it here.” She moved the things by the side of the wardrobe.

Zhao Sihai put down the sewing machine and turned around to look around. He frowned.

“When the homestead is approved, we’ll build a new house, a spacious one.”

“Okay, but no rush. We can take our time. We can live here for now.”

She didn’t object. After all, once the house was built, it wouldn’t be wasted.

Zhao Sihai put a chair for her, “Try it out. I’ll go make dinner.”

“Okay, I’ll go get An’an later.” She sat by the sewing machine, threaded the needle, adjusted it for a while, and then took a piece of scrap fabric to try it out.

She knew how to use a sewing machine. After all, she had made most of her clothes herself in the past.

But she had never used this kind of old sewing machine.

At first, she was a little uncomfortable. She kept wanting to press the switch, forgetting to step on the pedal.

She wasted two pieces of fabric before she finally got the hang of it, finding the rhythm and feel.

Looking at the fine stitches on the fabric, she was quite pleased.

The kitchen was already filled with the aroma of food.

She immediately put away her things, got up, and walked out.

She told Zhao Sihai and went to Aunt Fang’s house.

But it was already after work, and she met many people on the way. They had all seen someone delivering a sewing machine to her house.

Meeting them now, they couldn’t help but chat with her.

Their words were filled with envy and sarcasm, and they couldn’t help but be cheeky.

“Just so happens, I’ll borrow it from you tomorrow.”

If they were good friends, it would be fine. But if they were just trying to take advantage, she wouldn’t allow it.

She smiled lightly at the aunt who was talking, “That’s great. That way, I won’t have to send it to the tailor shop. We’re all from the same brigade. I’ll charge you less than the tailor shop. 20 cents an hour.”

The aunt was stunned, and the people around her were also surprised.

“Are you trying to rob us? We’re all from the same brigade. Why are you charging money? It’s just a loan. Why are you so stingy?” The aunt immediately pulled a long face.

Bai Ruojiao continued to smile with a good temper, “Auntie, you misunderstood me. I’m doing this for your own good. I heard that Sister Qinggui is looking for a partner. They say even brothers settle accounts. If I don’t charge you, you might be misunderstood as someone who is thick-skinned and loves to take advantage. If Qinggui is also misunderstood, it would be terrible.”

“You, if you don’t want to lend it, just say so. Why are you beating around the bush? It’s different when you don’t have a mother-in-law to keep you in check.”

The aunt’s face turned green.

Several people around them exchanged glances secretly.

But they all expressed their dissatisfaction with Bai Ruojiao.

Someone else chimed in, “That’s right. We’re all from the same brigade. We should help each other. It’s just borrowing a sewing machine. Why be like this?”

“Yeah, she used to be known as a generous educated youth. I didn’t expect… heh…”

Bai Ruojiao heard this and didn’t bother arguing with them. They were clearly up to no good.

She chuckled, “You all have a point. I was wrong.”

Seeing that she seemed to have softened like a bun, they raised their eyebrows slightly, exchanged smug glances, and looked at each other triumphantly.

But Bai Ruojiao suddenly looked at the one who said about mutual help and smiled, “Speaking of which, Auntie Yu, I heard you have a watch at home, right? Hai ge has to go to work every day. It’s quite troublesome without a watch to check the time. Could you lend me your watch for a while?”

The aunt’s face changed when she heard this. Without thinking, she said, “What are you daydreaming about? If you want a watch, buy one yourself. My watch is precious. What if you break it? Will you pay for it?”

Bai Ruojiao looked puzzled, “But you just said we should help each other. It’s just for a while. We’ll buy one when we save up enough money and tickets.”

The aunt’s face froze. She didn’t know how to retort.

Finally, she became angry and spat, pulling a long face and turning to leave.

Bai Ruojiao turned to another woman, “Sister Liu, I heard you have several iron thermoses at home. The weather will start to get cold soon. I want to give Hai ge one to take to work, but we don’t have any thermos tickets. Could you lend me one?”

Sister Liu immediately pulled a long face.

Bai Ruojiao looked at the aunt who had first said she wanted to borrow it, smiling, “Speaking of which, Auntie, I heard you’re going to find a partner for Qinggui who has three turns and one ring as a dowry. I haven’t seen a radio yet. Could you lend us yours for a while?”

The aunt’s face instantly looked like she was constipated, her face turning red and white.

Bai Ruojiao smiled and looked at the few people watching.

When they were looked at by her, they all flinched.

Afraid that she would ask to borrow something, they quickly found excuses to leave, laughing awkwardly.

Sister Liu and the aunt also left without a word, their faces black.

Bai Ruojiao called out loudly, “Sister Liu, why don’t I go with you to get the thermos?”

Sister Liu heard this and immediately quickened her pace, “We don’t have enough thermoses at home. Go borrow one from someone else.”

Bai Ruojiao smiled slightly and called out to the aunt, “Auntie, let me know when you get the new radio. You’re welcome to come visit anytime.”

The aunt glared fiercely at Bai Ruojiao.

Bai Ruojiao watched them leave, shrugged, and continued towards Fang’s house.

This scene was witnessed by a few educated youths who were walking towards the educated youth dormitory.

“Heh, Bai Ruojiao is crazy. She’s lost all her shame.”

The one who spoke so harshly was Lin Qianqian, the only one left in the educated youth dormitory.

Zheng Aiguo frowned, “Bai Zhiqing just doesn’t want people to borrow the sewing machine casually.”

Lin Qianqian sneered, “Yeah, she won’t even lend it for a while. She’s so stingy.”

Fang Xiaoxiao couldn’t stand Lin Qianqian’s sarcasm. She rolled her eyes at her, “You’re so generous. Why don’t you lend me some money?”

Lin Qianqian’s face changed. She turned to look, and Fang Xiaoxiao had already turned and left.

Lin Qianqian gnashed her teeth in anger.

She suddenly caught sight of Liao Yu’an looking in Bai Ruojiao’s direction. Her eyes rolled, and she sighed, “Stinginess isn’t innate. It’s caused by poverty. Sigh, the future is long. I wonder if Bai Zhiqing can handle it.”