Chapter 52: The Sewing Machine

Hearing Tang Xiaorou’s words, the saleswoman smiled and nodded. “Of course. Leave your address, and we’ll have someone deliver it later.”

She recognized this woman; she had bought a bicycle yesterday.  Li Hong had not only apologized but had almost lost her job. So, seeing this woman today, she was extra attentive.

Tang Xiaorou nodded. “That’s great. I’ll leave the address now.”

After giving the saleswoman the slip of paper with the address, Tang Xiaorou and Qin Xueqiong went to buy fabric. “Mom, this floral print is pretty. And there’s even lace here. Let’s buy them.”

Hearing Tang Xiaorou’s words, the saleswoman quickly brought over two more bolts of fabric.

“There’s more here. They’re all very pretty. If you like them, you can take them.” The store had bought lace on a whim, thinking it was fashionable, but no one bought it. Everyone’s clothes were blue, green, or gray; who would use lace? Today, a few people wanted to buy it, and she wanted to sell it all.

Tang Xiaorou didn’t expect there to be more. After comparing them, she chose the smallest roll of lace. “Just this one.”

Although she didn’t sell everything, she still sold one, and the saleswoman was very happy. She quickly wrapped up the lace and floral fabric and then took out a bolt of Dacron. “Since you’re buying so much, I’ll let you have this Dacron. If you want it, I can sell you some.”

However, Tang Xiaorou shook her head. “No need. We want cotton fabric.”

Newspapers were advertising Dacron as the latest fashion, but Tang Xiaorou wasn’t interested. She still preferred cotton. Seeing Tang Xiaorou’s lack of appreciation, the saleswoman’s smile faded. She coldly put the Dacron away and calculated the price.

After Tang Xiaorou and the others paid and left with the fabric, the saleswoman muttered, “What a country bumpkin, completely clueless.”

Tang Xiaorou heard this, but she didn’t care.  She simply liked cotton.

“Mom, Bingcheng, I have to go back to work at the pharmacy. You two go back first.”

“Okay, we’ll go back first. You go get busy.” Qin Xueqiong was eager to go home, afraid of missing the delivery of the sewing machine.

Seeing her mother’s eagerness, Tang Xiaorou said, “Mom, don’t worry. The delivery won’t be that fast.”  She handed the keys to the family building to Qin Xueqiong. “Mom, after it’s delivered, see where it fits best. Do as you see fit.”

She wanted to put the sewing machine in the guesthouse, but it wasn’t convenient there, with others coming and going. So, she decided to put it in the family building.

“Don’t worry.”

After Qin Xueqiong and Yao Bingcheng left, Tang Xiaorou went back to the pharmacy.

Seeing Tang Xiaorou, Old Yu smiled. “Little Tang, I’ve taken care of the certificate. You just need to take an exam. With your ability, you’ll definitely pass.”

Tang Xiaorou didn’t expect it to be so easy. “Old Yu, when is the exam?”

“In three days, at Jinling Hospital. I’ll have Xiaodou accompany you.”

Tang Xiaorou didn’t refuse; she wasn’t familiar with the area. “Okay, I’ll trouble Xiaodou then.”

“No trouble at all.”

Xiaodou quickly waved her hand.

Meanwhile, when Qin Xueqiong and Yao Bingcheng arrived, the sewing machine had just been delivered.

“This is the place.”

“Sir, this is it. I’ll open the door. Please help me carry it in.” Qin Xueqiong took out her keys and opened the door, letting the delivery men carry the sewing machine in. “Sir, just put it here.”  Only the living room had enough space.

“Okay.”

After the sewing machine was placed, the delivery men left.

Many onlookers had gathered at the entrance, and seeing that it was Qin Xueqiong instead of Tang Xiaorou, they asked, “Auntie, where’s Xiaorou?”

Qin Xueqiong smiled. “Xiaorou is still at work, so we came first.”

“Working? What kind of work?”

Originally, everyone was interested in the sewing machine, but after hearing that Tang Xiaorou was working, they all looked at Qin Xueqiong. “Xiaorou just arrived to join her husband, and they’ve already arranged a job for her?”

Some military wives were unhappy. They had arrived earlier than Tang Xiaorou, yet Tang Xiaorou had a job, but they didn’t.

Qin Xueqiong quickly explained, “It’s not a job arranged by the military. Xiaorou found it herself.”

“Really? What kind of job did Xiaorou find?”

Jobs weren’t easy to find; they didn’t believe it.

“It’s true. Xiaorou has medical skills, so she found a job at a pharmacy.” She naturally didn’t say anything about the salary.

Hearing this, the others fell silent. They had forgotten that Regiment Commander Shen’s wife had medical skills, so finding a job was naturally much easier for her. “So that’s how it is. No wonder she could find a job.”

Seeing that it wasn’t a job arranged by the organization, the others had nothing to say, so the topic returned to the sewing machine.

“Auntie, did Regiment Commander Shen buy this sewing machine?”

“Yes, when they were planning to join the military, they didn’t buy the ‘three-turn-one-ring’ items. Now that they’ve settled down, they’ve decided to get them.”

“Regiment Commander Shen is so good to Xiaorou.” Someone in the crowd said enviously. Tang Xiaorou was from the countryside, yet she already had a sewing machine. Some of them were from the city and didn’t have one.

Qin Xueqiong smiled, her face full of pride. “Yes, Huaixu is a good man.”

Li Meilian stood at the back, looking at the brand-new sewing machine and Qin Xueqiong’s smiling face, feeling very suffocated.

These things should have belonged to her niece, but this mother and daughter had gotten them first. She was very unwilling. “Auntie, this sewing machine isn’t cheap, is it? Regiment Commander Shen is really generous. Unlike my husband, Lao Ye, he didn’t buy anything. Auntie, if we need anything sewn or mended in the future, can we borrow your sewing machine?”

Qin Xueqiong didn’t answer.

“Let’s ask Xiaorou when she gets back. After all, it’s her sewing machine. I just came to open the door.”

Bai Zhen had come to watch the excitement early on. Hearing Li Meilian’s words, she couldn’t help but say, “Sister-in-law, if everyone borrows like you, Xiaorou won’t be able to use her sewing machine.  And if it breaks, who’s going to pay for it?”

“You…”

Li Meilian already disliked Bai Zhen, and now she disliked her even more.

Qian Manzhu, who arrived later, waved to everyone. “Alright, everyone, disperse. Go home and cook.”

Tang Xiaorou didn’t know that a sewing machine had caused so much excitement.  After picking up Xiaoyan, she went home and saw Shen Huaixu and a young soldier not far from home.

“Regiment Commander, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect my sister wouldn’t go on that blind date.”