Chapter 16.3

The system was a bit surprised. “You’re really willing.”

“Spend what should be spent. What’s the point of hoarding?”

“Ah, I was being stingy. Fine, redeem it.”

A 26 bicycle was redeemed for 1,000 points. Luo Lan cherished the shiny, brand-new bike and lovingly touched it. It was a rare women’s model, and having it as part of her dowry was both impressive and practical.

Before her household’s registration issue was resolved, having this bike would be very useful. This place was over ten miles from the city, with better roads than in her past life but still not as smooth. Cycling to work would be feasible.

System: What about clothes? Aren’t you redeeming those?

Luo Lan: I need to check the merchandise first.

System: This system’s products are definitely high-quality.

Luo Lan: Stop boasting. Let me see the goods.

System: Today, I’ll dazzle your eyes. Oh, wait, it has to match the times.

Luo Lan: Hahaha.

In the 1960s, military uniforms were popular in cities. In the countryside, having even one new piece of clothing was a big deal. Many people wore rough homespun clothes made from self-spun thread, which faded after washing. Just having a new piece was considered very good, and they wouldn’t be picky.

Luo Lan looked at the clothes and finally chose a simple outfit: black trousers with a plaid jacket. The jacket could be worn with either a turned-down or stand-up collar, reaching down to the thigh. This outfit was elegant and outstanding.

System: Shoes, you need a matching pair.

Loran: My points! After all this, I might end up owingMy points, I will probably be in debt after all these..

System: Hahaha.

Amid the system’s laughter, Luo Lan picked a simple pair of black canvas shoes. She expected them to be expensive but found them quite affordable. With this outfit, she still had points left over.

She happily stored the items with the system and slept soundly that night. The next morning, at work, her former mother-in-law came over, eavesdropping for gossip.

Her former sister-in-law looked at her with a meaningful smile. During a break, she found an opportunity to whisper to her.

“The whole family is plotting to see you make a fool of yourself, Sister Lan. You can’t let them belittle you.”

“Make a fool of me? How?”

“Regarding your wedding. It’s your second marriage. If the groom is working or from the city, your dowry may not measure up, and they’ll make you look bad in front of the groom.”

In reality, her mother-in-law’s comments were harsher, wanting to strip Luo Lan of her dignity in front of the groom. She criticized Luo Lan for wearing clothes bought by her ex-husband and using bedding from her previous marriage. It was all meant to humiliate her.

Though she didn’t say it directly, she hinted at what might happen, believing Luo Lan would understand their intentions.

“Got it. Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The woman continued to keep an eye on her mother-in-law’s movements. Their conversation was brief, and as soon as the mother-in-law returned from a short break, she quickly parted ways with Luo Lan.

Seeing her daughter-in-law hurriedly leave, Old Lady Wang didn’t notice who she had been with. Luo Lan watched from a distance, her gaze cold. Some people, despite the consequences, remain restless. She was ready to face whatever came.

In the fields, working on corn, Luo Lan had an easy job of weeding and cultivating soil. The team leader wandered around to ensure everyone was working diligently. Luo Lan worked steadily, waiting at the corner to leave with her sister.

“Sister, is the quilt cover you have the same as the one I got before?”

“It seems to be the same. Our supply and marketing cooperative has only six patterns for quilt covers. There are many similar ones. Why? Do you dislike it?”

“No,” she whispered the information she had received to her sister. “If they’re the same, it could cause problems later. Let’s do this, give me the quilt cover, and I’ll exchange it for a different one.”

“Where will you exchange it? The patterns at our supply and marketing cooperative are easily recognizable. Even if it’s different, it won’t be clear.”

“I have a plan.”

“Alright then.”

That night, her sister brought the quilt cover. It was indeed very similar to the previous one. “Sister, what will you use for the lining?”

“White cloth. I’ve been saving the mourning cloth given to me during a funeral. It’s just enough to sew together.”

In the past, mourning cloth in many places was either discarded or burned after use. However, in this era, it was usually kept. Mourning clothes were washed and reused, and mourning cloth provided by the bereaved families was kept for making shoes or quilt linings.

“Give it to me, I’ll exchange it for a different one.”

“What else could you exchange it for?”

“Wait until I bring it back, and you’ll see.”

The system showed her a dazzling array of products that people of this era could hardly imagine. There were various patterns of quilt covers and many types of linings.

Striped, checkered, pure white, pink floral, blue floral—the fabrics were fine and delicate, with elegant and beautiful designs. Looking at them, they seemed unique and definitely not available in this era.

That night, she discussed it with the system, which agreed to the exchange. “Exchanging small pieces of white cloth for whole pieces of patterned fabric will require additional points.”

“System, you’re so stingy.”

“This isn’t stingy, it’s just good business.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll go with what you say.”

She exchanged the small pieces of white cloth for two pieces of 2-meter-wide pink floral cotton fabric for the lining and swapped the old-style quilt cover for two whole pieces of golden velvet. She chose a warm, elegant orange color.

She gave the exchanged items and cotton to her sister, who was astonished by the exquisite quality of the items she had never seen before. Her sister hesitated to touch them, fearing she might snag them with her rough hands.

“Lan’er, is this the legendary silk?”

“No, the quilt cover is golden velvet, and the lining is pure cotton.”

“What is golden velvet?”

“It’s a type of fabric.”

Her sister turned her attention to the pink floral lining and touched its smooth and delicate texture. “The cotton fabric is so smooth, it feels like satin.”

Luo Lan chuckled. “Sister, have you seen satin before?”

“No. But they say satin is very smooth, and this is shiny and slick.”

“This is just pure cotton, but it’s 80-thread count, so it’s very delicate.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

She didn’t understand what the thread count meant, but Loran learned from the system that the best cotton fabric in their time was only 25-thread count, and 80-thread count was not yet available.

“This is good. It’s unique and won’t clash with anyone else’s.”

“And here are the pillowcases. Look at this gauze material, it’s so delicate.”

Eight-layer gauze pillow cases were a technique only available in later times. She chose a pair in bright red with double happiness characters, making them festive and beautiful.

The quilt and bedding set she currently used were part of her dowry from her mother when she got married. Originally a pair, one set was taken by her mother-in-law for her husband’s burial after he passed away. The remaining set was ordinary cotton fabric, similar to what many families used.

“Lan’er, turning one set into two, do you still have money left?”

“Yes, the wedding expenses are covered, so don’t worry.”

“Zhou Qingshan is a good man. He hasn’t shown any neglect because it’s your second marriage. Lan’er,” her sister felt more reassured knowing that her future brother-in-law had provided the betrothal gifts. She, as an elder sister, felt her ability to help was limited. Now, with her sister meeting a good man, she felt she could at least account for her parents in the afterlife.

“After the wedding, live well. Newlyweds often have conflicts, especially given his family situation. Be tolerant and don’t get upset easily. A woman should adapt to her husband’s family’s way of life, just like water takes the shape of any container it’s in.”

“I know.”

“Control your temper.”

“I know. Sister, as long as my bottom line isn’t crossed, I’m easy to get along with. Don’t make it sound like I’m a tigress who can’t be reasoned with.”

“I’m just worried about you. With the rumors about his health, if it turns out to be true…”

Luo Lan was momentarily puzzled but soon realized her sister’s concern was about Zhou Qingshan’s health. If he indeed had a serious illness, how would their life be? She had been advised before and had claimed not to care. If she couldn’t accept it later…

“Forget it. I just want to support you no matter what. If he really is unwell, you can’t spend your life alone. If necessary, you could remarry. Just don’t limit yourself.”

Her sister’s support was clear. Luo Lan smiled and nodded without saying much. Actions would speak louder than words. Once she settled into a good life, her sister would likely feel more at ease.

That night, the two sisters took their respective packages and went back to her sister’s home. On the way back, Luo Lan pondered alone. Although she had only met Zhou Qingshan a few times, based on his style, she believed that if he had a serious illness, he would not hide it from her.

Rumors were just rumors. Her strong intuition told her that Zhou Qingshan would not be the kind of person to conceal such a significant issue.

As for the unusual items, the system said such things did exist in this era but were rare. She could say they were bought from a big city, which would only make others envious.

During the day, her former mother-in-law continued to hover around her, trying to gather information, but it was all in vain. On the weekend, seeing her leave the village with her man, the old woman stomped her feet in frustration.

“My son is gone, and she’s getting remarried. Heaven is unfair.”

The eldest daughter-in-law tried to comfort her. “Mother, don’t be impatient, wait until her wedding day and then embarrass her. What does she have? She is just a second marriage whose husband has died.”

The eldest daughter-in-law thought her words would please the mother-in-law, but instead, she touched a sensitive nerve. The mother-in-law spat in anger.

“Pah!”

The eldest daughter-in-law was stunned. How could this upset her? She hadn’t even said anything about her son, and it was true that he had passed away. Luo Lan was indeed a widow with a dead husband. She had spoken no falsehood.

As the mother-in-law walked away, she rolled her eyes in frustration. “Pah! I was going to back you up. With your attitude, I can’t be bothered.”

Well, before any confrontation even started, they were already turning on each other. This scene was observed by the youngest daughter-in-law of the Wang family, who watched with a smirk, eager to share it with Luo Lan when they went back to work.