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However, these clothes that the previous owner couldn’t wear were of no use to Ning Shu. So, she had to alter them to fit her three children.
Because the previous owner changed clothes so frequently over the years, these clothes were still at least eighty percent new.
By altering them to fit the children, they could serve as new clothes.
With this in mind, Ning Shu proceeded to do so. Although there were no measuring tools for clothing here, as a graduate of a fashion design program and having worked as a design assistant, Ning Shu’s eyes served as her ruler.
She could estimate the approximate size. Even the measurements of her three children, she had seen during their baths and could guess.
Ning Shu selected a pair of work pants from these clothes that didn’t fit. The work fabric of this era was similar to denim in later years, sky blue, but thinner than regular denim. By altering these work pants, she could make a pair for each of her two older children. Today, she noticed that the pants for her two older children were particularly short, while the ones for her youngest, although old, were not short.
When she was fully engrossed in making the pants, time passed quickly. By the time Ning Shu finished altering the two pairs of pants, it was almost midnight. She quickly set aside the finished pants, picked up her phone, and grabbed the kerosene lamp to go to the room where the pumpkins were stored.
Outside, it was eerily silent in the pitch darkness. Ning Shu tiptoed without making a sound. When she reached the room, she immediately took out her phone and started taking pictures, editing, and uploading them once it struck 12 o’clock.
Thirty long pumpkins, six yuan each, meant she would have an income of 180 yuan by morning. With this income, it was time to send something to Lin’s mother again.
In return for selling cabbage, she would give farmhouse sausage, so what should she give in return for selling long pumpkins?
Oh right, after midnight, the app also updated.
So, Ning Shu returned to her room and immediately checked the updates on the app.
There were still five items available:
Ning Shu quickly bought two servings of scallion roasted crucian carp for 20 yuan. Then, she bought two bags of oranges for 58 yuan, one box of chocolate cake rolls for 12 yuan, and two bags of cream-filled sandwich biscuits for 34 yuan. In total, she spent 124 yuan. Her original balance of 901 yuan was now reduced to 777 yuan. However, these items could be exchanged for useful goods. She couldn’t always rely on eggs for exchange, as the speed of acquiring eggs couldn’t keep up. So, oranges and cream-filled sandwich biscuits could also be used for exchange.
With 18 oranges priced at 29 yuan, one was equivalent to 1.6 yuan. Meanwhile, on the app, wild vegetables and bamboo shoots both cost over 5 yuan per jin. Selling them could buy four oranges, which was quite profitable.
As for the cream-filled sandwich biscuits, priced at 17 yuan for half a jin but containing 30 biscuits, one biscuit was only 0.6 yuan each.
The filling was milk, nutritious and each biscuit weighed over 8 grams, which was not small. It was even more cost-effective than oranges.
So, she planned to use these two items for exchange in the future.
As for the scallion roasted crucian carp, she would naturally eat it herself, and the chocolate cake rolls could serve as breakfast or snacks for the next day.
Ning Shu didn’t immediately take out the items but decided to wait until the next day.
The next day…
Bang bang bang… Bang bang bang…
“Who’s there?” Ning Shu was awakened by the knocking on the door. She frowned. Being disturbed from her sleep was really too much.
Her tone wasn’t very friendly. As the leader of a group buying store, she had always slept until she naturally woke up.
In the past few days of crossing, whether she stayed in a guesthouse or slept on a train, she always slept until she woke up naturally.
Being abruptly awakened today made her unhappy.
“Mom… Are you awake?” The one knocking on the door outside shrunk his neck. He was very familiar with his mother’s tone, and when she sounded angry.
The voice of Yibao carried a hint of nervousness and unease, not out of fear, but rather a worry about upsetting his mother.
Although the original owner of the family was stingy with the three children, he had never laid a hand on them.
Even when scolding, it was in a civilized manner. For instance, if they wanted an extra piece of meat, the original owner would scold them gently, saying that when she was young, she could only have such a small piece of meat, so they shouldn’t be greedy… and so on.
Therefore, Yibao felt that his mother might be angry, but he wouldn’t be afraid.
Hearing the child’s voice, Ning Shu rubbed her temples and asked in a gentle voice, “Are you awake? You’ll be fine soon. Are you hungry?” In her view, if the children were knocking on the door, they must be hungry.
Ning Shu completely forgot that the three of them used to get up early and go to the old house to eat when they were hungry.
Hearing that his mother wasn’t angry, Yibao breathed a sigh of relief. “Mom, we’re not hungry. It’s dawn now. You said yesterday that we could pick chestnuts in exchange for eggs and fruit. Yibao and Erbao want to go pick chestnuts.” Yibao was young, but his determination and enthusiasm to earn money were much stronger than his mother’s.
“Don’t go yet. Have breakfast first, then you can go.” As she spoke, Ning Shu had already put on her clothes. It was still relatively warm in September, so thin clothes were enough.
Ning Shu wore a blue and white striped sailor shirt today, paired with black trousers, and tied her hair into a ponytail.
Fortunately, the original owner had a good taste in buying clothes from the city.
Ning Shu opened the door and saw Yibao standing at the doorway, looking at her cautiously. “Mom…” he called out in a timid voice.
Ning Shu nodded, her gaze sweeping over Yibao. Not only were his pants a bit short, but his shirt was also too short, and his belly would show if he lifted his hands. Fortunately, it wasn’t cold now.
Yibao felt a bit awkward being stared at by his mother. He tugged at his pants. “Mom?”
“Wait a moment.” Ning Shu turned and went back into the room. When she came out again, she was holding two pairs of pants that she had just altered last night. “These are for you and Erbao. Your current pants are too short. Go and change into these.”
“What?” Yibao was stunned. His mother made new pants for them? When did his mother make them? No, it should be, his mother made new pants for them? Were these really new pants for them? Yibao couldn’t believe it.
Yibao stood dumbfounded, completely unsure how to react. He just blankly held onto the pants.
Ning Shu didn’t say much more. She bypassed him and went to make breakfast.
For breakfast, Ning Shu made sweet potato porridge and eggs as usual. However, remembering that Yibao and Erbao seemed to prefer egg custard last night, she cracked two eggs and divided them into three bowls: half a bowl for Sanbao, and one bowl each for Yibao, Erbao, and herself, along with boiled eggs.
After putting the sweet potato porridge on the stove, Ning Shu quickly went to wash up. When she came back, she felt that just sweet potato porridge and eggs were too plain.
Ning Shu took out two apples, cut one into pieces and put them in a bowl, leaving the other half for later to mash for Sanbao.
Finally, she took out a box of chocolate Swiss rolls from the app, containing ten pieces. She took one piece, cut it into eight small pieces, and arranged them nicely, putting the rest in the cupboard. However, there was no refrigerator here, and chocolate Swiss rolls couldn’t last long in September temperatures. They had to finish them within today or tomorrow.
While Ning Shu was busy in the kitchen, Yibao had already returned to the room with the pants.
“Brother, are these the pants Mom made for us? Mom really made pants for us?” Erbao couldn’t believe it. Mom actually made pants for them.
“Yeah, Mom said they’re for us.” Yibao still felt like he was dreaming. There seemed to be a gleam of water in his eyes as he gently touched the pants, trying not to damage them.
Hearing his brother’s confirmation again, Erbao took off the pants he had already put on, replaced them with the new ones, and said surprisingly, “Brother, I don’t want to exchange Mom anymore. Mom is so nice now, giving us meat, fruit, eggs, and even making us new pants. I don’t want to exchange Mom anymore with another mother. I dont want.”
Yibao: “…Yeah.” Although he had previously talked with his brother about telling Mom when Dad came back that they didn’t want her because she didn’t let them eat meat, he didn’t feel the same anymore.
Maybe it was because they weren’t good before, so Mom didn’t care about them. But now, as Grandma said, Mom saw their good behavior and liked them.
Yibao felt that he also had friends he didn’t like and friends he liked. Some kids he didn’t like before, he grew to like later. Mom was the same.
She didn’t like them before, but now she did. If Mom stayed this nice, he and his brothers would always behave well.
While Yibao was contemplating this, Erbao had already dashed out like the wind. “Mom… Mom…” he ran into the kitchen, excitedly asking, “Mom, do you think my pants look nice?” He twirled around like a model, feeling especially good about himself.
Ning Shu had just finished cutting the apples. She looked up at him upon hearing his voice.
Clothes make the man, as the saying goes. The little boy who used to look like a beggar now looked somewhat presentable in clean and fitting pants. But if he gained a bit more weight on his face and got a bit fairer, he would probably look even cuter. “Very handsome.”
Moreover, his clothes were a bit mismatched. It would be better to wear all new clothes. New pants with old clothes didn’t quite match. Maybe they could use the old clothes for something in the evening to pass the time.
“Really? Am I really handsome, Mom? How handsome am I? Am I as handsome as you?” Erbao danced with joy upon hearing his mom’s praise.
He was always confident about his mom’s looks. Among all the moms in the village, his mom was the prettiest.
Compare to her? It’s not boasting, but Ning Shu had delicate skin, fair complexion, and abundant collagen.
She looked like a wealthy young lady when she went out. The original owner never did any housework at home, couldn’t bear hardships in the countryside, and got married right away.
She even raised herself up nicely. It wasn’t just that little boy couldn’t compare; even girls from wealthy families couldn’t match up.
However, faced with his hopeful gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to crush him. “You’re my son, of course, you’re as handsome as me.” With such a lively personality, it was undoubtedly Erbao.
Upon hearing this, Erbao’s eyes widened. “Yes, I am Mom’s son? I must be as handsome as Mom.” He laughed until his eyes narrowed into slits.
“Mom…” Another voice came from the doorway, and it was Yi Bao. Since Er Bao had arrived, it was only natural for Yi Bao to follow, but he wasn’t wearing new pants.
After just one day, Ning Shu could already tell who was who without looking at their clothes. Their personalities were completely different—Erbao’s gaze was lively, while Yibao’s was calm. So it was easy to guess. “Yibao is here too. Why aren’t you wearing new pants?”
“Yeah, brother, why aren’t you wearing new pants?” Erbao also asked, puzzled.
Yibao was reluctant to wear the new pants, but he explained shyly, “I’ll wear the old ones first.”
Ning Shu said, “The old ones are too short, you don’t need to wear them. I’ll make you a few more pairs of pants in the next few days, so you can wear them with peace of mind.” There were enough clothes packed away to make ten or eight pairs of pants for them.
Ning Shu’s principle was, it’s foolish to wear old clothes when you have new ones, and it’s foolish to eat bad food when you have good food.
“Okay, I’ll listen to Mom.” Yibao obediently agreed, then hesitantly asked, “Mom, can I tell Haicai to join us in picking chestnuts and trading stuff?” Yibao asked softly, afraid that Mom wouldn’t agree.
But Haicai was his good buddy, often helping them take care of Sanbao, and he wanted to share with Haicai.
“Mom, Haicai is really nice to us and shares good things with us too,” Erbao chimed in with praise for Haicai.
“You can, but only tell people you have good relationships with. There’s only so much to exchange, and if too many people exchange, there won’t be anything left. Also, Haicai’s chestnuts need to be peeled.” Ning Shu replied.
But surely, when kids come to exchange things, family members will know, and then she’ll be criticized for being extravagant again.
Let them talk. She was willing to exchange things, and it was her freedom. Ning Shu never cared about idle gossip.
Besides, she would only be criticized, but Yibao wanted to tell Haicai. She couldn’t refuse him, right? Moreover, having one more kid to help pick chestnuts was even better, right?
Hearing Mom’s agreement, Yibao became happy. “Then I’ll go tell Haicai now.” With that, he ran out, but after a few steps, he stopped.
Sanbao was still sleeping in the room. If he left too, and Sanbao woke up with no one there, he would cry.
Yibao pondered for a moment. He could only wait until Sanbao woke up before going.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you going?” Ning Shu asked.
“I’m waiting for Sanbao to wake up. If Sanbao wakes up and doesn’t see me and Erbao, he’ll cry,” Yibao replied.
“I’ll go, I’ll go,” Erbao didn’t give Yibao a chance and immediately ran out again.
Yibao knew why his brother was so proactive; he must have gone to show Grandma his new pants.
Thinking about this, Yibao regretted it a bit. If only he had worn them too.
Ning Shu sighed. Erbao was really quick both in speech and action. She could only say to Yibao, “Then go wake up Sanbao and wash up. We’ll have breakfast soon.”
“Okay.” Yibao went to wake up his brother.
At the Lin family’s old house:
“Grandma… Grandma…” Before Erbao even entered the courtyard of the old house, he shouted loudly, his voice echoing.
Breakfast was also being prepared at the old house. When Lin’s mother heard her second grandson coming, she went out. “Erbao, you’ve come at just the right time. Breakfast will be ready soon. Where are Yibao and Sanbao?” She thought her grandson had come for breakfast.
She was used to her grandsons coming for breakfast. After all, when the youngest daughter-in-law slept in, there was nowhere for the grandsons to eat.
“I’m not here for breakfast,” Erbao walked up to Lin’s mother, twirling around. “Grandma, did you see it? Did you?”
“See what?” Lin’s mother was puzzled. What was going on with her grandson today? He seemed mysterious.
Erbao continued to twirl around. “Grandma, can you see it now?”
“Yes, yes, I see it,” Lin’s mother said helplessly. What was he even showing off? Just twirling around like that? She thought it was something important.
“Then do you think it looks good? Is it very good-looking? My mom says it’s good-looking. She says I look just like her because she gave birth to me,” Erbao boasted happily.
“What? Why couldn’t she understand what her grandson was saying? But how could the determined old lady admit that she couldn’t understand her grandson’s words? He was talking about good-looking or not.
So, she looked at her grandson again and realized that he was wearing a new pair of pants today, indeed new pants, without patches or missing sections.
Thinking back to her grandson’s words, she understood. Her grandson was asking her to look at his pants, so why was she spinning around in circles? He was just a little rascal, showing off to her.
“Did your mother buy these pants for you”
‘
“Yes, my brother has a pair, and I have one too,” grinned Erbao, looking silly.
Looking at her grandson’s smile, Lin’s mother felt… she couldn’t describe it. It should be comforting that her third daughter-in-law finally cared about the child, but she felt strangely complex inside.
Nevertheless, regardless of her feelings, as long as her third daughter-in-law cared about the child, it was still a good thing. But, “You little rascal, so you came here to show off to your grandma.”
Really, without considering how she had taken care of him for five years, he still couldn’t match up to a pair of pants from his mother.
The ungrateful brat. “Nope,”
Erbao wagged a finger, “I’m here to find Haicai.”
‘What do you want me to do?’ Lin’s mother muttered to herself.
Did this little brat want bamboo shoot stir-fry? Erbao chuckled and called inside again,
“Haicai… Haicai…”
“Er… Erbao…” Lin Haicai ran out from inside.
Erbao leaned close to Lin Haicai’s ear and whispered,
“Haicai…” Lin Haicai’s eyes slowly lit up, nodding continuously and making noises of agreement.
Two little rascals, whispering secrets, Lin’s mother observed, but she didn’t bother to listen.
She wouldn’t pry into children’s secrets. After talking to Lin Haicai, Erbao waved to Lin’s mother, “Grandma, I’m leaving. I’m going back to eat”
“Hurry up and go.”
Watching her grandson’s figure disappear, Lin’s mother shook her head with a smile. …
“Mom, I’m back!” Erbao’s loud voice filled with energy.
He walked into the house and then into the kitchen, only to find breakfast already laid out on the table, with his mother and brothers sitting on stools, but none of them had eaten yet.
“Wow…” Erbao’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food on the table,
“there are eggs, fruits, and… Mom, what’s this?” Erbao didn’t recognize the Swiss roll.
“Come and eat.” Ning Shu smiled,
“This is a snack, made of eggs, milk powder, and flour, rolled up in circles, so it’s called Swiss roll.” Erbao swallowed
“Mom, is it delicious?”