After Jiang Weidong and Lin Xia left, Old Lady Jiang wanted Lin Shu to accompany her to find Han Yun and subtly inform her that she was not interested in Han Xiaofen.

However, when they arrived at the secretary’s house, Han Yun proactively mentioned that Han Xiaofen couldn’t come due to some urgent matter.

Knowing that Jiang Weidong wanted to pursue Lin Xia, Han Yun called the chairman of the glass factory union who had been helping to find a match and informed him that there was a temporary issue here, so the arrangement was on hold for now.

Old Lady Jiang sighed with relief.

She felt that since she had initially taken a liking to someone, it would seem like she was just finding faults if she said otherwise now, which might appear as if she was bad-mouthing the person behind their back.

Since Han Xiaofen wasn’t coming, it spared her from any awkwardness and embarrassment.

After chatting for a while, Han Yun smiled and said, “I need to find someone else to make the clothes. I’ll have to go to the tailor’s shop and wait in line. My daughter is anxious to have them made.”

Lin Shu noticed a piece of pink fabric on the table, which looked delicate and fresh.

The color was clearly not from the local textile mill and must have been brought from a big city, so she asked more about it.

Knowing that Han Yun wanted to make a dress for her daughter, Lin Shu said, “Chairman Han, I also make clothes for people. If you don’t mind, I can sketch a design for you. If you like it, I can help make it.”

Han Yun looked at her in surprise, “Lin Shu can sew clothes?”

Old Lady Jiang: “This girl is quite capable. If she says she can make it, she’s definitely skilled.”

Lin Shu humbly replied, “It’s just that I can make them. Since I don’t have to work in the fields at home, I spend my days cooking and mending clothes, so I’ve had plenty of practice.”

She didn’t want Han Yun to develop any resentment towards Old Lady Jiang because of Han Xiaofen, so she proactively offered to help with the clothes.

Intrigued, Han Yun took out some paper and a pen.

Lin Shu immediately sketched a design for a dress.

The style was both current and a bit unique.

Han Yun’s daughter was 17 years old, with a baby face and fair skin, looking sweet and adorable.

Lin Shu designed a small round collar with a bit of frill to highlight her soft and charming demeanor.

Han Yun immediately fell in love with the design, “It’s really beautiful! Just like this! Can you really make it look like this?”

Lin Shu: “It should be pretty close.”

Han Yun immediately gathered the fabric, a wooden ruler, scissors, and other materials, and asked Lin Shu to do the cutting on the spot.

Han Yun loved making clothes and had all the necessary tools at home, including sewing machines and tailor’s scissors.

Her dream was to make beautiful clothes for herself, her husband, and her children.

Unfortunately, up to now, her daughter had only accepted one nightgown, which was uneven at the hem and had one side longer than the other.

All other clothes needed to be made by paying others, as she really couldn’t manage it herself.

Her sewing skills were quite subpar.

She couldn’t sew clothes herself but had a natural admiration for those who could.

That’s why she thought highly of Han Xiaofen.

Seeing how Lin Shu was so skilled, any doubts she had about Lin Shu from last night were quickly dismissed.

Old Lady Jiang was so proud!

Lin Shu flipped the fabric over, measured with a wooden ruler, and drew the dimensions.

Han Ying had measured her daughter’s dimensions very precisely.

Lin Shu marked the key points and then cut the fabric with sharp, decisive motions.

She didn’t hesitate or falter, which made Han Ying and Old Lady Jiang hold their breath.

The two of them followed her movements, mesmerized by the rhythm of the fabric being cut.

It was surprisingly satisfying to watch.

Lin Shu arranged the fabric meticulously, wasting nothing.

What Han Ying thought would only make one dress still left over more than a foot of fabric.

Han Ying: “Wow, a true expert shows their skill. Some people waste at least half a foot of fabric making clothes.”

Lin Shu smiled, “It’s not wasted, just the leftover.”

Tailors often try to squeeze out every bit of fabric from the customer.

She didn’t bother with that.

Since she was already being paid for her work, she didn’t need the scraps.

If the customer wanted them, she’d give them all back, even the small pieces meant for patchwork.

Most people left the scraps with her unless they were big pieces.

Generally, people wouldn’t be so particular about getting them back.

Han Ying had a sewing machine, so after cutting, Lin Shu immediately started making the dress.

Han Ying was thrilled, serving tea, pastries, and candies to Lin Shu.

If Lin Shu hadn’t refused, she would have offered them the ginseng wine brewed by the old secretary.

Old Lady Jiang kept boasting to Han Ying, “Even though I don’t have a daughter, I now have two adopted daughters. One is tall and Beautiful, works as an electrician, and is a model worker. The other is skilled in sewing and cooking, and is the most beautiful military wife and model worker…”

Han Ying looked at Old Lady Jiang with a strange expression. “Sister-in-law, you say Lin Xia is your adopted daughter?”

Old Lady Jiang straightened her back, “Yes, really!”

She smiled at Lin Shi, “Right, daughter?”

Lin Shu nodded, “Yes.”

Han Ying’s expression grew even more peculiar.

So, Jiang Weidong went to report to Secretary Li last night that he wanted to pursue Lin Xia, but didn’t mention it to his own mother?

This was… quite intentional.

She couldn’t help but suppress a smile, saying nothing and waiting to see Jiang Weidong’s reaction.

It would be even more interesting if it were a formal godmother ceremony, with a feast and guests.

Soon, she was drawn back to watching Lin Shu making clothes.

Watching Lin Shu operate the sewing machine was a pleasure; her movements were smooth and fluid, without any hesitation.

By late morning, Han Yun wasn’t cooking.

She let Lin Shu continue working while she went to the cafeteria to get some food.

After lunch, Lin Shu worked for another couple of hours and finished the dress.

The next steps involved manually hemming the edges, sewing on buttons, and making button loops, among other finishing tasks.

Since the home sewing machine didn’t have an overlocking function, all the finishing was done by hand.

After finishing, Han Yun insisted on giving Lin Shu two yuan.

Lin Shu naturally refused, saying, “Taking money would be too formal.”

Although Old Lady Jiang wanted Lin Shu to earn some money, she saw that Lin Shu didn’t want it and helped to say, “Yes, we’re like family. Taking money would be inappropriate. It’s much better for Xiaoru to have a nice dress.”

Seeing that Lin Shu firmly refused the money, Han Yun had to give up.

Not long after Lin Shu and Old Lady Jiang left, Han Yun’s daughter, Li Xiaoru, came home.

When she saw the dress hanging in the room, she was stunned.

Her usually quiet and reserved nature couldn’t contain her excitement, and she eagerly held the dress up to herself, exclaiming, “Mom, Mom! Which tailor made this? It’s so beautiful!”

She was confident that if she wore this dress to perform at the art troupe, she would definitely secure the job on the spot!

She immediately put on the dress, and it fit perfectly.

She ran out to show Han Yun, “Mom, look!”

Han Yun was working with dough, and after she had finished, she rubbed her hands clean with dry flour and looked at her daughter in the dress with admiration.

It was indeed beautiful!

The pink dress made her daughter’s skin look even more delicate and fair.

The dress wasn’t just a plain pink; it had a band of light green ruffled trim around the sleeves, a hidden zipper on the side, a light green belt at the waist, and a flowing skirt that created ripples with every step, making the onlookers’ hearts and eyes soften with its gentle grace.

The back of the dress had a small opening, with light green fabric loops and pink translucent buttons.

Even the button sewing was done in an unusual, embroidered style that resembled flower stamens.

Li Xiaoru was thrilled and repeatedly asked Han Yun who made it.

“Mom, my cousin also wants a new dress. She will definitely envy mine when she sees it!”

“just let her do it too.”

Han Ying teased, “What if your cousin also has a new dress made and wears it to the arts troupe with you? If she stays, you might not be able to.”

Li Xiaoru replied, “That’s her skill. But I play the pipa much better than she does, and she sings better than me. Each to their own.”

Han Ying smiled, “Exactly, that’s the way to go.”

She mentioned that the beautiful dress was made by Lin Shu, Lin Xia’s younger sister.

Li Xiaoru was a bit surprised, “Lin Xia’s sister?”

In her impression, Lin Xia was so carefree that she didn’t seem like someone who could sew.

Although Lin Shu had visited a few times, Li Xiaoru had never met her.

Young girls usually don’t mingle much with married women, as they have little in common.

Plus, she was studying music and heading to the arts troupe, so she wasn’t interested in interacting with housewives.

Seeing Lin Shu’s excellent dress, she said, “Mom, you were right. Everyone has their own skills.”

She asked about the price and wanted to introduce friends to Lin Shu for dressmaking.

Han Ying replied, “Making this dress isn’t easy. Look at the zipper; many tailors can’t get it so neat, especially since it’s an invisible zipper. The craftsmanship alone is worth at least two yuan and two jiao.”

Li Xiaoru didn’t understand but nodded, “Got it.”

Even though it was already evening, she didn’t want to eat at home.

She went to her grandmother’s house to show off the new dress to her cousins.

Lin Shu and Old Lady Jiang had prepared dinner at home.

Tomorrow, she would go back home, and her sister would also go to Qing County.

That way, her sister could come over to her place for meals more often.

As night fell and Jiang Weidong and Lin Xia hadn’t returned yet, Old Lady Jiang grumbled, “They’re getting more unreliable. Handling things is getting so difficult.”

Lin Shu knew that the old lady was venting her frustration because Jiang Weidong had remained unmarried for years, despite his successful career.

Even if he was accomplished, it didn’t count for much in her eyes.

She smiled, “Aunt, let’s eat first. It’s not cold. We’ll save some for them.”

At this moment, Jiang Weidong and Lin Xia were having a heart-to-heart talk.

Lin Xia had put all the tools and the small charcoal stove on the truck for tomorrow’s countryside trip.

Originally, she could have gone home earlier, but since Jiang Weidong wanted to discuss something with her, she stayed at the office.

While busy, she hadn’t thought much of it. Now that she had time, she started wondering:

What does Factory Director Jiang mean?

Is he pursuing me?

When did this happen?

How come I didn’t know about it?!!!

Isn’t he being kind because Aunt asked him to?

He’s a good person, but them…

Will it be inappropriate?