Chapter 51

With only two days left until the New Year, Mother Xu couldn’t afford to stay sad any longer there was New Year’s shopping to be done.

Since around 1967, enterprises and government offices across the country stopped giving holidays during the Spring Festival.

They promoted a “revolutionary Spring Festival,” encouraging people to actively participate in labor during the holiday instead of resting and reuniting with family.

Even though there were no official holidays, people still celebrated in various ways.

For example, on New Year’s Eve, families would gather to stay up late together, eat the traditional New Year’s Eve dinner around the stove, and children would receive new clothes and gifts like toys.

Despite the limited material resources compared to today, there was still a strong festive atmosphere and a sense of warmth from family.

Mother Xu not only had to prepare goods for their own home but also needed to get New Year gifts ready for the grandparents in the countryside.

She was genuinely busy. She sorted out the shopping list by category and assigned tasks to everyone.

Tasks that required early queues were given to Father Xu and Dali.

Even though there were no holidays, the factory didn’t assign heavy workloads during the Spring Festival.

For Father Xu and Dali, the Spring Festival was actually their most relaxed time of the year. Especially Father Xu being one of the few Grade 8 machinists in the factory, he had quite a respected status on the workshop floor.

Minor tasks were naturally handled by his apprentices.

Xu Di was responsible for buying candy and dried fruits, which worked out conveniently since she was already at the department store.

“Mom, give me the money. I need to buy a few things too.
I only have a one-month break, and I’ve already spent over half of it traveling. After the New Year, I’ll need to buy a ticket and head back soon.”

Xu Mei wanted to buy something for Li Gengsheng, and she also wanted to get a couple of new outfits for herself.

“Alright, I’ll get it for you in a minute.”

Mother Xu wiped her hands and went inside to fetch the money she’d withdrawn from the bank yesterday.

“Here’s 500 yuan use it as you see fit. Whatever I say, you probably won’t listen anyway. Just make sure to leave yourself a way out.”

Mother Xu felt Xu Mei was too obsessed with Li Gengsheng. She didn’t really know what kind of person he was his character, whether he could make Xu Mei happy.

“I know what I’m doing. Thanks, Mom and Dad.”

Xu Mei took the money a thick, heavy stack.

After breakfast, everyone went off to their tasks or work.

During her lunch break, Xu Di took the money and ration coupons to the main store and completed the tasks assigned by her mother.

She also needed to buy a few things for her grandparents, Aunt Wang, Grandma Qian, and little Kangkang. New Year gifts were in order.

For Grandma Qian and Aunt Wang, Xu Di prepared a rooster each, a pound of chives, ten eggs, and some dried vegetables.

As for Kangkang, Xu Di bought him a toy car it wasn’t cheap.

She had originally planned to buy one for Ping’an too, but since Xu Mei was also at home, if she didn’t buy something for him, it might get awkward.

She decided to wait and give Ping’an his gift on his birthday, by which time Xu Mei would already be gone.

Xu Di had plenty of liquor coupons and had already bought some good alcohol Maotai, Wuliangye, Jiannanchun, Luzhou Laojiao. She didn’t know much about liquor, just grabbed a few when she saw them.

Back then, liquor was made with real grains, the good stuff worth keeping around for later. Apparently, those bottles might even increase in value.

After buying everything her mother had asked for, Xu Di also prepared a separate gift set for her grandparents.

The original owner had been raised by the grandparents they doted on her immensely. That affection was something Xu Di would never forget.

And ever since she arrived, she too had received a lot of love and warmth from them.

As for clothes, Xu Di didn’t buy any she had already knitted a sweater for each of them during the winter.

She’d learned the patterns from Sister Tang and could only do simple stitches.

Xu Di wrapped up all the shopping by noon and planned to bring everything home in the evening.

Xu Mei, after breakfast, first went to the nearby post office and deposited 300 yuan from the money her mother had given her, keeping only 200 yuan on hand.

Then she went to visit a classmate. Her classmate’s grandfather and mother were both skilled tailors, and they secretly took private sewing work.

Xu Mei wasn’t interested in the off-the-rack clothes at the department store. She wanted to have matching outfits custom-made for herself and Li Gengsheng something stylish and beautiful.

After all, marriage should come with a bit of ceremony.

Following her memory, Xu Mei found her classmate’s home.

“Xu Mei! When did you get back?”

“I’ve been back for a few days. I was hoping you’d still be living here.”

Xu Mei wasn’t sure if Lin Wei had gotten married or moved, so she came with a bit of uncertainty.

“If I’m not at home, then where would I be? You’ve been back for days why are you only coming now?”

Lin Wei and Xu Mei were close. They both lived in the family compound of the garment factory and had gone to the same school.

“Sigh… I wasn’t in the mood. By the way, didn’t you mention in a letter that you were seeing someone? Did you two get married?”

“Married? Ha! That’s over.”

Lin Wei got angry just talking about it she’d never met such a frustrating family.

“What happened? I thought things were going well?”

Xu Mei had been envious when she first read Lin Wei’s letter. Supposedly, the guy was tall and handsome.

“Sigh, don’t get me started. He did look good, but he had a childhood sweetheart.

His family didn’t approve of her because her family was too poor and would be a burden.

They were forced apart and he followed his family’s wishes to date me. Everything was going smoothly, we even got engaged.

Then guess what? I caught him and that girl all lovey-dovey.

I, Lin Wei, have good looks, a decent family, and a proper job. Why would I put up with a wishy-washy man?

I slapped him right there, went to his house, and called off the engagement.”

Even now, Lin Wei ground her teeth as she spoke, furious at how spineless that man was.

He should’ve either fought for his sweetheart and married her, or cut things off cleanly and moved on.

Instead, he tried to keep both wasn’t he exhausted?

“What did your parents say? Were they okay with it?”

“They agreed. Why keep a man like that around? My parents didn’t raise me just to be mistreated.”

With the New Year coming, there wasn’t time for anything else. Her parents had already arranged more blind dates for after the holiday.

“What about you? Anyone suitable? That guy who played the accordion what happened with him?”

“We’re getting married. After the New Year, we’re joining the collective wedding at the ranch.”

Xu Mei and Lin Wei had stayed in touch through letters. Lin Wei was the only person she really wanted to see this time she hadn’t contacted anyone else.

She’d been waiting to visit until just before leaving, thinking Lin Wei might be busy since she’d gotten engaged.

But since she didn’t like any of the clothes at the department store, she had to ask for help early.

“You’re moving fast. Are you sure he’s really as amazing as you say has you all head over heels?”

“Oh, I just really like him. Seeing him makes me happy.”

Xu Mei’s whole heart belonged to Li Gengsheng.

“You’d better be careful. No matter how great a man is, always look out for yourself.”

“I know. I’m being careful.”

Xu Mei was hopelessly infatuated with Li Gengsheng.

“Weiwei, is your mom still taking sewing work?”

“I knew it! You wouldn’t come for nothing!”

“I didn’t have a choice. You know the clothes at the department store same style, no variety.”

Xu Mei had always loved dressing up, even as a child. Lin Wei knew her friend’s personality well.

“What kind do you want? I’ll have my mom give you a little backdoor help.”

“Thank you so much, Weiwei.”

Xu Mei looked through a booklet with clothing sketches drawn by Lin Wei’s mother.

She picked the styles and fabric, which her friend’s mom could provide too she was now a licensed tailor.

Xu Mei hadn’t come empty-handed either. She’d brought dried fruit, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots from Yunnan as gifts for Lin Wei and her family.

With the main matters settled, the two friends, who hadn’t seen each other in ages, laughed and chatted about the childhood they’d once shared.