Because of Commander Han’s strong insistence, Wang Xiuzhi put it off for several days before finally heading to the supply and marketing cooperative to get new clothes made for herself and her two children.
At the cooperative, Wang Xiuzhi stood in front of the fabric counter, feeling a bit dazzled by the choices.
She clutched the money in her pocket, hesitated for a long while, then summoned the courage to speak to the salesclerk. “Comrade, could you tell me which fabric is the cheapest?”
The salesclerk was a young girl with two braids. She glanced at Wang Xiuzhi, showing no unusual expression, and turned to pull out two rolls of cloth from the bottom shelf.
“This unbleached muslin is the cheapest, three mao per chi. And this drill fabric is sturdy and durable, four mao five fen per chi.”
Wang Xiuzhi quickly did the math in her head.
Although the unbleached muslin was cheaper, the drill fabric was more durable and would last for several more years.
She was about to ask the salesclerk to measure the fabric for her when two elderly people walked up beside her. It was Xu Yueyun and Su Bingcheng.
“Comrade, could you tell us which fabric is the most comfortable here?”
The salesclerk recognized her. She knew Xu Yueyun was Doctor Lin’s mother-in-law.
Her smile grew warmer, and she introduced the fabrics with enthusiasm. “You’ve come at a good time. We just got a batch of fine cotton silk fabric a few days ago. It’s the most comfortable for summer wear.”
Xu Yueyun reached out to touch it, nodding from time to time.
The salesclerk smiled. “Are you buying fabric for the baby Doctor Lin is expecting? By my calculations, the baby will arrive after next spring, so you’ll need something a bit thicker.”
Xu Yueyun’s smile deepened. “Give me a few chi of this cotton silk fabric. Can you help me figure out how much I need for two adults and four children to make two outfits each?”
Two daughters-in-law, one eldest grandson, three granddaughters.
Xu Yueyun treated them all equally and decided to make two outfits for each.
The salesclerk quickly agreed and called over a colleague to help measure the fabric.
Xu Yueyun added, “And for the baby’s clothes, can you recommend a good material?”
She was generous with her spending, so the salesclerk naturally brought out the best options.
Xu Yueyun patted a bolt of cloth with satisfaction. “This is good, soft and gentle on the skin. Give me six chi to make a swaddling blanket, and another two chi to cut into diapers.”
The salesclerk smiled and asked, “Not making clothes?”
Xu Yueyun’s lips curled up. “I’ve used up all my cloth ration coupons. I’ll come back when I have more.”
“Sure thing.” The salesclerk deftly measured and cut the cloth.
Wang Xiuzhi stood nearby, completely stunned.
Such fine fabric, used for diapers?
Wang Xiuzhi’s toes curled awkwardly in her shoes. She unconsciously looked down at the roll of drill fabric she had picked earlier—drab gray, stiff and rough…
Xu Yueyun finished choosing her fabric, turned to glance at Wang Xiuzhi, smiled briefly as a greeting.
Wang Xiuzhi hurriedly forced a smile, not knowing what to say.
Xu Yueyun didn’t mind. She paid the salesclerk, and Su Bingcheng carried the large bundle of cloth as they chatted and laughed their way out the door.
The salesclerk fell into casual conversation with a coworker.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you see that? I’ve never seen such a generous mother-in-law. She’s like a real mother.”
A nearby coworker laughed. “Even my own mother wouldn’t buy me that much fabric for clothes.”
“If I were as capable as Doctor Lin, my mother-in-law would spoil me too.”
Everyone chuckled at that.
The salesclerk turned back to Wang Xiuzhi with a smile. “Big sister, which fabric did you say you wanted?”
Wang Xiuzhi snapped out of her daze, her voice a little rough. “Let me look a bit more.”
She put the unbleached muslin back, let her hand rest on the drill fabric for a moment, hesitated a few seconds, then pointed to the fine cloth Xu Yueyun had touched earlier. “Comrade, how much is that cloth per chi?”
The salesclerk followed her finger. “That one? One yuan two mao per chi.”
Wang Xiuzhi hesitated again.
The salesclerk guessed she might not have the money, didn’t rush her, and turned back to chat with others.
In the end, Wang Xiuzhi didn’t buy the cheapest unbleached muslin.
She bought fine cloth for her two children’s clothes, but for herself, she stuck with the durable drill fabric.
By the time she walked home, Wang Xiuzhi was drenched in sweat.
It was the first time she had spent so much money at once, and her hands were still trembling.
When Commander Han returned that evening, Wang Xiuzhi eagerly laid the cloth before him and told him the price.
One yuan two mao per chi!
Commander Han, naturally frugal himself, felt his heart bleed too.
Wang Xiuzhi, completely unaware, thought she had completed the task he assigned her and proudly boasted to him.
“There was cheaper cloth, just over three mao, but I didn’t buy it. I got this one, one yuan two mao, the most expensive.”
Commander Han inexplicably felt like he had shot himself in the foot. But since he had told her to learn how to spend money, he had to grit his teeth and praise her. “Well done.”
Wang Xiuzhi lit up at his compliment. Whether to comfort him or herself, she added, “I heard that buying ready-made clothes costs several yuan each. I can make the clothes myself, so I’ll save a lot of money.”
Commander Han managed a weak smile.
The happiest one about the new clothes was Han Mei.
She had grown up wearing hand-me-downs from older cousins at home—always gray and black.
The cloth her mother bought this time was a warm yellow. Han Mei stayed close by her mother, not daring to touch it.
Children’s circles could be unconsciously exclusionary.
The family members who could come to military dependents’ housing had positions at least deputy battalion level or above, so their children naturally wore decent clothes and ate well.
Han Mei and Liang Ping had just arrived from a poor mountainous area. Many things they had never seen or eaten, and their clothes were ragged.
When they met other children, they already felt inferior and didn’t initiate conversations.
Coupled with their age, when children had learned some worldly ways and compared themselves, Liang Ping and Han Mei were naturally sidelined.
Wang Xiuzhi, sewing clothes under the lamp, glanced at Han Mei. “This cloth cost a lot of money. You need to treasure it when wearing it. I’ve never worn such expensive clothes in my whole life.”
Han Mei, who had been so happy, saw her smile fade.
“Then you bought it. It’s not like we don’t have the money at home.”
Wang Xiuzhi glared at her. “I said kids shouldn’t know how much money the family has. Once they know, they get full of themselves!”
Han Mei, criticized for no reason, said with red-rimmed eyes, “I didn’t do anything, and you’re already scolding me.”
Wang Xiuzhi bent her head to continue sewing. “This is scolding? You’ve just had it too good.”
Han Mei kicked a chair and ran out of the room.
Wang Xiuzhi muttered under her breath, “This kid, getting more disobedient as she grows up.”
Although Han Mei was angry at her mother, she wasn’t close to Commander Han either and didn’t dare complain. She trudged out alone.
Just as she reached the alley, she bumped into Lin Zhilan, who was returning from Xu Yueyun’s place.
Han Mei tried to run, but Lin Zhilan called out to her.
