Chen Xiao Mi was a little more generous with seven taels of silver in his pocket, he took Lu Lin to the shop and he spent some time on a few taels on a piece of cotton cloth. Then he spent fifty cents to buy some needles and threads.
There were ready-made clothes in the store, but Chen Xiao Mi did the math in his mind, and he decided to do it in a cost-effective way.
Then Chen Xiao Mi went to a pawn shop to look for bargains, and bought two old blankets with cotton wadding. Blankets with cotton wadding are very versatile, they can be used to keep out the cold at night, and the wadding can be used to line a winter jacket.
Lu Lin had been using two pieces of door board as a bed since he married Chen Xiao Mi, Chen Xiao Mi thought it was time to treat Lu Lin better.
It was getting colder by the day, Chen Xiao Mi thought Lu Lin could really use some warm rest at night and he was willing to share all his clothes with Lu Lin to keep him warm.
Lu Lin appreciated Chen Xiao Mi’s kindness, he knew Chen Xiao Mi bought a blanket for him, but Lu Lin had different plans for the winter, he wanted to build a kang at home.
“Lu Lin, do you want to find an aunt to make you winter clothes?” Chen Xiao Mi asked.
Lu Lin nodded: “Sure.”
‘The villagers won’t be busy after the Autumn Harvest, I’m sure those women are very happy to sew for a few cents, even a few pennies is a good income for them. My reputation is better than Chen Xiao Mi’s, maybe that’s why he asked me to do it myself.’ Lu Lin thought.
Chen Xiao Mi had also bought salt, rice, flour, and bowls. He had also bought his younger brothers tanghulu.1candied fruit, traditionally hawthorn, on a stick.
The two went home with a full basket.
“Big brother, we have so much stuff!” Chen Xiao Cai exclaimed upon seeing them.
Chen Xiao Mi was somewhat guilty, he had indeed spent a lot of money today, almost two taels of silver! But he did not see anything wrong in this, all the items he bought were basic necessities except for the snacks he bought for the children. He thought he could always make more money with a full stomach and warm clothes.
Chen Xiao Mi thought for a moment about who was qualified to make clothes for Lu Lin, he recommended Grandma Shen.
Grandma Shen had experienced many mishaps in her life, her son died in the military three years ago, her daughter-in-law eloped with a merchant one year ago. And since then Grandma Shen has continued to be with her grandson Shen Chi who is also a Bio.
Grandma Shen has several farms under her name, but they are struggling due to a lack of labor.
Lu Lin took Chen Xiao Mi’s advice, but he didn’t send the cloth to Grandma Shen, he decided to send a quarter of the cloth to test the water.
Lu Lin saw Shen Chi when he was about to leave Grandma Shen’s house.
Emotion welled up inside Lu Lin when he saw a boy of Chen Xiao Cai’s age carrying a large basket full of firewood: ‘This little boy is already helping out in the family, he’s so young!’
Lu Lin took his leave after he greeted Shen Chi.
Shen Chi ran into the room and asked his grandmother why Lu Lin was visiting him.
Grandma Shen beamed: “Chen Xiao Mi is a great hunter, but he can’t sew, and neither can Lu Lin. So Lu Lin is here to ask me to make some clothes for him and Brother Chen.”
Shen Chi nodded.
Grandma Shen continued: ” He offered me a good price, thirty cents for adult clothes and twenty cents for children’s clothes.”
“Why did Lu Lin think of you for the job?”
“I don’t know either, men usually ask their aunts or younger sisters for help when it comes to sewing, but you know Lu Lin’s blood-sucking family, who knows who will wear these new clothes if Lu Lin really sends the cloth back to his family.”
Shen Chi nodded, then said: “I feel that Lin Ge2ge means brother is a changed person now.”
“How is it?”
“He looks high-spirited. He used to keep his head down and avoid eye contact with people, and he never talked to anyone. But I just saw him now, he greeted me and his skin looks very healthy, he looks very energetic.”
Grandma Shen smiled: “It looks like he’s happy with his marriage. The others all talk bad about Chen Xiao Mi, but Chen Xiao Mi is a good person. We have both seen the way Chen Xiao Mi takes care of his two younger brothers.”
Granny Shen’s house was next to the old hunter’s house, she had seen Chen Xiao Mi sending food and clothes to the helpless old hunter, she knew Chen Xiao Mi was not what the villagers said. So she accepted Lu Lin’s offer readily.
Shen Chi nodded: “I also think Xiao Mi Ge is a grateful person.”
Grandma Shen narrowed her eyes and said: “Poor boy has such an unforgiving grandmother.”
Shen Chi touched the cloth and exclaimed: “Grandma, this is a good cloth!”
Grandma Shen nodded: “Yes, it must be comfortable to wear.”
Grandma Shen exclaimed in her heart that Lu Lin was a lucky man, not only did his family get ten taels of silver as an engagement gift, but now Lu Lin got to wear new clothes.
T/N: Let me know what you think of this chapter in the comments!!
Support me on Ko-Fi and get 3 extra chapters!!
