I trade in both worlds

"I have another set of clothes that I haven't worn yet. I'll alter them later and lengthen them to see if you can wear them." Xu Xu looked at Xu Ziqing who was half a head taller than her, and doubted that she would be able to wear them even if they were lengthened.

Xu Ziqing thought that since he could travel through time, he would definitely not come here once or twice, so it would be better to prepare two or three sets of clothes for replacement.

There are also shoes, but you can buy cloth shoes in modern times. In ancient times, clothes were very long and the shoes were basically covered for the most part, so most people would not necessarily notice any difference in the soles of the shoes.

"No thanks." Xu Ziqing refused. "You must prepare a complete set of clothes from inside to outside, and you need to prepare two or three sets. By the way, are there any ready-made clothes for sale here? In fact, you can buy ready-made clothes directly."

Xu Xu nodded: "Yes, but there are none in town. Only in the county town can you buy ready-made clothes. Moreover, ready-made clothes are expensive and don't fit well. It's better to buy cloth and make them."

Xu Ziqing spread his hands and said, "I don't know how to do it."

"Ah?" Xu Xu said in surprise: "Then were the clothes you are wearing made by your parents?"

In Dayunchao, girls as young as five or six have already started learning needlework. By the time they are seven or eight, they can basically sew and mend things. By the time they are in their teens, they can make clothes. The only difference is whether the stitches are fine or not.

If it is well made, it can be worn for ten years without any problem. However, if it is roughly made, the seams will easily open and it may not be worn for more than a few days.

Not to mention ancient times, even a few decades ago, ordinary people made their own clothes. As ready-made clothes became more and more common, fewer and fewer people knew how to make clothes. By the time of Xu Ziqing's generation, ordinary people basically didn't know how to make clothes.

Although ready-made clothes are convenient and come in many styles, it is difficult to buy clothes that fit perfectly. Clothes for taller women are loose and not close-fitting, while clothes for shorter women have sleeves and trouser legs that are much longer, so you have to spend money to get them trimmed.

Of course, there are customized models now, but the price is not affordable for ordinary working class people.

"No," Xu Ziqing replied, "No one in my family knows how to make clothes. Nowadays, few people know how to make clothes. They all buy them."

"Are all the clothes bought? No one makes them themselves?" Xu Xu asked.

"Yes." Xu Ziqing nodded: "There are very few people who can make clothes now, and clothes are no longer sewn by hand stitch by stitch, but with sewing machines."

"Sewing machine?" Xu Xu couldn't imagine how a sewing machine that didn't require hands to sew clothes could make clothes.

Xu Ziqing remembered that there was an antique Huanan brand sewing machine in her grandmother's room. It was said that it was her grandmother's dowry. It had been used for more than 50 years and was older than her father.

When I moved to a new house three years ago, I moved the sewing machine back to Baiyun Village. It was still usable before the move, but I don’t know if it can still be used now.

"Yes, I have one at home, but it's an old model that I've used for more than 50 years. My grandmother said it's very easy to use. I'll teach you later." Xu Ziqing decided to go back in the evening to ask his grandmother how to use the sewing machine.

Xu Xu was very interested in everything over there: "Okay, when the rain stops I'll go buy some cloth and make clothes for you."

Xu Ziqing nodded happily, "Okay, you can use the sewing machine to make clothes for me, and I can buy the fabrics online. We have a lot of fabrics there, and the price is not expensive. There are more colors and patterns than here."

Xu Xu had long been curious about the fabrics there, and upon hearing this, he asked, "What kind of fabrics do you have there? Our clothes are mainly made of cotton and linen, while the fabrics of those wealthy families are mainly made of silk, gauze, satin, brocade, gauze, silk, and kesi."

Hearing about these fabrics, Xu Ziqing's eyes sparkled, as if she saw piles of banknotes waving at her.

He was so excited that he grabbed Xu Xu's arm and said, "Xu Xu, I'm rich. Those silk, satin, brocade, yarn, silk, and kesi are all luxury goods in modern times. They are ridiculously expensive. I can become rich by selling a few pieces of pure handmade cloth."

"Ah?" Xu Xu couldn't understand Xu Ziqing's excitement at all, and whispered: "These are also very expensive here, only the rich and powerful can afford them."

The bucket of cold water poured over his head made Xu Ziqing sober up instantly. Cloth was also a hard currency in ancient times, and silk was a symbol of the ruling class and a major commodity in foreign trade.

However, although this was expensive in ancient times, as long as they were not the top ones, they should be able to afford it. It is also considered a luxury item in modern times. Even if it cannot be sold at a sky-high price, it is still affordable for ordinary people.

But where to get the money to buy the cloth? That's a headache. I guess I need to find some time travel stories to learn when I get back.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xu Ziqing felt that he should let Xu Xu deeply understand what potatoes are and why they can be eaten.

Xu Ziqing said to Xu Xu, "Xu Xu, come to my house for dinner tonight. I'll buy some potatoes. Tonight's main course and side dishes will all be based on potatoes. What do you think?"

In fact, Xu Xu also wanted to learn more about potatoes. After all, they were a new species in Dayun Dynasty. He could try various ways of eating potatoes tonight. If he liked them, he could bring some back to Xu Jizong's house tomorrow to try.

After all, the family still has to rely on Xu Jizong's family for planting. If he can't convince them, they will never give him the land for experiments. Xu Xu believes that as long as the yield is as high as Xu Ziqing said, Xu Jizong will definitely be willing to try it.

"Okay, let's go over there now." Xu Xu picked up Xu Tiantian and called the children: "Let's go, let's go over there together."

"Great." Xu Zhun jumped up excitedly. He had been thinking about the TV and the mobile phone.

Xu Jin and Xu Qiwei also ran happily to the utility room.

Coming to the present day, Xu Ziqing hugged Xu Xu's arm and said with a serious face, "Xu Xu, I'll find some potato recipes for you later. You can follow the recipes for dinner. I can help wash the vegetables. I haven't done anything else, so I can only count on you."

Xu Xu looked at Xu Ziqing in surprise: "You can't cook?"

When Xu Xu was seven or eight years old, she had already taken on most of the housework. In Xu Village, what kind of work could a child of that age not do? Washing clothes, cooking, feeding poultry, taking care of younger brothers and sisters, not to mention girls, who also had to learn women's work and weaving in their spare time.

Although women from wealthy families do not have to do housework, they must master the arts of piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea. They must also be good at housekeeping, housework, cooking, and etiquette.

In the Dayun Dynasty, no matter what class they were in, the requirements for women were extremely strict. Xu Xu envied Xu Ziqing very much, and admired her for living in such an enlightened and convenient era where there were no restrictions on women and they could come and go freely and marry freely.