The 1970s: Military Family Beauty

While eating breakfast, Hu Xiuqing felt a little uncomfortable, fearing that Jiang Xiaocui would ask about the small mirror.

However, Jiang Xiaocui had Grandma Jiang's instructions, and although she was unwilling to do so, she just endured it and didn't ask any questions as if nothing had happened.

It was not until Hu Xiuqing went out to work and the children went to school that she could not help but complain to Grandma Jiang.

Grandma Jiang said, "Your brother ignored her and left last night. Wait a few days until he comes back and see how they are. Don't make things worse, or your sister-in-law will write back again. Her mother and sister-in-law will never know what to do next."

Jiang Xiaocui tilted her neck back and said, "Humph, let her write whatever she wants. I'll make money here from now on and won't go back."

Grandma Jiang was very disappointed when she heard that: "You haven't even started yet, and you're already talking big. If you can't do it, you'll be laughed at by others."

Jiang Xiaocui was even more certain: "Who said there's no trace of fate? Furong asked for me."

Grandma Jiang believed Jiang Furong wouldn't lie, but she also didn't believe Jiang Furong could really do it: "Furong is smart, but there are some things your brother can't do, like work quotas and tickets to buy sewing machines. You have to ask for help. Furong herself hasn't even found a job yet."

Jiang Xiaocui had nothing to say, but she was still unconvinced: "Mom, I still believe in Furong. If she says it's okay, it must be okay."

Grandma Jiang shook her head. "Let's talk about it when we see the plane ticket. Bring me a broom and I'll go to the door and sweep the snow off the road. I heard someone sweeping the snow outside."

Jiang Furong sent Jiang Guoqing to school. When she came back, she saw Grandma Jiang sweeping the snow in front of the door with a big broom. The red brick road in the entire alley had almost been cleared.

"Grandma, let me sweep." Jiang Furong stepped forward and wanted to take the broom.

Grandma Jiang took a step back and said, "We're almost done sweeping. Go back and see if Xiao Baoying has woken up."

Little Baoying and Jiang Guoqing did airplane jumping and high jumping last night, and they consumed too much energy. When he woke up in the morning, he lay in bed, drank a bottle of milk, and then went back to sleep.

Jiang Furong was not in a hurry: "It's okay, my aunt is here, I'll accompany you."

Grandma Jiang didn't refuse. As she swept the field, she talked to her granddaughter: "There was a big field like this in front of our old home. Do you remember? When the leaves fell in autumn, you could never sweep away all the leaves."

"What kind of tree is it?" Jiang Furong had no memory of this, but that didn't stop her from imagining green tiles, white walls and golden fallen leaves.

Grandma Jiang spoke of the old trees like they were her treasures: "There's a mulberry tree, two peach trees, and two large banyan trees that are over a hundred years old. When you were a child, you always called them beard trees."

"Ah? Peach tree? Mulberries? I ate them when I was a child?" Jiang Furong was very interested.

In her original time and space, she lived in a concrete jungle and ate brightly colored, beautifully packaged, carefully selected fruits. Wild, natural fruits were a luxury.

Grandma Jiang smiled as she thought about it. "That peach tree wasn't a good variety. It only produced green peaches, very sour. You never touched them, but you ate a lot of mulberries. Every year when they were ripe, you'd eat your fill, leaving your hands and mouth covered in purple. One time, you fell from the tree, and we couldn't find a wound on your body. We couldn't tell if it was blood or mulberry juice on your hands."

Jiang Furong imagined the scene in her mind. Even after falling down, she was reluctant to let go of the mulberries in her hand. She was such a little foodie, it was so funny.

After sweeping the snow from the lane, Grandma Jiang wanted to go and sweep the snow from the main road. "I'm not tired at all. Back home in the countryside, there are many people in their sixties who carry shoulder poles and work in the fields. I'm used to working, and I feel better after some exercise. You can go back, your aunt is waiting for you."

Jiang Xiaocui took out all the scraps of cloth she had bought before and spread them on the bed, thinking about it for a while.

This cold weather is perfect for doing some sewing and mending at home.

Seeing Jiang Furong coming back, Jiang Xiaocui pulled her over to discuss: "I'll make you a close-fitting jacket with this cloth. It will keep out the wind when it snows heavily. But it started snowing before I could make it for you. I have to cut it out for you today. Look at this cloth again, it's so strong. I'll make you a coat. If you don't want to wear it anymore, you can also use it as a quilted jacket for Zhaohui."

Children from poor families all do this. The leftovers from the older ones are given to the younger ones, and the leftovers from the younger ones that are still in good condition are given to other people in need. The worn-out ones are cut up and used to patch clothes, or saved to make cushions.

Make the best use of everything.

Jiang Furong thought it was time to make new clothes. She had just gone out for a walk and she wished she could pick up a straw rope and tie it around her waist. The wind was blowing so hard that she was shivering all over.

However, this is a good opportunity and we should make good use of it: "Auntie, after lunch, let's take these two pieces of cloth, push Xiao Baoying to the service center, and borrow some scissors from my classmates to cut out the clothes."

Jiang Xiaocui said, "I have a pair of scissors, and they're special tailor's scissors. No need to go find your classmates. I'll measure your size and cut it for you in a moment. You don't have to wait until noon."

"Auntie, we're not going to borrow a pair of scissors just to borrow a pair of scissors." Jiang Furong realized she was speaking like a tongue twister after she finished. She covered her mouth and laughed, then continued to explain: "Let's just say we're going to borrow a pair of scissors, and then we can cut clothes in front of them at the counter. Wouldn't that make them know you can make clothes? If people who come to buy cloth ask where there's a tailor, wouldn't they be able to recommend you?"

Jiang Xiaocui's eyes lit up: "Yes, why didn't I think of it! Yes, yes, this is a good idea!"

Jiang Furong said, "Let's have lunch early. No, let's go to the service center and get our clothes made before coming back for lunch. Today isn't Sunday, so there won't be many people around. But if someone goes to the service center to buy something at noon, maybe they'll see you and ask you to make clothes for them."

This was the most basic marketing method in Jiang Furong's original time and space, and the effect was simply too good to be true.

Jiang Xiaocui took the advice and did it right away, without even drawing the cutting lines, leaving them for the live broadcast at the service center.

The aunt and nephew pushed Xiao Baoying to the service center.

There are quite a lot of customers in the department store counter.

It snowed a moderate amount last night, and many people came early this morning to buy quilts and cotton. Sister Li was unable to handle it all by herself, so Zhang Haiyan even put down her work to help.

Jiang Furong quietly taught Jiang Xiaocui how to borrow a pair of scissors: "Go over first and see if those people buying cloth know how to calculate the size. Help them calculate it. If Sister Li greets you, just say that this piece of cloth is too thick and the scissors at home can't cut it. When she hands you the scissors, you can show off your skills!"