The 1970s: Military Family Beauty

Jiang Guoqing was dumbfounded when he saw that even bringing his mother out didn't work. He was so angry that tears came out, but he still said stubbornly: "If you don't want to give it to me, then don't give it to me. I told my mother that she will buy it for me, and then I won't give it to you! Humph!"

Jiang Furong curled her lips and said nothing.

Jiang Guoqing was bored. Knowing he couldn't eat the apple, he snorted at Jiang Furong again, put on his hat, and said to Xiao Baoying, "I'm going to play snowballs with my classmates. I won't take you with me."

If you can't win over the older one, take it out on the younger one.

Before Jiang Furong could say anything, Grandma Jiang came out of the kitchen and shouted, "Qingqing, don't go. Your hand isn't healed yet."

Jiang Guoqing heard it but pretended not to hear it and ran away.

"These kids are playing recklessly. I have to go and check it out." Grandma Jiang still felt sorry for her grandson, so she followed him out the door.

Little Baoying pushed the small bowl away and pointed outside: "I want to go play with my brother."

Children are naturally lively and playful. Wherever their older brother goes, the younger ones will follow.

Jiang Furong waved her hand: "It's cold outside, play at home."

"I want to go to school with my brother." Xiao Baoying was referring to the boys chasing and fighting each other after school.

"Auntie doesn't have the key, forget it." Jiang Furong originally wanted to stay home and wait for the door, but seeing how eager Xiao Baoying was to go out and play, she changed her mind: "Don't push the cart, let's play at the door for a while."

The snow in the alley was swept to the side of the road, piling up to half a foot high. Jiang Furong took little Baoying by the hand and let him play by stepping on the footprints.

Little Baoying is young and has his own ideas: "Go play with my brother."

It was barely acceptable when no one was playing with me, but now I have to go find my little brother.

Jiang Furong had no choice but to take Xiao Baoying to the open space south of the family compound. The place was very large and spacious. As long as it didn't rain, there would be people doing radio gymnastics there every morning following the commands from the loudspeaker.

I saw that the snow on the open space was swept to the middle, forming a small hill. Many children were running around there while the snow was not yet dirty. Some of them grabbed a handful of snow while running, made snowballs and threw them as grenades, while others squatted down to avoid the snow bombs thrown by others.

Little Baoying spotted Grandma Jiang and ran, shouting, "Grandma, where's my brother?"

Grandma Jiang pointed at the group of children and said, "It's at the back. It will come out soon."

For boys, not participating is the same as not coming to play.

Xiao Baoying wanted to run over there, but Jiang Furong didn't dare let him pass. These boys were only seven, eight or ten years old, and it would be impossible to stop them if they started running wildly.

Jiang Furong led Xiao Baoying to a place not far from Xiaoxue Mountain, squatted down to make a snowball, and let Xiao Baoying participate in the battle in the rear.

Little Baoying shouted "Fire!" and happily threw snowballs in the direction of the older children.

Jiang Furong also felt like playing and threw a snowball at Jiang Guoqing, but unfortunately she missed and the snowball fell and broke at Jiang Guoqing's feet.

"Blossoms bloom on the ground!" Jiang Guoqing howled, grabbed a handful of snow and rushed over to sprinkle it on Xiao Baoying's head: "I want revenge!"

Little Baoying was not angry at all. He laughed hard, squatted down, grabbed a handful of snow and threw it back: "Fire!"

Xiao Baoying's hands were small, and the snowflakes scattered as soon as they were thrown out, without even touching the corner of Jiang Guoqing's clothes.

Jiang Guoqing squatted on the ground and used his hands to sweep the snow directly onto Xiao Baoying: "Bury you, bury you."

The snowflakes covered little Baoying's head and body.

Jiang Furong reached out and hugged Xiao Baoying away: "Qingqing, stop it, he is still young."

When teenagers start playing wildly, they really have no limits.

Jiang Guoqing continued to sweep without giving in: "Who told him to fire at me? I want revenge!"

Now that his sister doesn't protect him or let him go, and is protecting others, he wants revenge.

Jiang Furong couldn't stop Jiang Guoqing from making trouble, so she had no choice but to run away with Xiao Baoying in her arms: "Let's retreat!"

Xiao Baoying thought he was still playing and shouted happily: "Retreat to the rear!"

Jiang Furong carried little Baoying all the way back home.

Taking such a young child to play outside is too physically demanding and she can't handle it.

Jiang Xiaocui and Jiang Zhaohui couldn't get into the house because they didn't have the key, so they talked under the porch.

Jiang Xiaocui's cheerful voice could be heard from a distance: "When making a coat out of plaid, the pockets should be placed diagonally. Doesn't that look good?"

Jiang Zhaohui is at the age when he starts to appreciate beauty, and he likes to discuss these topics the most: "Looks good!"

Little Baoying ran over happily and shouted, "Auntie, my brother and I are going to the war."

Jiang Xiaocui smiled and said, "Little Baoying is so brave! Come inside and I'll make you a big red flower to wear."

Jiang Furong opened the door and let everyone in. She slumped down in a chair, not wanting to move. She directed her sister to work: "Zhaohui, go heat up the food. I'm exhausted."

"I'll do it. Zhaohui, you can play with Xiao Baoying in the living room." Jiang Xiaocui placed the cloth and cotton on the crib, happily dragged Jiang Furong to the kitchen, and reported the good news to her: "Furong, someone is coming to our house after dinner. She wants me to go to her house to make clothes. She said they have a butterfly sewing machine."

Jiang Furong was no longer sleepy and asked with great interest, "What's going on? Tell me quickly."

Jiang Xiaocui said proudly, "Didn't I go back to buy cotton? Then I spread your jacket fabric on the counter, measured it with the cotton, and calculated how much cotton would be needed. Then an aunt said she had a daughter who was about the same height and weight as you, and asked me to help make a cotton-padded jacket for her daughter. I said we didn't have a sewing machine at home, and she said she had one and asked me to go to her house to make it. Furong, do you think I agreed to her request?"

"Of course I agree!" Jiang Furong gave a thumbs up: "Great! You'll open the shop right away!"

Jiang Xiaocui asked again: "Then how do I collect money from them?"

Jiang Furong didn't know the market either: "I haven't had time to ask Zhang Haiyan yet. Have you ever made clothes for others in your hometown?"

Jiang Xiaocui nodded: "Yes, I did, but I never charged for it. I don't have a sewing machine at home. I borrowed someone's sewing machine and they didn't charge me. I also didn't charge her for making clothes for her."

It's purely mutual benefit and mutual assistance.

Jiang Furong thought about it and came up with an idea: "I saw the cotton-padded clothes at the service center. They're five yuan each, and the cotton-padded coats are eight yuan each. You can deduct the cost of the fabric and cotton, and the remaining money will be your wages."

Jiang Xiaocui shook her head. "The cotton-padded clothes at the service center are specially supplied. They're cheaper than those sold outside. Even buying the cloth and cotton together costs more than five yuan."

If you calculate it this way, you'll have to pay for it.

Jiang Furong asked, "Then you can go directly there later. I'll go to the service center after dinner and help you find out how to get paid."

Jiang Xiaocui scratched her head. "Forget it. I have to borrow a sewing machine to make clothes for you anyway. I might as well not charge you anything this time. I'll buy a sewing machine, take the fabric, and make the clothes at home. I can charge a reasonable amount for the work, don't you think?"

Jiang Furong raised her hand in agreement: "Okay, you have the final say on your own affairs!"