Unable to endure the hardships of rural life, she returned home to arrange a marriage with a militar

Shu Yun was a little embarrassed when she talked about it, "These are two bolts of cloth, one white and one indigo. I was thinking of making two short-sleeved shirts for my son Gu Jun, so I'd like to ask you to help me make them." As she spoke, Shu Yun took out the money she had prepared earlier and stuffed it into Shi Yan's pocket.

Shi Yan didn't refuse; that was her business. However, she only took out a few bills and returned the rest to Shu Yun. "You only need 4 cents for one piece of clothing, 8 cents for two. You're giving me too much. Are you trying to rip me off?" she said, rolling her eyes.

Shu Yun stuffed it back into her hands. "Sister Yan, I haven't finished what I was saying yet. I mainly wanted you to teach me how to sew clothes. I'm clumsy and can't sew anything. But you don't need to teach me anything complicated. I'll just learn the simplest things. Consider this my apprenticeship fee."

Shi Yan chuckled. "I thought you wanted me to do something big. This is it? Just watch and learn while I'm doing it. If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me. You can skip the money."

Shu Yun didn't insist, but she still slipped the money into the fat girl's pocket when she left.

"Mommy, I have money, I want to buy candy." The little girl only discovered that she had extra money in her pocket when she went to bed at night, and immediately waved her little hand, wanting to eat candy.

Shi Yan accepted it, saying helplessly, "Xiao Shu is too kind."

But interpersonal relationships are all about give and take; only through reciprocity can they last.

Although Shu Yun had been learning from Shi Yan for a few days and Shi Yan had even taught her step by step, she still lacked confidence and decided to try making a small-sized garment from the scraps.

So when Gu Jun came home that evening and saw Ah happy, who was greeting him, wearing a small outfit, he nudged Ah happy and asked, "Where did you come from?"

Shu Yun picked up Ah happy and asked, "How do you think the stitching is?"

Gu Jun: "You did this?"

Shu Yun nodded. Axi wasn't used to wearing the little clothes and pawed at them several times. Shu Yun straightened the clothes for it. "Yes, they were just made today."

Gu Jun felt a little jealous. "You should make it for it." The first piece of clothing wasn't for him, but for a dog?

Gu Jun grew increasingly annoyed with A happy, and taking advantage of Shu Yun's inattention, he kicked its chubby little bottom.

Shu Yun laughed at him, "Don't be so stingy. I'm just practicing."

Gu Jun pressed further, "So, are you done practicing?"

Shu Yun waved her hand, "Then you'll have to wait." Actually, she had already started cooking, but she didn't plan to say so first, otherwise there would be no surprise.

Gu Jun sighed helplessly, noticing the marks on her fingertips where she had been poked. "Does your hand hurt?"

Shu Yun smiled and shook her head.

In the evening, after Shu Yun took a shower, she came out to find A Xi still playing in the yard. Shu Yun went over and noticed that there were a few stains on the little clothes she had put on the puppy. She squatted down and poked the puppy's round head. "You've only worn it for a short time and you've already gotten it dirty. I won't let you wear it next time."

Ah-happy stuck out its tongue. If it could talk, it would definitely wish that its owner would never put clothes on it. In the middle of summer, its fur was already thick, and with an extra layer of clothing, it was even hotter. It could hardly play anymore and just wanted to stick out its tongue to cool off.

Gu Jun walked over casually. "Oh, I just saw it rolling around on the ground. Take it off, it'll get dirtier the more you wear it."

Ah-happy: ...It didn't speak, it just watched quietly.

------------

Is Comrade Shu Yun here?

A woman's voice came from outside the courtyard. Shu Yun put down her needlework, opened the door, and saw a middle-aged woman wearing a light blue Zhongshan suit, with a bob haircut, a thin face, and glasses. "May I ask who you are?"

The woman smiled and introduced herself: "Hello, Comrade Shu Yun. I am Huang Ju, the director of the propaganda department of the army. Our department is currently short-staffed, and I thought of Comrade Shu, who has a background in fine arts, so I would like to invite you to join our department."

Shu Yun was surprised, "The propaganda department?" But thinking about it, it made sense. Since the last bribery incident, two people had left the propaganda department, so it was normal for them to be short-staffed.

"Yes, I've read your comic books. I admire both your writing skills and your drawing ability. I immediately thought of you when I had this opportunity."

Shu Yun: "Thank you for your kindness, Director Huang, but I need to discuss it with my partner before making a decision, is that alright?"

Huang Ju smiled, "Of course, I'll wait for your reply."

That evening, Shu Yun told Gu Jun about what happened during the day. "Do you think I should go? I'm still working on my second comic book. If I go, I'm afraid I won't be able to manage it all."

Gu Jun made the decision: "Go if you want to. I'll do the housework. Besides, it's not like you've signed a contract to sell yourself into servitude. If you don't like the work, we won't do it."

Shu Yun patted Gu Jun on the shoulder and joked, "Young man, you have good moral character. Here's a reward. Go check in the wardrobe."

Gu Jun raised an eyebrow: "Really?"

Shu Yun pushed him, "Would I lie to you? If not, I'll take it and give it to A-happy."

"I want it. What you give me is mine. Don't give it to that stupid dog." Gu Jun was still holding a grudge about what happened before, and he was very petty. He pinched Shu Yun's cheek and couldn't wait to go to the bedroom.

Both of their clothes were in the same wardrobe, but compared to Shu Yun's various clothes, Gu Jun's clothes were much fewer in both style and quantity. His clothes were folded into a small pile and pitifully huddled in a corner.

Gu Jun immediately noticed the three neatly folded garments. Two were crisp, well-made short-sleeved shirts, and the other was a white vest—or rather, an old man's vest. It lacked style but was designed for comfort and coolness.

Shu Yun: "Guess which one I made?"

Gu Jun placed all three garments on the bed. Shu Yun looked at the crooked and limp vest she had made lying on the bed, while the other two shirts were well-made and finely stitched. The contrast was stark. Before Gu Jun could answer, she said awkwardly, "Okay, you can probably tell that the vest is mine without me guessing."

“Indeed.” Gu Jun touched the stitches on the vest. It was obvious that the rough and sparse stitches on A Xi’s vest were made by the same person. But when he thought of the scars on Shu Yun’s fingertips during this time, his heart softened and he unconsciously softened his movements.

Shu Yun wasn't very confident in her handiwork; her shirt was just to make up the numbers. She handed the other two shirts to Gu Jun, saying, "Try them on first. If they don't fit, I'll have Sister Yan alter them."