Chapter 71: Chapter 42: The Dawn of Hope

After finishing two quilts, Yang Family saw Juhua hunched over, clearly struggling. “We’ve already finished two,” she said. “Go take a rest. I’ll sew the rest. I’m faster, anyway.”

Juhua knew her needlework really wasn’t as practiced as Yang Family’s, so she nodded honestly. She gathered some of the remaining fabric, thinking she would make a pair of cotton gloves. Then another thought struck her. ’I should make a pair for my brother first. It must be frigid sitting in the classroom without being able to move around.’

’But I can’t use this floral fabric for my brother.’

She dug out the leftover light blue fabric from when she last made clothes for her brother. Tracing the shape of a hand, she cut out a pair of double-layered gloves. She then stuffed them with some cotton, spread it evenly, and carefully sewed them shut. After turning them right-side out, she even embroidered two simple blades of grass on the back, which conveniently helped secure the cotton filling.

She sat with her feet in the warming bucket, a small tray on her knees. Scissors, fabric scraps, needle, and thread were spread out on it as her hands moved nonstop, measuring and working busily.

For a moment, she was lost in her work. The room fell silent, the only sounds being the occasional crackle of the lamp wick and Qingmu’s soft voice as he read aloud.

Zheng Changhe had been watching her make the item. When she finished, he exclaimed in sudden understanding, “That’s for wearing on your hands! Hey, Wife! Come and look at this wonderful thing Juhua made!”

He slipped a glove onto his hand and praised it repeatedly. “Ah! It’s warm, so warm! Juhua, who did you make this for?”

’It’s so big, it can’t be for Juhua herself.’

Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, Juhua couldn’t help but suppress a smile. “Dad, I made this for my brother. It gets very cold for him at school, just sitting there without moving. I’ll make a pair for you and Mom tomorrow.”

Zheng Changhe said quickly, “Make your brother’s first, don’t worry about us! I can stay by the fire at home. It’s not that cold.”

Just then, Yang Family and Qingmu came over for a look. Yang Family was full of praise, and when Qingmu tried on the gloves, he grinned from ear to ear.

Yang Family said, “They’re wonderful, but your brother has to write all the time. I’m afraid they might get in the way.”

Juhua said, “Don’t worry. I’ll make him another pair without fingers, that only go up to here”—she gestured to the base of her own four fingers—”and they won’t get in the way of his writing.”

Yang Family nodded admiringly. “You’re right, that wouldn’t get in the way. My, my daughter is just so clever! Heh heh!”

Zheng Changhe laughed. “Your mom and I don’t have to worry about that. We’ll want the full fingers so we can wear them while working. It’s especially cold for your mother when she goes out in the morning. Wouldn’t these be perfect for her?”

The room grew lively again. Qingmu put his book away and helped Yang Family carry the newly stuffed quilts to everyone’s beds. The mattress pads and bedsheets had already been laid out.

Seeing that no one was particularly tired, Yang Family decided to stay up a bit longer. She started making gloves alongside Juhua while chatting idly with Zheng Changhe. The family only went to bed after three pairs of gloves were finished.

It really made a difference having better living conditions. After staying up late, when she finally rolled into her soft, warm nest of blankets, Juhua felt that this was the happiest moment of her life. ’I imagine this is how Zhu Yuanzhang must have felt when he drank that “Pearl, Jade, and White Jade Soup”!’ she thought.

Tucked into that embrace of comfort, even her dreams turned enchanting.

Who was that beautiful maiden, floating gracefully across the field of brilliant wild chrysanthemums? The thin morning mist enveloped her, making her seem like a fairy descended to the mortal realm. And why not? Such serene and graceful bearing was certainly not something a girl from a dusty, rural village should possess.

She turned her head. Her face was veiled, but her eyes were as clear as autumn pools, gazing toward the fiery splendor of Little Qing Mountain. In the hazy morning light, the rich and vibrant colors of the oak forest resembled a bolt of dazzling brocade. It served as a backdrop to the vast expanse of golden wild chrysanthemums below, creating a scene as picturesque and magical as a painting.

…

For the next several nights, Yang Family and Juhua stayed busy under the lamplight, making padded clothes, cotton-lined shoes, and quilted jackets. They used up most of the remaining Qijin of cotton, and they still hadn’t made anything for the two of them. Yang Family could only say she would have to go to the market the next day and bring some more back.

Juhua paid no mind to the local dress customs or common styles; her own comfort was her top priority.

Though the jacket she made for herself had a cinched waist, it extended past her hips. She was terrified of the cold, and besides, with her current looks, she didn’t feel the need to put too much thought into her clothing. It was unlike the jacket Meizi wore, which only reached her hips and looked chic and trim whether paired with a skirt or pants.

This body of hers was simply too frail. Gritting her teeth, she made a pair of padded trousers as well, lined with a thin layer of cotton. It wasn’t for the sake of appearance; rather, she was worried that if the padding was too thick, it would be difficult to squat and stand up while working.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep