Chapter 31: Putting on a Scarf

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Old Madam Bai finally left after getting her hands on the sparrows. Perhaps she was also frightened by Bai Xue’s threats of reporting her to the Disciplinary Department. She did not fight with Bai Xue for the eggs anymore. She took the two sparrows and glared at Bai Xue fiercely. Wu Zhaodi and Bai Rumei glanced at each other and turned to leave.

“Second Uncle, Second Aunt, I’m going back too!” Bai Xue greeted them and walked home.

The crowd dispersed and went home with their arms crossed.

“Dajiang, it wasn’t easy to find sparrows, but the children didn’t get to eat them. Even though you caught them, they all went to Third Brother’s family!” Wu Zhaodi pushed Bai Dajiang. “Did you have to give her both?”

“I can catch more! Don’t be angry. Will Mom leave if she can’t get something? What’s the reason this time? Why were you fighting again?” Bai Dajiang asked with a headache.

His mother came to his house every other day to plunder. This time, she definitely did not get what she wanted and caused such a commotion.

“It’s all because your mother came over to plunder! When she saw the five eggs I gave Sister-in-Law, she insisted that Rusheng was sick and wanted to eat eggs!” Wu Zhaodi said angrily.

“Sigh… Mom is getting more and more overboard!”

“Dajiang, when we moved out, we didn’t get anything from them. We had to build our own bed! They didn’t even give us pots and pans! Yet she keeps coming to snatch our food supplies. We really can’t afford this. We still owe the battalion money! We haven’t even paid off the money for this house!” Wu Zhaodi said with a wronged expression.

“I get it. The next time she shows up, just hide everything from her!” Bai Dajiang carried the firewood and walked into the courtyard. “Hurry up and go in! It’s cold outside!”

“Mom… I want to eat sparrows too…” Bai Ruyue, who had appeared out of nowhere, said weakly.

“There there, Yue. I’ll catch one for you tomorrow. I’ll secretly bring it back for you to eat!” Bai Ruyang did not say anything just now. Seeing his sister’s pitiful look, he could not help but pat her head and comfort her.

“Hurry up and go in! Didn’t you want to learn how to sew? I’ll teach you!” No matter how angry Wu Zhaodi was, she still had to comfort the children on the surface. “Didn’t your Ruxue give us corn floor? I’ll make pancakes for you tonight!”

“Grandma always does this. If we have something good, she’ll always think of snatching it for Third Uncle’s brats! How annoying!” Bai Rumei muttered as she walked into the house. Bai Ruyang also carried the firewood on the ground and brought it to the courtyard.

On the way home, Bai Xue took out a lock from the supermarket. As soon as she reached home and put down the eggs, she took all the food supplies into the house and locked them in the brick platform bed cabinet.

“Xue, what’s wrong?” Bai Daliang sat by the brick platform bed cabinet and asked in confusion.

“Grandma went to Second Uncle’s house to plunder. She’ll probably come to our house soon. When she saw the eggs Second Aunt gave Mom, she wanted to snatch them. Second Uncle caught two sparrows, but she took them away!”

Bai Xue said angrily.

“Grandma is really something. Her bias knows no end.” Bai Ruxia walked in from outside and heard Bai Xue’s words.

“It’s not like she’s been doing it for a day or two. I’m already used to it. If one day Grandma can think of us, I definitely won’t be used to it!” Bai Ruchuan followed behind. The children seemed to have gone to pick firewood again.

“Don’t worry! That day won’t come!” Bai Rushan rolled his eyes.

“Alright, you guys! That’s your grandmother!” Bai Daliang reprimanded.

“Xue, did your second aunt agree to make clothes for you?” Wang Cuihua was afraid that they would get into a conflict again, so she quickly changed the topic.

“Yeah, maybe they’ve already started!” Bai Xue replied.

“That’s good. You can wear new clothes during the new year!” Wang Cuihua said happily.

Bai Xue thought to herself. What they needed was not the new clothes worn right on the outside, but thick and warm cotton clothes and pants.

She planned to retrieve one set of clothes each when she returned from town tomorrow and throw away the old ones.

Their old clothes were hard, heavy, and not warm at all! It was uncomfortable to wear them.

Fortunately, she sold those old-fashioned cotton clothes and pants in the supermarket. She only bought a batch because the elderly liked to wear them.

The smallest size should be enough for her siblings and she also had sizes for her parents.

She was extremely glad about this.

“Big Sis, does Second Aunt still have time to sew cloth bags? Why don’t you leave that job to me? I know how to sew too!” Bai Ruyun said regretfully.

“Do you want to take the job? When I go tomorrow, I’ll see if the old lady still needs more. If she does, I’ll bring back the cloth, needle, and thread for you!”

Bai Xue would certainly have a lot of use for cloth bags. She needed cloth bags to sell the supplies and food in the supermarket, but cloth was a rare commodity!

She did have cloth in the supermarket, but it was not the kind found in this era and they were bedsheets. She sold four-piece bed sets in the supermarket! She did not dare to take them out.

“Xue, do you think it’s time for me to remove the stitches?” asked Bai Daliang.

“Dad, when you were discharged from the hospital, I asked the doctor. Your stitches can be removed the day after tomorrow. When the time comes, I’ll borrow the battalion’s ox cart to send you there!” Bai Xue remembered the date.

“Okay, got it!”

The next day, Bai Xue woke up early to make breakfast. She was already used to waking up early, unlike in the modern world where she could stay in bed until the afternoon.

The little ones also got up from the bed and went about their own business. Just as they were putting up the table, Zhang Yuan arrived.

After everyone had breakfast, Bai Xue sat on the back of Zhang Yuan’s bicycle and went to town.

After leaving the village, Zhang Yuan took off the green scarf around his neck and put it on Bai Xue.

“No thanks. Since I’m sitting behind you, you’re already helping to block the wind, so I’m not cold!” Bai Xue waved her hand.

“Be good! Don’t catch a cold! Just wear it!” Zhang Yuan did not allow her to refuse and swiftly put the scarf on her.

Bai Xue’s heart inexplicably throbbed. She shook her head. Since it was already around her neck, she did not take it off anymore. She used her hands to grab the clothes on both sides of Zhang Yuan’s body to steady herself.

Along the way, the two of them did not speak again until they reached Pingyang Town.

“Xue, where are you going? I’ll send it over first!” Zhang Yuan asked.

“No need, no need. Just leave me near the hospital! They don’t like strangers going there! I can walk there myself!” Bai Xue waved her hand.

“Alright! I’ll wait for you at the entrance of the hospital after I’m done with my business!” Zhang Yuan did not insist. He sent her to the vicinity of the hospital and left on his bicycle.

He originally had nothing to do in town, but now he had something to do. He had to find Zhao Qiang to get some cotton! Seeing that the little girl was wearing so little, he kept worrying about her along the way, afraid that she would catch a cold.

Bai Xue watched as Zhang Yuan rode his bicycle away and quickly entered the alley. When she came out, she carried three catties of pork and walked towards the supplies cooperative.

Today, she had to fulfill her promise and deliver pork to Sister Wu. She needed her help to get fabric for making cloth bags.

She walked into the supplies cooperative. There were quite a lot of people today. It was almost the new year, so they were probably here to buy new year’s goods. Moreover, she realized that the cloth sales area today was especially popular. She walked over and took a closer look. There were ready-made clothes for sale in the supplies cooperative today.

There were men’s and women’s tops and pants, and there were also children’s clothes. Even though they were intended for children, they were only a little smaller and looked the same overall.