CTF 0015

“Yinyin, what do you want to do with the lace fabric? Do you want to make a tablecloth? That’s not nearly enough fabric for that, though?” 

Tong Guihua stood next to Xu Yin and asked.

After Xu Yin paid for the fabrics, she left the shop with the fabrics in hand. Then, she replied to Tong Guihua.

“Wouldn’t this make good scalloped edges?”

“Scalloped edges? With this fabric?”  

It was in line with the current trend to add trimming to the collars and cuffs of dresses. Even so, most people would use the same fabric for the trimming and the rest of the dress, except that they’d choose the colour white for the trimming.

Still, compared to using a soft yellow fabric, this seemed much more fitting.

“…It should!”

Xu Yin hummed and smiled. 

She hoped that the little girl she’d be making this silk princess dress with lace edges for would be happy with it.

“It’s not everyday we get to go out. Let’s look at something else!”

Tong Guihua led Xu Yin to the other shops downstairs. These shops sold stationeries, hair accessories, and other miscellaneous things as well. 

Xu Yin nodded and said, “Let’s go.” 

Suddenly, a commotion erupted on the street outside of the supply and marketing cooperative’s gate. The sound of some women’s loud wailing came next.

The shopkeepers who weren’t busy working in their shop followed the customers and walked out from behind their counters, squeezing to the entrance of the complex to see what was happening. 

Upon seeing this, Tong Guihua also pulled Xu Yin and ran toward there, too. 

“What’s going on? Why are so many people going there?”

“I heard an employee from the factory got distracted at work and the machine crushed his hand!”

“Oh, God! What’s going to happen to him now?”

“His family has come to make a scene at the factory. Although he bears some responsibility himself for getting distracted, he still got injured at work, and it still counts as a work-related injury. The factory will have to compensate him to some extent.”

“Oh, so he worked in this factory! No wonder!”

“Do you know them?”

“How could I not know them? They live in the alley next to ours. Their family is notorious for favouring sons over daughters; they treat their son like a treasure and their daughter like trash. They’ve been searching for a suitable match for their son, but haven’t found anyone that they think is satisfying enough.

“Meanwhile, although their daughter has reached a marriageable age, they haven’t even mentioned arranging a marriage for her. I guess they want to wait until their son has found someone he likes, then use their daughter’s bride price on him and his bride, who they’ll make stay at home and work like a cow and a horse… Now, though, their precious son has lost their hand. Of course they’ve come to make a big scene here!”

“…”

Xu Yin joined the crowd. She listened to the chatters of the people around her. She didn’t really pay attention to it, at first. All she initially felt was pity for the worker who’d just lost his hand. Even if the factory gave his family a sum for compensation, how long would it last?

However, the more she listened to it, the more unsettling it sounded. Why did it sound so much like what happened to the original female lead’s family? 

Patriarchal parents, a brother who was permanently injured due to a work-related accident…

A shiver ran down Xu Yin’s spine. 

“Yinyin, what’s wrong with you?”

Seeing Xu Yin’s pale face made Tong Guihua think that she’d been frightened by the bloody tragedy that’d just been described by others around them, so she quickly pulled Xu Yin out of the crowd.

“That was really scary. I think I got goosebumps from hearing about what happened! Let’s go back to school now.”

Xu Yin grabbed her. “No! There’s still something I need to buy.” 

She wanted to buy something delicious for her sister-in-law and nephew. 

Xu Yin really hoped that her sister-in-law would have a stable pregnancy and a completely different ending from the one she had in the original plot that Xu Yin read.

Xu Yin sorted out her thoughts and suddenly, an epiphany came upon her.

As long as her sister-in-law didn’t die as a cannon fodder, she, too, would be able to survive. 

After ruling out expensive meat, limited edition and high-end candies, as well as pricey pastries, Xu Yin picked and bought some other food that caught their fancy. 

Xu Yin also bought some fabrics for her parents, sister-in-law, and nephew. Besides that, she also bought various colours of sewing threads. 

Indeed, she kept shopping until her pockets were emptied out.

Tong Guihua stared at her in amazement, and said, “Yinyin, you bought so many things—won’t you get scolded by your mother for this?” 

“I won’t. Look, I didn’t just recklessly waste my money. I spent most of my money on fabric. My parents haven’t had new clothes made in years, and my sister-in-law hasn’t had any new clothes since she got married. To be honest, the only reason why I could go to school until now is thanks to my brother. Making new clothes for my family is something I’ve always meant to do; I just haven’t had the means to before…”

“Yinyin, you truly are amazing!” Tong Guihua looked at her with a touched expression on her face. “If I had as much money as you did, I’d probably only think about buying fabric for myself. No wonder my mom told me to learn from you when I went home last time. You truly should be my role model!”

Hearing this made Xu Yin rather ashamed for a moment.

Inwardly, she thought: ‘My dear friend, you’re overthinking it. All I wish to do is not go to the labour farm and survive. I just don’t want to die young, quickly killed off as cannon fodder!’

 

---

 

What happened on the street that day made Xu Yin restless. At the same time, it also made her secretly vigilant. 

The female lead’s background story, the reason why she got married, had already happened. Was her maiden family about to start looking for a groom that’d offer a high bride price for her? 

Fortunately, the summer vacation was just about to start. Xu Yin had decided to brainwash her parents to her cause this summer vacation. 

She needed to ensure, regularly, that her sister-in-law’s pregnancy was safe. She couldn’t let her give birth prematurely.

Also, she wanted to send a letter to her cheap eldest brother in the army. She wanted to mention everything that had happened to her sister-in-law recently. The most important news, though, was about her pregnancy. Hearing about it would surely make him overjoyed.

Ah, right. Xu Yin should also have her sister-in-law make new clothes for him. That’d remind him of his virtuous wife, who was patiently waiting for him at home, so he wouldn’t make any ‘mistake’ out there. 

In her mind, she listed her plans for the summer vacation. One, two, three… These thoughts made her mind restless and distracted during her exams. 

In any case, when the exams finally finished, the other students remained in the classroom to discuss their answers. Xu Yin, however, quickly packed up her baggage and went straight to take her bicycle as soon as the school bell rang. She rode her beloved “little donkey”—her bicycle—home. 

When she got home, Mother Xu didn’t bother asking her how she did in her exams.

How could she not be aware of her daughter’s lack of academic performance?

Anyhow, Xu Yin’s brother could always help her. It’d be a joy for everyone if she got into college next year, but even if she didn’t, her older brother could definitely help and find her an easy, well-paying job. 

Moreover, having a high school diploma was already an achievement in and of itself; that she managed to graduate was already good enough. 

“Yinyin, you’ve become so thin!” said Mother Xu, in distress. “How could the school be this unreasonable? They should’ve let you go home after each exam day ends.”

Mother Xu immediately cut a few slices of salted pork meat and added a steamed egg to Xu Yin’s plate. 

“It’s only a four-day difference. Anyhow, the exams are finished and I’m free now!” 

Then, Xu Yin happily began showing off the business that she’d made this week. “Mom, let me tell you, my classmates aren’t the only ones ordering from me now. Even the teachers have begun to order custom-made clothes from us!”  

“Really? See, I’ve always said that my daughter is the most capable girl around!”

Mother Xu smiled so widely from ear-to-ear. Who else, but her, could boast such a skillful daughter? 

A big smile also graced Father Xu’s wrinkly face. 

After they ate, Xu Yin suddenly remembered the gifts that she’d bought for her family. She took out her school bag and began digging them out. 

“Mom, these are for you and Dad. And these ones are for Sister-in-law and Doudou. Doudou, do you like the colour Auntie picked? Right, there’s also some fine cotton clothes here… Sister-in-law, you can make a few new clothes for my baby nephew with them. A newborn baby’s skin is delicate, so fine cotton cloth is the most suitable for them… Hey, why are you guys looking at me like that?” 

Only then did Mother Xu recover. “Goodness, you little rascal, why did you buy so much? Don’t tell me you’ve squandered away all your money! I shouldn’t have let you handle it yourself. You’re just like your father. You spend every penny you have…”

Father Xu, who was suddenly dragged into the crossfire, felt wronged. “Why are you bringing me into this?

“What, did I say something wrong? Didn’t our daughter give you money? Didn’t you spend it all on those fancy cigarette filters?”

“…”