Chapter Forty-Six: Sewing Clothes

  "Grandpa, I have some good news to tell you." Ye Baiji rushed into the upstairs room, but only after entering did she discover that the atmosphere inside was very gloomy.

  "What's wrong, Grandfather?" Ye Baiji looked at Old Man Ye and asked.

  "Ye Lao Yezi sighed and asked, 'How is Zhen'er doing?'"

  "Zhen'er has woken up and taken her medicine, I think she's in good spirits," said Ye Baiji.

  "That's good. What was the good news you just mentioned?" Old Ye stroked his beard, now they needed some good news to boost their morale.

  Ye Baiji was about to share the good news she had heard from Qizhen, but changed her words at the last minute: "Zhen said she has a way to make the villagers stop bothering her."

  This is really good news! The Ye family heard this and everyone felt relieved.

  It's not necessary for them to worry about the villagers' acceptance just because they rescued a pair of young orphans. However, they all liked the siblings and didn't want them to be homeless. Moreover, it's hard to say whether driving away Qizhen and her brother would really put an end to this matter. Who knows what might happen in the future that would lead someone to blame their family for rescuing Qizhen and her brother? Besides, Qizhen has made so much effort to settle down in Yushu Village, they didn't want all her efforts to be in vain.

  They thought for so long but couldn't think of a way, but Qizhen'er had a method. This little girl really has ideas. However, Ye Baiji also didn't know what method Qizhen'er had, they could only wait until tomorrow when Qizhen'er would announce the answer herself.

  At dinner time, Qizhen'er brought Hu Zi and his two younger sisters to the table. The expressions of the two were normal, which made the Ye family feel more at ease.

  Earlier, Ye Baiji found an opportunity to tell Ye Lao the good news that Zhen'er had inquired about. Now, Ye Lao thinks that Zhen'er is more and more suitable for his son, and he feels even more pity for the sister and brother.

  Perhaps to express his attitude more clearly, Ye Lao let Hu Zi sit beside him and took good care of him, which also made people who didn't like the siblings have some respect.

  Although the Ye family members' attitudes towards Qizhen and her brother had changed somewhat after today's events, they still didn't greet them warmly during dinner, except for Yeshi Xie. The atmosphere at the table was harmonious but also a bit strange.

  As soon as he entered the house, Jiang saw Qi Zhen'er and was very polite to her, although he was enthusiastic, his facial expression also seemed somewhat indifferent.

  Qizhen also felt these, but didn't have any other ideas. Anyway, she already had her own attention in her heart. However, when she saw the mantou she bought today on the table, she felt a bit complicated inside.

  Except for the heartless Ye Shixie and the foolish Ye Suxi, everyone else had a bad taste in their mouths. After dinner, the cleaning work was not assigned to Qizhen and the other young girls, and it was quickly done by Mrs. Mao with Sunshi and Jiangshi.

  Back in the house, Ye Baiji's mood was still good, waiting early at the door, seeing her mother return to the east wing, she quickly pulled her into her own room. After telling the news that Zhen'er had obtained, Sun Shi's tears fell pitter-patter.

  This time, Ye Baiji didn't persuade her anymore. She knew that her mother was uncomfortable in her heart, and these past few days she had been pretending to be ill, her heart had been simmering with anxiety. Although it was just an act, her complexion wasn't much better than someone who was actually sick. When Eldest Uncle's family came back, she was a bit happier, and her complexion also became rosier, but before she could even enjoy the happiness, today this thing happened, really frustrating.

  After crying, Sun felt that all the depression in her heart had dissipated. She pulled Bai Zhi's hand and went to Zhen Er's room.

  "Zhen'er, what are you doing?" Ye Baiji asked as soon as she entered the door and saw Qi Zhen'er folding clothes.

  Qī Zhēnér was startled by Yè Bái zhǐ's voice, composed herself, turned her head to look at her and Sūn shì standing at the door. Sūn shì's eyes were somewhat red and swollen, obviously having just cried, and Qī Zhēnér thought about it and understood the reason.

  She pulled the bed sheet, Qi Zhen'er let Hu Zi lie down on the bed, making room for Sun Shi and Ye Baiji. "Auntie, please sit down, Sister Baiji, please sit down."

  Ye Baiji usually had some thoughts, but at this moment she was happy and put down the big stone in her heart. Seeing Qi Zhener's unusual expression, she didn't think deeply about it, assuming that today's events made her a bit worried.

  Leaf White Orchid said with a smile: "Ji Zhen, this dress was made by you yourself, right? Tsk tsk, it's even worse than when I first learned how to sew. Back then, Mother said that she couldn't find anyone whose hands were clumsier than mine, but now she knows that there are people outside who are even more clumsy!"

  Sun looked at Zhen'er and saw that she didn't have any displeasure on her face, so she pushed Ye Bai Zhi and said: "How old is your sister Zhen'er? How old are you? You're also good enough to compare with her? Zhen'er can do so many chores, what about you?" As she spoke, she turned to Qi Zhen'er and said: "Zhen'er, don't be offended, your sister Bai Zhi doesn't mean anything else, it's just that she speaks bluntly and isn't good at listening, don't take offense."

  Qī Zhēn'er pulled at the corner of her mouth, "It's nothing, Aunt. I know that Bai Ju sister didn't treat me as an outsider."

  Ye Baiji nodded directly, "Right, right, I just treat Zhen'er as a close younger sister, so I speak straightforwardly. Zhen'er won't blame me."

  Sun also picked up the clothes and took a look, they were all coarse cloth clothes, many of which had been washed and were somewhat worn out, with many patches. The patches were indeed not well done, with stitches here and there, and the seams were not even, it was very obvious. "Zhen'er don't blame Auntie for speaking harshly, these clothes are indeed poorly sewn, if you trust Auntie, I'll re-sew them well for you, how about that?"

  Qī Zhēnér looked at Sūn Shì's sincere face, and the words of refusal were hard to say. If she had known that Yè Bái Jí would bring her mother, she would have packed up later, now letting them see her clothes, still needing help sewing, really didn't know how to refuse.

  "Auntie, I was going to look for you tomorrow, but since you mentioned it today, I'll just say it straight out. My skills are really poor," said Qi Zhen'er with some embarrassment, glancing at Sun Shi and her daughter before continuing: "I saw that Auntie's skills are good, so I thought of asking Auntie to teach me. Never mind about other things, but I think clothes can't be sewn as badly as mine."

  Sun and Ye Baiji both burst out laughing.

  "I'll be whatever you want me to be. If you look up to your aunt, then she'll teach you. Let's start with sewing clothes."

  Qī Zhēnér nodded. Yè Bái zhǐ also came with enthusiasm, and ran to move the needlework basket that Sūn shì usually used.

  Sun took over Qizhen's tattered clothes, used scissors to remove the previously sewn thread, smoothed out the edges, and mended the torn opening. She picked up a needle, squinted her eyes, threaded it, and began sewing while lecturing on key points.

  "Some are not good at leaving lines outside, so they need to be sewn from the inside. Yeah, the broken mouth is stitched together, and after sewing, it's not easy to see from the outside... This mouth needs to use another stitching method..."

  In the dimly lit room, Sun held a needle and carefully sewed her clothes. The remaining sunlight of the sunset shone on her body like a layer of gold, bright but also warm.

  Looking at Sun, Qizhen couldn't help but think of her mother Yang. It was also a dusk back then, her mother's belly was bulging, sitting at the door, sewing her father's torn clothes, waiting for her father to return from the fields, occasionally telling her rural folklore stories, with an expression so serene and happy...

  "Zhen'er, Zhen'er, what's wrong with you?" Ye Baiji lightly pushed the dazed and stunned Qi Zhen'er.

  "Ah?" Qizhen'er came back to her senses and saw that they were all staring at her. She asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

  Ye Baiji rolled her eyes and said, "I was about to ask you what's wrong with you? My mother taught you how to sew clothes, but I don't know where your soul has gone. You're staring blankly and laughing foolishly."

  Sun was frightened by Ye Baiqi's words and hastily said, "Shh, shh, children don't understand things, their words are harmless, all you gods just pretend you didn't hear it, harmless words of a child, harmless words of a child. Quickly spit it out."

  Ye Baiji thought her mother was being overly anxious, but she didn't dare let her worry any more, so she reluctantly nodded in agreement.

  Qī Zhēn'ér saw Sūn Shì being so tense and thought of the scene just now, feeling a bit depressed.

  "Jian'er, it's getting late. I'll teach you how to sew the rest of your clothes tomorrow. You and Hu'er should go to sleep now."

  Qizhen'er saw Tian'er and indeed it was a bit late, nodded, and sent Sun's mother and daughter out the door.

  In rural areas, few families are willing to light candles or kerosene lamps. As soon as it gets dark, almost everyone goes to sleep. Qizhen took advantage of the dim light to pack up her clothes.