The 1960s: The Story of a Country Girl's Journey to the City

The next day, when Jiang Yuan delivered ducks to Jiang Cheng, he brought back news that his second sister-in-law was pregnant again and, fearing it might harm the fetus, wouldn't be coming home for the New Year.

On New Year's Eve, carrying this news and some braised pig offal, the two returned to Kaoshan Village.

Jiang Yuan told the elderly couple the news that his second sister-in-law was pregnant. The elderly couple were happy for a moment, but that was all. Then they quietly began to prepare the New Year's meal.

Compared to other families, the Jiang family's house was indeed too quiet, so Bao Ya simply invited her brother-in-law and nephew, Captain Liu, to come over for drinks. Their children and grandchildren also came with them.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, seeing her nephews, who were about the same age as her father, bringing their grandchildren to wish her a Happy New Year, Bao Ya tactfully gave each of them a red envelope.

After a lively first day of the Lunar New Year, the two visited the Su family on the second day and returned to the city in the afternoon.

The factory only gives one day off for the Chinese New Year, and some factories don't even give any holiday. Jiang Yuan had to take shifts with someone during his two days off.

After Jiang Yuan and Bao Ya left, only Liao Chunhua and Jiang Laoshan remained at home.

Liao Chunhua sat opposite Jiang Laoshan, sighing. When her son was young, she worried that he would not amount to anything, but now that he has grown up and become successful, she can no longer see him.

The elderly couple lived alone at home, feeling cold and lonely. Seeing other people's homes bustling with activity made them feel uneasy.

"His father wrote a letter to the eldest son, telling him that the pension he would give us would be increased to ten yuan per month."

Liao Chunhua said angrily, "What's the use of having many children and grandchildren? You'll never see any of them. It's better to have none at all."

"What do you need so much money for? We can't possibly spend it all."

Jiang Laoshan knew his wife was unhappy, so he could only comfort her in a soft voice.

"What else can we ask for if we don't want money? That bastard, the eldest brother, is just like the second brother. Don't think I don't know."

His wife has always looked down on us because we're from the countryside, and she's only come back to visit once in all these years of marriage. He knows this perfectly well, but he hasn't said anything.

Thinking of this, Liao Chunhua wiped her eyes with her clothes. She felt sad when she thought of how her eldest daughter-in-law looked at them.

"Why are you saying this? We already have a grandson."

Jiang Laoshan sighed, picked up his pipe, took two puffs, and lowered his head without saying a word.

"Have you seen your grandson? And that brat, the second son, what did he say back then? He wasn't going to be a live-in son-in-law, and look what happened?"

His father-in-law is gone, but he spends all his time caring for his mother-in-law. What's the difference between him and a live-in son-in-law? I should have just let him live with his wife; at least my mother could have gotten a dowry.

"Why are you bringing this up? It's all in the past. We're old now, and they can't just ignore us."

Liao Chunhua glanced at him. Was it a matter of whether or not they would be taken care of in their old age? The children of the eldest and second sons' families weren't close to them. Wouldn't they despise them even more when they got old?

Jiang Laoshan didn't know how to persuade his wife; even he himself didn't sound convincing. But the third brother wouldn't abandon them; no matter how you looked at it, the third brother was the one who suffered.

Liao Chunhua sniffed and continued:

"I've made up my mind. Since those two bastards aren't going to do any work, they'll contribute money. When the third brother has a child, we'll raise it for him. That way, the child will be closer to us."

Jiang Laoshan's eyelids twitched, and he also considered what his wife had said. It seemed that only his youngest daughter-in-law got along well with him now.

The younger daughter-in-law doesn't work, so the two of them try their best to help her out, which will make life a little easier for the third son's family.

They can also help take care of the kids in the future, so I won't be envious of other people's grandchildren.

The elderly couple thought it made more and more sense, so they immediately found paper and pen to write a letter to their eldest son.

Bao Ya had no idea that her parents were planning to let her live off them. After tidying up at home, another year began.

Before the Lunar New Year was even over, several people came to her to have clothes made. However, they were all underwear, like the bra that Chrissie Chau made, and they were all young girls and wives.

This little thing was easy to make. Bao Ya measured their sizes and pieced together several pieces of fabric according to their chest shapes. It was different from the vests that everyone usually wore, but it was much more comfortable to wear than a vest, and you didn't have to worry about showing too much skin.

After the second group of people who wanted to make bras left, Jiang Yuan's second brother, Jiang Cheng, also came to their door.

"Sister-in-law, I heard you can sew clothes, is that right?"

Jiang Cheng brought them some seafood and chatted with them for a long time before finally getting to the point.

Jiang Yuan felt that his second brother was acting strangely today. He was speaking haltingly and tilting his head as he looked at him, waiting for him to explain his purpose.

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yuan are somewhat similar. At the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, he is much more mature than his peers. He has regular eyebrows and eyes, and his eyes are lively. He smiles even when he doesn't say a word.

He was thoughtful but not overly enthusiastic. In Bao Ya's eyes, this man was a natural businessman. She could see the shadows of her uncles and elders from her past life in him.

"Yes, I make a few things for others when I have nothing else to do."

Bao Ya thought it must be a business opportunity, so she answered whatever Jiang Cheng asked without saying a word more.

Paying too much attention to the price could allow the other party to lower the price, causing her to lose the initiative.

If you intend to cooperate long-term, everyone should be able to make money, both for others and for yourself.

"Um..."

Jiang Cheng felt a chill run down his spine. It was something for women, but his brother-in-law and sister-in-law couldn't bring themselves to ask.

"Brother, just say what you want to say. Is there anything you can't say?"

Jiang Yuan couldn't stand it anymore. What was wrong with his second brother today? He started rambling on as soon as he came in. He knew his brother had something on his mind, but he just wouldn't say anything. It was like he was constipated.

"Why don't you two chat first, and I'll go make some dishes so you two can have a couple of drinks later?"

As she spoke, Bao Ya was about to go to the kitchen to cook, making room for the two of them so that he could talk to Jiang Yuan first.

Jiang Cheng didn't stop him. He felt it was better to talk to his younger brother first, as it wouldn't be appropriate to ask his sister-in-law directly.

Bao Ya went to the kitchen and brought out some vegetables. She chopped a plate of braised dishes, made scrambled eggs with scallions, pickled cabbage with pork belly, and braised ribbonfish. She heated up some steamed buns and cooked some porridge. The meal was ready.

When the food was served, Bao Ya placed the wine bottle in front of them and observed their expressions.

Jiang Yuan looked at his second brother with disdain. Jiang Cheng looked a little awkward, his face was slightly red, and he kept giving Jiang Yuan meaningful glances, urging him to speak quickly.

Jiang Yuan snorted, glanced at Jiang Cheng, and whispered a few words in Bao Ya's ear.

Bao Ya smiled and said, "What's so hard to say? Why are you being so coy?"

"Bao Ya, could you make more of those clothes for them? Second Brother's friend wants some too."

"Sure, we can make it if we have the fabric. When can we come over and take her measurements?"

Bao Ya casually said that since she had made the clothes, of course she could make them too; she was more concerned about how much money she could make.

"Sister-in-law, you should be able to make different sizes, right? My friend wants a lot, so how much do you want for the labor?"

Now that things are out in the open, Jiang Cheng won't hold back anymore. Since Bao Ya can make money by making clothes, she should know what he means.

"We can make small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes. Since you're Second Brother's friend, this price is fine."

As she spoke, Bao Ya held up one finger.

Jiang Cheng looked at her finger, hesitated, and then spoke:

"One cent a piece?"

Bao Ya's face immediately turned cold. One cent a piece? Was she trying to open a sweatshop for herself? She'd work herself to death.

"It costs one yuan a piece. My cousin-in-law told me that this item costs ten or twenty yuan a piece at the Friendship Store in Shanghai, and you have to use overseas remittance coupons."

If you can get your hands on that kind of fabric, I can make an exact replica.

As long as the money is right, she can make anything, not just lingerie, but even sexy lingerie—those things use less fabric. Hmm, it seems like she's found the right direction for development after the reform and opening up; what a niche market!