pjbooks Chapter 66 Buying Clothes
Chapter 66 Buying Clothes
Upon hearing Li Xiufang's words, Tang Huaiyi's heart stirred.
These past two days, He Genbao's complaint has caused some trouble, and Guan Xiaolin even had a misunderstanding, which delayed Tang Huaiyi's plan to take Li Xiujuan to buy a new outfit on Monday.
I just had lunch today, and it's still early before afternoon classes, so I have some time.
"Sister Xiufang, I'll call Li Xiujuan out right now. After you change your clothes with Li Xiujuan, don't leave yet, there are other things to do."
Li Xiufang nodded, glanced at Tang Huaiyi, and felt a surge of joy in her heart.
Is there anything else?
Is this a good thing?
Hey, what are you thinking? This is our brother-in-law... And Erni too, going to university is fine, but why are you so reluctant to agree to this...
While Li Xiufang was lost in thought, Tang Huaiyi quickly called Li Xiujuan out of Class 1 of Senior Three. Then Li Xiujuan led Li Xiufang to the girls' dormitory, returned the slightly oversized clothes to Li Xiufang, and changed into the original small, well-fitting clothes for herself.
The two then went to see Tang Huaiyi.
Li Xiufang asked, "Tang Huaiyi, is there anything else?"
"How about we go for a stroll around the county town?" Tang Huaiyi said. "We still have some time before afternoon classes."
Li Xiufang and Li Xiujuan were both taken aback: "Going to the county town? Shouldn't you be studying right away?"
"Yes, Tang Huaiyi...you want to buy clothes?"
Li Xiujuan realized what was happening and asked.
Tang Huaiyi nodded: "Yes, I want to buy clothes. You two come along and help me look around, so I don't overpay, okay?"
"Sure!" Li Xiufang was in high spirits and quite willing.
Li Xiujuan, having spent so much time with Tang Huaiyi, was somewhat familiar with his personality: "Tang Huaiyi, please don't buy me anything... I just need clothes to wear."
She understood Tang Huaiyi, and Tang Huaiyi understood her, so they knew she would definitely try to save money for herself.
"Just listen to me, don't worry about it anymore, let's go."
Li Xiujuan hesitated, "Tang Huaiyi, you finally have some money, don't let me spend it, I don't need to buy new clothes..."
"Let's go," Li Xiufang nudged her, "we'll talk about it outside. Don't you want to go out with him?"
"I want to, but I'm afraid he'll spend money on me," Li Xiujuan whispered to her older sister. "Sister, he's too good to me, what should I do?"
Li Xiufang couldn't help but say sourly, "What do you mean, 'what do you mean'? A man is capable and can take you to enjoy life, and you still complain about this and that?"
Are you going or not? If you're not going, I will.
After she said that, Li Xiujuan stopped hesitating and followed Tang Huaiyi and Li Xiufang out of the school gate.
Just a few hundred meters from the county high school and the street corner, there is a tailor shop.
The clothes sold in state-run stores are a bit more expensive, while the tailor shops mainly charge for the fabric and not much for labor. When Tang Huaiyi walked in, an older woman smiled and asked him what kind of clothes he wanted.
Tang Huaiyi asked, "How much would a set of clothes like this cost?"
"That depends on the material. Is it polyester or cotton? Printed or unprinted?"
"I don't use prints, just simple colors, pants and a shirt."
"Nine to ten yuan... Shall I measure it for you carefully?" the aunt said.
Tang Huaiyi thought to himself that he still didn't have any money.
Let's make do for now and have a top to switch between.
"I only need the shirt."
"Okay, let me measure you..." The aunt picked up a ruler, measured, and then calculated, "Five yuan and sixty cents, young man, you have a big frame, so the clothes will fit."
Tang Huaiyi nodded, pulled Li Xiujuan, who was hiding behind him, over, and said to the aunt, "They should also make a floral top. Auntie, could you help them take their measurements?"
"Huh?" Li Xiujuan shrank back. "Tang Huaiyi, I, I don't want to..."
Li Xiufang was pleasantly surprised: "There's one for me too?"
"Yes, Sister Xiufang, you've done your part too. You've been running around stewing chicken and boiling duck eggs, how could I not know how hard you've worked?" Tang Huaiyi said.
Li Xiufang's eyes flickered with emotion as she thought: It's good that you remember my hard work... It wasn't for nothing that I went to the pond to collect duck eggs to nourish you.
"We're all family, it's only right that I help you."
As Li Xiufang spoke, her ears were already slightly warm.
Although Li Xiujuan didn't want it, she couldn't resist Tang Huaiyi's repeated urging and raised her hand to let the aunt take her measurements.
Seeing that the woman had taken her measurements, Li Xiufang went over to have hers taken as well. When she stretched out her hand, her breasts trembled, startling the woman, who instinctively asked, "How many children have you breastfed?"
Li Xiufang blushed instantly, not daring to look at Tang Huaiyi: "Auntie, what are you saying? I'm not married yet!"
The older woman spoke frankly and simply: "Then your child won't lack breast milk in the future."
Li Xiufang blushed and said, "Auntie, stop talking and just take my measurements."
The older woman smiled and said, "Okay, I'll measure you right away. You've used more fabric than that young girl did..."
As they were talking, after taking the measurements and calculating, the auntie said to Li Xiufang, "Hmm, it'll cost five yuan and forty cents."
Both were printed fabric, but Li Xiufang's top was more expensive than Li Xiujuan's. Together with Tang Huaiyi's top, the three of them spent a total of fifteen yuan and ninety cents...
Tang Huaiyi paid a five-yuan deposit and said he could pick up the clothes in the next day or two, and make alterations if they weren't suitable.
After ordering the clothes, there was a steamed bun shop not far from the door.
Tang Huaiyi knew that Li Xiufang must have eaten cornbread at home before leaving, and would just have one more dinner to get through the day, so he bought four large meat buns.
"Sister Xiufang, you've come all the way to the county and haven't eaten yet. Let's fill our stomachs first."
Tang Huaiyi handed the steamed bun to Li Xiufang.
Li Xiufang was stunned for a moment, then shook her head repeatedly, refusing to accept it no matter what: "You two keep it for yourselves. Studying is tiring for your brains, so you have to eat and drink well... I'm fine..."
Tang Huaiyi handed it to her again, and Li Xiufang backed away, saying, "It's getting late, I should go back now."
Seeing that she was really about to leave, Tang Huaiyi stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and said earnestly, "Sister Xiufang, if you go back hungry today, I won't eat a single bite of the duck eggs or pickled vegetables you bring in the future."
"How can we let you come back and forth on an empty stomach, bringing us food and drinks?"
Only then did Li Xiufang begin to understand Erni Li Xiujuan's words: "He is too good to me, what am I supposed to do?"
"Don't be shy, Sister Xiufang, let's fill our stomachs first."
After Tang Huaiyi persuaded her again, Li Xiufang finally accepted a steamed bun: "Then I'll eat this one..."
"I bought all of these for you. You only ate one? I can't just throw the rest away," Tang Huaiyi asked.
Li Xiufang fell silent and ate a steamed bun with her head down.
The fragrant minced meat and soft, fluffy white dough were things she hadn't tasted in a long time; the last time she had them seemed to be when her mother was still alive.
Tang Huaiyi handed her another steamed bun. Li Xiufang took it, and as her fingers touched Tang Huaiyi's palm, her heart pounded, and a wave of warmth surged through her body.
Erni, you're so lucky...