Chapter 22: New Attire

As evening approached, the sky was painted in a brilliant orange-red, resembling a natural oil painting.

Lin Yu steered the donkey cart steadily as he entered the fishing village, the rhythmic "clatter-clatter" of the donkey’s hooves sounding exceptionally crisp at the quiet village entrance.

Coincidentally, the village head, Luo Quan, was pacing at the entrance, seemingly deep in thought about village affairs. He looked up, caught sight of Lin Yu’s cart, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the lumber stacked on it. A radiant smile broke across his face, filled with surprise and relief. "Oh my, Lin Yu! You really did it! You actually managed to buy the wood."

Luo Quan hurried forward, looking at the timber with undisguised admiration.

Lin Yu pulled on the reins and jumped off the cart, responding with a smile: "Grandpa Village Head, is this enough wood? We need to start repairing the houses soon; the weather is clearly turning cold."

Luo Quan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It’s enough, it’s enough. But repairing houses is no simple task, especially since we need skilled carpenters. We have a few carpenters in the village, but gathering the right hands will take some effort."

Lin Yu felt a tightening in his chest and quickly interjected, "Grandpa Village Head, with your prestige, wouldn't it be a breeze for you to find a few people to help? I’m still young and lack experience in these matters. What do you think we should do? I’ll listen to your lead. I’m truly anxious to get the house fixed so my mother and sister can live comfortably."

Lin Yu intentionally stroked Luo Quan’s ego. He had already provided the materials; surely the village head would take the lead on finding the labor?

Luo Quan stroked his chin, musing for a moment before saying, "How about this: I’ll find the help, but the carpenters require wages, and our two families will split the cost equally. Let's aim to have both houses repaired in a single day. How does that sound?"

Lin Yu agreed without hesitation. "That’s fine, Grandpa Village Head, I’ll leave it to you. As long as the houses get fixed, the wages are no issue. We’ll still need straw, mud, and hay, though—those haven't been prepared yet."

Hearing this, Luo Quan laughed. "You’ve already brought back the lumber; how could I not do my part? Leave the rest of the materials to me. It’s nothing difficult."

With the village head’s promise, Lin Yu felt relieved. Luo Quan was highly respected in the village; with him stepping in, finding helpers would be no problem. As for the carpenters, they earned their living by their trade, so whoever they worked for would naturally have to pay their wages.

Back home, Lin Yao relaxed and let her spirits soar, skipping about like a young fawn. As it was already late, their mother, Wang Yufen, went straight to the kitchen to prepare a meal, while Lin Yu stayed by the cart, unloading the logs one by one. After unloading half, he left the rest for the village head.

After dinner, Wang Yufen began her work, stitching clothes for Lin Yu and Lin Yao. After all, both children had only one set of clothes, which were worn to rags. The stains on them looked greasy; taking them off to mend them was also a good chance to wash them. The family didn't have much in the way of sewing supplies, so she had borrowed some from a neighbor, which would need to be returned later.

Hearing that they would have new clothes, Lin Yao became like a chirpy little bird, hopping over to her mother’s side with rosy cheeks and eyes sparkling with excitement. "Mom, are you making me new clothes?" Her voice was crisp and melodious, filled with irrepressible joy.

Seeing her daughter’s happiness, Wang Yufen couldn't help but laugh. "Look at you, hopping around like a bunny. Stand still, and let Mom take your measurements."

At the mention of measurements, Lin Yao immediately quieted down, cooperating obediently. There were no rulers in the house; everything relied on her mother’s hands.

Once Lin Yao stood still, Wang Yufen’s gaze turned focused. She placed her right thumb and index finger lightly on one shoulder and slid them to the other to determine the width. In no time, she had memorized Lin Yao’s shoulder width, waist circumference, height, and leg length.

Lin Yao stood obediently, a sweet smile lingering on her lips, occasionally turning her head to ask curiously, "Mom, have I grown taller?"

"Yes, Yao Yao has grown. Soon, you'll be a big girl," Wang Yufen said, her eyes filled with doting affection.

When it was Lin Yu’s turn, he walked over to his mother. Seeing his thin, frail frame made Wang Yufen’s heart ache; he had so little meat on his bones that her hands trembled slightly as she measured him.

Lin Yu seemed to sense his mother’s change in mood and smiled. "Mom, make the clothes a bit large. Our life will only get better from here on out. We won't be living like we used to, hungry one day and full the next. I’ll grow strong as an ox soon enough, and if you make them too small, I won't be able to wear them later."

Hearing this, Lin Yao nodded eagerly. "Then make my clothes bigger too, Mom! I’m growing fast too."

Hearing these words, tears welled up in Wang Yufen’s eyes. "Alright, alright, Mom will make them bigger so you can wear them for a long time."

Watching from the side, Lin Yao suddenly leaned in toward Lin Yu and said playfully, "Brother, when you grow taller and can't wear your clothes anymore, they’ll be mine!"

Lin Yu tapped her head lightly. "Little girl, you talk too much. Already planning on taking your brother's clothes?"

"Hehehe, I am, I am!" Lin Yao made a funny face, which made Wang Yufen burst into a laugh, finally easing her heavy heart.

Night fell deep, and the world grew silent. Only the soft, dim light of an oil lamp glowed within the house.

Mother Wang Yufen sat upright before the simple wooden table, the fabric and sewing tools laid out before her. She hunched her back slightly, her focus so intense that it seemed as if the only things remaining in the world were the clothes in her hands. She picked up Lin Yao’s fabric first, her rough yet nimble fingers gently stroking the surface as if feeling its texture. Then, she picked up a thin needle, squinted to thread it, and tied a knot—all in one smooth motion.

Her sewing skills were excellent.

Her movements were gentle and skillful; she aligned the edges of the fabric along the marked lines, then guided the needle through, creating fine, even stitches. With every stitch, she tugged gently to ensure the tension was just right—not too tight to wrinkle the fabric, yet firm enough to hold. When she reached a corner, she slowed down, subtly twisting her wrist to guide the needle along the curve, her eyes fixed intently on her work.

"Mom, you’re amazing," Lin Yu said, unable to refrain from praising her as he looked at the stitches.

Wang Yufen laughed aloud. "What’s so amazing about this? What woman doesn't know how?"

In this era of scarcity, clothes and shoes for the whole family were crafted by the housewives, so Wang Yufen didn't consider it much of a feat. Sewing was manageable; the real difficulty lay in the tailoring—measuring, cutting, and stitching the pieces together.

After two hours of work, the first garment was finished.

Wang Yufen gently shook out the new clothes, the fine stitches glinting with a rustic sheen under the dim light. "Yao Yao, come, try on the new clothes Mom made for you."

She smiled and beckoned to Lin Yao.

Unable to contain her excitement any longer, Lin Yao skipped over like a happy fawn. She stood straight, tilting her head back, her eyes burning with anticipation and longing for the new outfit.

When the garment was on, Lin Yao looked down at herself, her small hands stroking the fabric to feel it against her skin. A natural smile spread across her face, revealing a row of white teeth.

"Wow, Mom, it’s so beautiful!"

Lin Yao exclaimed, her voice echoing in the room like silver bells. She began to spin around like a blossoming flower, checking her sleeves and hem. Finally, she ran to Lin Yu, grabbed his hand, and asked eagerly, "Brother, do I look good?"

"You look beautiful. Our Yao Yao looks like a pretty little princess," Lin Yu said, patting her head with a smile.

The clothes his mother made were a reflection of the simple style of that era. The garment was a pure, clean grey, made of standard cotton—soft, skin-friendly, and slightly textured, cool to the touch. The top was a simple front-button style, unadorned, save for a thin piping of the same cotton at the collar, adding a touch of refinement. Several wooden buttons were spaced evenly down the front; they were polished and smooth, emitting a faint woody scent, each one sewn on securely by his mother. The sleeves were a standard straight-cut, reaching exactly to the wrists—simple and graceful.

Wang Yufen did not rest; she began sewing the clothes for her son. She wasn't in a hurry, but Lin Yu needed to go out. Now that he was the one holding the household together, he had to be well-fed and well-clothed.

Lin Yu tried to persuade his mother to get some sleep, telling her there was no rush, but she insisted, saying it would only take two hours and it was still early.

Helpless, Lin Yu had no choice but to lie down. After all, they had to repair the house tomorrow.