"Husband, how do I look in this dress?"
Gu Xingmin, engrossed in fixing the radio, replied without looking up, "You look great, my wife always looks good in anything."
Liu Yuemin, displeased with his perfunctory response, kicked the stool he was sitting on. She turned to touch the dress in Zhang Qin's hands and, finding no difference in quality between their dresses besides color, grinned with delight.
"Mom, your clothes are so pretty, I want to wear them too," Gu Hong, though young, was already aware of beauty. She affectionately touched the dress in Zhang Qin's hands, tilting her head upwards as she spoke.
Zhang Qin smiled, "When your fourth uncle gets married, Mom will make you a beautiful outfit."
"Mom, you're so good," Gu Hong's mouth seemed to be smeared with honey as she hugged Zhang Qin's thigh, even rubbing her small head against it.
Chen Lishu, watching her adorable and well-behaved appearance, felt a surge of affection and unconsciously touched her stomach. Gu Xingdong was working so hard; she wondered if they would be able to conceive this time.
Summer days were long, and even after dinner, it was still bright outside. After informing Li Xiulan, Chen Lishu got up and returned to her room to retrieve the items she had brought for her maiden family before heading to the Chen family's home.
"Big Sister, you're back?" Chen Liyuan excitedly stood up to greet her as she entered the house.
"When did you get back? Have you eaten? We have pancakes that were baked at home, shall I fry some for you?" Wu Chunmei was also very happy to see her return and was about to get up.
"Mom, you don't need to bother. I've already eaten. These are the things I bought for the family this time when I went out."
Chen Lishu said this, placing the items by the edge of the kang. The younger children, hearing there were good things, all gathered around eagerly.
The items Chen Lishu bought for them were similar to those for the Gu family, with Chen Liyuan receiving an extra undergarment.
Seeing that Chen Mantun was not in the room, Chen Lishu took the opportunity to let Chen Liyuan try it on. "I bought this one size smaller, specifically choosing it after comparing it to your Xingping sister's. The size should be about right."
Chen Liyuan looked at the item in Chen Lishu's hands, her face flushing with shyness. She took it but was too embarrassed to even try holding it against herself. "Big Sister, I'll go to the west room to try it on."
Although shy, she was secretly very happy.
Recently, her chest had been aching. In summer, with thin clothing, and due to her development, she dared not stand up straight. She was too embarrassed to tell Wu Chunmei, and for the past while, she had been hunching her shoulders.
After changing into the undergarment Chen Lishu had bought for her, Chen Liyuan felt completely at ease, no longer worried about being discovered.
"Lishu, you're back?"
As Chen Lishu was about to leave, Chen Mantun entered the house with a large nylon bag slung over his shoulder.
"You're here just in time. I just tidied up the vegetable patch. The pumpkin vines were old and taking up space, so I cleared them all out to sow some cabbage seeds. Your husband's family didn't plant pumpkins this year, so you can take a couple back with you."
Chen Mantun said this, placing the bag on the ground. He picked out two pumpkins and handed the remaining two, along with the bag, to Chen Lishu.
"Dad, Mom, I'll be going back now." Chen Lishu said her goodbyes to them, picked up the bag from the ground, and headed home.
Having traveled all day by train, Chen Lishu simply washed up and went to bed early after returning. The next day, Chen Lishu took out the fabric she had brought back and began to make small vests.
Because the style was simple, she finished one in a short time.
Holding it in her hands, she examined it carefully. After all, it was meant for adolescent girls, and Chen Lishu felt that an all-gray color was ultimately a bit too old-fashioned.
She thought for a moment, then got up and went to the cupboard to find a leftover scrap of light-colored fabric with small floral prints. Holding scissors, she cut out two rectangles, each a bit larger than a fingernail, then sewed them into two bows side-by-side and attached them to the chest area. The previously dull little vest was instantly brightened.
After making three or four, Chen Lishu stopped. She spent the afternoon at home reading.
After dinner in the evening, Chen Lishu took the gift she had brought for Xu Ning to the Youth Dormitory.
"When did you get back?" Xu Ning happily pulled her into the house when she saw her arrive.
"I got back yesterday." Chen Lishu said, taking out the silk scarf she brought for her and a new undergarment she had made. "Take a look at what I made myself, what do you think?"
Xu Ning took them and examined them carefully, praising with a hint of surprise, "I really admire you. What exactly do you have stored in that brain of yours to think of all this?"
Chen Lishu smiled faintly. "I saw them for sale at a women's goods store in Shanghai this time, but I thought mine were better, so I tried making them myself."
Xu Ning went to the window, peeked outside to see if anyone was around, then retreated to the bed, secretly lifting her clothes and unfastening the buttons under her armpits. She took off the bandeau she had altered and put on the small vest Chen Lishu had given her, instantly feeling a sense of relief across her chest.
"The quality of this is really good. It's not only elastic but also breathable, and the style is nice. Mine is nothing compared to this."
What Xu Ning was too shy to say was that although the vest Chen Lishu gave her was only a thin layer, it wouldn't show even when she stood up straight, making it perfect for summer wear.
Chen Lishu gained more confidence with her affirmation.
"Xu Ning, I actually have some good news to tell you when I came over this time."
Xu Ning, who was tying her silk scarf in front of the mirror, turned back curiously upon hearing her words. "What good news?"
"I heard that the authorities have decided to resume the college entrance examination."
"Really?!" She stopped tying the scarf and grabbed Chen Lishu's hand excitedly. "Lishu, are you telling the truth? Is the source of this news reliable?"
Although she had never given up studying, hoping for the restoration of the college entrance examination one day, when she heard this news, her first reaction was that it couldn't be true.
"The village's news is not well-informed. I heard news in both the provincial capital and the county, and many people have already started preparing privately. You should also prepare early; the official notice might be issued a little later."
"Lishu, you're so good." After hearing her words, Xu Ning hugged her tightly.
After chatting with Xu Ning for a while longer, Chen Lishu returned home.
Upon returning home, she showed the designs of the undergarments she made to Zhang Qin and the others, then explained the profit-sharing situation. Chen Lishu then returned to her room to study.
After staying at home for another two days, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping returned to town together.
With Gu Xingping starting school, Chen Lishu also began to study diligently behind closed doors.
Occasionally, when she encountered something she didn't understand, she would write it down and take it to the Ding family to ask Ding Yongfeng and Sun Shuzhen for guidance.
Although her start was late, her persistent efforts over the past two years meant that she had learned most of the content from junior and senior high school textbooks.
One day, after receiving confirmation from Ding Yongfeng that a study group had been established at No. 1 Middle School, Chen Lishu thoughtfully considered her words and then got up to go to the Ding family's house.