Chapter 59: Sewing Machine 2.0

Jia Dongxu and his wife returned home in high spirits.

"Mother, Huairu is pregnant, and it's a boy."

"Really? Good, good, good! I'm going to have a grandson too. Huairu, you are a great contributor to the Jia Family. Don't go out for the next two months; it's freezing cold outside."

Zhang Xiaohua's days were exceptionally fulfilling now. In the morning, she or Qin Huairu would cook. After eating, they would stitch shoe soles, watch the children, and clean. She got along very well with Qin Huairu and even taught her the secret techniques of stitching shoe soles.

"Alright, Mother."

Qin Huairu also knew that Zhang Xiaohua had her best interests at heart. When she left Qin Family Village, her own mother had instructed her that the first three months of pregnancy were the most critical, and she should keep a low profile in the days to come.

In the afternoon, He Daqing's family of three brought their Sewing Machine home. The neighbors in the Siheyuan were shocked; this was a substantial, high-value item.

Previously, He Daqing's Bicycle had only received a lukewarm reaction, but this Sewing Machine was different—every household could make use of it. Consequently, the women swarmed into He's home to get a look at the novelty.

He's home was spacious enough to accommodate eight or ten women. He didn't mind and focused on unpacking the machine.

"Old He, how much did this Sewing Machine cost?"

"Over 1.5 million."

"Hiss~ That's really expensive."

"Can't afford it, can't afford it."

"Can this hunk of iron really be worth that much money?"

He Daqing said nothing and quickly assembled the Sewing Machine.

"Wife, you give it a try."

"Okay." Qin Pandi had encountered a Sewing Machine before, so it wasn't unfamiliar. After getting a feel for it, she quickly got the hang of it, and He Daqing's torn clothes were soon mended.

"This... it's already done?"

The circle of women was stunned. They had only seen Qin Pandi click-clack a few times, and the clothes that would have taken them half a day to mend were finished. It was simply absurd.

"Does anyone have clean, torn clothes at home? Bring the fabric, and I'll help everyone mend them for free this afternoon."

This was the fastest way to integrate into the circle of women. He Daqing supported it too; it was nothing more than a few spools of thread, and it allowed Qin Pandi to quickly get a feel for the machine.

Hearing that it was free, the circle of women vanished in a flurry, and before long, they all returned clutching clothes.

In the span of an afternoon, Qin Pandi mended about thirty or forty pieces of clothing. Although most were children's clothes, she was exhausted, but this successfully allowed her to break into the women's circle and become familiar with everyone.

"Alright, it's getting late. Everyone, hurry home to cook," He Daqing said, feeling a pang of heartache as he looked at Qin Pandi, who hadn't looked up all afternoon.

"Right, right, right. Almost forgot the time."

"Pandi, thank you today. You saved me several days of work."

"Yes, thanks to Pandi."

Everyone expressed their gratitude one after another, especially since it was the end of the year and there was so much to do; they didn't have much time for mending. Now, everything was taken care of in one day.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. I saw that everyone was busy at the end of the year, so I wanted to help where I could," said Qin Pandi.

"It's free this time, but there will be a charge next time. We used up several spools of thread today, costing thousands of yuan, and Pandi is exhausted. I can't have my newlywed wife worn out by you all."

He Daqing was a bit of a rogue, as everyone in the courtyard knew, so no one thought his words were inappropriate. After all, you couldn't expect someone to mend your clothes for free every time they tore, right?

"Right, right, right. Old He makes sense."

"Yes, not only did it cost thread, but it also saved us a lot of effort. Charging money is only right."

"Right, right, right."

The Siheyuan at this time didn't have so much backstabbing and intrigue; it might not be so harmonious once the three-year special period arrived.

Over the past two days, Qin Huairu had learned how to use the Sewing Machine from Qin Pandi. Since she was essentially staying indoors for these few months, Lao Jia and Zhang Xiaohua agreed to let them buy a Sewing Machine.

Jia Dongxu bought it the next day. With the first Sewing Machine already there, the second one didn't cause as much of a stir, though it still made the people in the courtyard envious.

Zhang Xiaohua, having nothing to do, also learned how to use the Sewing Machine from Qin Huairu, and she took out all of Lao Jia's torn clothes to practice on.

With less than ten days left until the New Year, Zhang Ping'an prepared to pack up and head home. It was the same as always: Zhang Ping'an's home, Yan Bugui's Spring Festival couplets, and Lao Jia to put them up.

The Wild Boar that Zhang Ping'an had promised Lou Zhenyu was also delivered to the factory. Especially with the year-end approaching, Zhang Ping'an delivered three, totaling over 600 jin, which made Lou Zhenyu overjoyed.

"Hahaha, not bad, not bad! Ping'an, I must give you a raise after the New Year."

"Alright, then many thanks, General Manager Lou."

Zhang Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony; in any case, the Lou family had plenty of money, and they wouldn't miss these tens of thousands.

This year, Jia Dongxu went to Qin Family Village by himself. Since Qin Huairu was pregnant and it was freezing cold, he didn't take her.

"Good, good, good. After the New Year, we will go see Huairu."

Qin Dahu and his wife were even happier when they learned their daughter was pregnant and that it was a boy.

The children were too young, so Lao Jia and Zhang Xiaohua couldn't take them back this year, and the gifts were again sent back with Zhang Ping'an.

Before returning to his hometown, Zhang Ping'an sent rice, flour, grain, oil, meat, eggs, and milk to Lao Wang, along with two three-jin portions of spiced beef and some fruit. Zhang Ping'an didn't say it, but Lao Wang knew one portion was for his granddaughter.

"This brat."

Zhang Ping'an also prepared a ten-jin jar of Tiger Bone Wine, two one-jin bottles, five jin of peanut oil, two cartons of cigarettes, some pastries, candy, firecrackers, and two packs of tea leaves.

Speaking of tea leaves, Zhang Ping'an had hoarded quite a lot during this time, going to the tea shop every few days to buy some and store it.

He had also planted two Tea Tree seedlings in his space, which he had bought at a high price from an old Manchu. He heard they were former Imperial Tribute Tea seedlings; he didn't know the variety, but after two years in the space, they had grown into small shrubs, though they had pitifully few leaves.

Zhang Ping'an wasn't in a hurry. Since they were called tribute items, they had to be special. He wasn't short on time; he would just wait for them to grow slowly.

Bringing Si Jie back to his hometown, Zhang Ping'an gave the two bottles of Tiger Bone Wine he had prepared to Uncle Zhang Laiyuan.

"Uncle, this is some Tiger Bone Wine I got in the city. It's strong; you just need to drink one small cup every night."

Zhang Ping'an didn't mention the specific effects; Zhang Laiyuan knew more than he did, and there were many medicinal wine recipes passed down in the family.

"Alright." Zhang Laiyuan didn't stand on ceremony and took it directly.

Back home, Zhang Ping'an moved the things from the cart into the main hall and explained the dosage and effects to his father and grandfather. The two old men were so happy their eyes disappeared into their smiles.

"My dear grandson is back, come here to Grandma."

"Coming, Grandma."

Zhang Ping'an came back almost every week this year; although he did not stay long, in the eyes of the elderly, a week was not a short time, as they were, after all, people counting down their days.

Zhang Ping'an's grandparents were both over seventy, but thanks to the daily nourishment of the Space Water, their health was actually better than before.

At noon, the family had a reunion meal and then began a thorough cleaning; this year, Zhang Ping'an returned early and was assigned to clean the Ancestral Hall again, though no one let him climb the rafters anymore.

Ever since Zhang Ping'an fell, the rafters were just swept simply with a broom tied to a bamboo pole; returning here, Zhang Ping'an was filled with many emotions, for if not for that Three-Legged Tripod, he would not know where he would be now.

For the next few days, Zhang Ping'an hardly stepped out of the house, focusing on reading Lao Wang's Medical Notes, and whenever he had doubts, he would write them down in a notebook to ask about them later.