CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: SHARE FOR EVERYONE PRESENT

"Thank you!"

She trembled as she took the cotton-padded coat and put it on, the biting cold wind was kept outside by the coat.

Her icy body began to warm up under the wrap of the cotton coat.

She exhaled deeply, feeling like she had come back to life.

"I’ll return it to you as soon as I get back."

Yi Chichi looked at her thoughtfully, "What will you do once you return it to me?"

She wanted to see what Zhou Qiuyu would say before deciding on her actions.

"Nannan and the others said we could lay low for the winter."

Wang Nan and the others instantly grasped her idea, this girl planned to get through the winter lying on the heated kang.

The plan sounded nice, but reality was harsh.

"You’ll need a thick winter outfit to get by."

Winters in the Northeast are hard to endure; once the first snow falls, temperatures plummet, reaching as low as minus twenty or thirty degrees. Heavy snow and icicles all have to be dealt with.

Otherwise, doors can’t be opened, and the roof needs snow removal too, or else it might collapse and bury people.

Saying you’ll lay low for the winter doesn’t mean you won’t have to go outside.

"Without winter clothing, someone could really freeze to death."

Zhou Qiuyu was almost in tears, "Where am I supposed to get it?"

Her family only came to her for things, never offering anything in return.

Even the small package she was holding was a few clothes her neighbor auntie felt sorry for her and decided to give her instead of her own relatives.

No winter wear, just two sets of summer clothes, and a few miscellaneous items.

"I don’t have money or coupons, can’t even borrow if I wanted to."

She looked utterly desperate.

Wang Nan and the others were also worried. Being part of the Youth Corps Courtyard, they couldn’t just watch Zhou Qiuyu freeze to death.

However, they were truly powerless in this situation.

Their families were not well-off either and couldn’t offer support.

Instead, their work points had dropped, and they had to find ways to exchange some with the villagers for food to send home.

Winter clothing...

Ge Sujuan thought for a moment, "If there’s really no other way, we can take turns wearing it."

"Huh?"

Zhou Qiuyu, with tears in her eyes, looked at her surprised, "Take turns wearing it?"

"Yeah."

Ge Sujuan calmly said, "If you need to go out and Wang Nan and I are not going out, you can wear ours."

That was an option too.

Yi Chichi stayed silent, watching them come up with ideas to help Zhou Qiuyu survive the winter.

The discussion was heated.

At this moment, Wu Yongfei noticed Yi Chichi had been silent and curiously asked, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"No need to make it so complicated."

The random comment left everyone puzzled. Just as Bai Chen was about to ask what she meant, Yi Chichi asked Zhou Qiuyu, "Qiuyu, do you want to buy this cotton coat I’m wearing?"

It’s impossible to give it away, and borrowing isn’t a long-term solution.

She had scoured Yi Ling and Yi Jing’s cotton coats and pants and even had a brand new military coat.

She had no pressure selling one set.

"You’re not wearing it?"

"I have more."

Zhou Qiuyu’s eyes lit up, instinctively wanting to say she’d take it, but then she remembered she didn’t have much money and started to worry.

"How much are you selling it for?"

If it’s too expensive, she can’t afford it.

Yi Chichi, ???

How much should she sell it for?

Now that was a good question.

She didn’t even know the exact prices of things from this era.

How much does it cost to make a new cotton coat...

Emma, it felt like she needed to think harder!

"How much do you think is appropriate?"

When unsure, ask for help; she couldn’t figure out the prices, but Wang Nan and the others could.

In an instant, the pressure was on Wang Nan and the others.

After exchanging glances, they started calculating.

"Judging by Zhou Qiuyu’s size, it takes about five feet of fabric to make a new cotton coat. But since she’s still young and might grow a bit, it should be made larger, let’s say six feet."

After all, a cotton coat nowadays was a decade-long commitment, and the saying "new for three years, old for three, patched up another three" was no joke.

"And then there’s the cotton coupon; it gets cold in the Northeast, so the cotton coat needs to be thick, about a pound of cotton would do."

"Next is the money for the fabric and cotton, plus coupons and labor fees..."

After Wang Nan and the others figured it out, they gave an answer, "Eight bucks should do."

The math was clear; the price of a bolt of fabric was about 4.8 at that time.

Because of regional differences, they took the middle number.

Then there’s the cotton, and labor costs, etc.

"Qiuyu, what do you think?"

Yi Chichi placed the choice in Zhou Qiuyu’s hands, and after pondering for a while, she asked, "Do you really have another cotton coat?"

"Yes."

"I’ll buy it."

She was decisive; the moment she heard that, she swiftly pulled out her only large banknote and handed it over.

Yi Chichi reached out and took it, giving her two bucks as change, and Wu Yongfei started to make snarky comments again.

"I thought you’d give it to her."

When it came to ruining the mood, nobody did it better than Wu Yongfei.

Zhou Qiuyu rolled her eyes, "She doesn’t owe me anything, why would she give it to me for free."

If Yi Chichi were willing to give it to her for free, she wouldn’t dare take it.

Even a three-year-old knows you shouldn’t take handouts without earning them.

"She has an extra, though."

That comment was plain nonsense.

Yi Chichi wasn’t about to indulge him, and directly retorted, "I noticed you have quite a few large banknotes left, you seem to have a lot of money. By your logic, since you have lots of money, you should give us some."

As she spoke, she extended her hand, "Come on, buddy, share the wealth, everyone gets a share."

Wu Yongfei never imagined she’d pull something like this, and instantly it was as if he’d swallowed a fly, his face turned ugly.

Bai Chen and the others burst into laughter.

Serves him right, that’s the way to deal with him.

"I think Yi Chichi is right, come on, brother. I’m not greedy, just a token of two or three bucks will do."

Bai Chen was first to join the act.

Then it was Qi Yang and the others; one by one, they all joined in with outstretched hands.

They all spoke the exact same lines as Bai Chen.

We’re not greedy; one or two isn’t too little, three or five isn’t too much.

Wu Yongfei was infuriated, clutching his pocket in anger, he said, "Why not one or two dimes, or one or two cents?"

Everyone, "..."

Goodness, the focus he picked truly was despairing.

However—

"One or two dimes, or one or two cents works too, hand over the money."

Qi Yang had a fierce gangster-like tone, and Wu Yongfei clutched his pocket tightly, "I don’t have any."

"Then why did you tell Yi Chichi to give Zhou Qiuyu the cotton coat?"

Wang Nan’s gaze was sharp like daggers, once again realizing Wu Yongfei didn’t just have a loose tongue, but maybe a loose screw in his brain too.

"...I, I was wrong."

Wu Yongfei slapped his own face, regretting his big mouth, every time it was better when he didn’t speak, but once he did, he offended people.

"I won’t do it again next time."

"We don’t believe you."

All in unison.

Wu Yongfei sighed, "Alright then, I know I’m not trustworthy, next time I do something stupid, you guys can hit me."

At least he had some self-awareness and was hard enough on himself.

Even requesting to be hit is something he said.

It’s really tough to judge!

Yi Chichi felt this wasn’t a sustainable way for him, so she offered him a suggestion, "Always carry a needle with you."

"What would I carry a needle for?"

He looked at Yi Chichi blankly, his gaze as clear and foolish as a husky’s.

"Poke yourself when you can’t keep your mouth shut."

Bai Chen thought it was a good idea, "Worth a try, pain would divert attention, naturally keeping his mouth shut."

The price of the second-hand cotton clothes in the text was determined after urgently consulting elders, and it’s challenging to track down the specifics, but did my best, kiddos, just make do with it.