CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: BAI RUYUN’S TALENT 1

"Alright, I’ll go ask Third Granny later!" Bai Xue quickly gathered up all the fabric and put it into the kang cabinet.

This was the only kang cabinet in the house, and it was already full with grains, shoes, cotton, and fabric.

"Big sis, I’ll go with you!" Bai Ruxia said.

"Okay, let’s go now! We can’t delay this!" Bai Xue said as she led Bai Ruxia out the door.

It was already past two in the afternoon; it probably wouldn’t work out today, but hopefully they could start tomorrow. The longer they wait, the more things could go wrong.

The sisters headed out towards Third Granny’s house. Her house was just a few doors away, so they got there quickly.

As they reached the gate, they saw Bai Dazhu’s wife, Tong Xianglan, coming out with a basin.

"Aunt Xianglan, are you going out?" Bai Xue greeted her warmly.

"Xiao Xue! I was just about to return this basin to your place! What brings you here?" Tong Xianglan, who was quite short, about five feet tall, looked frail, yet her constant smile made people feel close to her.

"We’re here to see Third Granny. It’s convenient this way; we’ll take the basin with us when we leave, so you don’t have to make another trip!" Bai Xue said as she headed into the courtyard.

Tong Xianglan followed them back, "Alright! Saves me the trouble, hurry and come in! Your Third Granny is home!"

With a cheerful demeanor, she led the sisters inside while calling out, "Mom, Xiao Xue and Xiao Xia are here! They need to talk to you!"

Inside, Third Granny, Li Xiaohong, sat up.

"Xiao Xue, Xiao Xia, come sit on the kang!"

Bai Ruxue and Bai Ruxia sat down and immediately explained their purpose.

"Third Granny, I heard from my mom that you know how to use a sewing machine. We came to ask if you could come teach us... Zhang Yuan sent us a sewing machine today, along with some fabric. We want to make some clothes for the family!" Bai Xue explained.

"Your mom wasn’t wrong; your Third Granny does know how to use a sewing machine!" Tong Xianglan chimed in eagerly.

"That’s great!" Bai Ruxia exclaimed happily.

"Sure! Third Granny can teach you! Your mom can’t work during her confinement, so it’s the perfect time to teach you three sisters. It’ll be a skill you can use in the future!" Third Granny Li Xiaohong agreed readily.

"Third Granny, could we start tomorrow? I’m worried about delays. If we get the clothes made quickly, I’m afraid Grandma might come and take them..." Bai Xue said hesitantly, as it wasn’t good to speak too ill of elders.

"That aunt of yours, how could she be so biased? They’re all her sons and grandsons!" Tong Xianglan, who was usually on the same side as her mother-in-law, also disapproved of Grandma Bai’s behavior.

"Xiao Xue, while it’s still light outside, let’s go. Third Granny will teach you now! Who knows, your grandma might come tomorrow, and you won’t be able to keep anything!" Third Granny said as she started to put on her shoes.

Having quarreled for most of their lives, they understood each other’s personalities well. Given Grandma Bai’s character, it’s fortunate she hadn’t come over that afternoon.

"Thank you, Third Granny, you really know my grandma well! That’s exactly what I’m worried about, so I want to get the clothes made as soon as possible!" Bai Xue said, feeling relieved. She let her sisters learn before dark, hoping they could start on their own the next day.

In those days, many girls got married at fifteen, and her sisters were already thirteen. Learning to use a sewing machine wouldn’t hurt!

As for herself, she had no interest in sewing. Her greatest passion was making money, counting money, doing business.

"Let’s go, let’s go! Hurry up!" Third Granny, quick and nimble, headed out the door, also urging the sisters to hurry up behind her.

Bai Ruxia grabbed their family’s basin and followed them, and the three of them rushed back home in a whirlwind.

By the time they got home, Bai Ruyun had just prepared the meal for Wang Cuihua.

Bai Xue had forgotten that she had made rice for Wang Cuihua to eat, but Third Granny saw it; she wasn’t like their own grandma.

"Cuihua! Is your milk supply enough? Now it’s good, you can have a proper confinement period and eat your fill! That’s wonderful!" Third Granny said, looking at the rice and minced meat egg custard Wang Cuihua was eating. It was hard to hide her envy; it had been years since she’d tasted rice, but she wouldn’t compete with Wang Cuihua for food.

"Auntie, if it weren’t for that meal you gave me that day, I might not have had a smooth delivery!" Wang Cuihua chatted with Auntie as she saw Li Xiaohong open up more.

"Ah... Giving birth is a big deal for women! It’s a matter of life and death! You can’t be careless! Eat quickly! I’m here to teach the girls the sewing machine!" Li Xiaohong turned to look at the sewing machine by the north kang.

"You girls learn well from your Third Granny!" Wang Cuihua instructed her three daughters.

"Got it, Mom! You eat your meal before it gets cold!" Bai Xue said nonchalantly.

Letting her learn was just for show; she wouldn’t really learn it.

Third Granny began teaching them every part of the sewing machine, then showed them how to use it, explaining each step in detail, from threading the bobbin and needle to adjusting the presser foot and using the pedal.

Bai Ruyun learned diligently, and Bai Ruxia did okay as well, listening intently. Only Bai Ruxue was merely admiring the vintage sewing machine, not really taking in what Third Granny was explaining.

Finally, from cutting the fabric, aligning the seams, measuring, and sewing the cotton stuffing for cotton-padded clothes, she taught them all, patiently letting them try and correcting their mistakes.

In just two hours, Bai Ruyun became proficient with the sewing machine, sewing with skill and precision, not even a single error in her fabric cutting.

Bai Ruxia was a bit more clumsy but managed to use the machine nonetheless.

Only Bai Ruxue, when Third Granny asked her to try sewing, shook her head and said she hadn’t learned it yet and didn’t want to waste the fabric.

"You child, you’re almost sixteen! Your two sisters have learned it; how come you still can’t? Come on, I’ll teach you again." Li Xiaohong said, dissatisfied with Bai Ruxue, preparing to teach her again.

"Third Granny, it’s getting dark. I won’t learn for now. I’ll learn from Xiao Yun later. I’m not good at this; I’ll take it slow." Bai Xue said awkwardly, smiling.

"Alright then! Make sure you learn! Since you have a sewing machine, you need to know how to use it!" Third Granny nagged for a bit before saying, "Alright, I’m heading back!"

"Third Granny, wait a moment!" Bai Xue said, opening the kang cabinet and taking about a jin of rice from the rice sack, putting it into the bag that Xiao Yun and Xiao Xia had been sewing, and handed it to Li Xiaohong. "This is rice Zhang Yuan had someone buy; take it home and try some!"

"No, no! Keep it for your mom! She needs nutrition for feeding the baby!" Li Xiaohong, although she wanted to take it home for her grandchildren, waved her hands, knowing they were having a hard time too, with a mother in confinement and two infants at home.

"Third Granny! It should be enough for a meal of porridge! We still have some! While we can’t give much, we can at least manage one meal! Don’t be polite with us; take it home!" Bai Xue insisted, placing the rice into Third Granny’s hands.

Bai Xue’s persistence finally won, and Li Xiaohong took the rice, unable to hide the smile on her face.