CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 57: LOOKING DOWN ON OTHERS

The next day, Yu Xiaolian wanted to sleep in, but she was called up by Mrs. Sun for breakfast.

She glanced at her watch: it was only six in the morning.

Oh, sleeping later than dogs and waking up earlier than chickens—this was her moment.

Mrs. Sun made handmade noodles with an egg sauce.

Making handmade noodles so early in the morning—how diligent!

Compared to Mrs. Sun’s hardworking nature, Yu Xiaolian felt quite inadequate.

Back then, she chose the niche profession of a forensic doctor because it was lucrative and low-effort.

In her past life, she was a face-obsessed girl, always dreaming of finding a handsome boyfriend, but reality was harsh.

Because her field was forensic science, which was somewhat looked down upon, especially for female forensic doctors, it was particularly hard to find a match.

As time dragged on, she became what people called a "leftover woman" of a certain age.

Sadly, she had plenty of schemes and a desire to flirt, but she never even had a serious relationship.

Her female forensic colleagues often joked that she had the desire but lacked the courage; essentially, a wasted life.

This time around, she’s determined to cultivate that courage.

Not to shock the world with her romance, but to subtly move people’s hearts.

"Mom, making handmade noodles in the morning is so much trouble. There are knife-cut noodles, instant noodles, and other types of noodles in the supermarket. You can just cook those casually."

"What trouble? It’s not troublesome at all, this is very simple. You must learn from me, or else when you get married, you won’t know anything, and that’s not acceptable," said Mrs. Sun while sifting the noodles for Yu Changhe.

Yu Xiaolian didn’t reply; her grand ambitions were immediately halved by the thought of cooking three meals a day for in-laws after marriage.

She went to wash up and brush her teeth, then took out a wooden comb and an elastic band to put her hair in a simple ponytail.

If getting married meant needing to learn all these things, then forget it. She wasn’t short of ancestors to serve.

But she only dared to mumble these thoughts in her heart. Mrs. Sun had different values, and saying it aloud would surely result in a heated debate.

The handmade noodles Mrs. Sun made were smooth and chewy, very delicious, and even the noodles were cut to consistent thicknesses and lengths. One must admit Mrs. Sun did everything impressively well.

Yu Xiaolian told her that the handmade noodles were tasty, but Mrs. Sun attributed it to the flour, saying she had never seen flour as white and finely ground as this.

Hetao snowflake flour—how could it not be good? It was sold in 20-pound bags for 220 bucks each.

After breakfast, Mrs. Sun planned to go to the street to buy cotton and fabric. Yu Xiaolian, considering her leg injury, advised her to stay home, but Mrs. Sun insisted, saying Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t know what to buy or how much.

Uh... She really didn’t know.

Stepping out with Mrs. Sun, the two headed straight to the fabric store. They passed several on their way to the blacksmith’s shop yesterday, so they knew where they were.

The fabric store facades were all about the same size. They randomly picked one and went in.

The fabric store owner, upon seeing their shabby clothes, changed his expression, didn’t even ask what they were there for, and immediately started shooing them out.

"Out, out," the fabric store owner waved them away, "what a bad omen, opening in the morning and having two beggars walk in. If you dare to come into my store again, I’ll beat you to death."

Mrs. Sun pulled Yu Xiaolian hastily out the door—what an arrogant guy, judging people by their appearance.

Even though their clothes had patches, their hair was neatly combed, and their faces were clean—how could they be beggars?

How could anyone tell they were beggars?

Mrs. Sun took Yu Xiaolian to the store across the street. Inside was a young lady attending the store who, seeing them being driven out of the store opposite, knew they were genuinely there to buy something.

Emerging from behind the counter with a smile, she asked, "Sister, are you making clothes for a child or for yourself?"

Mrs. Sun nodded, "Both, we’ll make clothes for both of us."

The young lady’s face broke into a flower-like smile upon hearing this. This early in the morning, with few people around, business was already starting—who wouldn’t be happy?

Turning around, the young lady fetched two bolts of cloth and introduced them, "This is the finest linen, strong and durable, and it’s cheap, only fifteen coins per foot."

Mrs. Sun touched the fabric, nodding, "It’s really quite good, I’ll take this bolt."

"A full bolt, you want the whole thing?" Thinking Mrs. Sun would only buy a few feet, the young lady was surprised she wanted the full bolt.

Mrs. Sun pointed at another floral fabric, asking Yu Xiaolian, "How about this pattern for your clothes?"

Yu Xiaolian shook her head—she didn’t want that pink floral style, making her look like a village bumpkin.

Pointing with a small finger, Yu Xiaolian said, "I want that navy blue and that dark purple."

Mrs. Sun frowned, "Those colors seem so old-fashioned. Young girls should wear brighter colors."

And without waiting for Yu Xiaolian to express her opinion, she turned to the fabric store’s young lady and said, "I’ll take that water pink, that lotus pink, and that light purple, give me a bolt of each."

For winter clothes, summer clothes, you must make several sets to change between.

Yu Xiaolian, "..."

Can’t I even decide the color of my own clothes?

Encountering a big order, the young lady was even happier. When her husband comes, upon seeing how much she’s sold, he’s bound to praise her.

Mrs. Sun also picked out two bolts of soft cotton fabric for making undergarments and knit shorts.

Finally, the colors Yu Xiaolian chose were bought by Mrs. Sun for herself.

The reason was that, being older, those colors suited her perfectly.

Yu Xiaolian’s eyes welled with tears, but she had no choice but to hold back. It’s inappropriate to embarrass her mother in front of outsiders.

After buying fabrics for clothes, Mrs. Sun bought materials for making quilts, and then a few big bags of cotton. The young lady was even happier and, without Mrs. Sun needing to haggle, directly gave her a discount.

Buying was fun and satisfying. But as they left the store, Mrs. Sun felt like she’d spent too much; these purchases cost nearly thirty taels.

"Mom, money is meant to be spent. I’ll earn it back in no time, don’t worry."

Yu Xiaolian took Mrs. Sun to stroll in front of the opposite store, deliberately raising her voice to ask the young lady to send the goods quickly.

The young lady, busy packing, understood Yu Xiaolian’s intent—she was familiar with the rival store across the street and was happy to cooperate with Yu Xiaolian.

"There are so many things, I’m afraid I can’t deliver them by myself. When my husband comes, we’ll use a carriage to send them to your house."

The store owner who had kicked them out watched, face turning green, as Yu Xiaolian and the shopkeeper’s wife across the street happily echoed each other.

Seeing her goal achieved, Yu Xiaolian pulled Mrs. Sun away.

The fabric store’s young lady called over to the opposite store, "Ah, finally, a big business today, who would’ve thought these shabbily dressed women would buy over thirty taels worth of stuff—it almost matches my half-month’s earnings."

"You’re just boasting. You can’t even draft a decent lie. What money could two beggars possibly have?"

"Believe it or not, I’m busy packing up their purchases. I don’t have leisure time to talk to you like this—not saying anything more!"

"You..." Infuriated, wishing he had retained those two. Ah, they walked into his store first, all because of him, there goes his silver.

Yu Xiaolian and Mrs. Sun went to a general store to buy needles, scissors, measuring tape, and thimbles—everything Mrs. Sun needed to make clothes.

While Mrs. Sun went home to wait for the delivery from the fabric store, Yu Xiaolian strolled around the city alone. She finally saw a large and grand confectionery shop. Yu Xiaolian, planning to check out the varieties and prices, was stopped at the door by the waiter with a grim face.

Oh well, another one judging books by their covers. Since one couldn’t force their way in, one can maintain a pitiful act instead.

Still wearing ragged clothes, Yu Xiaolian decided to embrace her appearance. She found a deserted alley, took out her eyeshadow, smeared some black on her face, wrapped her hair in a simple cloth, and then entered a pawn shop.