Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 363: Catering a Grand Banquet

Zhou Qiuyu had been holding out for three years. To save money, she didn’t even buy snacks for herself, let alone make new clothes.

She solely relied on the communal funds of the Youth Corps Courtyard to buy meat for a better life. She was truly hard on herself.

She worked hard to earn high work points.

As a result of her frugality, she saved up some money. Yi Chichi and the others didn’t know the exact amount, but it was surely over a hundred yuan.

So, when Ge Sujuan suggested that girls should treat themselves better, this girl took it to heart.

"I want to buy fabric the same color as Nannan’s and ask Chichi to make clothes."

"Sure."

Yi Chichi and Wang Nan nodded simultaneously.

Being decisive, the next day she accompanied Wang Nan, who was going to the commune to buy sugar, and returned limping in the afternoon with a piece of khaki gabardine.

Yi Chichi: "??? Didn’t you say you’d buy red?"

"They ran out of red."

Zhou Qiuyu looked aggrieved, "When we got there, there was only a little red gabardine left. Five old ladies were competing for it, all saying they wanted to make new clothes for their daughters. I couldn’t win against them."

Yi Chichi hummed, her eyes landed on Zhou Qiuyu’s foot, "Sprained foot?"

"No."

Wang Nan chuckled, "She got her toes stepped on and swollen while competing with the old ladies for the fabric."

In the end, she still didn’t get it and her foot suffered.

Yi Chichi wanted to laugh, but Zhou Qiuyu’s current expression rendered her conscience uncomfortable.

Suppressing the surge of overwhelming amusement in her heart, she cleared her throat and pretended to be calm as she concernedly asked, "Have you seen a doctor?"

"Saw Lang Hong, it’s not serious."

That’s a relief.

Yi Chichi unfolded the khaki fabric to inspect it, "What style do you want it made into?"

Zhou Qiuyu didn’t know; she wanted something like Wang Nan’s, but knew it wasn’t suitable.

Because there’s a significant height difference between them, if she made it like Wang Nan’s style, it’d look like a child secretly wearing adult clothes.

So, she passed the problem onto Yi Chichi.

"You decide, Chichi."

Well then, this person has no opinion of her own.

As her first new piece of clothing in three years since moving to the rural area, Yi Chichi didn’t plan on just making do. She took a pen and paper to design a casual top with a small square collar.

The sketch wasn’t as polished as a refined drawing, but all the details were handled.

A moment after Yi Chichi put down her pen, drawing in the presence of both girls, Zhou Qiuyu couldn’t wait to ask about the pocket spot, "Chichi, why’s here all crumpled?"

"Pleats."

"What’s this strap on the sleeve for?"

"Decoration."

"Are the buttons the big kind?"

"Yes."

"But I don’t have big buttons."

"Take off the small buttons from your old clothes, and I’ll turn them into big ones for you."

"Is that possible?"

She looked amazed, Yi Chichi’s mouth twitched slightly. Why couldn’t it be? There weren’t the large buttons like in the future available now, so if she wanted big buttons, she had to get creative. Luckily, she’d modified them before.

"If I say it’s possible, it is."

Then she asked, "Do you want this design?"

"Yes, make this one."

She wasn’t tall, so long styles were out of her consideration. The short style Chichi drew looked vibrant, and she could already imagine how well it would fit, how straight it would make her petite figure.

However, "Will it interfere with your work?"

"No, I’ll find time to make it for you."

Zhou Qiuyu still felt uneasy, "Should I maybe pay you for your work?"

"You can’t afford my labor costs."

Those words were a little harsh, making Zhou Qiuyu feel embarrassed, "But I can’t just let you work for free."

Yi Chichi had it planned long ago, "I’ll provide the fabric, you provide the handiwork, make me two pairs of shoes."

Since moving to the countryside, Zhou Qiuyu had learned many skills, including knitting sweaters, weaving rattan, and making shoes.

Both casual shoes and cotton shoes.

After all, the Northeast’s winters were too long; sitting idly by the kang wasn’t practical. Going out for a walk wasn’t a good choice either; the weather could freeze one’s ears off, going out wasn’t enjoyment, it was suffering.

When it wasn’t necessary to go out, sitting by the kang sewing quilts, making shoes, and doing needlework became the best way for women to pass the time.

When winter came, watching Ge Sujuan and the others doing various needleworks, over time she learned too, and did quite well.

So, when she heard she could exchange shoes for Yi Chichi’s handiwork in clothing, Zhou Qiuyu quickly perked up, "Sure, I’ll make you two pairs of shoes."

Thus, the deal was made.

September 12th, the weather was nice.

That day Wang Nan and Bai Chen became a married couple, with the witness of the brigade leader and others.

The feast held five tables, the food wasn’t great, but due to contributions from people with good relations from the Youth Corps Courtyard and those in the hamlet, there was both fish and meat.

The fish was fished out from a pond, cost no money, only labor.

The meat was bought at the commune’s butcher shop, the brigade leader personally handled the advance booking, then rode a bicycle to pick it up in the morning on the 12th.

All in all, it was only about three pounds, but a few big bones returned, which made a sauerkraut stew.

The cook was Wu Yongfei, his culinary skills excellent, turning simple common ingredients into delicious dishes, satisfying the brigade leader and others, marveling that he had the skills to cater a grand feast.

Initially, it was just something said in passing, yet a few days later, the brigade leader found him a job to cater a grand feast in the neighboring Qingshan Brigade.

Wu Yongfei: "??? Catering a grand feast?"

The brigade leader nodded, "I’ve already negotiated the fees, three yuan, and you can bring some food back when you’re done."

The surprise was so abrupt, Wu Yongfei was stunned for a while before exclaiming loudly and hugging the brigade leader, eagerly asking if it was true.

"True, true."

The brigade leader was nearly choked by his hug but reassuringly patted his back, sternly advising, "Do a good job, if your name gets out it’ll be better than working the fields, earning both money and food."

"I’ll certainly do my best."

He confidently promised, making the brigade leader’s heart pleased. He was about to say that this was great and to maintain it when he heard Wu Yongfei suddenly change his tune, "But uncle, I’m scared being unfamiliar with the area."

Brigade Leader, "...What, you want me to go with you?"

"Is it possible?"

He looked at the brigade leader imploringly, eyes like a puppy, causing the brigade leader to pause, turning the refusal into, "Just this once, next time you have to go alone."

"Okay."

So, under the brigade leader’s influence, Wu Yongfei took up the role of the grand feast cook.

When the news reached Yi Chichi’s ears, she was almost dumbfounded, "Catering a grand feast?"

"Yes."

Wen’s mother, just back from the fields, shook the dirt from her shoes, hearing this, smiled and said, "If Little Witch can make a name for himself this time, his life will be much easier in the future."

The dire environment didn’t stop weddings and funerals happening; homes rattling from poverty couldn’t even think of hiring a grand feast cook, events wouldn’t be held.

Those a little better off, who cared a bit, would hold an event, even if it was just the difference in the quality of the food.

"The household in Qingshan Brigade that’s holding the event has a good condition, if Little Witch cooks well, the host won’t be stingy."