Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 448: Almost Washed to Rags

After confirming that He Yunsong was fine, Wen Shi once again threw himself into his busy work. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Then, Yi Chichi was roped in as a volunteer.

"What is the paperwork for, and why am I the one writing the promo piece?"

She held a pen, writing furiously and muttering under her breath.

Wen Shi sat next to her, watching her write, "Your writing is good; it’s more moving when you do it."

It was a compliment, no doubt, but Yi Chichi felt no joy.

She said helplessly, "When I go back, I’d like to see what you’ll do."

Now it’s Wen Shi who was unhappy.

He said in a grievance-filled tone, "You’ll be happy going back?"

"If I don’t go back soon, the big snow will block the roads."

That’s true; first snow had already fallen back home by this time.

The return would be fine; he certainly wouldn’t want to trap his wife here.

The old folks are still around.

"Well, how about I find someone to buy you a ticket tomorrow?"

"Go ahead, make sure it’s a sleeper."

"Definitely."

Half an hour later, Yi Chichi handed him the completed promo piece, "See if anything needs changing."

Wen Shi read the promo piece carefully, word by word, then nodded approvingly.

"Great, really fantastic, indeed, my wife, you’re world number one!"

For mindless praise, look no further than Wen Shi of the Wen Family, blowing it up!

Yi Chichi found it amusing and exasperating, her initial intention to retort was interrupted as Wen Shi suddenly jumped up and headed outside, "Wife, I’m off to chat with Old Li, if you’re tired, go to sleep first."

Not waiting for her reply, he opened the door and went next door.

Yi Chichi, "..."

Sleeping wasn’t possible, lest she was woken when he returned.

Better to organize the lines she’ll need tomorrow.

Ji Jian probably had the same thought, which was why she came over with her yarn.

"Why are you here at this hour?"

Surprised, Yi Chichi asked as she opened the door.

Ji Jian rolled her eyes, "What do you think? Your Old Wen went to my place, I had to step out to avoid hearing things I shouldn’t."

Yi Chichi couldn’t help but laugh, "My fault for not keeping an eye on Wen Shi, letting him intrude on your couple’s time, how about I make you some sugar water to compensate?"

"Forget sugar water; give me a cup of your mint water, that’s good stuff!"

"Alright."

Yi Chichi poured her a cup of mint water; belatedly noticing the yarn in her hand, she exclaimed in surprise, "Sis, where did you get this yarn? It’s a nice light blue color."

"Bought it at the department store."

Ji Jian took out the yarn, skillfully winding it into a ball. Watching her, Yi Chichi thought of her family’s cats Big Orange and Da Li, who are particularly fond of yarn balls, stirring up some interest.

"Is there any more?"

"Don’t even think about it, there’s none left."

Ji Jian dashed her hopes with cold water, "When I went to buy, there were only a few pounds left, which a few educated youths and I split up."

The educated youths bought less due to ticket and money limitations.

Ji Jian, having enough of both, rounded up the rest.

"What do you need the yarn for?"

"To knit a sweater for my mom."

Ji Jian immediately understood that the "mom" meant Wen Shi’s mother, and couldn’t help but marvel, "You have a really good relationship with your mother-in-law."

"Who has a good relationship with their mother-in-law?"

Madam Lei’s voice came from the door.

With Ji Jian’s arrival, Yi Chichi didn’t bother to close the door.

The two sat in the lamp-lit main room; upon hearing the voice, they looked toward the door to see Madam Lei standing there with some clothes.

"Sis, why are you here?"

"Old Li and Old Wen came to my place."

"... Are they making rounds?"

Yi Chichi and Ji Jian exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding what was going on with those two.

"There are matters to discuss."

Madam Lei, well-acquainted, grabbed a chair and sat down, picking up needle and thread, while saying, "I figure they’ll head to Old Qin’s next."

"..."

"Wouldn’t be surprising if Sister Qin came over too."

Yi Chichi couldn’t hold back, "Are they all planning not to sleep?"

"It’s still early; can’t sleep."

"And the kids?"

"Too much activity during the day, now they’re sleeping like little pigs."

Madam Lei began threading a needle, yet the eye of the needle was too small, and under dim light, she failed repeatedly, finally asking Yi Chichi for help.

"Chichi, could you thread this for me?"

Putting down her own yarn, Yi Chichi deftly threaded the needle she was handed and returned it, "Why not stitch during the day?"

"Too busy during the day, no time to patch."

She unfolded her husband’s vest, which had several holes needing patches.

Yi Chichi remarked, "It’s almost worn out from washing, why not replace it with a new issued vest, instead of patching?"

The vest, in her opinion, wasn’t worth patching.

Ji Jian felt the same way.

"What’s Old Lei thinking, wearing this tattered vest instead of a new one? Is he planning to keep the new vest in the bottom drawer?"

Madam Lei gave them a helpless look, "You think I haven’t hinted at that? But it doesn’t help. He says the old vest feels right, and the new one is uncomfortable!"

This reasoning left the pair dumbfounded, while Madam Lei, unfazed, snipped fabric to mend the holes.

Watching her adept movements, Ji Jian sighed, "Old Lei’s habits are beyond commenting."

Madam Lei responded with a weary sound, "I’m used to it."

It’s clear now.

"Do your husbands have any strange habits?"

That’s a good question.

Who doesn’t have some odd habits?

And thus began a session of complaints.

Soon enough, Sister-in-law Qin joined them.

When Wen Shi and the others finished their discussion and returned home, they found their wives absent, the children snoring away in bed like piglets.

So they went looking for them.

As a result, Wen Shi was spotted lingering near the doorway instead of going in. The men exchanged a glance and moved closer, about to ask why he hadn’t gone in. Old Qin heard his wife griping about him.

"Your husband’s quirks are nothing compared to my Old Qin, who really can’t be watched. He’s a crybaby; mention it, and he’ll tear up, plus..."

This scathing criticism was intense enough that Mr. Qin’s head buzzed as if a bomb had exploded inside.

"Wife, it’s time to go home."

His actions preempting cognition, he rushed in, lifted his wife onto his shoulder, and bolted outside.

His speed was astonishing, and his movements were so swift that Yi Chichi and the others barely registered what was happening before they were out of the door.

Only Sister Qin’s voice remained, "Lei Daguang, set me down, I left behind my sewing basket."

"Tomorrow will be just as good..."

The sounds of the couple drifted through the air, followed by the slam of the door and the extinguishing of the Qin house lights.

Wen Shi turned to Old Li, "Old Qin likes to cry?"

Old Li was confused, "I don’t know, never seen him cry."

But that wasn’t the real issue; the real issue was Old Qin being griped about by his wife, signaling that they too were criticized by their wives.

Realizing this, the three experienced a moment of bleakness, choosing in unison to retrieve their wives.

To avoid the same embarrassment that befell Old Qin.