Chapter 151: Mother Yan’s Concerns

Chapter 151: Mother Yan's Concerns

Director Liu and Deputy Director Hu had their annual dispute over the 'temporary workers' every year.

"Looks like Director Liu came out on top this year," He Fang said.

With a cheerful smile, Director Liu walked towards them. "Xiao Su, Xiao He, where are you heading?"

Su Zhaozhao replied, "We're going to the Cotton Batting Shop."

Indeed, the shop's name was very straightforward—Cotton Batting Shop—even though it didn't actually sell raw cotton.

"Go ahead. I also took a look when I passed by. If any of you need to make cotton quilts, now's the time to go."

The 'temporary workers' at the Cotton Batting Shop were a married couple, both in their thirties. It was said that 'cotton batting' was a family craft passed down through generations.

The day before, Su Zhaozhao had already met them in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative office, so they weren't strangers.

She had bought some cotton but hadn't taken it back yet. This time, when she went to the Cotton Batting Shop, she brought the cotton along.

Although the cotton wasn't heavy, it was bulky, so He Fang helped her carry it to the shop.

The couple at the shop were incredibly welcoming, and Su Zhaozhao explained her needs.

"Comrade Su, don't worry. We'll make sure the quilt is comfortable and warm! We'll make yours first."

They also asked Su Zhaozhao if she wanted colored threads laid on the quilt.

"Our usual thread is white cotton, but for auspiciousness, we use red and green cotton threads to lay a decorative top layer. For wedding quilts, we often use colored threads to create a double happiness symbol."

Su Zhaozhao was about to say no, but she changed her mind. "Could you add a double happiness symbol to the double quilt?"

"No trouble at all. It's settled then. Once it's done, we'll deliver it to your home."

"We don't need delivery; the shop doesn't offer that service anyway. Once it's ready, just let us know at the co-op, and we'll come to pick it up ourselves."

"That works too."

As they were speaking, another customer entered the shop, carrying an old quilt. It was evident that it had been used for several years—its color was dull, and it looked stiff.

The Cotton Batting Shop not only processed new cotton but also reprocessed old quilts. Over time, quilts would become compacted and less warm, so reprocessing them made them soft and warm again, much better than using a stiff quilt.

Most families only made a new quilt once every ten years or so.

Cotton was expensive, and quilts were one of the most important household items for ordinary people.

After long use, people often chose to reprocess their quilts every few years to make them soft and fluffy again, rather than making new ones.

Cotton batting artisans actually handled more old quilts than new ones throughout the year.

After giving her instructions, Su Zhaozhao and He Fang headed back to the office.

……

At the Yan family home, Mother Yan was searching through Yan Guang and Yu Huixin's room.

Yan Guang was taken aback when he walked into the room. "Mother, what are you looking for?"

The quilts from the wardrobe had all been pulled out.

Old Lady Yan straightened up and glanced at him. "I'm looking for the small quilt I made for Xiaowen."

Yan Guang was confused, what small quilt?

He then heard his mother say, "There's a place that fluffs up old quilts next to the tailor shop. I'll find the small quilt, have the master fix it up, and add some new cotton. It’ll be ready for the baby when Huixin has hers."

After searching through the entire wardrobe, Old Lady Yan couldn't find it. "That’s weird, where did Huixin put it?"

She turned to Yan Guang. "Do you know where she put it?"

Yu Huixin had gone back to her parents' home during her last leave, and Gao Yue had gone with her. The house had only the three of them these days; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to rummage through their bedroom like this.

It took Yan Guang a while to remember. There was indeed such a small quilt. "...It seems to be lost."

"What!" Old Lady Yan's eyes widened. "What do you mean lost? Who lost it?"

"...I lost it. Xiaowen kept soiling the quilt with poop and pee. It couldn't be cleaned, so I threw it away."

Old Lady Yan was exasperated. "What gave you the right to throw away perfectly good stuff? You dare to throw away a quilt! What’s next, are you going to fly to the moon?"

Old Lady Yan stopped searching, patted her slightly messy hair, and pointed outside. "Go ask around, see who dares to do such a thing! In the old days, many people froze to death because they didn't have a quilt to keep warm. Have you forgotten?"

Yan Guang's expression was embarrassed.

Old Lady Yan wasn't going to let it go so easily. "So what if it was soiled? Is there no water at home? Or do you two not have hands?"

"Like it couldn’t be cleaned! Don’t give me that! I worked hard to buy a few jin of new cotton back then. Your father and I used that quilt until it was nothing but rags, but we were too reluctant to use it ourselves. Your sister-in-law almost pointed at our noses, accusing us of being partial. We wholeheartedly made a quilt and sent it over. And you lost it! Even if you’d sent it back, we would’ve appreciated the thought!"

The more Old Lady Yan spoke, the angrier she became, and she scolded, "I think you've had a few good years and forgotten your roots! Forgot where you came from!"

This was too much, and Yan Guang was helpless. "Mom, I know I was wrong. It won’t happen again. Please calm down, let’s eat first."

"Eat my foot!" Old Lady Yan cursed. "Just follow your wife and learn those bad habits! Watch out, or one day the neighbors will turn on you!"

Yan Guang said, "Mom!"

Was this how a mother should talk to her son?

"Glaring at me won’t work! Don’t think I don’t know, it must have been your wife who lost that quilt! You’re taking the blame for her!"

Caught red-handed, Yan Guang was even more helpless. "I was just afraid you'd be angry. It’s not good for your health to be angry."

"You’re just afraid I'd be angry at her!"

Old Lady Yan saw through all the illusory sweet talk.

Last week during the leave, she went with her son and daughter-in-law to visit the in-laws. She had seen the wealth of the Yu family. Even now, they lived in a small Western-style building, had dozens of dishes for a meal, and drank foreign wine. Except for dressing a bit simply, they were no different from anyone else in the city.

Old Lady Yan thought to herself, ‘This family needs a serious makeover.’

Although she was an old lady who didn’t understand much, she just felt something was very wrong!

She couldn’t control what the in-laws did, but her daughter-in-law was now part of her family, and some of her actions would affect her son.

She had already decided that while living together, she would help shape her daughter-in-law into someone better.

We can't let this go on anymore! She even dared to throw out the quilt!

"Does she think the Yan family is her own family now?"

"Mom."

"Don't call me 'Mom.' I just want to know, when is your wife coming back?"

"I’m not sure either," Yan Guang said. "I think she’ll be gone for a few more days. Mom, we agreed that when she gets back, you won’t yell at her."

Yan’s mother gave her overly submissive son a look of disdain, like she couldn’t stand to look at him. "Get outta here!"