Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Master Dai arrived at White Lotus Alley as requested.

Beneath his cotton-padded coat, he wore an old-style traditional jacket. Upon entering the room, he removed his coat and laid out his tools: paper, pens, a measuring tape, and fabric scraps, all meticulously arranged.

Jiang Wang nodded. "Master Dai, please begin the measurements. I’ll wait outside."

Just as he was about to open the door, Su Linjin said, "Don’t just stand there idly. Go keep Grandpa company for a game of chess."

Jiang Wang paused, then murmured, "Oh, right."

He stood stiffly by the door for a moment before finally, obediently, heading toward the main house.

Once the door to the east wing closed, Master Dai slung the measuring tape over his shoulder, scrutinized her from head to toe, then took it down. "Let me take your measurements."

Su Linjin listened as the footsteps in the courtyard gradually receded toward the main house before refocusing her attention on Master Dai’s fluid, practiced movements as he measured her.

"Miss Su has an excellent figure. She’d look perfect in a traditional qipao," Master Dai praised.

After the measurements were complete, Su Linjin produced several pieces of fabric.

During this period, both the elder and younger branches of the Jiang family, including Jiang Yongjing, had given her a considerable amount of material.

"This one is good—it’ll make a dignified overcoat," Master Dai said, pointing to the coffee-colored fabric from Jiang Yongjing. "You’re young and fair-skinned; this color will actually enhance your complexion."

"This one is discerning—only you could carry it off." That was the peacock-blue wool fabric from Zhou Juan. He studied it for a moment longer. "I think I’ve seen this fabric before."

After another glance, he handed her a catalog. "What style would you like, Miss Su?"

The catalog’s edges were worn, its thin rice paper adorned with delicate brushstrokes sketching out clothing designs—fluid and expressive.

Had it not been in such a catalog, the sketches themselves would have been pleasing to the eye.

After flipping through it, Su Linjin took out her own draft paper, placed it over the catalog, traced the design, and made a few adjustments to create the style she desired.

The peacock-blue wool would become a straight-cut hooded coat with oversized toggle fasteners on the front and two patch pockets—a low-cost duffle coat.

The coffee-colored fabric, being thinner, would be made into an open robe with no buttons, belted at the waist and featuring angled pockets—a MaxMara-inspired classic coat.

Another wine-red fabric would be tailored into a blazer—a special suit for wedding occasions.

The black polyester-wool blend would be made into trousers with a wide waistband, straight legs, and hidden pockets—a low-cost version of high-waisted wide-leg pants.

Master Dai showed no sign of disapproval toward Su Linjin’s unconventional modifications. Instead, he patiently noted down her exact requests in his notebook.

With the measurements and designs settled, Master Dai bowed and prepared to leave. Hearing the sporadic clicking of chess pieces from the main house, Su Linjin didn’t call for Jiang Wang and instead saw him out herself.

As they walked, she couldn’t resist asking, "What kind of person was Miss Yuan… my mother-in-law?"

Jiang Wang’s temperament was not just different from Jiang Yongsen’s—it was practically poles apart.

Jiang Yongsen was like salt-wilted snow vegetable—limp and wilted. Put nicely, he had a bohemian middle-aged air; put bluntly, he was weak-willed.

Jiang Wang, on the other hand, was like a bamboo stalk—no matter how the branches interfered, his only direction was upward, upward, always upward. No matter what he’d been through, he radiated fortitude and strength from the inside out.

Since he didn’t take after his father, he must have taken after his mother.

At her question, Master Dai’s steps faltered slightly. He lowered his gaze for a long moment before speaking slowly. "Miss Yuan… she was a true proper gentlewoman—kind-hearted, beautiful. No matter how hard life got, she always kept herself immaculately presented."

In Su Linjin’s mind, the figure in the ecru silk shirt standing before the garden villa came to life.

Yes, even at her lowest, she had tied up her long hair with a scarf, never betraying her difficulties.

It made sense that such a mother would raise a son as upright as Jiang Wang.

"I remember now—that peacock-blue wool… I think Miss Yuan once had a dress made from it!"

That fabric had been given by Zhou Juan.

How did she have something that belonged to Jiang Wang’s mother?

Just as they were speaking, they encountered Zhou Juan and her daughter, Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin glanced at Master Dai, her eyes laden with contempt. "Our family’s door really admits all sorts, huh?"

"If you can enter, why can’t others?" Su Linjin retorted before seeing the elder out.

Master Dai stooped his shoulders, instantly reverting to his defeated posture. "I’ve caused you trouble."

"No, it’s us who made you see such unpleasantness."

Inside the courtyard, Jiang Lin vented to Zhou Juan. "Did you see how she acted just now? The moment Grandpa wasn’t around, she acted so defiant! It’s infuriating!"

Zhou Juan’s eyes darted about, signaling her to lower her voice. "That old man just now… I think he’s an esteemed tailor."

She couldn’t be mistaken—that was the tailor who used to make clothes for Yuan Qing. Back then, just the house call charge was ten yuan. It was said his ancestors had crafted garments exclusively for aristocratic young ladies.

"So what if he’s an esteemed tailor? He looks so dowdy. Mom, did you see that traditional changshan under his worn-out overcoat? Who even wears those anymore?"

Zhou Juan glared at her daughter. "Didn’t you say you lacked decent clothes for your marriage prospects? If we could get an esteemed tailor to make something for you, what would there be to worry about?"

"Is it really that amazing? Even the Friendship Store doesn’t have nice clothes," Jiang Yan grumbled. "I’ve got a date at White Pagoda Park next week—what am I supposed to wear? That cotton coat of hers looks pretty good, better than a padded parka. Maybe I should borrow hers?"

Next week the timing was too tight to have anything made, but if she could borrow Su Linjin’s coat, that might work.

Zhou Juan immediately started planning.

Jiang Wang spent two hours playing chess with Elder Jiang before the old man reluctantly let him go.

By evening, all the children had come over after work for dinner.

Jiang Yongyao casually remarked on how lively the old man seemed that day. Elder Jiang replied earnestly, "Xiao Wang accompanied me in chess today. Who would’ve thought? His skills are quite good. It just goes to show—practice makes perfect, even in chess!"

Elder Jiang rarely praised Jiang Wang. Jiang Yue cast him a suspicious look.

Jiang Wang’s expression remained indifferent, as if the discussion had nothing to do with him. He simply focused on picking out fish bones for Su Linjin.

Jiang Yongyao hadn’t expected his casual remark to inadvertently draw attention to Jiang Wang. He quickly changed the subject, boasting to the old man about his own child’s matchmaking prospects. "Thanks to your advice, Dad, Xiao Yue has met a girl who’s ideal in all respects—and her family background is excellent. Her father was in the same regiment as you and hasn’t retired yet. All her uncles are cadres."

Of course the female lead came from a good family—but she was also genuinely outstanding, wasn’t she?

Su Linjin quietly sneered.

Elder Jiang nodded. "Then treat her well. Once it's official, bring her home to meet Grandpa, understand?" This was directed at Jiang Yue.

"...Okay."

Jiang Yue felt uncertain—Ye Xiaomo’s attitude had left him with little confidence.

Seeing the old man's attention return to their own children, Zhou Juan picked up the conversation: "Our Xiaomo's current suitor is also quite good. He's already a director at such a young age!"

Su Linjin knew this factory workshop director—he was indeed Jiang Yan's fiancé.

The man was diligent and hardworking, but Jiang Yan somewhat looked down on such a dull workhorse.

How ironic.

She cast a faint glance at Jiang Yan and Jiang Yue, an uncontrollable surge of resentment growing from the depths of her heart.

When Su Linjin realized this emotion was too intense, she briefly spaced out.

What was happening to her?

The original owner's feelings had never affected her like this before—it was as if all of this had truly happened to her.

At that moment, Jiang Yan said offhandedly, "Grandpa is biased. Do we all have to line up after Xiao Su gets married?"

Jiang Lin, who usually only focused on eating at the table, suddenly spoke up: "But Sister Su was the first to get engaged. She has a marriage certificate—do you?"

Jiang Yan hissed at her in a low voice, "What do you know, you little brat?"

She was supposed to be the one whose marriage the family should be most concerned about. But ever since Su Linjin came into the household, it was as if everyone had forgotten about her.

She was 23—23 years old! Half of her middle school classmates were already married, but what about her? What were her family members even doing?

Her parents only cared about her brother, and Grandpa was even worse. If she didn’t fight for herself, she wouldn’t even get the leftovers in this family!

Fine, if it was about making clothes, then she’d make them. If Su Linjin made one, she’d make two!

So as soon as she got home, she demanded that Zhou Juan get her the fabric.

Zhou Juan was surprised: "Didn’t you look down on the tailor and insist on buying ready-made clothes?"

Jiang Yan smiled ingratiatingly: "I changed my mind, Mom. Isn’t it cheaper to make them? Bring out the good fabric you’ve been hoarding and let me pick?"

She knew exactly how many nice things her mother had.

Her mother was the women’s committee chair at her workplace, in charge of something as important as birth control quotas.

During holidays, so many female workers at the Electronic Factory secretly pressed gifts on her mother—fabric was nothing, there were even better gifts.

Zhou Juan glared at her: "Your brother’s marriage will need it too. If your future sister-in-law isn’t satisfied, where will our family’s dignity be? Will I, as the mother-in-law, even have a say?"

But in the end, unable to resist Jiang Yan’s tantrums, Zhou Juan still opened the chest for her.

However, she held back the best—the best pieces of fabric were secretly hidden in another camphorwood chest. After all, her ideal daughter-in-law was the jewel of the family—what good things hadn’t she seen?

The daughter-in-law she had hoped for did arrive, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for her son.

On a perfectly ordinary afternoon, Zhang Ma knocked on Su Linjin’s door: "Jinjin, a girl named Ye Xiaomo is here to see you. I put her in the West Wing."

Ye Xiaomo?

She actually came!

When Su Linjin pushed open the door to the West Wing, Ye Xiaomo was sitting primly in an armchair, the water Zhang Ma had poured untouched.

"You really came!"

Ye Xiaomo smiled, revealing deep dimples: "I got time off this afternoon to do a favor for my mom to visit my grandmother. Since you’re nearby, I thought I’d stop by—I didn’t expect to actually find you. Am I interrupting?"

She had been a little nervous earlier.

Visiting a girl she’d only met once was a bit forward, but for some reason, she just felt that Su Linjin was kind and wanted to get closer to her.

"I’m thrilled! Come on." Su Linjin led her to the East Wing.

The old man was soaking up sun in the courtyard and asked when he saw them, "Jinjin, is this a new friend of yours?"

After moving to Northern Yan, she’d barely gone out. Seeing that she had a guest, the old man was pleased.

Su Linjin glanced at Ye Xiaomo, then stepped in front with a smile and replied, "Yes, she’s my friend!"