"Second Uncle, Second Aunt…" When Su Xiangnan and his family returned, the boys in the yard rushed toward them like hungry wolves spotting a fat piece of meat, each one brimming with excitement.
Tang Meiyun worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, where she often came across cheap, defective goods that didn't require ration coupons.
These defective items were treasures when brought back to the Old Su Family.
Every time the second son's family returned, Grandma Su was undoubtedly the happiest.
And this time, the two pieces of cloth in the basket were exactly what she had been hoping for.
One was a fine cotton cloth with a white background and blue flowers, unevenly dyed and only three chi long.
The other was a bright red corduroy, a full five chi long, with a large hole gnawed by a mouse in the middle.
Both pieces of cloth came from the cotton mill, required no ration coupons, and were cheap. Thinking of the many children at home, Su Xiangnan had bought them.
The basket also contained ceramic cups, rubber shoes, soap…
With each item taken out, the boys cheered in unison.
Grandma Su tucked the two pieces of cloth under her arm and happily ran back to her room to show them off.
She waved them in front of Guai Nan, her face blooming with a smile like a chrysanthemum.
It was exactly what she needed—she had been worrying about not having cloth to make new clothes for Guai Nan.
The fine cotton cloth was soft and skin-friendly, perfect for making undergarments for her Guai Nan. As for the red corduroy, although it had a large hole in the middle, it was big enough to work with. By cutting around the hole, there would be more than enough to make a red dress for Jiu'er.
The leftover fabric could even make two pairs of little red shoes for Guai Nan.
Without exaggeration, her sewing skills were among the best in all of Pear Blossom Village.
Imagining how handsome Guai Nan would look in the clothes she made, Grandma Su grew even happier.
She wished she could finish the clothes overnight.
Su Jiu looked at the two pieces of tattered cloth and sighed inwardly.
Back in the Cultivation World, what kind of clothes hadn't she worn?
Gauze, silk, satin, brocade, and even magical robes and immortal artifacts…
Now, she had fallen so low as to be "favored" by two pieces of tattered cloth.
"What's that expression, Guai Nan? Don't you like it?" Grandma Su widened her eyes in confusion.
Had Jiu'er just frowned? She hadn't imagined it, had she?
That little look of disdain left her utterly stunned.
"Ahem, don't worry, Guai Nan. Grandma will make your clothes look beautiful. Later, when Grandma saves up more money, she'll buy you better fabric. Our Xiao Jiu'er deserves the best!"
Grandma Su promised.
Guai Nan was a Fortune Doll favored by the heavens. No matter who else might be neglected, her Jiu'er must never be shortchanged.
Su Jiu wiggled her little hands and kicked her little legs.
The quality of the fabric was secondary, but Grandma Su's affection for her was absolutely one of a kind.
By evening, the aroma of meat wafted from every household.
This year's New Year's Eve dinner at the Old Su Family was especially lavish.
Boiled dumplings, steamed sweet potatoes, chestnut stewed chicken, and stir-fried sweet potato leaves!
As soon as the four dishes were placed on the table, the boys lost all interest in playing. Their eyes fixed on the food, and the tantalizing smell of meat in the air made their mouths water uncontrollably.
"Wow, Grandma's food is so much better than what we eat at home!" exclaimed Tang Qiwu, Su Xiangnan's six-year-old second son, with envy.
At their home, there was no meat, no vegetables, and no sweet potatoes or white flour.
Every day, it was either cornbread or black flour porridge.
Now, seeing so many delicious dishes, Tang Qiwu wished he could live at Grandma's house forever.
"This is only for New Year's, Grandma's family usually eats about the same as us," corrected Tang Qiwen, the eight-year-old eldest son of Su Xiangnan.
However, even for New Year's, Grandma's family's New Year's Eve feast far surpassed theirs.
It would be best to come to Grandma's house for New Year's every year from now on.
"This year we've been lucky, all the good things have come to our family. Today, everyone eat your fill, and may next year bring us no shortage of grain or vegetables, and may we still have meat to eat!"
Grandma Su said as she served everyone, offering her blessings.
She first filled a large bowl of chicken soup for Su Xiangxi and left him a big bowl of dumplings.
As the sick one in the family, he naturally received special treatment.
Next, she served Su Xiangdong, the great contributor who had made it possible for them to eat meat this time.
After that came Grandpa Su, and then the children.
After everyone had been served, Grandma Su turned and went into the back room, which was her bedroom.
Just as everyone was growing curious, she emerged holding Su Jiu.
The tiny child, fair and clean, her overly beautiful and delicate little face revealed to everyone.
They all felt their eyes light up, as if a beam of light had shone on Su Jiu, making her the instant focus of the room.
"Wow, whose little sister is this, so pretty?" Tang Qiwu cheered, his eyes glued to Su Jiu, even forgetting to eat his meat.
"Grandma, is this our little sister Jiu'er?" Tang Qiwen, being a bit older, thought for a moment and deduced Su Jiu's identity.
"Pretty sister, eat meat!" Su Xiaobao, the four-year-old youngest son of Su Xiangnan, grabbed a chicken leg from his bowl and toddled over, wanting to give it to his sister.
"Xiaobao, be good, sister can't eat meat yet, you eat it yourself!" Grandma Su was delighted by this scene.
Xiaobao had good sense, knowing how to please her Guai Nan.
Pleased, Grandma Su, holding Xiao Jiu'er, rewarded Xiaobao with a piece of chicken tail.
"Mother, let me hold Jiu'er!" Second Son's Wife, Tang Meiyun, stretched out her hands, gazing fondly at the little girl.
"Let me do it, Mother, you eat first!" Mrs. Zhang couldn't wait any longer and stepped forward, taking Su Jiu from Grandma Su's arms.
The three Su Zili brothers quickly gathered around, their eyes sparkling as they stared at Little Ninth Sister, as if they didn't recognize her.
Not long ago, their Little Ninth Sister had been thin and small, but now she looked fair and even prettier than before.
It was no wonder they didn't recognize her.
Grandma Su had kept Su Jiu indoors, fearing she might catch a chill.
Su Jiu didn't cry or fuss, staying quiet and usually not making a sound.
The Su family boys had wanted to go in and see their sister, but Grandma Su wouldn't allow it, saying boys were too rowdy and might disturb her Guai Nan's rest.
Over the past ten days or so, Su Jiu had eaten well, slept well, and after Qi Induction, she was nourished by Spiritual Qi every day, changing almost day by day.
Now fair and tender, she seemed completely transformed.
Gone was the pitiful, skinny appearance from before.
Su Jinyan and Su Jinrui watched eagerly as Jiu'er was surrounded by the three Su Zili brothers.
That was their own blood sister!!
Their sister was so beautiful, like a little fairy, the prettiest sister in the whole world.
Su Xiangdong glanced at his little niece in his wife's arms.
He couldn't help but marvel at the tenacity of life. Back then, his little niece had been thin and weak, picked up from the snow, looking as if she might stop breathing at any moment.
Now, looking at her, it was like seeing a completely different person.
No wonder both her daughter-in-law and son liked her—she was truly adorable, so much so that even he couldn’t resist the urge to hold her close and shower her with affection.
After delivering a meal to her husband in the west room, Feng Qiulian hurried back and stepped into the house. At a glance, she spotted Su Jiu, who was being surrounded and admired like the moon among the stars.