In her previous life, she had majored in fashion design in university and later worked in the industry. She was intimately familiar with the history of clothing development and possessed an exceptionally sharp sense of fashion.
The fabric her third brother had given her could easily yield three or four garments if cut skillfully.
And these clothes could be sold for money.
Jiang Yingying thought for a while, then rummaged through the room and quickly found a pair of scissors and some needle and thread.
Her foundational skills were solid, and for everyday clothes, she didn’t even need to sketch—she could start directly.
She cleared and wiped the table clean. Without a ruler, Jiang Yingying measured by hand. In her past life, she had made thousands of garments, and the measurements for a standard-sized piece—the waist, hem, and collar—were all second nature to her.
But the fabric was truly precious. Hesitating for a moment, she decided not to cut directly. Instead, she planned to go out and find a piece of chalk to mark the pattern first.
In the yard, Li Xuelian and Shen Xiaoyun were hanging beans to dry. Because Jiang Yingying had returned home today, they had come back from the fields a little earlier.
Shen Yao wasn’t idle either—he was shirtless, chopping firewood.
Even Shen Qinghong was leading his two young grandsons in weaving bamboo baskets.
Jiang Yingying tapped Shen Yao’s bare back with her finger and spoke softly, “Could you help me find a piece of chalk?”
Shen Yao glanced at her but didn’t stop what he was doing. “We don’t have any at home.”
He raised the axe high, his muscles tensing with the effort. Sweat trickled down his waist and abdomen as the wood split in two with a loud crack.
Jiang Yingying was startled, letting out a small gasp as she hastily took two steps back.
Li Xuelian, watching from the other side, couldn’t stand it and scolded, “Yingying is talking to you—can’t you pause what you’re doing for a moment?”
This clueless fool of a son! Look how he’s frightened her good daughter-in-law! Her little face has gone pale!
Shen Xiaoyun chimed in with a complaint, “Second Brother, you scared Sister-in-law!”
Shen Yao felt utterly bewildered. He hadn’t done anything, yet he was being scolded?
Jiang Yingying took the opportunity to sit down beside Li Xuelian and said self-reproachfully, “Mother, it’s my fault. I interrupted Yao Ge’s work!”
Li Xuelian shot Shen Yao a glare and comforted her instead, “What nonsense! Look at him—is that even considered work? Chopping firewood is like playing to him. There’s no such thing as interrupting! Are you hungry? I’ll start cooking soon.”
Jiang Yingying shook her head and bit her rosy lower lip. “Mother, I just wanted to find a piece of chalk to use.”
Chalk?
Farm folks had no use for such a thing!
Before Li Xuelian could furrow her brows and respond, Shen Xiaoyun, who was nearby, put down the beans in her hands. “Sister-in-law, I know where to find some!”
She cheerfully ran to the main hall and quickly returned with a thin piece of white chalk, presenting it to Jiang Yingying. “Here, will this work?”
Jiang Yingying immediately brightened up and praised her sweetly, “Xiaoyun, you’re such a wonderful sister!”
Shen Xiaoyun sat back down, slightly bashful. “Then take it and use it. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”
In just two days, this woman had won over everyone in the household with her sweet words and two meals of meat.
She didn’t work in the fields, didn’t cook, and didn’t even do small chores like feeding the chickens or washing clothes! Yet, Mother and Little Sister didn’t seem to mind at all!
Shen Yao lowered his gaze, growing increasingly convinced that this woman was not suited for a practical life.
Jiang Yingying, wholly focused on making clothes, took the chalk and resumed her work.
First, she drew the lines, then cut the fabric with the scissors.
However, the scissors were much harder to use compared to her original professional tools. By the time she finished cutting out a dress, the delicate skin at the base of her thumb had already been rubbed raw…
Shaking her wrist, Jiang Yingying teared up as she rubbed her hand, gritted her teeth, and began threading the needle again.
For the white fabric, she only needed white thread.
Needles and thread were among the most common items in the countryside, and there was a basket full of them in the room where she slept.
Since this wasn’t just a sample garment but something she intended to sell, the stitching had to be impeccable.
After just twenty minutes of sewing, Jiang Yingying felt utterly exhausted…
Even her neck was sore.
Just then, the door opened, and Shen Yao walked in with a jacket slung over his shoulder, droplets of water still clinging to his body, his hair damp.
The weather was hot, and after finishing his work, he had taken a quick rinse.
Jiang Yingying was fully absorbed in sewing the dress, not even looking up as she focused on threading the needle.
Shen Yao’s gaze fell on the fabric in her hands—a dress with an unconventional style was nearly complete. He shifted his gaze away, showing no curiosity whatsoever.
Jiang Yingying was someone who cared about her appearance, so it was no surprise that she would take fabric to make new clothes for herself.
He wiped the water droplets from his body and was about to change his pants when he paused. “I’m going to change clothes.”
Jiang Yingying spared him a glance, frowning in confusion. “Go ahead, then.”
Shen Yao’s face darkened. “Aren’t you going to leave?”
Jiang Yingying gave him an exaggerated look. “Why should I leave? Change if you want—it’s not like I’m going to peek!”
Did this woman have no sense of shame at all?
Shen Yao was left speechless. As a grown man, was he really worried about being taken advantage of?
Still, when he changed his pants, his movements were noticeably flustered. When he glanced at Jiang Yingying again, she hadn’t even lifted her head, much less given him so much as a look…
Shen Yao gritted his teeth. “Let’s go eat. Don’t wait for my mother to call you every time. If you don’t want to work, I won’t force you, but don’t expect my mother and the others to wait on you!”
Jiang Yingying finally looked up at him, pausing her work. “Brother Yao, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry, okay?”
“…”
Shen Yao felt as though he had punched cotton—all his anger dissipated, leaving him with no choice but to swallow his frustration and walk out.
As usual, there was no meat in today’s meal, but the leftover rabbit broth had been used to stew dried beans, which tasted quite good.
Jiang Yingying’s mind was still on her dress, so she ate faster than usual.
Li Xuelian looked at her affectionately. “Slow down, there’s more in the pot!”
Jiang Yingying put down her bowl and chopsticks, slightly embarrassed. “Mom, I have something to attend to in my room. Could you leave the dishes for now? I’ll wash them later when I’m free.”
Li Xuelian shot her a reproachful glance. “Silly girl, with so many people in the house, why wait for you to wash the dishes? Can’t Xiaoyun or Ayao handle it?”
Shen Xiaoyun, who was enjoying her fragrant bowl of rice, immediately chimed in. “Sis, go ahead. I’ll take care of the washing.”
Jiang Yingying lowered her head and smiled sheepishly, then suddenly remembered something. “Xiaoyun, do you know how to sew?”
Shen Xiaoyun immediately lifted her head proudly. “Sis, I’m great at sewing! I even made the cloth shoes my brother wears!”
Jiang Yingying was overjoyed. “Then come to my room with me and help out, okay?”
Shen Yao immediately thought of the dress he had seen earlier in the room, and his expression darkened.
“This woman doesn’t do any work herself, and now she wants Little Sister to make clothes for her?”
“Make your own clothes,” he said with a stern expression. “Little Sister has been toiling in the fields all day—where would she find the energy to help you?”