In the evening, Mu Heng sat on the sofa, sipping tea and reading the newspaper.
Every now and then he lifted his head to glance at Tang Jin.
The young woman sat at the table, carefully drawing designs.
The oscillating fan hummed as it swayed back and forth. Whenever the breeze reached her, the soft hair by her ears fluttered gently in the wind. She was completely focused—sometimes resting her chin on her hand, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes breaking into a small smile.
People often say that a man looks the most handsome when he works seriously. But when a woman works with such concentration, isn’t she just as beautiful?
The lights were dim and warm, and the years felt peaceful and quiet.
Mu Heng suddenly felt that life like this was actually quite nice.
..
The next afternoon, Tang Jin took the four finished pieces of clothing and went to the Municipal Party Committee’s residential compound.
The security here was not something that could be handled with just a pack of cigarettes.
Holding the address Tang Jin gave, the guard dialed the number written on it. Only after confirming it did he allow her to enter.
It was similar to the military family compound where she lived—outsiders had to be carefully questioned before being let in.
Tang Jin walked around the neighborhood and noticed there was a pond inside the compound, and the greenery was quite nice. In 1985, this would already be considered a high-end residential area.
Most of the buildings in the compound were four-story apartments, though there were also a few rows of two-story standalone houses.
Following the house number, Tang Jin found Fu Wenjing’s home. It turned out to be a two-story house with its own courtyard—and in a very good location.
From this alone, she guessed that the girl’s father was probably a high-ranking official.
Tang Jin pressed the doorbell. Fu Wenjing soon came running out to open the door. She had just answered the call from the guard.
“You’re here! I haven’t even asked your name yet. What should I call you?” Fu Wenjing said, thinking they should at least have a proper way to address each other.
“My name is Tang Jin.”
“Oh, I’m Fu Wenjing. We look about the same age, so let’s just call each other by our names.”
Fu Wenjing really liked Tang Jin. When she went home that day, her mother mentioned that Tang Jin looked like her aunt.
Looking carefully now, she realized it was indeed true. That made her feel an instant sense of familiarity and warmth.
The two chatted as they walked into the house.
Tang Jin looked around. This was quite a modern home for the time.
The space was large, and the furniture was made of redwood—something that would be extremely valuable in the future.
On the TV cabinet sat an 18-inch color television, the boxy kind. Beside it was a telephone.
In the corner stood a single-door refrigerator.
A fan hummed and oscillated in the living room. There was still no air conditioner.
But for 1985, this was already considered a well-off family. Tang Jin remembered that in the 80s and 90s, the main household appliances were basically televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines.
Air conditioners made by Haier had just started production in 1985.
By next year, people could start installing air conditioners, though they were said to cost several thousand yuan—very expensive.
So earning money as soon as possible was the most important thing.
“Have some water first. It’s terribly hot today,” Shen Dongmei said as she came out of the bedroom and casually poured Tang Jin a glass of water.
“Thank you, Auntie.” Tang Jin accepted the cup and thought that the wife of such a leader didn’t put on airs at all. She was so approachable that Tang Jin instantly felt a strong liking toward her.
She lifted the cup and gulped the water down before speaking again.
“Wenjing, these are the skirts I made. One of them is the set you liked yesterday, and the other is a new design. See if you like them.”
Tang Jin had a special talent—her eyes were like measuring rulers. When she minored in furniture design at university, her professor once praised her, saying her eyes were perfect for a carpenter because her sense of measurement was incredibly accurate.
If she estimated something to be about forty centimeters, it would definitely not exceed forty-one.
So with just one glance at a person, she could basically estimate their shoulder width and body measurements in her mind. Most of the clothes she made fit perfectly.
Sure enough, when Fu Wenjing tried them on, both skirts fit very well. More importantly, they were beautiful. She felt they looked even better than the ones she had bought in the provincial capital.
They looked very fashionable—if she wore them out, they would definitely be one of a kind.
Shen Dongmei also thought both dresses looked wonderful on her daughter. One was youthful and lively, the other quiet and elegant. Two completely different styles, each beautiful in its own way.
“Tang Jin, I want both of these skirts. How much are they altogether?” Fu Wenjing truly loved them.
Tang Jin thought to herself that these people clearly had status and position. If she said fifteen yuan, they might think it was too cheap. The price had to be set higher. Besides, she planned to go into high-end custom clothing in the future.
“One skirt is forty yuan. Two skirts come to eighty yuan.”
She was a little nervous, worried they might find it too expensive.
But Fu Wenjing simply walked to the TV cabinet, opened the drawer, and took out eight ten-yuan notes.
“Here you go. These skirts are definitely worth forty yuan each. If they were sold in the provincial capital, they’d probably cost seventy or eighty each. These look much better than the skirts in the department store there.”
Tang Jin accepted the money and quickly took another outfit out of her bag.
“Auntie, this set is a gift for you. Yesterday I thought your temperament was especially good. If you wear this outfit, you’ll definitely outshine everyone. And I find you very kind and approachable—I really like you.”
Tang Jin handed the clothes to Shen Dongmei. Shen Dongmei accepted them a little awkwardly.
“How can I take it for free? I should still pay you.”
“Auntie, it really is a gift. If you look good wearing it, isn’t that free advertising for me? Go try it on and see if you like it.”
Tang Jin didn’t care about a few dozen yuan. It was better to think long term.
“Mom, go try it! I want to see it too,” Fu Wenjing said, pushing her mother toward the bedroom.
Shen Dongmei was pushed into the room by her daughter.
After changing clothes, Shen Dongmei was stunned by the reflection in the mirror.
The outfit consisted of a white three-quarter sleeve silk blouse. The lantern sleeves added a fashionable touch. Paired with it was a dark coffee-colored full skirt, elegant and dignified, simple yet stylish.
The white and brown color combination gave off a graceful and refined temperament.
It matched her aesthetic perfectly.
“Auntie, I’m almost embarrassed to call you ‘Auntie’ now. I should start calling you ‘big sister.’ The two of us look like sisters,” Tang Jin said with exaggerated flattery.
Her compliments made Shen Dongmei beam with happiness.
“Mom, that outfit looks amazing on you! Don’t you have an important gathering with Dad in a couple of days? You should wear this,” Fu Wenjing said, unable to stop praising it. Secretly she admired Tang Jin’s skill. From now on, she would definitely go to her for clothes.
“Little Tang, you really make beautiful clothes. I’ll introduce a few of my friends to you later so they can order from you.”
Shen Dongmei was extremely satisfied with the outfit. She thought she couldn’t just accept it for free, so the only way to return the favor was to introduce more clients to her.
“Then thank you, Auntie,” Tang Jin said. This was exactly the effect she wanted.
“So, Tang Jin, where can we find you if we want clothes made in the future?” Fu Wenjing asked.
“I’m currently looking for a storefront. I want to open a more high-end clothing shop, but I haven’t chosen the location yet. I live in the military family compound. I’ll leave you a phone number.”
Tang Jin thought she could give them her godfather’s home phone number so they could easily reach her.
“You’re a military spouse?” Shen Dongmei asked. If she was the wife of a soldier, that made her even more trustworthy.
“Yes. My husband is in the military,” Tang Jin said proudly.
“Husband? You’re married?” Fu Wenjing was surprised. Tang Jin looked about the same age as her. She herself was still in high school, yet Tang Jin was already married.
“Yes, we just got married this year. I’ll turn nineteen around National Day.”
That seemingly casual sentence made Shen Dongmei’s heart skip a beat.
National Day… nineteen years old?