"Mm-hmm," Aunt Zhang quickly walked to the chests, her eyes falling on the brightly colored, silky, and stylish clothes. Each piece felt wonderful to the touch, making it impossible for her to pick just one.
"Oh, my! These clothes, the colors are so beautiful!" Aunt Zhang's head ached. She looked to Fu Wenwen for help. "Fu Zhiqing, could you pick one for me? My Liu Zi is fourteen this year."
"Then Auntie, you can choose this red dress. Pair it with a white top, and it'll be exceptionally beautiful, accentuating her figure," Fu Wenwen picked up a dress and smiled.
"I don't have any white clothes at home!" White was a luxury, and in the countryside, where people worked hard every day, who would buy white? Aunt Zhang looked at the dress, caught in a dilemma.
Fu Wenwen picked up another dark-colored dress. Aunt Zhang looked at the blue and then the red, still preferring the red. After some thought, she decided she would find a white top to go with the red dress.
She immediately took out four yuan and handed it to Fu Wenwen. "Fu Zhiqing, could you get me a white top to match this red dress?"
Fu Wenwen nodded and pulled out a floral-hemmed blouse from underneath. Aunt Zhang was very pleased and, carrying the clothes, beamed. "Fu Zhiqing, thank you so much."
She thought of her daughter's upcoming matchmaking meeting. With this outfit, she was sure to find a good husband.
Aunt Zhang left with her clothes, satisfied. Aunt Lin, who had been waiting outside, saw Aunt Zhang emerge with the clothes and her clearly pleased expression. She couldn't help but go inside.
Fu Wenwen had just put away the money when she saw another aunt walking in. "Auntie, do you also want a couple of pieces? See if there's anything you like?"
"Fu Zhiqing... I... I don't have that much money..." Aunt Lin said awkwardly. Her family had everything, except for cash.
She looked at Fu Wenwen's clothes. She wanted to get one for her own daughter too. If other families had them and hers didn't, her vanity-loving daughter would surely throw a fit.
"Auntie, it's alright. You can exchange them for grain, and I'll take it!" Fu Wenwen smiled. In fact, she preferred grain over money; her family was short on provisions.
Although she had provisions in her spatial dimension, her current body was too weak. Every time she opened the dimension, she suffered from a splitting headache. She needed to recover her health before she could access it.
"Grain? Yes, yes, yes!" Aunt Lin's eyes lit up. Exchanging for grain would be wonderful.
Aunt Lin immediately perked up and picked out a yellow dress. "Fu Zhiqing, I'll take this one. Please save it for me. I'll go home right now and get you the grain."
"Okay!" Fu Wenwen nodded. Aunt Lin hurried home to get the grain.
As Aunt Lin left, she happened to see Xiao Hong approaching with a large group of people. Aunt Lin quickened her pace, afraid that by the time she returned, the clothes would be snatched up by someone else.
Xiao Hong returned with Chen Lingling and another close friend, Wu Fang. Behind them were over a dozen other aunts, approaching with an imposing air.
Fu Wenwen was so startled she almost slammed the door shut, but Xiao Hong quickly called out, "Sister, don't be scared, it's me!!"
"Sister Xiao Hong! I thought someone was coming to seek revenge! You scared me to death!" Fu Wenwen patted her chest. Xiao Hong smiled sheepishly. "Aren't these all the aunts from the village? When there's something good, everyone should get to participate. Sister, please don't mind!"
"That's right, Fu Zhiqing, don't be afraid. We won't eat you!" an old aunt chuckled, teasing Fu Wenwen, who looked so timid.