Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 279: Guilt

In an instant, Yi Chichi’s mind conjured up the image of him last night, wearing a holey vest after taking off his shirt, and she couldn’t help but twitch a little at the corner of her mouth.

"I haven’t been stingy with you about money, how come you haven’t even changed your vest?"

Previously, Wen Shi suggested sending his salary home to her every month, but Yi Chichi refused. Going to the communal post office to collect money every month was quite a hassle.

Moreover, a man needs to have money on hand, especially in Wen Shi’s line of work, where it’s common to help families of fallen comrades or lend to comrades urgently in need.

Otherwise, not having money when it’s crucial would be quite embarrassing.

Money is a man’s courage; the appearance you present with or without money is vastly different.

Since Yi Chichi is good at making money, she doesn’t pay much attention to Wen Shi’s salary and doesn’t feel the need to hold on to it.

So, aside from her asking for tickets, she lets Wen Shi keep all the money.

Even so, this guy still sends half of it along with the tickets every month.

Thinking of this, she said, "You didn’t lend out all your money, did you?!"

"No, I didn’t."

Wen Shi quickly denied, "I’m not that kind of man without sense and not looking after the household."

"I doubt it; otherwise, how come you can’t even afford a vest?"

"... It’s not that I can’t afford it; it’s mainly because it’s still wearable, plus..."

Seeing that she didn’t seem angry, Wen Shi bravely expressed his feelings, "I want to wear the ones you make."

Yi Chichi laughed; this was quite acceptable.

"Tomorrow I’ll buy some cotton fabric and make you some."

Not just vests, but also underwear.

The ones made before had been washed to the point they turned white and thin, and seemed like they wouldn’t last much longer.

Sure, they provide clothes, shoes, and socks for them, but the underwear isn’t cotton, and the material is quite something; stifling and non-breathable.

Plus, due to their profession, ripped crotches became normal.

Cotton would be better, more breathable, and sweat-absorbent.

"Wife, you’re so good."

Wen Shi was delighted, as he had another opportunity to show off.

Thinking of Old Qi and the others’ envious faces, his mood shifted from pleasant to blissful.

To Yi Chichi, it just seemed cheeky.

"Pace yourself."

Upon seeing someone passing by out of the corner of her eye, she quickly reached out and pinched him.

Wen Shi, "..." Just now she smiled at him gently, but now she’s pinching him.

Oh, women, thy name is fickle.

He gently responded and chatted with Yi Chichi about the changes on the island.

As time passed and the sound of a long whistle echoed, the dock arrived.

Wen Shi picked up the bag and said, "We’re here, wife, let’s go ashore."

"Let’s go!"

Empty-handed, Yi Chichi jumped off the boat like a wild horse off reins, grinning from ear to ear.

The moment her feet stepped onto the solid ground, her heart finally settled.

Indeed, neither the sky nor the ocean could give her as strong a sense of security as the land.

"Shall we go home first or buy groceries?"

"Buy groceries."

Then, Wen Shi led Yi Chichi to the other side of the dock.

This side was full of fishing boats, and in these times, there was no such thing as a fishing off-season.

Therefore, there were plenty of fishing boats going out and coming back to the dock.

There were personnel in work uniforms, state-run buyers, and union representatives purchasing fish catches, as well as a few private buyers, but not many, just a few scattered ones.

Yang Qing was one of them.

Yi Chichi and Wen Shi had just arrived, and Yang Qing, who had already completed her purchase, was coming out with two turbot and several crabs. Upon seeing Yi Chichi, she paused for a moment before greeting her with delight, "Ms. Yi, when did you arrive?"

"Hello Ms. Yang, I just got here."

Glancing at Wen Shi, she smiled and asked, "Buying seafood to cook at home?"

"Old Wen is cooking."

Yi Chichi pointed at Wen Shi, and Yang Qing laughed heartily, "No need to tell me, I already know it’s him cooking."

After all, when Yi Chichi wasn’t around, Vice Commander Wen would cook at home whenever he had time, and her husband, Old Huang, would go over for a meal.

Knowing the couple, newly reunited, would prefer not to have outsiders around, especially as Vice Commander Wen returned to an expressionless look, Yang Qing tactfully said, "You two carry on, I’ll head home to cook, and I’ll come find you tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Ms. Yang, take care."

"See you tomorrow!"

Waving her hand, Yang Qing left with the seafood, while Yi Chichi and Wen Shi went to pick out some seafood, buying some flower crabs and mantis shrimp.

They also bought an East Star grouper.

"Does the vegetable garden have any vegetables?"

Wen Shi pursed his lips, embarrassed, "There used to be, but then I went out to sea for a few months and couldn’t take care of it, and by the time I came back, the garden was abandoned."

Yi Chichi was quite disappointed, "So there’s no fresh veggies to eat now."

"There are."

Wen Shi couldn’t bear to see her disappointed, thinking it was just some vegetables, "Go pick some from the He Family; they have so much, they’re always thinking of giving them away."

However, most couples living in the community have their own gardens, and they are equally abundant and unneeded.

For husbands like him, whose wives are not around, but have houses in the community, they mostly eat at the cafeteria.

Therefore, the He’s vegetables couldn’t be given away easily, and Mr. Zhang, being accustomed to frugality, couldn’t bear to see good vegetables wasted, so he’d either give them to the cafeteria.

But even the cafeteria had gardens, with better survival rates and fruiting conditions for fruits and vegetables than in the community, so there was no shortage of fruits and vegetables at all.

In despair, He Yunsong and Comrade Xiao Zhang had to diligently dry veggies and fruits whenever they were at home.

Old ones hadn’t been finished yet when new ones were ready, and the couple, wanting to finish the dried foods at home sooner for convenience, didn’t even dare to eat at the cafeteria.

They spoke of feeling guilty.

Recalling He Yunsong’s complaints, Wen Shi comforted, "Don’t feel bad about it; the He Family would be thrilled if we helped lighten their load by picking some vegetables."

Yi Chichi didn’t answer, but upon arrival, she discovered Wen Shi hadn’t lied at all.

He Yunsong was out at sea, and Comrade Xiao Zhang had just gotten off work at that time, and when they arrived, the grandfather and grandson were sitting at the door sorting vegetables. Upon learning they came to take some vegetables, Comrade Xiao Zhang immediately put down the empty heart greens he was holding and said with a bright smile, "Come in and pick for yourselves, I’ll go get you a basket."

Before the words fell, she dashed into the utility room like lightning and came out with a huge basket.

Then, carrying the basket, she enthusiastically rushed to Yi Chichi and pulled her into the garden, "Chichi, pick a lot, and if it’s not enough, come back for more, otherwise it’ll all rot in the ground without being eaten."

As she spoke, she picked several large eggplants and threw them into the basket. Seeing she was about to pick more, Yi Chichi hurriedly stopped her, "That’s enough, that’s enough, any more and we won’t be able to finish it."

They were only two people, and truly couldn’t consume much.

"Well, that’s enough eggplants, take five cucumbers then."

"One is enough."

The old variety of cucumbers was huge; Yi Chichi hefted one and weighed it, goodness, it was three or four pounds.

"If there are too many cucumbers, dry them and make pickles or brine them."

"You know how to make those?"

A voice sounded unfamiliar, Yi Chichi paused, and then realized the unfamiliar female voice came from the courtyard next door.

Looking up, she saw a lady with a gentle and delicate face.

Xiao Zhang and Wen Shi quickly introduced her, saying she was Tong Nian, the wife of Political Commissioner Tan.

She worked at the Women’s Federation.

Yi Chichi smiled and greeted Tong Nian; she smiled back, "No need to be formal, I’ve just heard you say you can make pickles, I’d love to learn."