"I know, Mom. Bai Jiu has already packed everything. I can just drop it off directly tomorrow," Bai Xingguo said, looking rather embarrassed.
Mother Bai nodded. "Then Xinghua should come straight back after dropping it off tomorrow. Don’t eat at the bride’s home—come home for meals," she instructed her youngest son.
"Why?" Bai Jiu asked, somewhat confused.
Having listened for a while, she was baffled. Why weren’t they hosting a banquet for the engagement? And why couldn’t they stay for a meal when delivering the gifts? She had too many questions.
Mother Bai smiled and began to explain it to her.
"That’s because Xingguo and his wife will be living here in the future. Naturally, they should eat at home. What sense does it make to eat at the bride’s home? Are they going to rely on her family for the rest of their lives?" Mother Bai chuckled as she finished.
Bai Jiu didn’t have any memories of the original owner’s wedding. One could also say the original owner had intentionally tried to forget it, so there was nothing for Bai Jiu to draw reference from.
"There’s actually a saying like that?" Bai Jiu said, shaking her head.
"There are a lot of traditions, but they aren’t popular nowadays. Everything is kept simple. However, Xingguo does need to take Gao Li shopping tomorrow," Mother Bai explained. She then looked at her eldest son. "Xingguo, take Gao Li to buy ready-made clothes tomorrow. We haven’t prepared these in advance, and your wedding date is so close. It’s better to just buy ready-made ones."
During an engagement, the groom’s side was expected to buy clothes and shoes for the bride, giving her a brand-new outfit from the inside out. A total of two sets were needed. One set would be worn at her maiden home, representing the groom’s sincerity in seeking marriage. The other set would be worn when she got married, representing that she was marrying with a clean and pure background—though, of course, this outfit had to be prepared by her maiden family.
The second set prepared by the groom was to be changed into after the bride entered his home, symbolizing his family’s acceptance of her.
Seeing her daughter’s interest, Mother Bai patiently explained every single detail.
"I’ll give you the bicycle ticket in a bit. Take the money and go buy one. As for large appliances, that’s the only one our family can afford. As for the sewing machine, see how it goes. If you have enough money, buy it," Mother Bai said.
It would be put to good use at home anyway. The Xiang family had already stated that the betrothal gifts sent by the groom would be brought back by Xiang Gaoli when the time came. It wasn’t that Mother Bai was being stingy, but rather that the family genuinely didn’t have much money.
"Mom, Gao Li said she doesn’t want to buy a sewing machine. She doesn’t know how to make clothes," Bai Xingguo relayed Xiang Gaoli’s intentions.
Upon hearing that Gao Li didn’t know how to sew, Bai Jiu didn’t think much of it. She didn’t know how to, either. However, a sewing machine was indeed not cheap, even though the family really needed one. Since her mother knew how to sew and made very beautiful clothes, buying one would be a great idea.
"Xingguo, I think you should still buy one. Even if Gao Li doesn’t know how to sew, Mom does. Whether making clothes for adults or children in the future, it’ll save a lot of trouble," Bai Jiu expressed her opinion.
Mother Bai felt the same way. It was just that money was a bit tight.
"Then I’ll discuss it with Gao Li again."
Watching his wife and children discussing things so harmoniously, Father Bai felt incredibly satisfied.
Xiuxiu and Zhengyang also joined in on the excitement; they wanted to tag along tomorrow. But Bai Jiu didn’t allow it. Whether Gao Zhijun was truly dead or just missing, it was highly inappropriate for her and her two children to show up at a wedding right now. Bai Jiu was well aware of this taboo.
The two children were quite unhappy about it, but Bai Jiu managed to coax them by promising to take them shopping for New Year’s goods tomorrow.
Bai Xingguo had originally wanted to say that it would be fine if they came along, but seeing his parents and little sister’s attitude, he decided against it.
The next day, Bai Xingguo and Bai Xinghua carried the gifts on shoulder poles and headed to the Xiang family.
Aside from Bai Jiu, Father Bai, and the two children, the other two had gone to work. After tidying up the house, Bai Jiu bundled the two children up like little dumplings.
"Let’s go, we’re off to buy New Year’s goods." She couldn’t break her promise to the kids.
"Mom, let’s take Grandpa with us." Xiuxiu looked extremely reluctant to leave her grandfather home alone.
"No can do. Grandpa isn’t fully recovered yet and shouldn’t be exposed to the cold, so he can’t go." Bai Jiu shook her head and crouched down to speak softly to her daughter.
Father Bai’s heart practically melted.
"Grandpa won’t go today. When I’m all better, I’ll take Xiuxiu out to play, okay?" Father Bai smiled, followed by a slight cough.
Seeing her grandfather like this, Xiuxiu stopped fussing. "Okay then. When the time comes, Grandpa has to take me to catch sparrows, alright?" The little girl had been thoroughly won over by her grandfather’s sweet promises over the past two days.
Father Bai smiled and nodded. "Of course. I’ll even take you to forage for herbs."
He had promised them all of this.
"And Zhengyang too."
"Yes, and Zhengyang too."
Bai Jiu looked exasperated. These two children had truly missed out on a lot of their childhood.
"Alright, we’re heading out now. Otherwise, all the goods at the supply cooperative will be snatched up," Bai Jiu said, interrupting the negotiations between grandfather and grandchild. "Grandpa, be good and stay at home. We’ll be back very soon."
Holding one child in each hand and carrying a large woven basket on her back, she set off. They weren’t short on food at home, but Bai Jiu simply loved to shop. She still had plenty of supplies in her spatial dimension, more than they could ever finish eating. But she still loved buying what she needed; the joy of shopping was incomparable.
The closer it got to the New Year, the colder the days became. Not long after they stepped outside, a light snow began to fall. She had pretty much explored the entire town, so today she planned to take the two children to the county seat. She had already decided on this yesterday, though she hadn’t told her family.
"Mom, where are we going? Are we taking a bus?" Zhengyang asked in confusion after following his mother to the bus station.
"We’re going to the county seat to buy New Year’s goods. There aren’t many things in our town, so I’m taking you to the county seat. Sound good?" Bai Jiu said with a smile.
Hearing that they were going to the county seat, the two children were stunned. They had never been there before. If they hadn’t come to their grandmother’s house this time, they wouldn’t have even visited the town. Even when they were in town, they had stayed indoors the whole time and hadn’t stepped out the door once.
"Mom, is the county seat big?" Zhengyang’s eyes lit up. It was obvious he was really looking forward to it.
Xiuxiu also looked at her mother with eager, inquisitive eyes.
"The county seat is bigger than our town, and there are a lot more people." To be honest, she hadn’t really taken the time to stroll around the county seat herself. Most of her visits had been quick trips to sell goods, leaving as soon as she was done.
"Are there fun things to play with there?" Children were still children; no matter how sensible they were, they still wanted to play.
"Yes. Mom will take you to have some fun today, okay?"
Fun? She actually didn’t know. There weren’t many things for children to play with in this era. Aside from watching movies and buying snacks, there didn’t seem to be much else to do.
"Hooray!"
There were four daily bus trips to the county seat, and they were currently taking the second one. There was a return trip to the town at seven in the evening, which she planned to catch with the two children. For the whole day, they would be in charge of their own itinerary.
After bumping along for over an hour, the mother and her two children arrived at the county seat. This time, she hadn’t disguised herself, nor was she afraid of bumping into anyone she knew.
"Mom, where are we going now?" Zhengyang asked, looking up at his mother while taking in the bustling crowds around them.
Bai Jiu had already planned out their itinerary for the county seat.
"How about we go watch a movie first?"
Upon hearing they were going to watch a movie, the two children jumped for joy, not seeming the slightest bit hampered by being bundled up so tightly.