Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s
Chapter 45 - 044 Clothing Manufacturing

Chapter 45: 044 Clothing Manufacturing

Walking along the road, one hand holding Meng Shuyan, and the other carrying some groceries, Tian Sangsang was noticed from afar by her fragrance.

A woman approached curiously, "Sangsang, what are you carrying? The scent is wafting all the way over there."

Searching her memory, she realized the woman was from the same village, though not someone she was familiar with.

Tian Sangsang answered politely, "Oh, it’s nothing much, just some fried pig offal I cooked myself. Today, Sister Meng gave me a hand, so I’m bringing her some as a thank you."

The woman peeked at the bag—wow, that was a lot. This was truly surprising. Tian Sangsang, known for loving food, was offering it to someone else! Usually, she’d hoard it all for herself.

The woman’s expression became a bit odd. "Sangsang, I heard you struck it rich when you went to town recently, bought all kinds of things?"

That didn’t sound quite right.

"Auntie, where did you hear that from?" Tian Sangsang knew it was likely some gossip being spread. She smiled, "I’ve just earned a little money, bought a few things to make life easier at home. We didn’t even have sewing supplies, so I still need to go to Sister Meng’s place to make use of her sewing machine."

The woman looked her over carefully—it didn’t seem like she had hit the jackpot. And giving something to the widow Meng? Obviously because she needed to borrow the sewing machine. Still, the woman tried probing further, but Tian Sangsang made an excuse and left quickly.

"Your eldest’s Sangsang seems to be doing well for herself. I just saw her carrying several bolts of Dacron fabric," the woman turned and started chatting with Chen Guilan and Tian Tian.

"Impossible! Where would that girl Tian Sangsang get the money?" Chen Guilan scoffed.

"You don’t know!?" The woman shook her head, speaking as though she’d witnessed it firsthand. "She went to the town market today, said she was selling some steamed dumplings. Came back hauling fabric and a whole load of other things—her hands were so full she could barely handle it. And she’s even cooking pork—smells delicious!"

"Buying both fabric and pork..." After the woman left, Chen Guilan muttered, "What kind of steamed dumplings could she possibly make to trade for fabric and pork?"

"Mom," Tian Tian affectionately took her mother’s arm, "That fatty’s really making waves now. She can make dumplings, so can we! I heard she used crabs."

A glimmer of greed flashed in Chen Guilan’s eyes. She patted her daughter’s hand. "I’ll get your dad to catch a few crabs later."

The Tian Family was ultimately just another rural household, far from wealth or extravagance. Whenever a money-making idea came up, everyone was eager to try it out.

The widow Meng was hanging laundry in her courtyard when she spotted Sangsang approaching. She quickly put down her work, beaming, "Oh, Sangsang, you really came! Need to use the sewing machine? Come, I’ll take you inside."

Her gaze then shifted to Meng Shuyan, inspecting him over and over with her eyes practically glued to him. "Is this your Yanyan? How handsome he is! Among all the kids in the village, yours is the best looking."

Inside, the widow Meng brought out a few candies wrapped in colorful sugar paper. "Here, some milk candies for the child to try."

"Oh, Sister, these are too precious. You keep them for yourself," Sangsang said.

"Keep them for what? I don’t even have kids at home." The widow chuckled, insisting on giving the candies to Meng Shuyan.

But Meng Shuyan didn’t take them. Instead, he looked up at Tian Sangsang.

Seeing her nod, he finally accepted, his smile bright like sunshine. "Thank you, Auntie."

"He called me Auntie!" The widow Meng said joyfully, reaching out to touch his soft curls. She couldn’t resist—the feel of his hair was simply too pleasant.

"Sister Meng, here’s the pig offal I cooked. Like I said earlier, you must try it!"

Widow Meng lifted the cloth covering the dish, revealing stir-fried pig stomach with green peppers, chili, and other ingredients. The vibrant mix of red, green, and white looked very appetizing.

Taking a whiff, she exclaimed, "Sister, you weren’t kidding—this smells amazing!"

"By the way, Sister, I also made some for Brother Li. But you see, with all the sewing and no time to deliver it myself—not to mention the nosy gossip in the village—I don’t dare bring it over myself anymore."

"You know how the villagers love to gossip. It’s good you don’t have any ill intentions. How about this: I’ll take it over for you. I’ve been through it all, so I’m not scared of any chatter." Widow Meng smiled warmly.

That was exactly what Sangsang needed to hear. She replied gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Meng."

Tian Sangsang sat at the widow Meng’s sewing machine. It was an old-fashioned beehive brand machine with a black metal frame and pedal. The whole thing was taller than Meng Shuyan. In reality, the hardest parts of making clothes were drawing patterns, cutting shapes, and creating templates. The actual sewing was relatively easy. Years ago, she had used a sewing machine back home, and the muscle memory was still there.

Once seated, she touched the machine and tried pressing the pedal, threading the top and bottom threads. The familiarity came rushing back, as though it was second nature. Women’s skill in sewing was like men’s instinct in... other areas—it just came naturally and could spark creative ideas.

The widow’s collection of thread wasn’t vast—mainly black and white, with a few spools in red, purple, orange, blue, yellow, and brown. That was it.

"Mom, are you making clothes?"

Tian Sangsang turned her head to meet her little boy’s wide, glistening eyes.

"Yes, I’m making you new clothes."

Hearing this, Meng Shuyan’s dark pupils lit up with joy, and he quietly stayed by her side, watching her sew.

Time passed unknowingly, and outside, the sun moved from high noon to the slanting rays of sunset. Sangsang had finished a set of pajamas and two summer outfits before stretching lazily.

Clothes in this era were overly simple. She wanted to add an embroidered animal to the front but was hesitant since she had no experience in this area. She contemplated, unsure where to start.

"Sister Sangsang, what’s taking you so long? What are you thinking about?" Widow Meng’s laughter suddenly came from behind her.

Glancing at the window, Sangsang’s face showed some guilt. "Sorry, Sister Meng. Once I get into something, I completely lose track of time."

"No problem." The widow Meng examined the clothes closely. "You made these well—neat stitches too. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, let me know, and I’ll give you some advice." Widow Meng had a passion for making clothes herself. Back then, her husband had gone out of his way to get this sewing machine to make her happy.

"Oh, no need to trouble you, Sister. I was actually thinking of embroidering an animal on the clothes—it’d be easier to do at home with a needle." Yes, embroidery could achieve this, without relying on the machine.

The widow Meng was a little surprised. Kids’ clothing in the village was usually passed down from siblings, adjusted here and there for a better fit—nothing fancy. Sangsang’s attention to detail gave her a fresh perspective. Still, looking at Meng Shuyan’s adorable face, the widow wasn’t surprised. If she had such a handsome child, she’d pour all her effort into him too.