Chapter 5: The Excellent Younger Sister-in-Law (5)

Fortunately, after the resumption of the college entrance examination, English gained momentum, and Russian gradually faded from the exam market.

Many schools canceled the Russian language course, and although Hongqi High School still retained it, the class hours were reduced to only two Russian classes per week.

The day Xu Yin returned to school happened to be the second Russian class of the week, and there would be no more Russian classes for the next few days.

Xu Yin was quite relieved about this.

During the ten-minute break, female classmates who had a good relationship with Xu Yin gathered around her.

They originally wanted to ask her why she had submitted a blank paper, but when they saw her unusual pants with the two pockets on the buttocks that looked like patches but weren't, they found it novel and asked her which tailor had made them.

After all, they had never seen such pants on the market, so they definitely weren't bought.

Xu Yin deliberately stood up and turned around to show them: "Do you like them? My sister-in-law made them. She even made another pair for me, which looks even better."

"Is this shirt also new?"

"Not really, just a slight modification."

Actually, she had just taken in the waist, which, combined with her good figure, made her look even more slender and well-proportioned.

Sure enough, the girls with similar body types were moved by this:

"Xu Yin, does your sister-in-law make clothes for others? I can provide the material and pay for the labor; I want this style."

One request led to another, and another.

Before Xu Yin could even show off her new pants to her sister-in-law, she had already received three orders.

Tong Guizhua ordered a pair of pants.

Two girls in the front row each wanted a pair of pants and a floral short-sleeved shirt.

In those days, girls who could attend high school either came from families with decent conditions or were extremely pampered.

Moreover, it was the beginning of the week, so they had some pocket money.

If it wasn't enough, they could borrow from classmates, and by noon, they had all gone to the fabric store to buy the material.

Fortunately, the fabric rationing system had been abolished at the end of last year, and cotton fabric was now freely available.

Otherwise, even if they had saved enough money, they might not have been able to buy the fabric they wanted.

On Saturday, Xu Yin, with a bulging schoolbag, hurried home excitedly.

The Russian teacher, seeing her small figure pedaling hard against the sunset, sighed:

"To carry so many books home on a day off, she must be very diligent, but why can't her grades improve..."

Could it be that his teaching method was flawed?

Xu Yin didn't know that her poor Russian grades had made her teacher reflect on himself.

She returned home, rewarded with 20 energy points for "riding 15 kilometers."

"Dad! Mom! I'm back!"

The first one to run out was Little Douding.

He still remembered Xu Yin's promise to bring him some snacks when she returned.

Xu Yin, of course, hadn't forgotten. When she and her classmates visited the fabric store, they passed by a shop that also sold candies and cookies, and she bought a few ounces.

Now, she opened her schoolbag and took out two White Rabbit milk candies for her nephew:

"I've put the rest with Grandma. If you want some, ask Grandma, but you can only have two a day, or you'll get cavities."

Little Douding nodded and carefully put the candies in his pocket, then skipped into the house.

At this moment, Xu's mother, who had finished her kitchen work, came out.

"Why are you buying candy when it's not a special occasion?"

"Oh, I'm just happy! Mom, look!"

Xu Yin proudly opened her schoolbag.

"You bought more fabric? Where did you get the money?"

"This isn't for me; it's for my classmates who asked me to bring it to my sister-in-law to make pants and shirts. They liked my pants and want to make similar ones. Here's the deposit; the rest will be paid when they're done."

"What?" Xu's mother was a bit confused. "What do you mean?"

Xu Yin, hugging her mother, walked into the living room and explained her idea, which she had been thinking about for a week:

"My sister-in-law is good at sewing, so I helped her get a few orders. During the farming off-season, she can earn money by cutting fabric and making clothes at home. Tailoring is much more profitable than carrying manure for the village and is also more dignified."

"This..."

Xu's mother was wavering.

Since the family hadn't split up, the money earned by the eldest son and his wife had to be turned over to the family, managed by her.

If there was a more profitable job, she would be the happiest.

"Only... won't private business be illegal?"

"Oh, Mom, what era is this? No one will bother you."

Xu's mother was moved.

If she was convinced, the others would be easier to persuade.

Xu's father always spoiled his daughter.

Not to mention letting his eldest daughter-in-law learn tailoring to earn money, even if the money earned was used to buy new clothes for his daughter, he wouldn't mind.

Xu's sister-in-law had no objections either.

Compared to chopping wood, splitting logs, and carrying manure for the village, making clothes was much easier for her.

Especially since her younger sister-in-law had contributed the sewing machine from her mother-in-law's room, and after cutting the fabric, a few pedal strokes would complete a pair of pants.

In just a day and a half off, the three pairs of pants in the orders were completed.

Making shirts was more complicated than making pants, so Xu Yin told her not to rush. She had already told her classmates that the shirts would be delivered the following week, and it was already impressive to complete three pairs of pants in such a short time.

The work pants and modified shoes she had asked her sister-in-law to make were worn when she returned to school, to attract more... cough, orders.

"Mom, I'm going to school. Take care of yourselves."

Xu Yin, pushing her bicycle, instructed the two elders as she walked:

"Also, now that my sister-in-law has taken on the work, don't let her do heavy labor. Not only will it tire her out and make her less efficient at sewing, but rough hands can damage the fabric, and the classmates will ask me for compensation... Listen to me, save the less urgent tasks for when my brother comes back, and for the urgent ones, hire someone. It won't cost much. If you take more orders at school, you'll earn it back."

Xu's mother nodded in agreement.

In the past two days, she had seen her eldest daughter-in-law's capabilities, and most importantly, the real money.

Three pairs of pants and two polyester shirts, just the deposit alone, exceeded the annual income from carrying manure for the village.

If, as her daughter said, they took on more orders, wouldn't they earn money hand over fist?

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. For the less urgent tasks, your father and I will do them slowly. Don't count on your brother; he just passed through here on Qingming and hurried back home, and the next time might be a long way off."

"Then hire someone. Money is meant to be spent. If I come back and see you or Dad looking thinner, I won't let my sister-in-law take on any more work."

"Alright, alright... go to school quickly."

Xu's mother waved her hand, not wanting to argue further.

Who hires people to do farm work? Only their daughter, who had never done a day of farm work.

Since she had to go to school, the two elders would secretly do the work, and she wouldn't see it.

Unexpectedly, Xu Yin squatted down to instruct Little Douding:

"Bean, help your aunt keep an eye on Grandpa and Grandma. If they don't behave, tell your aunt."

Little Douding, who had been bribed with a few ounces of cookies and milk candies, nodded seriously.

Xu's mother: "..."

She felt that the family had already been taken over by her daughter, and the two elders had lost their authority.

She glared at her grandson: little traitor!

Little Douding smiled and hid behind Xu Yin.

(End of Chapter)