Chapter 230: Buying a Sewing Machine

“Where are you going?”

Wei Guilan asked, wiping glue from her hands.

“To buy a sewing machine! Then I won’t have to stay up all night hand-sewing velvet bows and fabric flower hair clips.”

Wei Guilan’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Buy it! We should definitely buy it!”

When they got to the department store, Song Yao headed straight for the furniture section.

She stood before the display of old-fashioned sewing machines, carefully examining the models, the tension of the pedals, and the stitch length adjustment mechanisms.

She looked through the product manual, tested the pedal a few times, and finally ordered a maroon, old-fashioned sewing machine.

Passing through the women’s clothing section, she stopped for three seconds in front of a pale-yellow dress.

Without further hesitation, she reached out, took two dresses off the rack, and held them in her arms.

“These two. One for me, and one for Yingying.”

Her sister-in-law, Li Ying, hadn’t come along, but she had to get her a dress.

As the cashier was putting the dresses in a garment bag, she added,

“Could I have a gift card, please?”

The clerk obliged. As Song Yao took the bag, her fingers stroked the back of the price tag.

‘The last time I was cornered on the street, it was Guo Shushu who rolled up her sleeves and cursed them out for me.’

‘Shen Zhenwu was the one who paid for the dinner party, so I can’t just pretend it didn’t happen, can I?’

‘My sister-in-law has her gift, and Grandma Yang Wanqing can’t be left out.’

‘But just one for each.’

Song Yao knew exactly what she was doing.

No one in the family was short on clothes. What they lacked was the feeling of being remembered.

After a whirlwind shopping spree, the cash she had on hand had dwindled by nearly a third.

‘Isn’t this all for the sake of making life a little more comfortable and putting a smile on the faces of those around me?’

As soon as she had that thought, she felt a weight lift from her heart.

It was only when Wei Guilan got home and started unwrapping the packages that she discovered Song Yao had bought more than just one item for Grandma.

Two of the items were specifically for her, and Song Yao had also secretly bought two extra dresses for Li Ying.

“These old bones of mine, what am I doing wearing something so new? It would be better to save the money to buy milk powder for the baby…”

“Mom,” Song Yao said, shoving the sewing basket into her arms. “You supported me through everything, stitch by stitch. Don’t you think you’re worth this?”

“What’s the point of earning money if you can’t enjoy spending it!”

Song Yao said with a grin.

“This is too extravagant… The key thing is…”

Wei Guilan sighed, her palms sweating.

“The girl is still in school. If she wears something so eye-catching, people will think our family are nouveau riche!”

Song Yao waved her hand dismissively.

“A young woman should dress herself up beautifully! When you look poised and well-dressed, people won’t dare to push you around.”

Wei Guilan blushed, looking a bit embarrassed.

“I was planning to come over during the holiday to lend a hand… Who knew I’d just end up causing more trouble for you…”

“Oh, what are you talking about? It’s not trouble at all!”

Song Yao’s eyes lit up, a clear smile playing on her lips.

“I’m actually short on help! When Xiao Ying gets here, she can help me string beads, sort the products, and organize the packaging. There’s plenty to do. Getting a helper for free—what a bargain!”

As she spoke, she turned, took a newly opened box of glass beads from the cabinet, and poured them into a woven bamboo tray with a CLATTER.

Hearing this, Wei Guilan’s shoulders immediately relaxed.

“You call that work? If she dares to slack off, you better believe I’ll be there to rip her blankets off!”

‘As long as she wasn’t just freeloading, as long as she could genuinely help her daughter-in-law.’

That awkward feeling in her heart instantly dissipated by half.

The next day brought another downpour.

So Song Yao had to stay home and continue her crafting.

Just before noon, a KNOCK came at the main gate.

Wei Guilan went to open the gate, and Shen Zhenwu’s orderly was standing at the door.

“Excuse me, could you please ask Miss Song Yao to come out? I’m here for her!”

Song Yao came out at the call, and the young man spoke immediately.

“The Chief said to please invite you and your mother-in-law over for lunch. There are guests at the house.”

“Guests?”

“Who is it?”

“Did my husband’s younger sister and her family come back to Beijing?”

Song Yao considered this. ‘If it were Shen Jiajia and her family, the young man would have mentioned their names.’

Sure enough, he shook his head.

“No. It’s a family the Chief has been supporting. The mother’s name is Yu Nana, and the son is Qi Xi. Qi Xi just finished his college entrance exams this year and got into a university in Beijing. It’s just the two of them, mother and son. The mother wants to find some odd jobs near the school after he enrolls, so she can look after him and earn a bit for living expenses.”

“They’ve come today specifically to thank the Chief for helping them out all these years.”

Song Yao blinked.

“Wow, something like that was going on? I had no idea!”

“Alright, we’ll leave right away!”

She turned and went inside to change her clothes.

As she reached the landing, Song Yao suddenly stopped.

“Did my grandma go?”

The orderly nodded.

“The old madam arrived early. She’s chatting with the guests right now.”

“Then please wait just a moment!”

She scurried back and grabbed the two summer outfits she had bought for Yang Wanqing and Guo Shushu.

‘I’m setting up my stall every day now. How can I expect to find time to visit Yang Wanqing in the hospital?’

‘It’ll be ages before I can schedule it.’

‘Might as well bring everything today.’

‘I can’t let the clothes just collect dust in the closet until the weather turns cold!’

The moment Song Yao entered the Shen Family’s living room, she saw a mother and son sitting on the sofa.

Forty-year-old Yu Nana and eighteen-year-old Qi Xi.

Song Yao’s heart immediately felt at ease.

‘This mother and son, they’re dependable people.’

“Hello, Aunt Yu! My name is Shen Songyao, but everyone in the family calls me Song Yao. You can call me that too!”

Yu Nana took out two pairs of shoe insoles from the blue cloth bag she was carrying.

“My hands are clumsy, this is all I know how to make… I sewed them myself, stitch by stitch. They’re not worth much, I hope you don’t mind, Song Yao.”

Song Yao fell in love with them at first sight.

“Wow! They’re gorgeous! Absolutely beautiful! Thank you, Aunt Yu!”

Yu Nana smiled, pursing her lips, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m happy as long as you like them!”

Then she turned and patted her son on the shoulder.

“Xiao Xi, hurry and greet your big sister!”

Qi Xi looked up.

“Big sister.”

When he spoke, he lifted his chin slightly, his gaze resting just above Song Yao’s eyes. After a half-second pause, he gave a light nod.

Song Yao smiled, her dimples showing. “Hey! Hello, little brother!”

“Aunt Yu, I came in such a hurry, I didn’t prepare anything.”

Yu Nana quickly waved her hands.

“Oh, please don’t say that! I just twisted some hemp thread and embroidered some flowers to keep my hands busy. It’s really nothing!”

Her face grew slightly warm, and she added another sentence.

“We’re the ones who feel bad for staying for a meal. We’re afraid of being a bother.”

Yang Wanqing immediately chimed in.

“What nonsense are you talking about? You came all this way and even brought gifts. Would it be right if we didn’t have you stay for a hot meal?”

Her voice was loud and resonant. As she spoke, she took Song Yao’s hand.

“Quick, sit down, sit down! It’s so tiring to just stand around talking!”

Then she turned and beckoned to Wei Guilan and Yu Nana.

“Don’t be so formal, sit! Everyone, sit down!”

Wei Guilan hesitated for a moment, then took Yu Nana’s hand and sat down next to her on a long bench.

Then, they started chatting back and forth about Yu Nana and Qi Xi.

It was only then that Song Yao understood why her father-in-law had always kept this mother and son in his thoughts.

‘Turns out, every family has its own troubles.’

After hearing their story, Song Yao quietly nudged the small wooden stool at her feet half an inch closer to Yu Nana.

Yu Nana had married the third of five brothers.

Her husband was an honest man whose heart was entirely devoted to his parents.

When he was alive, he would give half of his small monthly stipend to Yu Nana and immediately send the other half back to his hometown, not leaving a single cent for himself.

His parents would take the money but only spent it on their favored sons.

As a result, the moment her husband died in service, those relatives turned on her faster than flipping a page.

As soon as the death benefits were deposited, his uncles ganged up to divide the money among themselves, not leaving so much as a single note for the widow and orphan.

With nowhere left to turn, Yu Nana wrote a letter to his unit, thinking it was a long shot.