Chapter 1231 - 1104: Keeping Up with the Times

Chapter 1231: Chapter 1104: Keeping Up with the Times

History’s tide can come suddenly, and no matter how hard you struggle, nobody can stop it.

If the "pants worn by foreign cowboys" incited a group of old ladies to grab scissors and snip away, leaving the fashionable youth powerless to resist.

Then, the topic of "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend," once again presented as an artistic policy, brewed a storm.

In August of this year, the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty was signed in the capital, gradually restoring trade between the two countries.

October followed by the introduction of quite a few Japanese films, and one of them, "Home from the Sea," shocked the nation.

Zhou Jiao, rushing to and from work every day, had no time to watch the Japanese films being released; she only heard colleagues discussing the plot of "Home from the Sea."

This film is said to focus on the Southern Ocean sisters theme, mainly telling the bittersweet history of those sold into the Southern Ocean. There are also some subtle implications in the dialogue.

This famous film, although Zhou Jiao had never seen it in either of her lifetimes, did not affect her having heard comments from various eras.

To this end, she specially arranged to see it with Yi Jiefang and some wives together. Based on her perspective, it was nothing like a restricted film.

The mistake lies solely in its timing.

Currently, people’s living standards are generally low, entertainment options are limited, basically to listening to broadcasts or watching model operas, with minds not fully liberated.

Even though it was strictly censored, protests from conservatives demanding its ban arose, denouncing it as "**."

And this year, the arts scene was just beginning to warm up, or you could say it was just thawing.

The hero characters in Beijing Opera and model operas were mostly single or had unclear marital statuses. Hmm, the only confirmed married woman was Ah Qing, whose husband was also off "running solo."

Thus, love scenes had always been strictly controlled as a forbidden zone.

The sudden appearance of a Japanese film focused on female issues was a shock, akin to detonating a powerful bomb in a stifling room, leaving everyone stunned.

Compared to the conservatives’ staunch protests, young people were different; their thoughts seemed to break free from all restraints.

Due to the makeup in the film, the young people’s desire for beauty was ignited instantly, the female lead’s attire became all the rage across the entire mainland.

No longer an occasional thing for a few fashionable youths, it was as if overnight, streets and alleys saw clothing that was different from the past.

Many young men and women were wearing various shirts and bell-bottoms, some donned frog-eyed sunglasses, and young men started adopting hairstyles from other film actors.

Young women were no longer uniform, secretly letting their hair down, either tied up in ponytails or hanging loose over the shoulders, refreshing people’s view.

Walking the streets, finally, there were not just national defense green and blue ants everywhere.

"Women dress for those who admire them."

Watching the ladies starting to dress flamboyantly, Zhou Jiao’s heart for beauty was also stirred.

Getting home after work one day, her mom, Miao Lishan, was waiting at the door for her.

In high spirits, Zhou Jiao greeted her with a smile, "Mom, why are you outside?"

Miao Lishan cast her a sidelong glance, "What are you aiming for? Busy all day doing nonsense."

Zhou Jiao laughed casually.

"Forget it, forget it, I won’t say anything to you." Miao Lishan shook her head, bypassing the topic, patted Zhou Jiao’s arm as she led her in, "Are those jeans in our house still there?"

"They’re all there." Zhou Jiao was a bit surprised, "Mom, who wants them?"

Miao Lishan blinked in confusion, "No one came to ask me for them, have you gone silly from being so busy? I wouldn’t tell outsiders we have them."

"Oh, I thought you wanted to give them away. Didn’t I tell you before, everything is in the storage room cabinet, you haven’t looked?"

Miao Lishan frowned, "Did you say so? Seems I’ve forgotten again; do you think your mom is getting old, why’s my memory so bad lately?"

Zhou Jiao twitched, "Mom, quit pretending."

You’re not forgetful, you’re just lazy to rummage through things!

She occasionally stayed over at the courtyard for a night or two, reminding them before leaving each time: If you need anything, go look in the storage room. She didn’t believe that reason anymore.

"Look through those, see if they’re okay, you still need more clothes."

Smiling, Zhou Jiao said, "Mom, I’m not short on clothes."

Miao Lishan raised her eyebrow, looked Zhou Jiao up and down, whether with disdain or sarcasm, making a tutting sound as if lamenting.

"With what you’re wearing? Are you lacking money or food? Ugly as death!"

Zhou Jiao stared in disbelief.

Miao Lishan burst into laughter seeing her expression, messing up Zhou Jiao’s hair before withdrawing her hand just as Zhou Jiao was about to explode.

"Things are different now, although my daughter is beautiful, if attending a gathering, can’t still be wearing a white shirt and army pants, right?"

Zhou Jiao hooked her arm through hers, walking inside together, "Mom, you have to see how much clothes I have first."

Miao Lishan scoffed, "All from before May 1st? You’re outdated! Can’t do, too old."

"Ah, take a look first. If we really need to buy clothes, your grandson’s so big already, some clothes outside aren’t suitable for me, they’re for little girls."

"Who said so? Throw out your yellowing white shirts, the fading army pants."

"Mom, that’s not in line with military tradition."

"Stop joking, even your dad doesn’t wear them."

Zhou Jiao was rendered speechless. Can you really compare?

"Don’t hold onto money so tightly now, our family isn’t short of means. Buy more beautiful clothes while you’re young, when you’re old you’ll want them but can’t have them."

Unable to tolerate her nagging, Zhou Jiao pulled her upstairs to her room, then rushed over to the adjacent storage room.

Fortunately, although she hadn’t acted on impulse before, she had felt inspired. Otherwise, explaining how she preserved clothes over the years would have been tricky.

After Zhang Guoqing’s carpentry work, the storage room was well organized.

Aside from a few wooden crates, there were shelves with boxes, a small room barely allowing her to squeeze in, no wonder her mom was unwilling to enter.

With enthusiasm, she first took out an empty box, chose autumn clothes from the opened wooden crate, and placed untransferred items from the space into it.

Like various cheongsams and long dresses she always stored, as well as various garments previously gifted by Miao Family, and others...

After so many years of accumulation, there really was much. Her eyes were dazzled, glancing over... Was she a frugal person, her mom did underestimate her.

However, winter clothes couldn’t be taken out at all, otherwise they really wouldn’t fit in this tiny room.