ARC 2: Stepmother in the Seventies ✦ c71~116 (46)
✦ 21
Translator: InkyDragon (https://inkydragontranslation.wordpress.com)
As Gu Shi Chu was about to head back, burdened with her purchases, her gaze caught sight of a figure that seemed vaguely familiar. She squinted, trying to place the face, which bore a striking resemblance to someone she knew.
Her eyes widened in astonishment as she realised who it might be. Could it be? The height, the sharp features, the pronounced brow, and the unmistakable nose– weren’t they identical to those of her “blue-eyed confidant,” Ji Ming Tao?
- ( “蓝颜知己” (lán yán zhī jǐ) literally translates to “blue-eyed confidant.” In Chinese culture, this term is used to describe a close and trusted friend, typically of the opposite gender. )
Despite the crude disguise that attempted to mar his natural handsomeness, turning his face into something unremarkable and his skin a shade darker, Ji Ming Tao’s distinctive physique and bone structure remained unchanged. Gu Shi Chu, a master of disguise herself, recognized him at a glance.
The effort put into his disguise was commendable, a testament to his skills. Gu Shi Chu’s admiration for him grew once more.
She had long suspected that Ji Ming Tao led a more comfortable life than he let on, hinting at other, perhaps illicit, sources of income. Seeing him now in the bustling black market only confirmed her hunch.
Curiosity piqued by the unexpected encounter, Gu Shi Chu decided to linger. She wanted to see if Ji Ming Tao was a buyer or a seller this time.
Under the guise of an ordinary man, Ji Ming Tao laid out several flashlights on the table, followed by a selection of watches, inviting interested parties to approach.
Gu Shi Chu was taken aback by his merchandise. She had anticipated that if Ji Ming Tao were to engage in such dealings, it would involve more mundane items, perhaps meat of wild animals. But flashlights and watches? These were rare and highly valued commodities, almost considered luxuries in their scarcity. She wondered where he had sourced such items, and the quantity was not small either.
This revelation further deepened Gu Shi Chu’s respect for Ji Ming Tao. He was indeed a man of many layers.
With her interest in the market now waning, Gu Shi Chu gathered her belongings and slipped away to a quiet alley, free from prying eyes. There, she shed her disguise, transforming back into the guise of a simple rural girl.
Gu Shi Chu made it a point to visit the department store. She
weaved through the bustling street, the air thick with the murmur of conversation.
The store was always bustling with villagers from nearby towns, eager to explore the goods and broaden their horizons. Most, however, simply browsed, faces pressed against the glass displays, their pockets lighter than their dreams.
On this particular visit, Gu Shi Chu had a specific item in mind: sanitary pads. When she approached the salesperson, however, she was met with an arrogant glare and a dismissive response.
“Sanitary pads? What sanitary pads? We only have toilet paper.”
Gu Shi Chu was taken aback. Could it be that sanitary pads were simply unavailable in this era? She had always relied on the stash of pads she had brought from her previous world, but now they were all used up. She had never expected to face this problem in the modern era.
Determined to find a solution, Gu Shi Chu asked the shop assistant, “What do women use here during their monthly cycle?”
The assistant rolled her eyes and pulled out several black rectangular cloth pouches from a corner shelf. “You mean menstrual belts (月事带)? Just call them that. Fancy words won’t get you anything new. How many will it be?”
- This so-called belt was composed of a rectangular strip of cloth, with materials for absorption in the middle, and two strings sewn at both ends. These two strings would be tied around the waist. Women could continue to move and work as usual when they wore this belt. Plant ash was commonly used for the middle layer because of its strong absorbency and perceived sterilisation and disinfection benefits. During the Tang and Song dynasties, paper-making improved, and ordinary women could use paper to replace plant ash.
Gu Shi Chu picked out three with a mournful expression and added, “And a few more jins of toilet paper.”
Seeing that Gu Shi Chu was actually making a purchase, the shop assistant’s demeanour softened slightly, and she brought out some toilet paper for her as well.
Leaving the store with her sanitary products in hand, Gu Shi Chu couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness. In her previous life, she had only used menstrual belts out of necessity, but now, in the modern era, she never expected to have to rely on them again.
But even in ancient times, when she wasn’t born into wealth, she had always found ways to earn her own money and managed some semblance of comfort. She had filled her menstrual belts with clean cotton and discarded them after use, rather than resorting to the ashes that the daughters of poor families had to use.
Now, cotton was not readily available. Gu Shi Chu felt a twinge of worry. She regretted not having planted cotton in her companion space before. If she had, she could have been self-sufficient and not have to rely on these makeshift solutions.
As the afternoon wore on, the villagers gathered at the agreed-upon spot, and Gu Shi Chu followed them home. She carried a variety of items in her hands and a backpack slung over her back.
Zhang Wei Hong approached, looking surprised, and asked, “Shi Chu, what did you buy? So much stuff!”
Gu Shi Chu smiled and replied, “Just daily necessities, like oil, grain, and so on. Since I rarely come to the county town, I naturally bought everything I needed. I didn’t realise I had bought so much.”
Zhang Wei Hong offered to help carry some of the items, but Gu Shi Chu quickly refused. “No need, no need. I’m quite strong. I work in the fields like a labourer and can earn ten work points. Carrying these things isn’t tiring for me. I won’t trouble you.”
Zhang Wei Hong couldn’t help but notice the backpack Gu Shi Chu was carrying. “That basket of yours is really nice and convenient. Using two straps to carry it on your back must be better than just one, right? Hmm, why didn’t I think of making a basket like this?” she exclaimed in amazement.
“This is called a backpack. I made it myself,” Gu Shi Chu explained. Nowadays, most people carried handbags or shoulder bags, so Zhang Wei Hong found the backpack novel.
“By wearing it on your back like this, you don’t need to use your hands, and you can free up both hands to do other things. Shi Chu, I also want a backpack like this. Can I learn how to make one?” Zhang Wei Hong pleaded, looking at Gu Shi Chu.
Gu Shi Chu nodded. “Of course, you can. I can teach you. Hey, you teach me high school knowledge, and I’ll teach you how to make a backpack. This is mutual help, isn’t it?”
Zhang Wei Hong was delighted. “Yes, I will definitely teach you well!”
With Zhang Wei Hong, the lively girl, by her side, Gu Shi Chu didn’t feel too tired and returned to the village. After arranging for Zhang Wei Hong to visit, Gu Shi Chu went back home.
In the evening, instead of going to find Ji Ming Tao, he came to Gu Shi Chu himself, holding something in his hand.
“I bought you some clothes,” Ji Ming Tao said, taking out two tops from the cloth bag. One was a blue cotton women’s Zhongshan suit, and the other was a gray dacron sleeveless shirt. These two pieces of clothing were considered fashionable at that time.
Now, Gu Shi Chu wasn’t particularly fond of such old fashioned Mao Period style clothes, but Ji Ming Tao’s intentions were pure. With a practised smile, she exclaimed, “Wow, these are beautiful! Thank you so much!”
Seeing her so pleased, Ji Ming Tao couldn’t help but smile slightly. He thought to himself that the salesperson at the department store was right. It’s hard for a girl not to like such clothes.
─── ❖ ── ☆ ── ❖ ───
( )………( )
(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)
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