Su Wanyu paid the money and suddenly felt a rush of elation, as the last bit of unease completely disappeared from her heart.
She held her head high and puffed out her chest, turning to Jiang Changhai with an air of spirited confidence, "Let’s go home."
"Wait a minute, wife, how about we go buy some fireworks and firecrackers? It will liven up our New Year’s Eve," Jiang Changhai said, pulling Su Wanyu towards another counter displaying fireworks.
"Sure." Su Wanyu knew that Jiang Changhai liked these things, so she offered no objection.
Jiang Changhai bought a lot of fireworks and firecrackers. When it came time to pay, the clerk noticed they were struggling to carry it all and lent them his own basket.
After loading up the firecrackers, Jiang Changhai asked, "Miss, do we have any cleaned chickens or ducks here?"
"Brother Jiang, you came too late today. With New Year’s just around the corner, there are so many shoppers that the chickens and ducks sold out early. If you are not in a hurry, come early tomorrow morning," the clerk explained.
"That won’t work, I have to go to work tomorrow. How about this, miss, could you please reserve a chicken for me for tomorrow? If there are no chickens, a duck will do, and also two fish for me to pick up after work," Jiang Changhai requested.
"Sure, Brother Jiang, you can count on me. I’ll reserve them for you as soon as we get the stock tomorrow," the clerk readily agreed.
"Alright then, you go on with your work, we’ll be heading off now." Jiang Changhai, with the basket of fireworks on his back and carrying the clothes they had bought, led his family of three home, their arms full of purchases.
The next day, after getting off work, Jiang Changhai picked up the items he had ordered at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Jiang Mianmian, seeing her dad return, ran over excitedly.
"Dad, don’t change your clothes yet. I’ve got a package that’s arrived; come with me to pick it up," Jiang Mianmian said, batting her big eyes at her father.
"What package?" Jiang Changhai put down the items and followed up with a question,
"It’s something really good. You’ll see when we get it," Jiang Mianmian said mysteriously.
"You little rascal, keeping secrets from your dad? Alright, let’s go get that package." Jiang Changhai ruffled his daughter’s hair affectionately and smiled.
"Wife, I’m going out with our daughter to pick something up. We’ll be back soon," Jiang Changhai called out to Su Wanyu, who was busy cooking in the kitchen.
"Alright, be quick, dinner is almost ready," Su Wanyu instructed from the kitchen.
"Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll be back in no time," Jiang Mianmian called out loudly.
At the post office, once Jiang Mianmian gave her name, the staff brought out a very large package and handed it over.
Seeing the size of the package and fearing it might be too much for his daughter to handle, Jiang Changhai quickly reached out to take it from her.
"Wow, what’s this? It’s so light?" Jiang Changhai, expecting the large item to be heavy, was taken aback by its lightness, which caught him off guard.
Jiang Mianmian, seeing the look on her father’s face, couldn’t help but laugh out loud, "Haha, Dad, these are clothes; they’re not heavy."
"Clothes?" Jiang Changhai asked, surprised.
"Yes, Dad. Remember how I partnered with a tailor in Capital City to make clothes? These are the designs I drew, and I had him make them for us," Jiang Mianmian said proudly.
"Is that so? Then I must have a good look at my daughter’s designs when we get home. Come on, let’s go home; your mother is waiting for us to have dinner." Jiang Changhai, carrying the clothes in one hand and holding Jiang Mianmian’s hand with the other, headed home.
By the time they got home, Su Wanyu had just finished cooking dinner. After the family ate, Jiang Mianmian opened the package and took out three down jackets.