"Mom, look, isn’t it nice? This is the New Year’s gift I got for you. It’s a bit early, but I designed it myself and had it made by a tailor in Capital City. They’re selling really well there," Jiang Mianmian said proudly as she held up the red, long women’s down jacket.
"A New Year’s gift for me? Dear girl, you really are my little intimate cotton-padded jacket. I love this gift," Su Wanyu said as she examined the long, slim-fit down jacket, turning it over in her hands with great pleasure.
"Dad, this one’s for you," Jiang Mianmian said as she took out the men’s down jacket and handed it to Jiang Changhai.
Her own down jacket was also red—heh, it was obviously a parent-child matching set.
Actually, black and white would match better, but white gets dirty too easily.
"Thank you, my dear daughter. Come on, Dad will try it on right now," Jiang Changhai said very supportively as he immediately put on the down jacket.
"Mm, not bad at all, it fits me perfectly." Jiang Changhai, tall and long-legged, was naturally suited to clothing. Plus, since Jiang Mianmian had made it to measure, he looked especially sophisticated in it.
Seeing him wearing it, Su Wanyu could not resist trying on hers too. The down jacket Jiang Mianmian had made for her was a slim-fit model.
Su Wanyu had a slender figure, but each winter, she would cover herself in those bulky, heavy cotton-padded jackets, completely hiding her good figure for no good reason.
Now, wearing the slim-fit down jacket, she looked much more slender than in her cotton-padded jackets!
Su Wanyu looked at herself in the mirror from all angles, becoming more satisfied the more she looked.
"Daughter, you’re so talented. This design is wonderful. I look so good in it I could even be a model," Su Wanyu said as she lovingly held Jiang Mianmian’s face and kissed her several times. In praising her daughter, she also didn’t forget to compliment herself.
"Mom and Dad, I’m glad you like them. How about we wear our down jackets when we go back to the village?" Jiang Mianmian suggested enthusiastically.
"Sure, let’s wear these ones. Oh my, it’s too hot, I’ve got to take it off. You know, this down jacket is quite handy to wear, and it really is warm. I’ve barely had it on for a moment, and I’m already starting to sweat," Su Wanyu said as she took off the down jacket, folding it neatly and putting it away.
Jiang Changhai also carefully removed his jacket, appreciating it all the more because his daughter had designed it herself. He had to keep it well preserved.
The next morning, after breakfast, Jiang Changhai went off to work at the transportation factory.
Su Wanyu busied herself packing the things they needed to take back to the village the next day. Suddenly, she remembered that they still needed to buy some New Year goods: "Daughter, we forgot to buy canned goods and sugar cubes the day before yesterday. Let’s go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative later and pick some up."
As soon as Jiang Mianmian heard this, she set her Walkman aside: "Okay."
Once Su Wanyu was finished packing, as the two of them were getting ready to leave, Jiang Mianmian suggested, "Mom, let’s wear our down jackets when we go out."
"Sure," Su Wanyu agreed cheerfully.
She too loved beauty. Before, when they only had cotton-padded jackets, it didn’t seem too bad, but after wearing the slim-fit down jacket yesterday, she found that looking at the bulky cotton-padded jacket now made it quite unappealing.
Mother and daughter quickly agreed and got ready to head to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in their warm and convenient down jackets.
As soon as the two stepped out the door, they saw Wang Li’s Mother, Aunt Li, and a few other neighbors standing at their doorsteps chatting.
When the neighbors saw Su Wanyu and Jiang Mianmian coming out in fashionable and beautiful down jackets, their eyes lit up.
Once the two stood beside them, the contrast between the thick cotton-padded coats and the down jackets was even more striking.