Feng Qingxue stopped, "Second Brother, just tell me what you want."
Feng Aihua scratched his head, stuttering for a while before finally uttering, "Do you have any old military uniforms that Lu Jiang left behind? I could borrow it for my wedding day! It would be even better if you have liberating shoes."
Feng Qingxue, upon hearing this, felt both a pang of sorrow and a sense of amusement.
His words reminded her of the old stories her grandparents used to tell. It was a time when people would borrow clothes for their weddings, clinging to them so dearly that they hesitated to take them off even to sleep. Some people would also borrow liberating shoes which they too would wear to sleep, hoping that they could keep them on their feet for just a bit longer.
Some families only had one set of clothing suitable for visiting relatives, so whoever went out would be the one to wear them.
This situation was so common that nobody would make fun of others for it.
Although Uncle Feng’s family was relatively better off, their clothes were still patched and mended over three new years and three old years.
"We do have Ajiang’s old uniform at home. I’ll wash and iron it for you, then bring it over tomorrow," Feng Qingxue considered it for a moment, then added, "Liberating shoes aren’t breathable and can make your feet smell. Everyone at home wears cloth shoes with layered soles. But we do have these three-ended leather shoes that Ajiang bought for his wedding. Not sure if you can fit into them, Second Brother."
"Leather shoes are certainly better than liberating shoes!" Feng Aihua grinned from ear to ear, "Whether they fit or not, I’ll have to try them!"
Feng Qingxue gave a wry smile, "Come to my house and try them, Second Brother."
Feng Aihua agreed instantly without another word, completely ignoring his departing relatives.
When Lu Jiang’s father and Wang Zhengguo ordered the furniture to be made, they took many things into consideration. They had a shoe cabinet built, which was placed neatly behind the door of the hall. Behind the other door, there were racks for washbasins and toiletries.
Feng Qingxue opened the shoe cabinet and took out the leather shoes she had bought for Lu Jiang as a wedding present. They were essentially his most prized pair.
After their marriage, Lu Jiang wore them each time he went into the city. However, he did not take them when he left. The shoes, still polished and shined, were like new.
"Oh! They’re from Badaling!"
Feng Aihua took the leather shoes but didn’t wear them immediately. Instead, he stepped outside to wash his feet. After drying them with his pant legs and ensuring they were no longer wet, he carefully slipped his feet into the shoes. His eyes sparkled as he said, "Xiaoxue, they’re a bit large, but I can wear them!"
If they’re slightly large, it doesn’t matter. On the day he could just pad it with an additional insole, or even two if one is not enough. As for if the shoes were too small, that would be a problem - they would squeeze his feet and hurt when walking.
Feng Qingxue looked at the shoes knowing they were more than just a bit large, by at least two sizes.
"As long as you can wear them." Feng Qingxue smiled, "You’re getting married on the 18th, and I’ll leave on the 17th, bringing the uniform and the shoes over together."
"Thank you so much, Xiaoxue," Feng Aihua reluctantly took off the leather shoes, gently handing them back to Feng Qingxue. As he put on his worn-out cloth shoes with two big holes, his eyes lingered on the leather shoes now back in the shoe cabinet, "Remember, don’t forget. Whether I look impressive on my wedding day is all up to you."
"Rest easy, my Second Brother!" Feng Qingxue had already opened a box while he was washing his feet and trying on the shoes, and handed him two pieces of printed fabric from ethnic minorities and a pair of red pillowcases, "Second Brother, give these to Second Aunt, so I won’t have to make an extra trip."
Feng Aihua declined, "How can I take your things."
"Take them!" Feng Qingxue pushed them into his hands, "When I got married, Second Uncle and Second Aunt did not treat me poorly. Now that you’re getting married and we can afford it, naturally we should make it look good. If anyone asks, don’t say it’s from me."
After hearing this, Feng Aihua took off his clothes, wrapped the fabric and pillowcases, and tucked them under his arm.
Before leaving, he specifically requested that Feng Qingxue lend him her bicycle for the wedding procession.
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m