Song Dingxiang [Completed]

C34.2 Contract. (2)

Chapter 34.2

Song Dingxiang sat on the kang bed, watching Sixth Grandaunt spin thread.

The wool, once stiff and heavy with grease, emerged from the boiling water transformed. Gone was the coarseness. Now, it was a revelation of softness, each white tuft yielding to Sixth Grandaunt's touch.

With practiced ease, her nimble fingers coaxed the wool into even, smooth threads, their transformation as remarkable as a magician's sleight of hand. Song Dingxiang watched in awe, mesmerized by the way the raw material yielded to her grandaunt's skill, becoming something far more delicate.

There was just a little wool left, and it quickly spun into thread. Sixth Grandaunt handed the thread to her and said, "This wool thread is rough and can't be worn close to the body, so what are you going to do with it?"

"I know it can't be worn close to the body, I just want to see if this thing can provide warmth... Sixth Grandaunt, why are there two different types of wool threads?" Song Dingxiang only realized the difference in texture when she held the thread ball in her hand.

Sixth Grandaunt smiled and said, "I sorted the wool and spun both the soft and fine, and the rough and hard threads separately." She gestured towards the piles of neatly organized wool, "You might find them useful."

"Oh, Sixth Grandaunt, you're so kind!" Song Dingxiang hugged her tightly, making her blush with happiness.

"You little girl, always trying to please. Take this back, it's just thread, no need for such a valuable gift." She stuffed the handkerchief that Song Dingxiang had given her back.

Song Dingxiang didn't take it and said with a smile, "This is for Auntie and Sister-in-law to play with, my grandma asked me to bring it over. If I take it back, I'll be scolded by my grandma. This was also given to our family by someone else, both me and Zijin have one."

Sixth Grandaunt still refused, "We are a rural family, wearing this would make it hard to work."

Song Dingxiang smiled, "Auntie must be around ten years old now, right? In a few more years, she'll be a young lady. And Sister-in-law is always busy, she should dress up for the New Year. Sixth Grandaunt, just accept it, if you don't want it, I'll give it to Auntie and Sister-in-law separately."

Sixth Grandaunt couldn't help but smile and said, "You're such a smart girl, I wonder who you take after. Then I'll keep it, such a valuable gift... sigh."

Song Dingxiang said, "It's just a few rings, Sixth Grandaunt, don't take it to heart. The value of a gift doesn't matter, what matters is its usefulness. Besides, can't Sixth Grandaunt afford a few rings? This is just a small token of my appreciation, after all, it's been troublesome for you, and Sixth Grandpa always looks stern when he sees me."

Sixth Grandaunt laughed and said, "Why would he look stern? You've brought so many nice things these days, he's been nothing but happy."

In an act of neighborly kindness, Song Dingxiang's family shared their homemade pickled vegetables with several households. The tangy, savory treats, likely as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation.

Later, Sixth Granduncle even personally bought a few pounds of spicy cabbage from their butcher shop, knowing his wife liked it. There, he carefully selected a few hefty pounds of the prized ingredient, a smile playing on his lips in anticipation of her delight.

Upon returning home, Sixth Granduncle presented his spicy cabbage bounty with a flourish. His wife's face lit up with a radiant joy that warmed his heart.

Eager to dig in, she wasted no time preparing a dish. As they savored the flavorful meal together, he couldn't help but beam with pride. Her love for the spicy cabbage was evident – she devoured her portion with gusto, happily exceeding her usual serving size by half a bowl, making him very happy.