Chapter 121 This year's winter comes earlier than usual, luxury goods and food

Chapter 121 This year's winter comes earlier than usual, luxury goods and food

Chapter 121 This year's winter comes earlier than usual, luxury snacks

After leaving the tailor shop, Li Jiayi went to Tongshenghe Shoe Store again, where he made five pairs of shoes.

There were still many shoe stores at that time, including Nei Liansheng, Buyingzhai and so on.

However, Buyingzhai was just established, while Nei Liansheng mainly makes cloth shoes.

Only Tongshenghe can make leather shoes and cloth shoes, and the materials are provided by Li Jiayi himself.

He didn't make any fashionable leather shoes, but instead made five pairs of big-toed leather shoes.

It is also pure cowhide, not only that, but sheepskin and wool are also used inside.

They are called big-toe leather shoes, but they are different from ordinary big-toe leather shoes. The main reason is that Li Jiayi required the shoe upper to be higher.

It can completely cover half of the calf, not only that, it also has to be hidden inside.

In other words, after wrapping your calves and tying them, let your trouser legs down and they will basically be invisible.

The reason for this is that there is more snow in this era and it is easy for it to get into the shoes.

After getting the shoes, Li Jiayi returned home late. When he got home, his family was already having dinner.

This doesn't mean that I won't wait for him, because there is no need. In Li Aimin's words, anyone can go hungry, but his son will never go hungry.

All the family members thought that he had not returned yet after dinner and might not come back for dinner, so they went to eat.

He actually planned to eat something outside before going home, but then he thought better of it and decided to go home to eat. However, he didn't expect that the food had already been served at home.

"Son, are you back? Have you eaten?" Ye Xin asked hurriedly when she saw him come back.

"not yet."

"I haven't eaten yet! Go wash your hands and eat. By the way, what are you holding?" Ye Xin asked.

"I asked the tailor and shoe store to make the clothes and shoes for me. The reason I came back late was because I went to get these things."

"You kid, why didn't you tell your elder sister? We thought you were eating out."

This is indeed his own fault. He just asked his elder sister to go home first without telling her where he was going or whether he would come back for dinner.

"I forgot." Li Jiayi scratched his head stupidly.

"Okay, put the things down and eat first."

"Ok!"

Li Jiayi put the things down, washed his hands first, and sat down to eat.

Since he was the one cooking, there was no question of whether it was enough or not.

After finishing his meal, Li Aimin couldn't sit still and impatiently opened the package that Li Jiayi had brought back.

He also wanted to see what clothes were brought back. Not only children like new clothes, but adults do too.

Although their family has no shortage of cloth coupons now, cloth coupons are cloth coupons and clothes are clothes, and they cannot be discussed in the same breath.

"Leather jacket!" Li Aimin opened his mouth in surprise.

Touching the soft leather jacket, Li Aimin couldn't believe it. To be honest, he really liked leather jackets.

When I was in the army, the old regiment commander seized a leather jacket and treated it like a treasure all day long.

It can be said that except for summer, it is worn on the body for more than half of the year, and others are not allowed to touch it.

He also wanted to have one in the future, or to capture one, but unfortunately he never did so until he retired from the army.

"Wow, is there one for me?" my second sister asked excitedly.

"Yes, everyone in our family has one." Li Jiayi said with a smile.

"Great."

The eldest sister and mother went to clean up the kitchen. He didn't know how they would react, but seeing that the father and the second sister liked it, he felt relieved.

As long as you like it, nothing else matters.

"Son, what is this?"

"Goose down clothing, also known as clothing lining, is the clothing worn inside a coat."

“Is this silk?”

"No, this is imitation silk fabric. It feels almost the same as real silk, but there is still a difference."

"Well! If this is real silk, it's really impossible to wear it." Li Aimin said.

In fact, it doesn’t matter even if it is silk, because it is not worn outside, but worn outside the autumn clothes and inside the jacket.

Unless you take your coat off, it's impossible to see.

"Are these big-toed leather shoes? Why do they look different?" asked the second sister holding a pair of shoes.

"It can be said to be a big-toed leather shoe. This is how you wear it." After saying that, Li Jiayi picked up his own pair and demonstrated it on the spot.

Put on your shoes first, then lift up your trouser legs, use the leg guards that come with your big-toed leather shoes to wrap up your long johns, tie your shoelaces, and then put your trousers down.

These big-toed leather shoes are similar to the short boots of later generations, but the leg guard part is slightly longer than the short boots.

To put it simply, it is to prevent snow from getting into your shoes. As long as the laces are tied tightly, it is basically impossible for snow to get in.

"This thing is great! When it snows, there's no need to worry about snow getting into your shoes." Li Aimin quickly discovered the benefits of these shoes.

"Yes, Dad. I specially asked someone to make this. It's made of pure cowhide on the outside, and there's a layer of sheepskin and wool on the inside. It must be very warm in winter."

"Hahaha, good, not bad, but son, these didn't cost a lot of money, did they?"

"Well! It did cost a lot. How about you support me a little?" Li Jiayi said jokingly.

"I have no money. If you need support, go ask your mother." Li Aimin quickly shook his head.

It seemed like asking him for money was like asking for his life, which made Li Jiayi speechless.

"Brother, which one is mine?" the second sister asked at this time.

"This set is yours, take it in!" Li Jia handed her the clothes and shoes and said.

Whether it was clothes or shoes, they were all sized, and his and his two older sisters' were all a little bigger.

It's definitely fine to wear it this winter, but it might be a bit difficult to wear it next year.

Even if it's all made of real leather, there's no way it can be made extra big. It should be fine if I wear it next year!

That would be too ugly, and he didn't want to go out wearing such big clothes.

At worst, he can make another set next year. He has plenty of cowhide and sheepskin anyway. It’s just a matter of spending some money, which is not a big deal for him.

In his opinion, any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.

"Thank you, brother." After saying thank you, Li Jialin went into the room with her clothes and shoes.

Soon, my mother and eldest sister finished their meal and came to the main room. When they learned that Li Jiayi had made a complete set of leather clothes, as well as goose down jackets and shoes for them, they were very happy.

"Mom, Dad, Big Sister, put the clothes away first! Now is not the time to wear them."

"Yes, yes, put it away."

The eldest sister took her things back to her room, and her mother put away her parents' things.

"Brother Li, are you home?"

At this moment, Liao Kai's voice came from outside the door. "At home, come in."

Soon Liao Kai pushed open the door and walked into the room.

"Xiao Kai, what's the matter with you coming here so late?" Li Aimin asked.

"It's like this, Brother Li. It's getting cold today. I have a day off tomorrow, so I thought I'd go buy some coal."

"That's true. I also feel that it got cold earlier this year. It's not even halfway through October and it's already so cold."

"Yeah! It feels a bit abnormal this year." Liao Kai nodded in agreement.

"You came to me because you want me to go buy coal with you?" Li Aimin asked.

"Well! We didn't buy much coal, so we need to hire a cart to transport it back. Why don't we go together?"

"Okay, but forget about hiring a cart. I'll go to the next yard to borrow a bunk bed tomorrow and we can go together."

"Dad, we don't need to buy coal. The coal I brought back is enough. Even if it's not enough, I'll find a way. Just leave it to me."

Only then did Li Aimin remember that there seemed to be a lot of coal in the shed. Judging from the quantity, there were at least two or three tons.

"Son, since we have the tickets, it would be a waste if we don't buy them. You'd better buy them." Li Aimin shook his head and said.

Li Jiayi smiled and said, "How can it be a waste? You can give the tickets at home to those who need them, such as Uncle Liao, and Uncle Sun, Aunt Cheng, and Aunt Xu's family."

Others may not know, but Li Jiayi is very clear that this winter is a cold one, colder than any previous year.

Whether it is Liao Kai or Grandpa Sun, Aunt Cheng, or Aunt Xu's family, there is not enough coal.

Even if we add the coal we buy with their coal coupons, it may not be enough.

"Brother Li, has your family bought the coal?" Liao Kai asked.

Li Aimin shook his head and said, "I didn't buy any. I asked someone to bring some back from Jiayi. It should be enough for this winter."

"That's it!"

Li Aimin smiled and said, "Xiao Kai, we still have several hundred kilograms of coal coupons. How about this, you go find Lao Sun and his family to buy with you. I'll give you the coal coupons, and you can discuss how to distribute them."

"Ah! Brother Li, you..."

"Okay, it's just a few coal tickets. It's a waste if we don't use them. That's it."

"OK then!"

Liao Kai was not being pretentious. Just like his father said, it was just some coal coupons.

Li Aimin went back to the house to find Ye Xin and took out the coal ticket, then handed it to Liao Kai and said, "There are more than 600 kilograms in total. Each of you can buy more than 100 kilograms."

Don't underestimate this family's more than 100 kilograms. If it is made into honeycomb briquettes, it will be more than 100 yuan.

Based on the normal daily consumption of four pieces of honeycomb coal, it can burn for more than a month. Unfortunately, this year is a bit abnormal.

In previous years, we used to have four pieces of honeycomb coal a day, but this year, six pieces a day may not be enough. There is no other way. If the weather is too cold, we have to seal the stove and there will be no warmth at all.

If it is not sealed, a lot more coal will have to be burned.

"Brother Luggage, I'll go and discuss it with Lao Sun and the others."

"Yes! Oh, by the way, let Lao Sun borrow a cart from next door, and you can bring the goods back in one trip."

Because of Liao Kai's identity, he had no way to borrow a cart because others simply didn't dare to deal with him.

"Okay, let's do this! Each of the three of us will share 150 kilograms, and the remaining dozens of kilograms will be given to Old Sun."

You should know that borrowing a handcart is not free. You have to pay a few cents each time you use it.

If Grandpa Sun goes to borrow money, then the other party will definitely ask him for the money.

"I think it's okay." Li Aimin nodded.

"By the way, Brother Li, what if they give money?"

Speaking of this, Li Aimin was also stunned for a moment. Yes! Although Uncle Sun and his family are in a difficult situation, they are not the kind of people who like to take advantage.

Although coal is very cheap, costing just over one cent per pound, less than two cents, and coal tickets are even cheaper, it can still be sold for money.

The coal sold at the coal station is not anthracite. Even if there is anthracite, it is sold to people with connections or status.

Ordinary people can only buy the most common coal, which costs only about 30 yuan per ton, not much more.

As for coal coupons, they were very cheap, so cheap that ticket scalpers wouldn't buy them. After all, every household had one, and they were basically enough for their own household use.

Of course, this is under normal circumstances, but unfortunately this year is not normal.

"Uncle Liao, you said that I don't have enough for my family and I don't want to sell it. It's not worth much, so I gave it to you. You can't use it all by yourself."

"Fine!"

"Oh, Uncle Liao, if you have the conditions, you should go to Pigeon City to see if there is anyone selling coal tickets. If there is, it would be better to buy more."

Liao Kai scratched his head and said, "Selling coal tickets? No one should be selling coal tickets! This thing is not worth much."

Li Jiayi thought about it and it was true. After all, he had been in Gezi City for such a long time and had never seen anyone selling coal tickets.

"Uncle Liao, since there are none, you can ask someone to see if there is anyone selling them. But don't buy tickets from people you know, and don't buy tickets from people in need."

"Ugh! What do you mean?"

Li Jiayi's words left Liao Kai confused.

"Uncle Liao, don't worry about what I mean. Just do as I say."

"Okay, I'll ask someone when I get to work on Monday, and if they have it, I'll buy more."

"Ok!"

After Liao Kai left, Li Aimin looked at him and asked, "Son, do you know something?"

"Dad, what can I know? I just feel that the weather this year is a little abnormal. It is likely to be a cold winter. In that case, it would be a good idea to prepare more coal."

Li Aimin nodded in agreement and said, "That's true."

This cold winter also marked the beginning of a three-year period. Because it was a cold winter, many crops froze to death, resulting in a reduction in grain production.

In the past, people said that auspicious snow meant a good harvest, but if the snow was too heavy and the weather was too cold, it would not be a good thing.

That would not be a good year, but a bad year. If the wheat seedlings are all frozen into ice and break at the touch, and many of them are frozen to death, can it still be a good year?
Definitely not!
"Okay, it's getting late, let's go to bed early." Li Aimin said.

"Dad, tomorrow is Sunday."

"Uh! Okay!"

Having said that, Li Jiayi still returned to the room.

Because he is busy tonight, there are not many spicy strips left in the space, so he has to make some in the evening.

He also wanted to make something else. Yes, he planned to make some glutinous rice noodles, but he was not going to exchange them with others, but to eat them himself.

Jiangmi strips are a kind of strip-shaped puffed food made from glutinous rice flour and coated with sugar. It is a "pocket snack" for many children of this era.

This kind of food was very popular in the imperial capital of that era, not only because of its unique taste, but also because it became a relatively luxurious snack choice in that era of relative material scarcity.

Adults are often reluctant to enjoy them themselves and would leave them for their children, which makes Jiangmi Tiao a beautiful memory in the hearts of children of this era.

Yes, you read that right, in this era, glutinous rice noodles are indeed a luxury snack.

(End of this chapter)