For the common folk in the countryside, winter was the most comfortable time of year.

The weather was cold, there wasn’t much work to do in the fields, and it was nearly impossible to find labor jobs outside the village.

Nearly all productive activities came to a halt during this season, making life much easier for people.

Most people slept in late, then had a meal that served as both breakfast and lunch. The men would sit on the heated brick bed, smoking their long-stemmed pipes for half the day, while the women stitched shoe soles, spun thread, twisted hemp rope, or shelled peanuts for seeding. The more nimble-fingered ones might make a small pouch or weave a decorative knot.

The tasks were all leisurely. With idle chatter, half the day would just slip by.

Come late afternoon, they would cook and eat a meal for both lunch and dinner. Once the pots and bowls were washed and put away, everyone could return to their own rooms to rest.

The day would end just like that. Life couldn’t be more relaxed and comfortable.

But for families marrying off a daughter or welcoming a new daughter-in-law, life wasn’t nearly so pleasant.

Take Xu Suying, for example.

After the bustle of Mrs. Wang’s birthday banquet, she no longer needed to travel to the county town.

However, the makeup and styling she had done for the young ladies had been so spectacular, and the dress she designed for Mrs. Wang’s youngest daughter-in-law—the madam from the Prefecture—had also caught the eye of many others.

As a result, many people had approached Mrs. Ying in recent days, hoping Xu Suying would custom-design some outfits for them. Of course, there were also those who paid Silver for her makeup and styling services.

After all, the end of the year was the prime season for matchmaking. People who did business or studied in other towns would be returning home one after another.

Matchmakers seized this opportunity to arrange various meetings, and the young women of marriageable age all began to worry about their appearance.

People were worried that Xu Suying might be too busy, and they also considered that heavy snow could block the roads, making it impossible to reach her when needed. Furthermore, considering the value for money, Xu Suying’s business hadn’t declined much at all; in fact, it had become even better.

Between preparing her daughter’s dowry, tidying up the house and yard, drafting design sketches, and finding time to go to the county town to teach the young maids the application techniques for a particular makeup style and the hairstyles and clothes to match, Xu Suying was so busy she was constantly on her feet, and she even looked to have lost some weight.

Although she was thinner, her spirits seemed higher than ever. She walked with a brisk, confident air—the very picture of a sharp and capable woman.

The sharp and capable mother, Xu Suying, took stock of the betrothal gifts sent by the Zhao Family and was very satisfied.

Although she had twice sent word to Mrs. Zhao, suggesting the engagement gifts could also serve as the betrothal gifts, Mrs. Zhao had not agreed.

Jing, meanwhile, had taken on a lot of extra work. Before the wedding, he had sent over six bolts of silk, a silver hairpin, as well as pastries, tea, pigs, sheep, and other livestock for her daughter. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The reason they sent silk instead of ready-made clothes was that with so many people getting married at the end of the year, many residents of the Zhao Village went to the county town to buy outfits for their daughters. It was there, in Mrs. Ying’s shop, that they saw Xu Suying designing clothes for customers.

The news that Xu Suying knew how to make clothes—and that even the wealthy ladies of the county town were lining up to request her designs—spread like wildfire.

After hearing this, Zhao Jing’s mother abandoned her original plan to buy ready-made clothes and bought bolts of silk instead.

This silk was not cheap. That, plus the silver hairpin, had probably emptied the Zhao Family’s coffers.

Xu Suying ran her hand over the silk, marveling silently.

’The texture of fine goods is truly different,’ she thought. ’The sheen is almost dizzying to look at.’

"This is all fine material. Save it for making clothes later. You don’t need to make anything right now. Mother has already made you six new outfits, and with what’s already in your wardrobe, you’ll have more than enough for daily wear."

Chen Wanqing nodded. "You’re right, Mother. That’s what I was planning, too."

"As for this bolt of cyan silk, you can take it out soon after you’re married and make some clothes for Jing. I’ve noticed he seems to quite like this color, and the clothes he usually wears are all rather worn. He ought to have a few new sets of clothes for when he goes out."

"Alright, I’ll make them when I have the time."

"Don’t wait until you have time. You’re free now, so do it now."

Chen Wanqing was bemused. "But I don’t have Jing’s measurements."

"I have them. I asked Second Aunt to get them from Mrs. Zhao a while ago. Didn’t I just buy a ready-made outfit for my son-in-law? If you make another one, that will make a pair, which is a nice gesture."

"Mother, my wedding is only three days away."

"Three days is more than enough time. Alright, stop dawdling and chatting with me. Go on into your room and get busy. It’s good to have something to do. It’ll keep you from getting anxious and restless."

Chen Wanqing wanted to say, ’Isn’t every bride-to-be like this?’