Chapter 53: Winter Silk and State Store Bargains

The morning was crisp, touched by the faint silver mist of winter breath, and Jia Lan stirred beneath her thick cotton quilt. As the faint clatter of cookware sounded from the kitchen downstairs, she sat up slowly, relishing the warmth of the bedding before swinging her legs over the side.

Her room, nestled beside the south-facing window, was filled with the soft gray light of the season. She lit the brass hand-warmer and placed it near her study desk. Then, with practiced grace, she stood and stretched, tying her dark hair into a soft braid before beginning her morning preparations.

Today, she chose a light gray woolen qipao-styled dress, lined with soft flannel. Over it, she added a long slate-blue woolen coat with traditional toggle buttons and a velvet collar. Her boots, polished the night before, slid on easily. She adjusted her scarf—a deep maroon one embroidered by Xu Li—and slipped in a pair of delicate silver hairpins.

In the mirror, she gave herself a small smile. Though she felt chaotic and humorous on the inside, her reflection gave the calm, graceful aura of a well-raised city miss. Just the way she liked it.

She picked up her cloth handbag and made her way downstairs.

The house was warm, scented with sweet corn porridge and pickled mustard greens. The bustle of family was already in motion, and Jia Lan stepped into the rhythm of it easily, greeting her grandparents and siblings.

The morning broke gently, sunlight glinting off the melting frost on the rooftops. Inside the Jia residence, warmth and activity stirred.

Jia Lan woke early, brushing her hair neatly and selecting a deep red wool-lined coat embroidered subtly with plum blossoms. Her gloves matched, and her long scarf—hand-knitted by Xu Li—was draped over her shoulders.

In the kitchen, her mother was checking a neatly written list.

"We'll get some good herbal tea, a woolen blanket, and a few rare snacks," she said to Yao Jing's mother. "It's not much, but it's important we show care to our son's in-laws. Wei and Jing have just started their life together. It's good for families to exchange warmth."

Yao Jing's mother nodded. "You're thoughtful. Lan Lan takes after you."

Yao Jing peeked into the kitchen. "Ready? We'll need my cousin to hurry up or she'll make us late."

Xiulan eventually arrived, wearing a fur-lined cape more suited for a stage play than a department store line. "I'm ready," she said, chin high.

Jia Lan smiled. "Then let's not keep the ration counters waiting."

---

They boarded a public trolley to the city's largest State Department Store, a gray building with wide glass windows and rows of bicycles parked outside. Inside, it buzzed with quiet energy—orderly lines, clerks in dark blue uniforms, and shelves stacked with ration-limited goods.

The group split responsibilities. Yao Jing's mother and Jia Lan's mother checked their ration coupons and headed to the fabric section, while Jia Lan and Yao Jing browsed the small homewares.

Jia Lan helped select a woolen blanket and two sets of enamel tea mugs. Yao Jing grinned. "My in-laws will feel like royalty."

Xiulan trailed behind, pouting as they avoided the clothing floor. "This place is so plain."

Jia Lan replied lightly, "That's how you know it's state-approved."

Yao Jing snorted. "And your sense of fashion is not."

Laughter followed. Jia Lan, ever polite, added, "It's not about the glitz. Practicality is fashionable too."

---

Next, they headed to the clothing and footwear section, where bolts of cotton and thick wool coats were folded on display tables behind glass. After checking their ration stamps and queuing briefly, Yao Jing's mother picked out a sturdy padded coat in dark green and a pair of insulated cloth shoes for her husband.

She glanced at Jia Lan's mother and whispered, "He's worn the same coat for two winters. Time to change it, but he'll fuss about wasting money."

They both chuckled softly.

Yao Jing helped her mother choose a lighter winter jacket and a knitted scarf.

"Ma, you'll look younger in this blue," she said cheerfully.

They also selected two sets of thermal underclothes and a cotton shirt for Yao Jing's younger brother, who hadn't joined them but was fondly remembered.

"He's too thin for the countryside wind," Yao Jing muttered.

Jia Lan added, "We'll wrap it all up neatly. Gifts that care, even if quiet, still warm the heart."

At the counter, as the clerk started totaling the purchases, Yao Jing's mother gently tried to hold back Jia Lan's mother. "Sister, this is too much. These are expensive. Let me—"

But Jia Lan's mother waved her off, taking out the household ration coupons and a small stack of bills.

"We're one family now," she said with a smile. "Your in-laws are part of us, and your son and Jing are building a future. What's a few extra yuan for peace of mind and good feelings?"

Then, turning to Xiulan who had been fiddling with her gloves, she added, "We'll pick something simple for Xiulan too. She's a guest."

Xiulan raised her brows but said nothing, only offering a short nod as Jia Lan's mother selected a modest wool scarf and a pair of gloves.

---

In the tea section, they secured a small tin of chrysanthemum tea and winter tangerine peel with precious stamps. The clerk, an older woman with a kind face, nodded approvingly.

"Sending gifts to in-laws? You've got good manners, young miss."

Xiulan huffed. "Some people just like showing off."

Yao Jing's mother gave her a long look. "That's called respect."

---

Outside, the group passed by a corner stall roasting chestnuts under a canvas awning—the only unofficial vendor allowed nearby.

They paused for a small break. Jia Lan bought two skewers of candied hawthorn and passed one to Xiulan.

"Sweet things might sweeten sour moods," she said cheerfully.

Xiulan blinked. "I don't like sweets."

Yao Jing raised an eyebrow. "Then you're going to have a bitter life."

Her mother swatted her arm playfully. "Jing!"

---

By the time they returned home, arms full of carefully wrapped goods, snowflakes had begun to fall once again.

Jia Lan's mother turned to her. "Tomorrow, we'll wrap everything properly and ask your father to send it through the courier."

Yao Jing's mother patted her hand. "This is the kind of harmony we should pass on to our children."

Inside, warmth welcomed them. And though the world outside was gray and chill, the house was full of laughter and the scent of roasted peanuts.