CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 177: MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE INTIMATE

"Yes, there is."

Yi Chichi gave a straightforward answer.

Wen Shi beamed with a silly grin, like a dashing fool from a landlord’s family, and began to unpack his luggage, pulling out item after item.

Soy sauce, rice, soybeans... Lastly, a package of dried wood ear mushrooms and pine nuts.

The pine nuts were plump, and when cracked open, they filled the mouth with a rich, oily fragrance.

"I haven’t had these in a long time, really missed them."

"They’re all yours."

Yi Chichi watched him busily with a smile, and Wen Shi nodded, cracked a few for her, and then started unpacking another suitcase.

Dried mushrooms, dried long beans, dried sweet potatoes, meat sauce... and medicines.

All of them were food and medication, but there was nothing that looked like a gift from Yi Chichi.

He glanced at the neatly arranged items on the ground and asked Yi Chichi after a moment of silence, "Are the medicines the gift?"

Yi Chichi, observing his expressionless face with interest, shook her head with a smile, "No."

Instantly, his eyes lit up as his gaze fell on the smallest piece of luggage.

Then he extended his guilty little hand, only to have it intercepted midway by a fair, slender hand.

"You can’t open this one."

It contained her change of clothes, toothbrush, towels, and other personal belongings not suitable for an unmarried young man to see.

"Let me."

Wen Shi obediently withdrew his hand, eagerly watching as she opened the luggage and pulled out a black item.

"Here, try it on and see if it fits."

Fit? Could it be clothes?

Reaching out to take it, the texture wasn’t right – not the popular cotton or terylene of the time, but smooth and soft to the touch.

It felt a bit like silk, yet not as light, more substantial in weight, and of excellent quality.

Upon unfolding it, he saw it was a black shirt, with a collar style different from current shirt collars; it was a stand collar.

The collar and cuffs had intricate patterns, which he initially thought were part of the fabric’s design. Upon closer inspection, he realized they weren’t.

These patterns were embroidered.

The embroidery blended in with the fabric seamlessly, without visible stitches, and felt smooth to the touch, exuding a subtle luxury throughout the shirt.

The buttons were not ordinary ones either, but small round black buttons matching the fabric’s color, with a strong texture.

The shirt gave him a sense of expensiveness beyond words.

After examining the shirt from every angle, he took a deep breath and asked, "Did you spend all the money and the national coupons I sent you on this shirt?"

He seemed displeased.

Yi Chichi just laughed, "Don’t overthink it."

She wouldn’t tell him that she hadn’t spent a cent of the money he sent back, it was all saved up.

When she first received the money he sent back, she didn’t plan to accept it, instead transferring it to Wen’s mother.

But Wen’s mother refused, saying that if Wen Shi sent it, it was for her to use, and if it wasn’t enough, she could ask for more.

That, of course, was not possible.

She had her own money and didn’t need to use Wen Shi’s money, but she did use the coupons.

If Wen Shi found out the truth and wanted to back out, she could just convert the used coupons into money and pay back what he sent.

"I only contributed the labor for this shirt."

She made the shirt; she did the embroidery; the fabric was provided by Wen’s mother.

"Don’t you find the material familiar?"

Wen Shi looked puzzled, "Don’t all fabrics look the same?"

Well, that was a waste of words.

"This is your mother’s treasured fabric at the bottom of the chest."

She reminded, and Wen Shi suddenly realized, finally understanding what she meant by just contributing labor.

As long as she didn’t save money to make him clothes, it was fine.

"Girls should treat themselves well; it’s enough for men to find them presentable."

Before she finished speaking, he excitedly replied, "Then, should I try it on now?"

A future wife making clothes for him, hehe... delighted!

"Try it."

The size was estimated; she wasn’t sure if it would fit, but she left some room for adjustments if needed.

Then Wen Shi became a model for a while.

The black shirt wrapped around his upper body, accentuating his broad shoulders and firm chest, with the stand collar perfectly displaying his neck’s lines, his Adam’s apple faintly visible—exceedingly alluring.

But those pants...

"Not good-looking?"

Seeing her stare at him without speaking, Wen Shi felt a bit uneasy.

"Very good-looking."

The upper body was so seductive it made her think untoward thoughts, wanting to see him nervous and emotional when looking at him, but those 65-style pants were really unsightly, "I’ll make you a pair of pants to match later."

Wen Shi nodded enthusiastically and foolishly, asking her, "Can I wear this shirt to the dining hall?"

Yi Chichi’s eyes widened suddenly, was he so happy he became silly?

How could he ask such a silly question?

"Can you wear casual clothes at the base?"

As soon as that was said, Wen Shi’s face turned sour, and he replied listlessly, "No."

"Show it off when you get back to the dormitory or on vacation."

That was doable.

Wen Shi was pleased, and Yi Chichi saw his face light up with a smile, knowing he was appeased.

"Is the shirt tight?"

"Not tight, fits perfectly."

He expressed high praise for Yi Chichi’s handiwork, "As expected for you, it’s so fitting even without taking my measurements. Chichi, you’re awesome!"

The tone was like coaxing a child.

Yi Chichi found it funny and exasperating, "Did you forget you mentioned your weight in the letter?"

"You’re still awesome!"

Well, this topic couldn’t go on.

"Where will I sleep tonight?"

"Over here."

Then, with the shirt changed out, Wen Shi led her on a tour of the entire house, three rooms and a storage room, each quite spacious.

The kitchen was at the back, with a corridor separating it from the storage room.

The toilet was in the backyard, with a small house built next to it, its cement color between the bricks not fully dried, clearly newly constructed.

Upon entering, she discovered it was actually a place for bathing.

Nice, a dry-wet separation from the ’70s.

She had just complained in a letter once about the inconvenience of bathing at the Youth Corps Courtyard, and Wen Shi took her bathing problem into consideration and even took action.

She had to admit, this personality was great.

Towards girls he had no feelings for, he was as swift and unyielding as the autumn wind sweeping away falling leaves, resolutely avoiding being a central heating system.

Towards girls he felt for, he was attentive, showing care and respect everywhere, and wasn’t overly masculine. If it worked out, she certainly found a gem.

Thinking of this, she pounced towards Wen Shi like a small cannonball; he reacted quickly and hurriedly caught her.

Yi Chichi hugged him, her smile like a flower, "Wen Shi, thank you."

"You’re welcome..."

Wen Shi’s body stiffened, embarrassed and awkward, "Men and women shouldn’t touch, y-you stand properly!"

Yi Chichi let go decisively, saluted, "Yes, leader!"

"Pfft!"

He Yunsong, who stormed in after work to see the fun, found the courtyard gate and the main door open, swaggered in as if the place were uninhabited, just in time to hear their conversation, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Seeing Wen Shi’s dark expressions, he quickly stifled his laughter, waved his hand, and turned away, all in one go.

"Carry on, don’t mind me."

"Be serious."

Wen Shi looked at Yi Chichi helplessly.

She smiled and nodded, "I’ve always been serious."

Wen Shi, ... If it hadn’t been for nearly a year of letter exchanges, he might have believed her.

Unfortunately, he almost fully understood her personality.

Oh well, indulge her then!