He spent ten yuan and got a stack of cloth coupons from Old Master Liao. By the time Chen Yang arrived at the textile shop in the department store, Shen Xue had already picked out several kinds of fabrics with the baby.
"Comrade, your wife has excellent taste. She's picked out the latest fabrics in the store."
"Look at this corduroy. It's excellent for making inner or outer wear in winter. This printed cotton fabric is perfect for making clothes in the summer; they'll be cool, dry, and beautiful."
"And this polyester fabric, it's the most popular material on the market right now. Clothes made from it, like those Dacron shirts, will have countless young men and women staring when you wear them out on the street."
The saleswoman was a warm and friendly person, unlike the aloof salespeople at other department stores of this era. She patiently introduced Shen Xue's chosen fabrics to Chen Yang.
Listening to the saleswoman's description, Shen Xue's lips curved into a confident smile. Her taste in picking things had always been good.
"Alright then, give me ten feet of each of these fabrics. Do you have any plain cotton fabric? Get me thirty feet, no prints or plain weaves, just plain colors."
Chen Yang glanced at the fabrics Shen Xue had chosen. Corduroy looked fluffy and suitable for autumn and winter. Even decades later, clothes were often made from this material.
However, autumn and winter were very dry, and this material could easily generate static electricity. Being shocked from time to time wasn't a pleasant feeling.
But he couldn't resist his wife's preference, and there really weren't many good fabrics available in this era. Compared to other materials, corduroy wasn't bad.
Polyester fabric was even more so. Bell-bottom pants and Dacron were representative clothing styles that swept through the 70s and 80s.
Few young people, regardless of age or gender, didn't want a Dacron shirt of their own, and few young men didn't want a stylish pair of bell-bottoms.
In comparison, printed cotton fabric was much more common. But its advantage was that the material was skin-friendly, comfortable to wear, and, unlike Dacron which stuck to the skin when you sweated, it was breathable.
Clothes made from printed cotton fabric aligned better with people's aesthetic tastes at the time. However, compared to printed ones, Chen Yang personally favored plain colors.
He still remembered the "God of War in Blue" who had become a sensation on short videos in his previous life. To be honest, his wife was no less attractive or shapely than her.
Moreover, with the addition of the baby, Shen Xue exuded an even more mature and charming aura. Chen Yang had already pictured his wife in a plain cotton dress in his mind.
She would absolutely be like a celestial maiden descending to earth!
"We don't need that much fabric. Just buy the printed cotton. I felt the material; it's soft and smooth. Yan Yan is still young and has tender skin. We'll buy corduroy and polyester another time."
Shen Xue tugged at Chen Yang's arm. The cloth coupons they had at home were not enough to buy so many clothes. She didn't know where Chen Yang got the coupons, but she guessed he had borrowed them from someone.
Borrowed items had to be returned. They only had enough cloth coupons for ten feet of cotton fabric, and that was after saving for several years. She didn't dare to ask for more.
"After being married to me for a few years, I haven't made you a new outfit. This time, consider it making up for it."
"Ten feet of fabric. Seven feet for your dress, and the remaining three feet for Yan Yan. That's settled."
"Don't worry about the cloth coupons. It's rare for your man to buy you some fabric to make clothes. At least give me a chance to show my affection."
"If you're truly grateful, don't blow out the lights tonight."
Chen Yang, in a rare moment, teased his wife. As expected, as soon as Chen Yang spoke, Shen Xue knew exactly what he meant.
Thinking about what happened last night, Shen Xue's ears immediately turned red with embarrassment, and her face flushed as if it could drip water.
"Comrade, here are the cloth coupons."
"Please calculate the total cost."
Chen Yang directly handed over sixty feet of cloth coupons. Seeing such a generous display, even other sales assistants came over to help.
At that time, according to the rationing in Anhui Province, each person's annual cloth coupon allowance was only about 2 to 3 feet. Only when the cotton harvest was good did it exceed 6 feet.
Assuming a family of four, it would be very difficult to save more than 10 feet of cloth coupons in a year. Sixty feet would be enough for the whole family to go five to six years without buying new clothes.
Furthermore, these cloth coupons were not just for clothes but also for bed sheets and quilt covers.
The cotton ration was only one jin per person per year. Therefore, during weddings in those years, relatives often gifted cloth coupons and cotton coupons, and close relatives were reluctant to give them away.
So, Chen Yang's sixty feet of cloth coupons were indeed a significant amount. Even the sales assistants at the Liúhé County Department Store rarely saw such a big spender.
"Printed cotton fabric is one yuan per foot, 10 feet for 10 yuan. Plain cotton fabric is eighty cents per foot, 30 feet for 24 yuan. Polyester fabric is two yuan and eight cents per foot, 10 feet for 28 yuan. Corduroy is three yuan and one cent per foot, 10 feet for 30 yuan."
"A total of..."
The saleswoman might not have been good at math. Primarily, people usually bought only a few feet at a time. For someone like Chen Yang, who bought a wide variety and a large quantity, she hadn't encountered such a situation often.
Finally, they asked someone who was good with an abacus to calculate it. Only then did she speak.
"The total is 92 yuan."
Other sales assistants nearby also helped to fold and cut the fabric. Such a large transaction in those years would be a topic of conversation for them for a long time when they went home.
"Here's the money, sister. Also, I have a question."
"Do you know of any good tailor shops around here? I've bought the fabric, and I need to find someone to make some new clothes."
Chen Yang quickly paid. In those days, a man buying fabric and clothes for a woman was a very fulfilling thing.
Many people only had such an opportunity once in their lives, at their wedding.
"Here, Master Liang across the street, my son-in-law. He's been a tailor for over thirty years. My cousin has also been working with him for ten years, and they have a Shanghai Butterfly brand sewing machine."
"His craftsmanship is guaranteed to satisfy you."
Upon hearing Chen Yang ask about tailors, the already enthusiastic saleswoman became even more helpful.
Tailoring was a profitable profession in those days. Customers provided their own fabric, making it a purely profitable business.
Sixty feet of fabric from Chen Yang would make several outfits. The saleswoman wanted to solicit business for her son-in-law.
"Alright then, since you've been so helpful, we'll have your son-in-law help us make a few outfits for my wife and daughter."
Chen Yang collected the fabric and didn't linger. Holding the fabric, he and Shen Xue, with the baby, went directly to the tailor shop across the street.
If nothing else, the fact that they had a Butterfly brand sewing machine indicated that the tailor shop was not bad. A single one cost 165 yuan, which was equivalent to a Phoenix brand bicycle.
Could someone without skill afford such an expensive sewing machine?
It wasn't until the old tailor's daughter was taking her measurements that Shen Xue recovered from her surprise.
This rascal, she thought, why doesn't he save a little?
He bought so much fabric at once, and to make so many clothes, she would wear them for ages.
However, while complaining outwardly, her body obediently cooperated with the measurements.
These new clothes, she would wear them beautifully.