The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 854 - 823 - Encouragement

Chapter 854: 823 Chapter Encouragement

Her mother’s words struck a chord in Jiang Lifang’s heart.

"Anyway, everything is going smoothly for me now," said Jiang Lifang, "I just worry about your and father’s health. If either of you catches a cold, I can’t be there to take care of you."

As a daughter, not being able to stay by her parents’ side always left Jiang Lifang feeling guilty.

"Hey, don’t worry about us. Your elder brother and sister-in-law are both good people. The kids are filial and sensible too," Old Madam Jiang said. "We have our pensions. What’s there to worry about? We eat well, sleep well, we’re in good health!"

Hearing her mother’s reassurance, Jiang Lifang felt a bit happier.

Afterward, mother and daughter chatted about some private matters until it was time for lunch, when they finally came out of the room.

Meanwhile, He Tiantian was in the room talking with Jiang Wenwen.

"How’s the job hunting going after graduating from university?" He Tiantian asked, as this year marked the start of Jiang Wenwen’s career.

"It’s okay. I’m teaching at a high school," said Jiang Wenwen. "The salary is enough for me, and every day is pretty relaxed."

"Right, what do you teach?" He Tiantian asked. She usually chatted with Jiang Wenwen about Yanjing gossip and had surprisingly never thought to ask about her job.

"Hehe, I teach art," said Jiang Wenwen. "I just teach the students how to draw."

"Don’t you like to draw?" He Tiantian asked, noting Jiang Wenwen’s lack of enthusiasm when talking about her work.

"I like drawing, but I know I won’t become a painter, so during university, I started learning fashion design. But my family wouldn’t let me design clothes; they said that’s a tailor’s job and it’s not as respectable as being a teacher," Jiang Wenwen said with a bitter face, her design drawings all pressed under the box, never to become beautiful clothes.

He Tiantian’s eyes lit up—fashion design was a very new profession in Country H, and even now many people didn’t have this concept. In the views of most, it was simply tailoring.

A family of scholars like the Jiang Family naturally disagreed with their granddaughter doing such work.

"Wenwen, do you really like it?" He Tiantian asked. Jiang Wenwen was a good person; if she genuinely had the ability, He Tiantian might invest.

"Mm, I really like it, but my family disapproves, so I can only be a high school art teacher, teaching students how to draw apples and bottles," Jiang Wenwen lamented. "Sometimes I really want to run away to a place with no one around and do what I love, but I’m too scared and don’t dare to."

He Tiantian smiled and said, "How about this? You design and make me a piece of clothing, and if it satisfies me, I’ll invest in you."

"Ah?" Jiang Wenwen’s eyes widened. "Sister Tiantian, you’re really going to invest in me?"

"Yes, but on the condition that you must make a piece of clothing that satisfies me, and it must be your original work, not a copy of someone else’s," said He Tiantian. She might not know much about fashion design, but she owned a lot of different clothes and had seen all the various dresses celebrities wore on TV in her previous life; she had an eye for fashion.

Jiang Wenwen looked He Tiantian up and down, then nodded and said, "Okay, okay, Sister-in-law, just wait. Let me take your measurements first. I will make you a good-looking and comfortable piece of clothing."

"Good, then I’ll be waiting," said He Tiantian. "As long as it pleases me, I’ll invest in you."

"Mm-hmm, I’ll do my best," Jiang Wenwen said. "This is probably my best chance, and I’ll grasp it well."

"Aren’t you going to ask what kind of clothes I like?" He Tiantian countered, waiting for Jiang Wenwen to inquire.

Jiang Wenwen took out the tape measure and said, "A successful designer uses their eyes to observe, not their mouth to ask. I’ve already got a rough idea in my head. Come on, let’s take your measurements."

At the same time, Jiang Wenwen also wanted to use this opportunity to test her abilities and see if she was capable of handling the task.

If she couldn’t even impress her sister-in-law, it would be even harder to impress others.

After measuring He Tiantian, Jiang Wenwen exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, you don’t look fat, but you have a great figure!"

"Um..." He Tiantian felt a bit embarrassed, "It’s like this after having a child..."

"Wow? Sister-in-law, your waist is so slim!" Jiang Wenwen was amazed. "Sister-in-law, don’t tell me it’s possible to have such a slim waist after having a baby!"

"Hehe!" He Tiantian chuckled sheepishly. She had a "golden finger," which she couldn’t tell outsiders about, but she couldn’t be too modest either, as it would make others even more envious.

"Hehe," Jiang Wenwen dodged He Tiantian’s playful slaps, "I’m just envious of my cousin for his good fortune, sister-in-law, don’t be mad. Alright, your arm, step back, I need to measure that too. Let me get the measurements, and then I’ll start designing. Next week, when it’s done, I’ll bring it over to you."

"Sure, I’ll wait for you," He Tiantian said with a smile. "It’s a very joyful and fulfilling thing to be able to turn something you love into your career."

"Yes, yes!" Jiang Wenwen agreed. "Sister-in-law, that’s exactly it. I really like you so much. If only my family were as open-minded as you, there would be no need for me to sneak around drawing design sketches."

After some thought, He Tiantian suggested, "Actually, you can also make a dress for my mother-in-law, that is, your aunt. If you can’t convince your family, try finding a way from the outside."

"Mm-hmm, right, right!" Jiang Wenwen agreed. "Then I’ll go and take my aunt’s measurements in a while."

When Jiang Lifang heard her niece was going to take her measurements to make her a dress, she was very happy, but Old Madam Jiang had a bit of displeasure on her face.

"She’s just causing trouble all day long. A perfectly good teacher and she insists on becoming a tailor," Old Madam Jiang complained, but seeing that her granddaughter was only making clothes for family members, without the previous stubbornness to open a tailor shop, she refrained from scolding her loudly.

"Mom, don’t say that," Jiang Lifang said. "This is a new society now. I often see foreign fashion magazines at Tiantian’s place. Oh my, those clothes are so beautiful. Moreover, good tailors abroad are highly respected, not considered a lowly job as before."

Jiang Wenwen, who was listening from the side, felt increasingly happy inside. Sister Tiantian’s method was really good. With their aunt on board as an ally, there was a great chance of persuading the family.

After He Tiantian and Jiang Lifang returned home, they used the afternoon to drive straight to the farmers’ market and bought a lot of ingredients, making two trips back and forth.

With Li Yunzhong’s help, Huo Yingjie getting off work, as well as Xie Wu and Zhang Ning’s assistance, they prepared various vegetables, cooked some of the bigger dishes halfway, ready to be served the next day. As for the rest, they also got everything ready. They would set up a few more stoves tomorrow for stir-frying dishes on the spot.

The large fridge at home was packed full.

In managing these matters, He Tiantian always managed to arrange everything perfectly at home, bringing her a great sense of achievement and happiness.