TPW – Chapter 24 Gloves

After finishing dinner, Xu Haizhou went to wash the dishes while Qiao Lu tidied up the dining room. She happened to spot the bundle he had casually tossed on the ground. When she opened it, she saw that most of the accessories had already been sold—only about a third remained.

As Xu Haizhou walked back into the room wiping his hands, Qiao Lu turned her head and smiled at him. “Business was great today, huh? Almost everything’s sold.”

Xu Haizhou rolled his neck. “Yeah, a student’s been helping me advertise at school lately. I’ve been making quite a bit.”

“A student?” Qiao Lu paused and looked at him. “A girl?”

“Yeah.”

Qiao Lu raised an eyebrow and replied nonchalantly, “Oh.”

She picked up a few of the small accessories and toyed with them in her hands. “So, time to restock?”

“Yep, need to restock tomorrow.”

“Still got enough money?” she asked.

Xu Haizhou replied, “Yeah, money’s been coming in steadily.”

He had a wad of cash in his pocket. After counting it, he realized he’d already saved over sixty yuan. It had only been about a week since they got married—what a profit!

Given the current cost of living, Xu Haizhou’s income could easily support her and the child in comfort. If she weren’t the type who couldn’t stay idle, Qiao Lu really would’ve considered just lazing around with her son.

“Here, this is for you.” He kept fifty yuan in his pocket for the next day’s restocking and gave the rest to Qiao Lu.

Qiao Lu didn’t refuse and happily accepted it. “Great, we can eat even better now. I’ll make a feast for you two tonight!”

Xu Haizhou beamed. “Sounds good.”

While the little one was still in the bedroom playing with Bubble and Little White, Xu Haizhou, unable to resist temptation, made his move. Stretching out his long arms, he pulled his wife into his embrace and showered her with kisses.

His wife was just so sweet—why couldn’t he get enough of her?

At last, they reluctantly parted.

“I’m heading out.”

“Mm, be careful on the way.”

Watching Xu Haizhou’s figure grow smaller in the distance, Qiao Lu thought of that “female student.” Maybe it was time she picked a day to “inspect” the place on Qingteng Lane?

…

As the sun leaned westward, the aged golden light of sunset bathed the streets and alleys in a mottled glow.

It was the peak hour for people getting off work and students leaving school. Zitong Lane gradually became lively. Bicycles passed in a steady stream, and the crisp ringing of bells warned pedestrians in blind spots to make way. The sound of the bells was especially pleasant—so much softer and warmer than the blaring horns of cars thirty years later.

After dinner, as usual, the neighbors gathered under the loquat tree to chat. This was typically when the courtyard, both inner and outer, was at its most populated.

That evening, Qiao Lu stayed home working on the sewing machine. She estimated that she could finish making ten pairs of gloves in about two days. She sent Xu Haizhou out with Qiao An to play under the loquat tree with the neighbors—perfect for some father-son bonding.

When the tall, handsome man and the cute little boy showed up, all eyes were drawn to them.

Especially the maternal neighborhood women—seeing that soft, chubby, fair little dumpling, they were dying to pinch his cheeks. If Xu Haizhou hadn’t been there, the boy’s tender little face would’ve been rubbed raw.

Overwhelmed by the overly enthusiastic uncles, aunties, grandpas, and grandmas, Qiao An clung tightly to Xu Haizhou.

Dad smelled nice—it made him feel safe. But if he sniffed closely… why did Dad also smell like Mom?

Qiao An took a deep breath. Yep, it was Mom’s scent. How strange… but he liked it! That way, as long as Dad was around, he could smell both of them at the same time!

“Still shy after all these days?”

Xu Haizhou chuckled and lifted the child slightly, settling him on his thigh. The boy immediately wrapped his arms around his neck.

“Yeah, still pretty shy. He’ll get used to it eventually.”

Back when they first met, the child refused to walk on the same side of the street as him. He only felt safe if Qiao Lu was between them. Now he could snuggle comfortably in his arms—that was progress.

“Boys should be more outgoing. The sturdy ones don’t get sick easily.”

“I don’t get sick easily either…” Qiao An puffed up his cheeks, clearly disagreeing with Aunt Tian’s words.

“Hahaha, that’s even better! Auntie just means you should run and jump more—lively boys are more popular!”

He didn’t want to be popular. Having Mom and Dad was enough… Qiao An thought to himself.

He pouted and hugged Xu Haizhou’s neck, burying his face in his shoulder, showing everyone only the back of his head. Even so, his round little noggin drew plenty of affectionate looks.

Aunt Tian had two sons, both lively and full of energy. The older one was nearly 1.8 meters tall, strong and robust. The younger was only in fifth grade but already 1.67 meters tall. Who could raise kids better than she could?

Aunt Tian was proud of this and loved sharing her “excellent” parenting experience with new parents.

Whatever advice the neighbors offered, Xu Haizhou responded earnestly to each one, though who knew if he actually took any of it to heart.

Later, everyone’s attention shifted to the matching father-son gloves.

“These gloves look pretty unique—can I take a closer look?” Wu Guifang was the first to notice.

The father and son glanced at each other. Qiao An squirmed, reluctant, while nestled in Xu Haizhou’s arms. Xu Haizhou chuckled and handed over his own pair.

A group of women gathered around, examining the gloves over and over.

Wow—these weren’t like the ones sold outside. They had flip-over covers! When the cover was down, it kept the fingers warm; when flipped up, it freed the fingers for use. Way more practical than the gloves they usually bought, which were too clumsy for delicate work.

What a clever design. It didn’t even seem that hard to make—why hadn’t they thought of it?

“These are great gloves. Flip-top design and all. Where did you buy them?” Sister Liu asked.

“My mom made them.” The little guy, who had been shy just a moment ago, immediately responded with pride when someone asked about the gloves. His expression was full of smug satisfaction.

Xu Haizhou patted his cheek and smiled, “My wife made them.”

Everyone was surprised. “Wow! Xiao Lu’s really talented with her hands and quick-witted too. Why didn’t we ever think of doing something like this?”

The gloves had a layer of yarn on the outside and a soft fleece lining on the inside—stylish and practical. Most importantly, the materials were cost-effective and affordable for everyone.

“Where’s your wife?” asked Wu Guifang.

Xu Haizhou pointed to the bedroom, “She’s inside.”

“Alright, I’ll go have a chat with her.” Wu Guifang handed the gloves back to Xu Haizhou. Behind her, Aunt Chen and Aunt Tian followed.

“I’m going too.”

“Count me in.”

Everyone’s curiosity was piqued by Qiao Lu’s gloves. As soon as they entered the house, they saw her working intently at the sewing machine, and in her hands were exactly the same gloves they had been admiring.

A closer look revealed three pairs laid out on the machine’s panel, and she was holding a half-finished pair. But there were only three people in her family—could they be for her second sister and brother-in-law?

“Qiao Lu, you’re still working this late?”

“Yeah, I’m rushing to meet a deadline.”

Seeing the aunties, Qiao Lu glanced outside. Xu Haizhou was still sitting under the loquat tree with their son in his arms, chatting with a few older uncles. Several kids were excitedly circling around Qiao An, talking to him, but the little guy stayed nestled quietly in his father’s arms, saying nothing.

“A deadline? Someone waiting on an order?”

Qiao Lu smiled at the aunties and shook her head. “I’m making them to sell.”

“Oh? You’ve stopped selling accessories and switched to gloves now?” Liu Jie asked in surprise.

Qiao Lu shook her head and pressed the pedal. “No, We are still selling accessories. I just wanted to try making gloves. If they sell well, I’ll make more. If not, I’ll treat them as a trial run.”

“I see.”

Originally, Wu Guifang had intended to borrow a pair to take home and copy, but since Qiao Lu was selling them, borrowing might not be appropriate.

“What’s wrong?” Qiao Lu looked at them curiously. Why were they all just standing there staring and saying nothing?

The women looked at each other awkwardly.

At that moment, Chen Jiamei suddenly popped out of nowhere and snorted, “My mom and the others want to ask if they can borrow a pair of gloves to take home and copy.”

The women all flinched like ghosts being exorcised. Jiamei’s mom gave her a smack. “Hey! You little brat, we just came to take a look. What are you talking about?”

Her sister-in-law, Song Qingping, pushed her away in annoyance. “Go do your homework and stop running around!”

Adults are so fake! Chen Jiamei complained inwardly. She cast one last glance at the gloves and walked off unhappily.

Honestly, she was interested in the gloves too—but since Qiao Lu made them, there was no way she’d ask for one herself. What’s the big deal about a flap-top glove anyway? She could make one exactly like it without a sample.

Qiao Lu immediately understood. After thinking for a moment, she generously handed a pair of gloves to Aunt Chen. She still hadn’t thanked her properly for helping block the window with newspaper the other night.

Besides, she was a newlywed in the neighborhood and needed to maintain good relations. It was the 1980s, not the 21st century. Even though she planned to sell the gloves, it was important to be neighborly. They didn’t have a business mindset and wouldn’t go selling them, so she might as well do them a favor and build goodwill.

“If you’d like to make a pair yourself, go ahead and take one to study.”

“Oh dear, are you sure? That doesn’t seem right,” Aunt Chen still tried to decline politely.

Liu Jie added, “Yeah, you’ve got a business to run.”

Aunt Tian’s eyes lit up. She grabbed Qiao Lu’s hand. “Oh come on, what’s wrong with it? If Qiao Lu is offering, just take it! I’d like to try making one too.”

Aunt Chen chuckled, “Haha, then we’ll do it quietly—won’t show them to outsiders until you start selling.”

That way, it wouldn’t affect her business.

Qiao Lu immediately looked at Aunt Chen with newfound respect.

Aunt Chen was a smooth and considerate woman, thoughtful even in the little details. But how did such a savvy woman end up with a blunt daughter like Chen Jiamei?

Guess genetics aren’t always reliable.

“Alright then, thank you, Auntie.”

“Listen to you—we should be the ones thanking you!”

“Hahaha.” Everyone laughed and said their goodbyes.

…

At his wife’s request, before closing up shop, Xu Haizhou stopped by the bookstore and bought a book for children to learn characters. That night, after washing up, Qiao Lu leaned against the headboard to teach Qiao An how to read.

They started with the 26 letters of the alphabet, then pinyin, and finally Chinese characters.

Qiao An showed great enthusiasm for learning. With his tiny millet teeth, he followed along syllable by syllable under his mother’s guidance, his voice soft and tender. Several times, neighbors walking by peeked curiously into the house and smiled like doting aunts at the heartwarming sight of mother and son together.

After reading through the alphabet three times, little Qiao An had memorized all the letters. He clutched the booklet and flipped through it over and over again, unable to get enough.

Qiao Lu then taught him the alphabet song. It was simple, catchy, and easy to remember—he memorized it after just two rounds. When Xu Haizhou finished washing up and came back into the room, Qiao An excitedly ran over in his fuzzy slippers:

“Daddy, I’ll sing the alphabet song for you!”

Before Xu Haizhou could even react, he was “forced” to enjoy his son’s “angelic” performance.

“ABCDEFG…”

When the song ended, he gave Qiao An a big round of praise. The little guy scrambled onto the bed, hugging and kissing Qiao Lu excitedly.

“Mommy, I want to learn more!”

Qiao Lu laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes. She squeezed his soft cheeks with both hands, mashing his face into silly shapes—he was still that adorable. She almost wanted to gobble him up.

“That’s enough for today. We’ll learn more tomorrow—there’s plenty of time, no need to rush.”

The little guy reluctantly rolled off his mom and snuggled under the blanket. “Alright then, but I’ll remind you tomorrow.”

He wanted to fall asleep fast. Once asleep, time would speed up, and in the blink of an eye, it’d be tomorrow—and he could keep learning!

Qiao Lu chuckled and tucked the blanket around him: “Okay.”

…

The moonlight gently poured down on the winding alleys of the neighborhood, casting a soft, clear glow.

Qiao Lu slipped on her cotton-padded jacket and stepped out of the bedroom. In the night sky, the crescent moon hung like a wolf’s fang, half-hidden behind clouds, glowing like gold. The air in the 1980s was fresh, and the sky was so full of stars it almost seemed surreal, as if it held water.

Her husband was standing right there under the moonlight, doing laundry in the courtyard. He was washing the clothes she had planned to wash tomorrow…

This man… how is he even more diligent than she is?

Qiao Lu felt a wave of warmth in her heart and called out, “Hurry up and come inside after hanging the clothes—don’t catch a cold.”

“Okay!”

Back inside, Qiao Lu sat at the vanity, studying herself in the mirror. The beautiful woman reflected back at her wore only a camisole, and even the dim yellow light couldn’t obscure her beauty.

Her skin was as pure as freshly fallen snow, lips red, teeth white, graceful and elegant. Even a casual glance from her sparkled with charm.

Forget men—even she sometimes blushed after looking at herself for too long… A stunning woman like this, if unprotected and living in the countryside, wouldn’t be considered a blessing—it would be a disaster. In any era, such a woman could easily be “destroyed.”

What’s more, the original owner of this body had been ruled by romance, so her tragic fate had been sealed from the start…

With a sigh, she didn’t realize Xu Haizhou had quietly walked up behind her. He bent down slightly and wrapped her petite frame in his arms.

“Why aren’t you wearing a coat? Don’t catch cold.” His warm palm slowly rubbed her arms.

Qiao Lu smiled and turned to wrap her arms around his neck. A pleasant grassy scent drifted from him, mixed faintly with the sweet smell of milk—probably from holding Qiao An too long.

Qiao Lu giggled softly. “I was only going to sit for a couple minutes. Didn’t feel like changing.”

Besides, she’d have to… undress soon anyway.

She had sewn this camisole from a few fabric scraps the day after their wedding. Whether winter or summer, she loved sleeping in camisoles—less fabric made for a more comfortable sleep. It was a habit she’d had for over twenty years.

To Xu Haizhou, that habit was… excellent.

His lovely young wife was already stunning, but with that breathtaking camisole… just a downward glance and the alluring curves were right there in view.

Xu Haizhou’s mind wandered; his Adam’s apple bobbed. Then, with a long reach, he scooped her up by the waist and carried her to bed. They climbed under the covers, and he immediately pulled her into his embrace.

By now, he was used to hugging his wife whenever they got into bed. She was soft, warm, and fragrant—even his dreams smelled sweet.

“I saw you chatting with them for quite a while earlier. Already getting along with the neighbors?” he asked, casually stroking her hairline.

“Pretty much.” Qiao Lu nestled against him, rubbing her head into his chest like Qiao An did—he also loved to burrow into adults’ arms.

“Women become friends quickly once they find common topics, and everyone’s been pretty friendly,” Qiao Lu said.

“I was a little worried at first,” Xu Haizhou admitted.

Qiao Lu looked up at him. “Worried about what?”

He brushed through her hair. “Worried the new bride might get bullied. Worried you wouldn’t be happy here.”

After all, Qiao Lu had a child. In this era, the term “widow” carried a lot of social stigma. Just hearing it sparked gossip, and he worried she might suffer for it.

But Qiao Lu was more carefree than he imagined. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll get used to it bit by bit.”

“Mm, we’ll adapt slowly. I’ve got your back.”

A kiss landed on her forehead. Qiao Lu smiled and added, “I lent a pair of gloves to Aunt Chen today. I bet by tomorrow the whole courtyard will be wearing the same kind.”

Xu Haizhou paused. “It’s fine. Lending is no big deal. They’re just making them for personal use, not to sell. Might as well go with the flow and build some goodwill—could even help promote our stuff.”

“Exactly what I was thinking. That’s why I didn’t keep it to myself.” Their thoughts were in perfect sync again.

Xu Haizhou kissed the top of her head with a smile. “My wife and I are totally in tune.”

Qiao Lu playfully punched him, then suddenly remembered something. “Right, since we’re going to hold a wedding banquet, I was thinking of going to the department store to buy some fabric and make a new outfit for that day. What do you think?”

Even though Qiao Yan had bought her and her son new clothes when they arrived in the city, it was only one set—not nearly enough to rotate through. Their family wasn’t poor anymore, and at the very least, she should have two padded jackets. The old ones from the countryside were patched all over and really weren’t presentable. People might think Xu Haizhou was mistreating his wife if she wore them out.

Xu Haizhou, of course, had no objections. In fact, he was fully on board with his wife making new clothes. The more, the better. With such a beautiful wife, and now that they could afford it, he’d love nothing more than to see her in a new outfit every day—never repeating.

“If you want to make them, go ahead and buy the fabric. Do we still have any ration tickets left? If not, I’ll go get some.”

Xu Haizhou mostly dealt in cash from his street vending. For ration coupons and such, he would usually trade on the black market—even if it cost more. That’s just how it was for private sellers.

“There’s still some. Probably enough to get another six or seven feet of fabric. But I also want wool and worsted fabric—that kind’s harder to find. Do you think you can get some?” In the 1980s, woolen fabrics were already trending in Hong Kong and Taiwan. They were available in mainland China too, but rarely seen in smaller cities.

He quickly combed through his memory, not sure if he could get any, but for his wife’s request, he’d find a way.

He nodded. “I’ll try. I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Then, Xu Haizhou earnestly reminded her, “Make a set for An’an too.”

Qiao Lu burst out laughing and pinched his cheek. Not much meat there—still, not as pinchable as their son’s.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t leave him out.”

What kind of mother would overlook something that obvious?

Still, the fact that he always had An’an on his mind touched her deeply. It showed that he truly saw An’an as his own son, didn’t it?

Feeling happy, Qiao Lu rewarded him with a kiss.

“I’ll make one for you too.”

Xu Haizhou’s eyes lit up, his heart swelling with joy. “Thank you, my dear wife.”

Qiao Lu’s face flushed instantly. She buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Sleep, sleep!”

With a tug of the light cord, the room went pitch black.

“An’an?” Xu Haizhou whispered, just to be safe.

No response… He must be asleep.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, his voice sensual with a hint of glee. To Qiao Lu’s ears, it was so intoxicating her face burned.

Her thoughts were a chaotic mess when Xu Haizhou leaned in and pressed her down, his breathing rapid, full of barely restrained eagerness.

“An’an’s asleep. We can…” As he spoke, his hands and feet started to wander.

Qiao Lu’s chest burned hot. She turned her face away, half pushing, half yielding. “Why are you so naughty…”

“When a beauty’s in my arms, I can’t help myself.”

With that, he kissed her with the precision and intensity of a hunting leopard.

Qiao Lu was amazed—how could he find her lips so accurately in the pitch dark?

Truth was, back when they hugged by the dressing table, Xu Haizhou was already stirred.

Now kissing his wife, tasting that familiar sweetness, all his longing finally found release. It was like a cool, moisture-laden breeze sweeping through a desert—soothing the heat in his body. Pure bliss.

He inhaled deeply, their breaths tangled and drawn out, like a melody that caressed every bone.

But this appetizer wasn’t nearly enough. He wanted more…

As the kiss deepened, Qiao Lu tried to push him away a few times but was overpowered. He pinned her wrists above her head.

His eyes were red, as if overtaken by a primal instinct. The look made Qiao Lu’s heart tremble—what people said wasn’t wrong; before and after… he really was like a different man.

When the kiss finally ended, the volcano inside him was on the verge of eruption. Xu Haizhou suddenly turned on the flashlight by the bedside. The light wasn’t as bright as a ceiling lamp, but just enough to let them see each other’s faces.

Panting, his dark eyes landed on her face—flushed white with a tinge of red, hair damp with sweat tangled at her temples, eyes dazed and glistening with moisture. His gaze grew even darker with desire.

Qiao Lu also opened her eyes, etching this moment of passion deep into her memory. His breathing filled the quiet room, relentless like a haunting tune, breaking down her nerves and reason.

They reached the limits of restraint—

Qiao Lu gripped his scorching shoulder, baring her teeth as she bit down hard on her lower lip.

Afterward, lying there staring at the dark ceiling, she suddenly seemed to see the moonlit sky outside. The crescent moon, half hidden behind the clouds, surrounded by countless twinkling stars—so harmonious, so intense, and radiant…

A burst of white light flashed. A misty cloud floated like a dragon beneath the moon, slowly circling that beautiful golden glow. Qiao Lu could no longer make out the scene before her. It all blurred into a dreamy, romantic painting…