Avoid detours, start by running a nursing home.

Chapter 44 Sewing Machine

"Okay, a Zhongshan suit, right?"

Seeing Grandpa Jiang's confident expression, Zhang Yang couldn't help but laugh and cry: "Then I'll make one for you, sir."

He might be a little hesitant to make other kinds of clothes.

After all, just knowing how to make patterns and sew doesn't mean you can actually make a complete garment.

The process of custom-made clothing is quite complicated; it's not as simple as just cutting out the fabric from the pattern and sewing it together.

But when it comes to the Zhongshan suit, he's not flustered at all.

After all, in Old Mrs. Zhang's memory, he had personally witnessed someone create something from scratch, completely and perfectly.

I still remember the whole process clearly.

"Okay! If you can really do it, I promise I'll honor my bet and never go back on my word!"

The old man really went all out.

"Alright, alright, as long as you're happy."

As Zhang Yang unpacked the box, he casually spoke in a tone as if he were coaxing a child, which only made the old man even angrier.

Cut open the bandages, remove the foam block, and unpack the plastic bag. Soon, a sewing machine appeared in front of everyone.

The teak panel, about half a square meter in size, is somewhat like a small tabletop, with a large belly underneath and a small square drawer on one side.

There are cast iron frames on both sides, and a footrest made of cast iron underneath.

"Oh my, it's Butterfly brand again?"

Several elderly people gathered around to watch, and some of the more knowledgeable ones started arguing about the signs on the shelves outside.

"Butterfly brand? Is it famous?"

While tidying up the trash from unpacking, Zhang Yang asked curiously.

"Of course!"

An elderly man in a wheelchair gazed intently at the sewing machine: "In 1927, Songhai produced the first sewing machine in China, named Golden Lion, which is its predecessor."

"Later, in 1946, it was renamed Invincible Brand, meaning to defeat all opponents in the world."

"Then, in 1966, because of the need to export, the brand was finally renamed Butterfly, using a homonym from the Songhai dialect."

"The 'three turns and one sound' of that era—the Butterfly brand sewing machine, the Forever brand bicycle, and the Songhai brand watch—were things that many people dreamed of."

The old woman gently stroked the sewing machine, saying, "I never expected to see it again in the nursing home today."

As he spoke, he turned to Zhang Yang and urged, "Quick, open it and see how well the receiver is preserved, and whether it still works!"

"Yes, yes, open it and take a look!"

Other elderly people around also chimed in, urging the machine on, seemingly reminded of past memories.

Zhang Yang looked at their excited expressions and couldn't quite understand.

He didn't know that in the 1970s, such a butterfly sewing machine would cost 147 yuan, while people's monthly salary at that time was only 20 or 30 yuan.

Moreover, it's not enough to just have money to buy them; you also need industrial vouchers, which are only available to factory workers.

A sewing machine may require dozens of coupons, but a worker may only get a few or ten coupons a year. It would take several years to accumulate enough coupons to buy a machine.

But even when you've saved up enough, the machines are still in limited supply. You have to keep an eye out for where the machines will be available, and then queue up and try to grab them to have a chance of buying one.

Not to mention that Butterfly brand is the most famous of all sewing machines, and it is also exported.

Until the shortage of supplies was resolved, it was an absolute hot commodity in the market.

How could these elderly people not be excited when they see this?

"Okay, okay, I'll drive..."

Urged forward by the elderly, Zhang Yang gave a wry smile, stepped forward, raised his hand, touched the back of the sewing machine panel, and pulled it.

With a click, after the switch was turned on, the larger of the two covers on the sewing machine table gently lifted up.

Fortunately, his sewing skills included knowledge of how to use a sewing machine; otherwise, he might not know how to use it today.

Lift the cover and secure it to the two buckles on the side. Then open the support bracket and secure it. Next, lift the small cover and gently lift the sewing machine head hidden inside the large belly with your other hand.

Lower the small cover, then lower the machine head, and then pull up the belt on one side and fasten it to the wheel. The sewing machine is now fully open.

But as Zhang Yang fully flipped the sewing machine head out, suddenly a "Huh?" was heard, and a flurry of noises erupted around him.

"Blue? How can it be blue?"

A group of elderly people gathered around the sewing machine, all frowning.

On the somewhat dark-colored tabletop, a royal blue sewing machine head stood quietly.

The vibrant colors, along with the golden butterfly logo and nameplate on the front of the machine, add a touch of elegance to it.

However, this seems quite different from what they remember...

"This can't be fake, can it?"

"Yeah, aren't all Butterfly brand cameras black?"

Hearing the whispers around him, Zhang Yang was taken aback. Was it fake?

Seriously? The system rewards you with a fake product? Is that really that unreliable?

"Of course not, those black-lensed aircraft are all mass-produced."

Before he could speak, the elderly man in the wheelchair looked at the sewing machine in front of him and exclaimed with delight.

"Navy blue, only produced in 1972, all export quality, and this is brand new and unused. Little guy, you've struck gold!"

The old man touched the sewing machine while muttering to himself.

"Did you strike it rich?"

Zhang Yang's eyes lit up: "This sewing machine can't be sold as an antique, can it?"

"Sell it for money?"

The old man turned around and glared at him disapprovingly: "You're willing to sell something so precious for money?"

"Didn't you just say you were going to use it to make clothes!"

"Forehead……"

Seeing the old man's favorability rating plummet to 45, Zhang Yang quickly shook his head and denied it: "No, no, I just want to make my own clothes!"

"That's more like it."

Hearing him say that, the old man nodded in satisfaction, and then turned back to carefully examine the sewing machine again.

He touched it here and looked at it there, and while touching it, he softly praised how well the sewing machine was preserved, just like a new one.

Zhang Yang couldn't help but think to himself, "Of course it has to be the same as the new one. The system's products are definitely different."

"Grandpa, let me take your measurements."

After looking at the sewing machine, Zhang Yang opened the other package of rewards that had been delivered.

A complete set of tailoring tools is also a task reward.

However, not many people paid attention to it this time, since soft rulers, bamboo rulers, scissors, powder compacts, needles and thread are all everyday items.

"Um... do we really need to measure?"

When Grandpa Jiang saw Zhang Yang walking over with a wicked grin, holding a ruler, his heart skipped a beat.

The old man had a bad feeling when he skillfully turned on the sewing machine.

Now, hearing that Zhang Yang wanted to take his measurements again, his feelings became even more complicated.

This is for real!

Am I really going to be in deep trouble this time?