Back then, oil and grain were in short supply, especially oil.
Many families used as little oil as possible, hardly daring to pour it directly into the pan. Instead, they would soak a piece of gauze in oil and lightly rub it on the pan before cooking.
This oil-soaked gauze was called oilcloth.
It was a common gift, as one piece could last ten days to half a month, or even longer if used sparingly. Wang Zizhen treasured it and carefully recorded it in her notebook.
She couldn't read, but she had her own way of keeping track of things. She drew little pictures to represent people and items.
On their wedding night, Da Qiang looked at her notebook and burst out laughing. "Who's this?"
Wang Zizhen: "That's Aunt Wang. See how I drew her big? She's tall, so I made her big. And this circle next to her represents the basin she gave me."
She couldn't read, but she could draw simple pictures to help her remember. Da Qiang looked at his wife with admiration. "You're so clever."
