The days passed one by one. The sweet scent of osmanthus faded, and the green on the mountains dwindled. In the blink of an eye, it was December. Tang Xiaonan had already switched to a thick, padded cotton jacket—a bright red one handmade by Phoebe Huxley. With her hair in two little pigtails tied with red silk ribbons, she looked even more festive than the cherubs in New Year's paintings.
Phoebe Thorne bought a brand-new sewing machine, which Goldie Thorne had brought back for her from Tristone. With the sewing machine, Phoebe Thorne was unstoppable. She joined forces with Phoebe Huxley and the others. They had stopped making summer clothes and were now focused on winter attire, using styles popular in the south. After the clothes were finished, they needed to be ironed—a task that Raina and the other older ladies had taken over.
