Not only did Vassili lose his farm, stock, and all land but he was put to work as a labourer on what had been his own farm. Vassili was not paid in money but in raw grain. This grain had to be taken to the cooperative mill where he would have to queue. The milled flour was sacked and carefully weighed in accordance with State dictat. Beyond losing all that he owned his fall in status had left him a target for abuse. However, he still had friends, both Finnic and Russian, who stood by him, albeit at a safe distance.
Meanwhile, Aliide's clandestine business of sewing and tailoring continued often accepting food as payment. The sewing machine itself was vital to the family's well-being so when some intruding neighbours found it and tried to remove it Aliide and her children fought to keep it tenaciously. After a tense stand-off the intruders left without the sewing machine. Anti-Kulak' propaganda was so strong that certain neighbours could no longer be trusted.
The 'individual enterprise' of Aliide's was highly illicit but, undaunted, Aliide accepted the risk. Throughout the day she continued to repair and alter all sorts of fabric.