Chapter 105: Strolling Through the Department Store

Waking from sleep, her mind was clear and refreshed.

Zhong Yuxiu rubbed her hair as she went downstairs to wash up, tying her hair into a ponytail—not the usual kind, but one divided into four strands after being tied, with two strands on each side. She bound their ends with elastic bands, weaving them in and out so the ponytail twined together. This style was elegant and far from tacky.

She glanced in the mirror, pleased. Smiling brightly, Zhong Yuxiu stepped out of the bathroom, just as Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo came downstairs. “Comrade Zhong, did you sleep well?”

“I slept quite well. We need to head to school, just wash up and let’s go.”

“Alright, we’ll be ready in a moment.”

The two finished washing and left for school with Zhong Yuxiu. That morning, she accompanied her teacher to the hospital to learn, and in the afternoon, as the teacher didn’t need to go to the hospital, she followed her teacher’s schedule.

In merely two days, she mastered the art of feeling the pulse, even using her psychic abilities to precisely examine hidden ailments and minor illnesses in the body. Principal Xu was overjoyed, praising her as born for medicine, and saying that if she pursued medical research to benefit the people, it would be even better.

Zhong Yuxiu neither agreed nor disagreed. She diligently studied medicine every day; regardless of how much she could use it in the future, wasn’t it wonderful to have another skill tucked away?

A month later, after finishing her final exam, Zhong Yuxiu exited the exam room, which was near the sports field. There she saw Yan Rushan standing, holding a large oil-paper package.

She hurried over. “Brother Yan, when did you arrive? How long have you been waiting?”

“I just got here,” Yan Rushan replied with a gentle smile. “Can we go home now?”

“Let’s go! What are you carrying?” She walked alongside him, her gaze falling on the oil-paper package in his arms.

Yan Rushan laughed quietly. “I bought roast duck for you. I brought the carcass, too—Dog Egg will make soup for you tonight.”

Roast duck bones boiled into soup with some greens—an unbeatable taste.

Zhong Yuxiu silently drooled, her mouth moving unconsciously. “Brother Yan, roast duck is hard to get. Next time, no need to go out of your way.”

Last time, she’d eaten it distractedly, preoccupied and unable to savor the flavor. Remembering it now brought a sense of guilt.

“It’s no trouble. I have someone help reserve it. They’re well acquainted with the chef.”

How close? Let’s put it this way—the chef was willing to make roast duck for free, whether at Quanjude or at home, as long as the tools were available.

Knowing the situation, Zhong Yuxiu no longer felt embarrassed. “Then, bring some for me often.”

“Of course, I’ll always bring some,” Yan Rushan replied, his lips curled in a faint smile.

They chatted and laughed as they left the school. No matter how busy life was, it had to be lived.

She originally planned to head straight home, but for the first time Yan Rushan disagreed. “You’ve been so busy lately, you haven’t really gone out. Now that exams are over, you should have some free time. In the next few days, I’ll take you out to relax and check on the sales of the mobility vehicle you developed. How about it?”

“The sales should be good. Otherwise, Comrade Xi Nian would have come knocking already.” Three words: don’t want to go.

“Let’s go take a look, hmm?”

His voice was low, sincere, and respectful. Zhong Yuxiu sighed inwardly; since they’d met, he’d been changing, trying to be better. She had indeed been busy—so busy she neglected everything, while he worked the black market to earn money and build connections, but still cared for her when he returned.

Whatever her reasons, Zhong Yuxiu felt she ought to spoil him a little.

“Well, alright then.”

The deep, magnetic laughter in her ear showed his happiness, and her reluctance vanished. She suddenly understood what those loving couples she’d met before had meant: when two people are together, even living together, mutual tolerance, understanding, and achievement are indispensable.

They took the bus and headed for the department store.

The store was bustling with people. Now that policies were loosening, foreign visitors could be seen.

They wandered from counter to counter. At first, Zhong Yuxiu had little interest; after a while, she perked up, especially drawn to counters selling machinery, electronics, fabrics, and trinkets—ignoring those selling food and drink. With Dog Egg at home, given the right tools and ingredients, anything could be made. Her focus was on the practical and the novel.

In this era, trinkets hadn’t disappeared. Department stores still sold them, even imported toys.

Until the mid-eighties to late nineties, too many locals had never seen the world, so foreign goods dazzled them, sparking one wave after another of foreign product craze.

Her first life began in the early nineties. Once she had memories, she noticed countless people obsessed with imported goods, praising them endlessly, pushing domestic products out of the market. The imported cell phones, motorcycles, color TVs—any household with one could show it off for ages.

The big-ticket items aside, people loved to buy foreign clothes and shoes, convinced that only imported goods were best, and that wearing them brought prestige.

“This outfit would look great on you.” Seeing her pause before a clothing counter, staring intently at a deep red wool coat, Yan Rushan asked quietly, tapping the counter to signal the attendant.

The attendant, noticing their distinguished attire and demeanor, smiled as she handed over the wool coat.

“You two have great taste. This outfit sells well here—many people want it. The other colors are nice too; I’ll bring them out for you.”

She fetched the other colors one by one.

Zhong Yuxiu glanced at Yan Rushan. She wasn’t particularly fond of this outfit; it was striking, fashionable if styled well, but a misstep in pairing could ruin it.

“Brother Yan, do you really think this coat looks good?”

“You don’t like it?” Yan Rushan was uncertain.

She watched him for a moment. Seeing he had no ulterior motives, she nodded. “I don’t.”

“Then…” Yan Rushan returned the coat to the attendant. “If you don’t like it, let’s look at the other colors.”

The attendant pursed her lips in displeasure. Such a beautiful coat—how could they not like it? What taste!

Noticing their expressions, Zhong Yuxiu quietly picked up a goose-yellow coat and held it against herself—too juvenile, so she put it down. The indigo one was too dull and aged, unsuitable. The green… it gave the illusion of a patch of grass on one’s head—not for her.

“Yuxiu, I think this black one is nice. Its cut should look great on you,” Yan Rushan said, picking up an unassuming wool coat.

Zhong Yuxiu examined it carefully and was satisfied. “Let’s take this one. It’s versatile—goes with any outfit and matches shoes easily.”