“You don’t suit this style. I’ll design something else for you another day.”
“You’re going to design one for me?”
“Alright, alright. When I have time.”
Xia Hongjun smiled brightly, her dimples deep and adorable.
“Why did you come so early?”
“Aren’t we going to those two’s wedding banquet tomorrow? I’m staying at your place tonight. I’ve even brought my clothes.” Xia Hongjun pointed at her backpack.
Cheng Zi: “……”
Good thing Xie Ci wasn’t home—otherwise things would’ve been a disaster.
Seeing that Cheng Zi had almost finished eating, Xia Hongjun dragged her out to get her hair done.
“I want to get a perm. What do you think?”
“A perm?”
Cheng Zi found it interesting. “Sure, let’s go take a look.”
By the time they were ready and out the door, it was already 8:30 p.m.
Xia Hongjun also liked dressing up, though her fashion sense looked a bit awkward to Cheng Zi—somewhere between stylish and tacky.
With a few adjustments from Cheng Zi, and a slight alteration to her skirt hem, the girl instantly looked radiant and eye-catching.
Now she practically walked with wind in her step.
“Zi, let’s go to Zhouhe Street. I heard there’s a famous salon called Xiuli Hair Studio. I want small curls, like Hong Kong stars…”
The two walked arm in arm, once again drawing attention from the neighbors in the compound.
Their gazes weren’t very friendly, but Cheng Zi didn’t care. Xia Hongjun was oblivious.
When they reached the gate, a military vehicle happened to stop in front of them.
“Sister-in-law?”
The rear window rolled down, revealing Xiao Xiangyuan’s still-pale face.
“Xiao Yuan? You’re discharged already?”
A slightly older man got out of the car. Cheng Zi had never seen him before, but he carried a strong, authoritative aura—clearly an officer.
“Instructor, this is Comrade Xie Ci’s wife,” someone introduced.
The instructor looked at Cheng Zi with a sharp gaze and nodded slightly as greeting.
Instructor?
Cheng Zi wasn’t one to warm up to cold attitudes, but since this was Xie Ci’s superior, she politely nodded back.
“Sister-in-law, the unit arranged a separate place for me—it’s right next to yours.”
“That’s great. I’ll come help you tidy up later.”
She was genuinely happy. Xiao Xiangyuan had a gentle personality and spoke sweetly—having him as a neighbor was good.
Xiao Xiangyuan got out with the instructor’s support.
Cheng Zi clearly felt Xia Hongjun’s grip tighten. She glanced at her suspiciously and saw her head lowered, cheeks flushed.
Then she looked at Xiao Xiangyuan.
Nearly 190 cm tall, fair-skinned, slightly more delicate features than Xie Ci. Though he had just been discharged, he was still weak from injuries.
There was a strange, almost fragile kind of beauty about him.
“You don’t need to. My comrades already helped me clean yesterday,” he politely declined.
The instructor interrupted, “Let’s go in first.”
Cheng Zi, always perceptive, immediately noticed the man’s dislike toward her—but still politely stepped aside.
“I’ll bring you food later, sister-in-law.”
Xiao Xiangyuan smiled happily. He had gotten used to Cheng Zi’s cooking and even looked forward to living nearby.
“Alright. I’ll bring you meals.”
He followed the others into the compound.
Cheng Zi and Xia Hongjun went to wait for the bus.
“Zi, who was that guy?”
“Which one?”
“The tall one.”
“Oh, him…”
Seeing no one nearby, Xia Hongjun pinched her arm.
“Ow!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll talk.”
Xia Hongjun’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Xiao Xiangyuan. Xie Ci’s comrade. He was injured on a mission recently, so Xie Ci had been taking care of him. I just deliver food sometimes—we’re somewhat familiar.”
The bus arrived shortly after.
In this era, there were no formal bus stops. You just waved and the bus would stop.
As they rode, Xia Hongjun kept asking questions, clearly interested.
Cheng Zi didn’t hide anything and answered casually.
“Oh right, he has a sister too… she’s in a pretty miserable situation…”
“That’s outrageous!” Xia Hongjun snapped. “She’s already being beaten like that and still won’t divorce? Waiting to be killed?”
“I don’t know. It’s a mess.”
The bus shook violently as it passed Zhoushan Street.
Even the conductor complained, “It was fine yesterday—why did they dig it up overnight? How are we supposed to pass?”
Xia Hongjun nodded. “The end of this street is fine, but the main road is completely dug up. It’s blocked off.”
Dug up?
Zhoushan Road?
Cheng Zi suddenly remembered a plot point from the novel…
On the day Gu Yechén and Li Qianqian got married, road repairs delayed the delivery of fresh carp for the banquet, causing both families to be unhappy.
Fish was essential for weddings in this era—symbolizing prosperity and abundance.
A thought flashed through her mind.
“Junjun, do you know where I can buy fish wholesale?”
“Huh? Fish wholesale?”
The topic shift was too sudden for Xia Hongjun.
“I think your sister-in-law’s family runs a shop at the front street market?”
Xia Hongjun nodded. “My sister-in-law’s family sells seasonings, not fish.”
“Can you ask them for me?”
So they changed direction and got off at Front Street.
Though reluctant, Xia Hongjun had no choice but to lead her to her sister-in-law’s family shop.
The Xia family was well-off. Her older brother worked at a sugar factory as a deputy director, so the shop owners were very polite to her.
After hearing the request, the elderly couple was surprised.
“Wholesale fish? What kind of fish do you want?”
Cheng Zi thought for a moment and raised two fingers.
“200 large grass carp.”
The old couple confirmed she was serious and went to inquire.
After a while, a middle-aged fish vendor was brought in—wearing a leather apron, soaked with water, smelling strongly of fish.
“Little girl, you’re ordering 200 grass carp?”
“Yes, uncle. I need them early tomorrow morning. Do you have them?”
“That urgent?”
“Yes, for a wedding banquet.”
“Then they need to be 5–6 jin each.”
“Yes.”
The man didn’t question further.
“For something this urgent, the price won’t be cheap…”
“Name it.”
He glanced at the couple from the Xia family, a bit embarrassed.
“At least 2 yuan per jin.”
Cheng Zi calculated quickly.
That meant over 2,000 yuan in total.
“Alright. But you must deliver them.”
The vendor immediately smiled. “Of course! Fresh delivery guaranteed.”
Cheng Zi added, “The Zhoushan Road section is blocked. Can you deliver to Haoshiji Hotel?”
“No problem.”
“I only brought 500 yuan. I’ll pay 500 deposit now and settle the rest on delivery.”
The deal was sealed.
Xia Hongjun was visibly frustrated the entire time, unable to understand her actions.
By the time they left the market, she was still sulking—completely losing her mood for the hair appointment.