She observed for a while, then chose a small nutrition supplement shop to enter. From the dazzling shelves, she picked up two low-grade nutrition solutions. The pale pink liquid was sealed in two glass tubes, and the label indicated a strawberry flavor.
The shop assistant was a very talkative elderly woman. Half an hour earlier, she had just helped a pregnant customer down the steps and chatted with her for nearly ten minutes about childcare. She clearly loved to talk.
“Good afternoon, miss! Do you know where the Jiugang Clothing Factory is? It’s my first time in this city and I got separated from my friend. We agreed to meet there,” Cang’er said politely as she handed over the two nutrition solutions.
“Of course! That’s the largest clothing factory in our city. Walk north from Central Plaza—after about twenty minutes you’ll see a big red building. That entire building belongs to Jiugang. Little girl, are you going to buy clothes?” As she mentioned the big building, she exaggeratedly drew a large circle in the air with her hands.
Cang’er nodded with a smile. Her clear, bright eyes blinked as she stared attentively at the woman, her pupils shimmering with curiosity and anticipation, as if saying: Go on, tell me more. I’m very interested.
“If you’re buying clothes, I suggest you and your friend go check out the underground mall on the west side. It’s much more affordable. Just last week I bought my granddaughter a dress there for half the price of Jiugang’s!”
The shop assistant grew increasingly enthusiastic, excitedly sharing all kinds of tips on how to find good bargains at the western underground mall, even recommending two shops she frequented often.
“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll seriously consider your advice!”
Cang’er finally received her receipt. From her green backpack, she took out the only copper coin she had to pay. Carrying the two nutrition solutions, she headed north toward Central Plaza.
Gulp, gulp—within five minutes of leaving the shop, she had finished both bottles completely, not a single drop left.
Two hundred milliliters in total. The sweet-and-sour strawberry flavor spread in her mouth—richer and more filling than she had imagined. No wonder so many humans now chose nutrition solutions instead of regular meals: they were indeed quick and convenient. With her hunger satisfied and her strength restored, she quickened her pace. Before the sun set, she finally found the enormous red building—no, it should be called a red skyscraper. The towering red structure rose straight into the clouds, its top nowhere in sight. A huge silver sign hung in the center, gleaming brilliantly.
Cang’er tidied her dress, let down the long hair she had coiled atop her head, braided it diagonally, and let it fall over her chest, securing the end with a brown cloth strip.
“Hello, is anyone here?” she called as she entered the building. The spacious hall had gray floor tiles, with a large bouquet of blooming tulips placed in the center. Clothing photos were densely hung across the white walls.
“Hello? Is anyone here?” she raised her voice again.
At that moment, a blue door was pushed open, and a man in a black suit emerged.
“Sorry, the factory is unloading goods right now—we’re extremely busy. Are you here to buy clothes? We’re not open today.” As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to the wooden “Closed” sign hanging beneath the tulips.
“I’m here to apply for a job.”
The man looked her over again, shock evident in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I saw on the recruitment board at Central Plaza that you’re looking for a pattern maker. May I ask if Ms. Mingya is here?”
Seeing that the man was still stunned, she spoke again. “Please allow me to meet Ms. Mingya. I can prove that I’m qualified for this job.”
Cang’er looked far too young. Due to long-term malnutrition, she was more slender than most children. Yet her gaze carried a firmness uncommon in children—her pitch-black eyes deep and unfathomable.
After hesitating for a moment, the man decided to give her a chance. His intuition told him this child was different.
Jiugang had undergone brand innovation, with significant changes in style, target audience, and market positioning. Headquarters had sent a new general manager—hot-tempered and decisive. The clothes for the next quarter had only been rushed out yesterday. The drastic change in style had thrown the online team into chaos. In the interstellar era, networks were highly advanced, and people rarely went to physical malls to buy clothes anymore. All they needed was to build a threedimensional model of themselves in their light-brain and, with one click, try on outfits on clothing websites to find suitable styles.
Clothing factories would prepare basic outfit combinations and then create information models for individual garments. These models could perfectly simulate the texture and visual effects of the clothes, as if the garments were right in front of you.
Following the man, they took the elevator up to the twentieth floor.
As soon as they stepped out, a wave of noise hit them. People around were constantly unloading goods and moving cardboard boxes. Various clothes were messily hung on two long racks. In the corner, accessories were piled like mountains—shoes and bags of all kinds.
Beneath an enormous white light screen stood simulated mannequins of different body types. Opposite them were three photographers holding silver cameras—devices that looked very different from 21st-century cameras—taking photos.
Several men and women wearing uniform white T-shirts moved quickly, rushing back and forth under the direction of a red-clad figure.
“That person in the red dress is Ms. Mingya, the head of our planning department,” the man said, giving Cang’er a thumbs-up. “Don’t be nervous during the interview later—Sister Mingya is very gen—”
“I said the blue vest! Blue! Blue! If you’re colorblind, get out of here right now!”
Before he could finish, Mingya’s thunderous roar rang out. The half-spoken word “gentle” was swallowed back down his throat. When Cang’er turned to look at him expressionlessly, he could only awkwardly tug at the corner of his mouth.
“Monk, what are you doing here?” Mingya noticed the two of them and walked over with a puzzled look.
“This little girl said she’s here to apply for a job, so I brought her to you,” he said, pointing at Cang’er.