These days, what people called a supply and marketing cooperative was really just a simple department store.
The store was quite large, but the sales staff’s attitude was truly poor.
They were arrogant and disdainful toward young men and women like Leon and He Yushui.
Instead of serving customers, they gathered in small groups to chat.
Leon originally wanted to talk to them about what “service first” meant, but after seeing the banner on the wall that read “No Hitting or Scolding Customers,” he immediately changed his mind.
“Sister, could you let me take a look at this old-style bicycle?” Leon gave a shy smile.
“Aren’t you already looking at it?” The saleswoman did not buy it.
“I mean… could I try riding it?” Leon whispered.
“You’re not even allowed to touch it, let alone test ride it.” The saleswoman looked utterly bewildered.
“Hahaha!” The other sales clerks also burst into laughter.
Many customers who had come to buy things looked at him with pity.
What was the use of this young man being good-looking?
He clearly was not very bright.
What was a bicycle?
It was already a miracle that he could see one up close, yet he actually wanted to ride it?
“Brother Leon, let’s go.” He Yushui blushed and tugged at his sleeve.
It was far too embarrassing.
If not for Leon, she would have run away long ago.
“Sigh.” Leon sighed, took out the coupon and money, and said, “How much is this bicycle?
I’ll buy it.” “Hm?” The saleswoman seemed to choke, and her laughter stopped abruptly.
The customers were dumbfounded.
This was a bicycle, a major item!
He Yushui also looked at Leon in disbelief.
A bicycle… he just bought it like that?
“How much?” Leon asked again.
“One hundred and eighty yuan,” the saleswoman said dryly.
“All right.
Issue the invoice.” Leon counted out eighteen large banknotes and handed them over.
Issuing an invoice was a very important step.
Without one, the bicycle could not be registered.
The saleswoman quickly wrote out the receipt for Leon.
In these days, the concept of “gold digger” was not common.
But Leon was young, handsome, and had bought a bicycle so casually—it was obvious he was well-off.
“Comrade, what unit do you work for?” the saleswoman asked cautiously.
“I’m a cook.” Leon smiled, pushed the bicycle, and left.
“A cook?” The sales clerks looked at one another in disbelief.
Were chefs really this arrogant nowadays?
“Brother Leon, why did you lie to her?” He Yushui whispered.
“How did I lie?” Leon asked in surprise.
“You’re a doctor, not a cook,” He Yushui said seriously.
She had thoroughly investigated Leon’s background that morning.
“We’re all doing revolutionary work.
It’s all the same,” Leon said with a dry laugh.
The two chatted as they walked.
Then they arrived at the clothing section.
Leon spent money like water, buying two white shirts, two pairs of trousers, and two pairs of leather shoes.
The total cost of six cloth coupons and over a hundred yuan frightened He Yushui.
She had never seen anyone spend money like this before.
Was he trying to ruin his own life?
“Yushui, come here.” Leon held up a dress against her, making He Yushui’s heart pound.
Leon did not have any improper intentions.
In his eyes, He Yushui was just like a relative’s child.
Taking her shopping and buying her a few outfits was perfectly normal.
“Should we try…” Before Leon could finish speaking, he saw the saleswoman’s unfriendly gaze and immediately swallowed the rest of his words.
He picked out a blue floral dress, a white shirt, and a floral skirt, then asked the saleswoman to wrap them up.
“One cloth coupon, plus twenty-seven yuan and six jiao.” The saleswoman quoted the price smoothly.
“Brother Leon, this is too expensive…” He Yushui blushed and tugged at Leon’s sleeve.
Twenty-seven yuan and sixty cents was almost equivalent to a month’s salary for a first-level worker in the steel rolling mill.
“Is it expensive?
It’s all right.” Leon shrugged.
Although he had been a corporate slave, he had never been stingy when it came to food, clothing, and daily necessities.
He Yushui remembered what Sha Zhu had said yesterday and lowered her head without saying anything more.
Leon bought her a pair of leather shoes before officially ending his shopping trip.
He was a homebody and was not very interested in shopping, but there was no such thing as online shopping in this world, so he had to do everything himself.
He Yushui clutched the clothes, her small hands trembling.
She had never worn such expensive clothes in her entire life.
After Leon took her to Dongxinglou(*East Prosperity Building) to eat Shandong cuisine, she was completely numb.
The meal cost a little over ten yuan, which was enough for two months of her living expenses.
Leon did not think it was a big deal.
His principle was simple: since he had already gone out, there was no need to worry about how much it cost.
Of course, if he did not have money, he certainly would not go out.
After finishing their meal, the two returned to the courtyard house.
But Leon did not go in.
He simply asked He Yushui to throw his things into the room, then rode his bicycle to the neighborhood office.
He Yushui caused a sensation as soon as she entered the courtyard carrying the clothes.
“Yushui, are you… giving up on life?” Yan Bugui looked at the clothes in her hands and swallowed hard.
If that shirt did not cost more than twenty yuan, he would be willing to twist his own head off.
“Wow, this dress is so beautiful.” Second Aunt did not care whether He Yushui agreed or not.
She took the clothes and unfolded them.
“This dress would be enough for a wedding!” Third Aunt exclaimed.
“Yushui, did your brother buy this for you?” Qin Huairu asked enviously.
She had not worn such nice clothes even on her wedding day.
“No, Brother Leon bought them for me,” He Yushui said shyly.
“Leon?” Everyone was dumbfounded.
“Does he really want to marry you?” Yan Bugui blurted out.
These words made He Yushui’s pretty face instantly turn bright red.
“Third Uncle, don’t joke about minors like that.” Leon, who was pushing the bicycle in, laughed and scolded him.
Hiss!
Yan Bugui and the others gasped when they saw the brand-new old-style bicycle in his hand.
“You… you really bought a bicycle?” “What else?” Leon rubbed He Yushui’s head and said, “Third Uncle, Yushui is still young.
Don’t make jokes like that.
She still has to get married in the future.” “You little beast, if you have no feelings for He Yushui, why are you buying her so many things!?” Jia Zhangshi jumped out and cursed.
The fire of jealousy in her eyes was almost overflowing.
That little bastard really was rich.
He had only just started working, yet he had bought himself a bicycle and then bought so many things for He Yushui, that money-losing girl.
“It’s none of your business,” Leon said casually.
“You little beast, I suspect this money of yours came from an improper source.
I’m going to report you!” Jia Zhangshi’s face twisted with rage.
“Do whatever you want.” Leon patted He Yushui’s head and said, “Don’t talk to people like that.
Go home.” “Mm.” He Yushui nodded obediently, grabbed her clothes, and quickly ran off.
When Leon pushed the bicycle to the moon gate, he turned back.
“Jia Zhangshi, I’m really not used to not hearing you call spirits today… How about I give you a dime, and you keep calling for Old Jia?” Pfft!
Someone chuckled, and the entire courtyard burst into laughter.
Leon really was a scoundrel.
Qin Huairu also looked annoyed, but since the person involved was her mother-in-law, she was too embarrassed to laugh and could only lower her head.
“You little beast, you’ll die a horrible death!” Jia Zhangshi was so angry she was practically spitting fire.
“Yes, yes, that’s the flavor!” Leon clapped his hands and said, “Quickly sit on the ground, slap your thighs, and shout, ‘Old Jia!’ I’ll take out the money right now…” “Leon, how dare you bully my mother!?” With a sharp shout, a figure rushed toward Leon.
Smack!