Fortunately, after drinking some spiritual spring water, Shen Li felt much better.
She was busy calculating her next moves and didn’t pay much attention to the strange discomfort in her body.
The next day
After washing up, Shen Li went downstairs. Gu Xu was already sitting in the living room looking polished and gentlemanly, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Li Li, you’re finally up. Xiao Xu has been waiting here for over an hour,” Auntie said on his behalf.
Though she spoke kindly, something felt off in her heart. This kind of treatment was supposed to belong to her own daughter. Shen Li had already stolen her daughter’s match, and now she was even making him wait so long.
It never crossed her mind that it was their family who had concealed Shen Man and Gu Xu’s relationship in order to seize Shen Li’s fortune.
“Xiao Xu, you’ve suffered. Our Li Li is just too delicate.”
Shen Li ignored her aunt and walked toward the dining room. Gu Xu eagerly said, “Waiting for Li Li is only right. Don’t rush—have breakfast first.”
Shen Li elegantly removed her lace gloves and placed them on the sofa. “Auntie, what’s for breakfast today?”
“White flour buns and meat porridge.”
After being scolded yesterday by Shen Liren, Auntie had reluctantly cut some meat to cook porridge. Of course, most of the pot had gone into her own family’s stomachs. Only one bowl was left for Shen Li.
“I want Western bread.”
Auntie’s smile froze. “Western bread has to be bought at the Bund with overseas exchange coupons. Breakfast doesn’t need to be so extravagant. Besides, I’ve already cooked.”
Western bread in those days was an extreme luxury—sold only in diplomatic districts and requiring a large amount of overseas coupons. One loaf cost as much as thirty jin of top-quality rice or six jin of pork.
Even their family had never tasted it. How was Shen Li worthy?
“Auntie, perhaps you’ve forgotten—I’m very delicate. Without Western bread, I won’t eat.”
“Gu Xu, I won’t go out today. No breakfast means no strength.”
That wouldn’t do. If Shen Li didn’t go out with him, how could he please her? Remembering what Auntie said yesterday, Gu Xu believed this was another test.
He ran across several streets and personally bought two loaves of Western bread.
Wrapped in wax paper, they were still warm when Shen Li ate them—soft and fluffy, melting in her mouth.
Auntie stared, swallowing repeatedly, about to ask for a taste of something she’d never had before.
“Auntie, I’m delicate. If I don’t eat enough, my stomach hurts. I won’t be sharing the Western bread.”
Hmph. If they said she was delicate, she’d show them just how delicate she could be.
She was the heiress of a Shanghai capitalist family, worth a fortune. What was wrong with being pampered?
After breakfast, Shen Li went out with Gu Xu.
Auntie spat at her retreating figure.
She would turn her grief into appetite and eat Shen Li’s untouched breakfast.
But when she opened the lid, the buns and meat porridge had disappeared.
By the roadside, while Gu Xu went to find a rickshaw, Shen Li closed her eyes and let her consciousness enter the space.
She had just stored the breakfast inside. It was still steaming.
That meant freshness did not change in the space. Whatever condition something was in when stored, it remained that way indefinitely.
Excellent.
As long as she stored enough supplies, she wouldn’t fear being sent to the countryside.
“Li Li, the rickshaw’s here.”
She got on. “To Friendship Department Store.”
Gu Xu’s heart skipped. The goods there were not cheap.
The two loaves that morning had already cost him ten yuan. He wanted to suggest somewhere else, but Shen Li’s rickshaw had already pulled away, so he hurried after her.
He arrived slightly earlier and paid for her fare as well, trying to act gentlemanly.
Shen Li frowned. “How can my ride cost the same as others’?” She pulled out one yuan from his hand and stuffed it to the driver before walking off.
It was the scumbag’s money anyway—no need to save it.
A rickshaw ride cost only one jiao. She had tipped nine extra jiao—enough to buy more than a jin of pork.
Gu Xu felt his heart bleed.
The middle-aged rickshaw driver suspected he was dreaming. The young lady had asked about the wound on his hand and told him to buy medicine if he could. He had thought people like them could never have money.
Clutching the yuan tightly, his heart warmed. Not only was she beautiful—she had a Bodhisattva’s heart.
Friendship Department Store was huge, its sections fully stocked.
Her uncle’s family had been sent down to Heilongjiang Province. In a few months winter would come, bitterly cold. She needed to prepare thick clothes for them.
Shen Li went straight to the clothing section and picked several extra-thick cotton coats.
“Comrade, this model uses very thick material and requires more cloth coupons than usual. Maybe you’d like to look at another style?” the salesperson kindly suggested.
But in Heilongjiang, thicker was better.
“Li Li, Shanghai doesn’t need such thick clothing,” Gu Xu persuaded. After all, he’d be the one paying.
Shen Li snorted. “Of course I want the best. Doesn’t Brother Gu Xu think so too? Or are you marrying me to make me suffer?”
“Of course not. I’ll give you the best life.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Really?”
He nodded firmly.
“Then I also want this… and this…”
She went through every section—clothing, food, daily goods—deliberately choosing rare and expensive items that could later be exchanged or sold.
Imported Dacron fabric, Czech glassware, a Swiss Titoni watch, a Seagull camera.
Not many items—but extremely expensive and requiring rare coupons.
The Seagull camera alone cost 300 yuan. The Titoni watch 450. Czech glassware 30. A full bolt of Dacron 300.
Compared to these, the cotton coats were nothing.
The salesperson gasped. “Comrade, are you sure? The Dacron—an entire bolt?”
Almost no one bought a whole bolt in this era, let alone imported fabric.
“Yes. My fiancé treats me very well.”
Shen Li’s fair skin and luminous eyes were dazzling. Anyone looking at her would lose their composure.
Especially at the word fiancé.
Gu Xu, who had just cursed her as a capitalist in his heart, was stunned with delight. Had she agreed to marry him?
“Yes. Buy it. Buy it all.”
Easy to say—but when it came time to pay, he realized his money and coupons weren’t enough.
But he couldn’t show it. This was her final test. He couldn’t fail now.
“Li Li, the payment line is long. I’m afraid they’ll bump into you. Why don’t you head home first? I’ll deliver everything later.”
Shen Li knew he was going to ask Shen Liren for help.
She was more than happy to let him.
After all, she had somewhere else to go too.