Zhang Aihua also came over to join in the selection. She had her own set of standards for picking bowls and chopsticks—she would tap on the bowls with her knuckles and press them to her ear for a good listen.
Then, from among Lin Jiaojiao’s favorite patterns, she picked out several that she deemed to be of good quality.
After a round of tallying up the accounts and paying with ration coupons, the two carefully placed the bowls into their cloth bag.
They also asked the vendor for some straw, which they tucked between the bowls to prevent them from knocking against each other and breaking.
“Auntie, I don’t have anything else I want to buy.”
After roughly scanning the market and seeing nothing she wanted, Lin Jiaojiao said to Zhang Aihua.
“Then let me take you to the department store to have a look.”
Even if they might not necessarily buy anything, it was still good to look around more.
A girl should broaden her horizons.
Back when she was courting the Daduizhang, she would often sneak off to the county town behind her family’s back.
At that time, the Daduizhang had taken her into all kinds of luxury shops—places she wouldn’t have dared to even dream of on ordinary days.
Although times were unstable back then, it was already much better than when their parents were young.
She had also eaten at state-run restaurants quite a few times, and the flavors still made her mouth water whenever she thought of them.
“Jiaojiao, are you hungry?”
Thinking of the state-run restaurant, Zhang Aihua wanted to take Lin Jiaojiao to experience it.
“Auntie, we bought meat. If we want to eat something, let’s just make it at home.”
“That way, the whole family can eat together. There’s no need to spend that money for nothing.”
Although Lin Jiaojiao was an orphan, she had still managed to save quite a bit through her own efforts as she grew up.
Though she was relatively frugal in daily life, she was especially generous when it came to food.
She had also tasted quite a few delicious things.
So she wasn’t in a hurry to experience this era’s state-run restaurant right now.
There would be plenty of opportunities for places like that in the future—no need to go today.
“Since you’re not hungry, let’s head to the department store first.”
The two made their way to the department store, where the crowds were bustling.
However, most of those walking out were well-dressed city folk.
Country folk from the rural areas, on the other hand, appeared relatively rarely.
Ignoring others’ stares, Zhang Aihua pulled Lin Jiaojiao inside.
The two scanned row after row of shelves. There were quite a few foreign goods that required foreign exchange certificates to purchase.
There were even some blond, blue-eyed foreigners weaving through the crowd.
Lin Jiaojiao hadn’t expected that in a county town of this era, she would actually see foreigners.
Having grown used to seeing them in her later life, she didn’t find it strange at all.
It was Zhang Aihua who curiously stole a couple more glances, but worried that others might see her and think her uncouth and impolite, so she kept her gaze especially discreet.
“Jiaojiao, they sell ready-made clothes here. Do you want to go take a look?”
The clothes they had in hand would still take another day to be made.
The department store’s clothes were famously nice-looking with novel styles, and she wanted to buy Lin Jiaojiao an outfit.
“Auntie, I don’t want new clothes.”
Currently, she had no source of income, and Lin Jiaojiao didn’t want to appear too free-spending.
Once she figured out a way to earn money in the future, then she could come out and spend without being criticized.
“Since you’re not buying, then let me get you a jar of vanishing cream!”
“A girl’s skin must be properly cared for. Your face is rather dry—applying some vanishing cream will moisturize it quite a bit.”
Lin Jiaojiao had dry skin—the type that doesn’t easily get oily.
Although it was quite dry, without proper care, it would easily become chapped.
This time Lin Jiaojiao didn’t refuse, though she planned to pay for it herself.
“Go on, go on, this isn’t a place just anyone can come to.”
But unexpectedly, as soon as they approached the counter, they were driven away by the saleswoman inside.
The other party didn’t believe at all that they could afford the cosmetics inside, looking at them as if they were something filthy.
This infuriated Zhang Aihua.
“Miss, you can’t treat people like this.”
“You’re not me, how do you know I can’t afford it? Why look down on people!”
When Zhang Aihua started reasoning, she had a whole speech prepared, which left the female saleswoman across from her stunned.
But soon after came towering rage.
She extended a hand, her finger almost poking Zhang Aihua’s nose.
“Do I need you lecturing me here?”
“I have an important guest coming soon, get out of here right now.”
Lin Jiaojiao knew salespeople in this era were arrogant, but she hadn’t expected them to be this arrogant.
She frowned, grabbed the other’s finger, and bent it backward.
She didn’t break it, but it hurt enough.
“Ouch!”
“Where did this country bumpkin come from, daring to lay hands on me? You must have a death wish.”
The saleswoman, as if she had suffered a huge humiliation, clawed at Lin Jiaojiao’s face.
“Damn!”
“You dare touch my family, I’ll fight you with my life.”
At this point, Zhang Aihua no longer intended to keep reasoning, raising her big palm and charging forward.
But in the end, her movement was stopped by Lin Jiaojiao.
“This comrade holds the position of salesperson, yet doesn’t think at all about serving the people.”
“A person with such problematic thinking clearly hasn’t emerged from the old society.”
“Why waste words with her? Let’s go directly to the Red Sleeve Armband and have them investigate this person’s background.”
“I suspect this person’s foundation is unclean—who knows if she’s a remnant of the capitalists?”
Lin Jiaojiao’s light few words froze the saleswoman in place.
She dropped her arrogant demeanor, her expression turning terrified.
She wanted to beg for mercy but couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.
Fortunately, the older sister at the neighboring counter was sharp-eyed and immediately came over to smooth things over.
“You two, I’m truly sorry. Don’t stoop to her level. The girl just had a fight with her partner and is still angry, that’s why she said the wrong thing.”
“Auntie, what would you like to buy? Let me recommend something for you.”
Afraid they wouldn’t let it go, she also made a promise.
“I’ll have this girl give up her internal employee discount spot for you, how about that?”
Seeing the older sister’s good attitude, and the young saleswoman no longer speaking.
Zhang Aihua hadn’t really intended to report someone over such a small quarrel.
If she really reported the other party over this matter, the girl’s job would definitely be lost.
But this grudge was thoroughly formed.
She herself didn’t care, but she worried Jiaojiao might be harmed.
“I want to buy a bottle of vanishing cream, give me a recommendation.”
Seeing Zhang Aihua take the out offered, the older sister’s smile grew even warmer.
She quickly brought out three types of vanishing cream for them to choose from.
In the end, Zhang Aihua chose the Peony brand vanishing cream, paid with the employee discount, and the two walked out of the department store together.
Lin Jiaojiao felt that the favors she owed were piling up more and more.
Mulling over the things in the Space, she wondered what she could take out to give to the other party as a token of gratitude.
With these thoughts on her mind, the two of them returned to the entrance of the post office.
After all this wandering around, Daduizhang had already returned from home.
At this moment, he was squatting under the big tree across from the post office, pen and notebook in hand, seemingly jotting something down.
“What are you writing?”
Zhang Aihua walked over and, without even glancing at the contents of the notebook, asked casually.
That was just how her man was—whenever he came across any useful information, he would record it in his notebook.
Having been married for so many years, she naturally understood her husband’s habits.
“Nothing much. Are you two done shopping?”
“I’ll hitch a ride back on someone else’s donkey cart in a bit. You two take the bikes.”
Daduizhang closed his notebook and tucked it into his pocket.
He planned to go find his friend.
The other man was from the neighboring village and could drop him off right at the village entrance.
That way, he could save quite a bit of walking.