Ruan Sui'an looked at the items inside the counter, calculating what she should buy, moving from one end of the counter to the other.
She didn’t say a word.
What she didn’t know was that a pair of eyes had been staring at her the whole time, filled with jealousy that was almost overflowing.
This person was Zhao Xiaoting, whose family situation was considered quite good in this era.
Both her father and mother were permanent employees at the textile factory, and her eldest brother and second brother were also permanent employees at the textile factory.
As the youngest child, she was thoroughly pampered at home.
Zhao Xiaoting was extremely envious—anyone who was better-looking or had a better family situation than her would become the target of her jealousy.
Zhao Xiaoting kept staring at Ruan Sui'an, watching her walk from one end to the other without buying anything.
Finally, Zhao Xiaoting had a reason to mock Ruan Sui'an. It seemed she was just someone pretending to be wealthy despite being poor.
Clearly having no money, yet she insisted on wandering around the Supply and Marketing Cooperative for no reason.
Wasn’t this just causing trouble for them?
They were busy too, you know?
Zhao Xiaoting couldn’t help but sneer softly, “Some people! They may dress well, but they clearly have no money and still come to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative just to wander around.”
No matter how well-dressed or pretty they were, it was useless. They were clearly poor, and their clothes were probably just for show.
The other two salesclerks frowned, their eyes filled with disapproval. Ever since Zhao Xiaoting arrived, she had done nothing but cause trouble.
While they did feel somewhat superior because of their job as salesclerks, they wouldn’t pick fights for no reason.
But Zhao Xiaoting was always stirring up trouble. If she weren’t the niece of the director, she would have been fired long ago.
Ruan Sui'an frowned. She knew that salesclerks in this era tended to look down on customers, but she hadn’t expected them to be so blatant about it.
It seemed the words “Serve the People” written in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative were just for show.
Ruan Sui'an wasn’t someone who would swallow her anger. She strode over to Zhao Xiaoting.
Her gaze swept over Zhao Xiaoting from head to toe without any courtesy, staring at her for several minutes without saying a word.
Zhao Xiaoting felt uneasy under the scrutiny and gritted her teeth, saying, “What are you looking at? You poor wretch, if you have no money, don’t come to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. You’re just embarrassing yourself.”
Since the other party couldn’t hold back and had already made a move, Ruan Sui'an had no intention of remaining silent any longer.
She retorted bluntly, “How do you know whether I have money or not? Did you steal my money or take my wallet? Is that how you know?”
With that, Ruan Sui'an immediately labeled Zhao Xiaoting a thief. If she liked to talk nonsense, why couldn’t Ruan Sui'an do the same?
Zhao Xiaoting hadn’t expected the young girl in front of her, who seemed easy to bully, to be so sharp-tongued.
“You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? You’re the thief! I earn 38 yuan a month—how could I possibly be a thief? Besides, how could you have any money? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been here for so long just looking without buying anything.” Zhao Xiaoting firmly believed her own judgment—the person in front of her must be penniless.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stayed for so long without buying anything.
She lifted her head arrogantly, acting as if she were the wealthiest person around.
A monthly salary of 38 yuan was indeed quite high in this era, but that was only for people like her.
For Ruan Sui'an, that amount of money was nothing.
Did I just make that much money in one go? Was I proud of myself? ()
Not really, right?
"Tsk! Is 38 yuan a lot? This dress I'm wearing costs more than 38 yuan. I don't know where you get your sense of superiority from," Ruan Sui'an said disdainfully, looking at the salesclerk as if she were a joke.
The salesclerk was so angry at her attitude that she was practically fuming. Other salesclerks hurried over, tugging at her sleeve to calm her down.
"Xiaoting, don't make a scene. Take a good look at the clothes she's wearing. That dress would cost 48 yuan at the department store. The dress she has on is worth more than your monthly salary," one of the salesclerks whispered in her ear.
They had no idea where this Zhao Xiaoting got her sense of superiority from. They knew she hated people who were prettier or came from better-off families than her.
But she didn't have to bite at everyone she saw. It was really unbecoming.
Truth be told, they didn't want to get involved either. But since Zhao Xiaoting's aunt was the director, if they didn't try to calm her down and the director blamed them, what would they do?
They didn't want to suffer for no reason.
Zhao Xiaoting widened her eyes, staring straight at the dress Ruan Sui'an was wearing.
The dress was indeed very pretty. Honestly, she liked it too and had been thinking of buying one for herself after her next paycheck.
But the dress was just too expensive.
Impossible!
How could this dress be that expensive? If she were really that rich, why wouldn't she have bought anything?
This little bitch must be putting on a show, pretending to be rich. With that thought, she shook off the salesclerk who had spoken.
"You must have seen wrong. How could someone like her afford such an expensive dress? She's been here for so long and hasn't bought a thing. She clearly has no money. That dress definitely isn't something she bought herself. She must have seduced a man and had him buy it for her."
Zhao Xiaoting refused to believe that the wretched girl in front of her could afford anything from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
She began to slander her maliciously, speaking without restraint.
Ruan Sui'an's expression darkened. Was this woman out of her mind? Why was she so fixated on her?
"Say that again," Ruan Sui'an said, looking at the salesclerk with icy eyes.
She hated people who spread rumors about women the most. In her previous life, no one dared to spread such rumors about her because she was too strong.
Who would have thought that in the 1970s, she would be targeted so quickly with such rumors?
Zhao Xiaoting shrank back under her gaze but soon raised her head again, looking down her nose at her.
"What if I say it again? That dress you're wearing was bought for you by a man you seduced. Today, that man isn't here, so you have no money to buy anything. If you had money, why would you have been here for so long without buying a single thing?"
More and more onlookers gathered around, but none dared to speak up. After all, the young woman didn't look like someone without money.
Enough was enough. There was no need to hold back any longer.
Ruan Sui'an raised her hand and slapped Zhao Xiaoting across the face. She didn't use her full strength.
After all, due to drinking the Spirit Spring Water, her strength was too great. It wouldn't be good if she accidentally killed someone.
"You… you actually dare to hit me?" Zhao Xiaoting covered her face, staring at Ruan Sui'an in disbelief.
How dare this woman hit her? This was the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, her territory.
Since she was a child, when had she ever been hit?
"You dare spread rumors about me, so what's wrong with me slapping you?" Ruan Sui'an looked at Zhao Xiaoting with icy eyes.
This person deserved to be hit. Both being women, she actually spread such slanderous rumors about another woman.
Should someone like this be praised instead of slapped?
The people around hadn't expected this seemingly delicate young girl to hit so fiercely.
The crisp sound of that slap made them unconsciously want to rub their own faces.
Yet inwardly, they felt quite satisfied. This salesclerk who always looked down on them had finally been taught a lesson.
"Who's spreading rumors? I didn't spread any rumors. You seduced a man, engaged in illicit sexual relations with him—that's how you could afford such an expensive dress." Even after being slapped, Zhao Xiaoting still didn't learn her lesson and couldn't control her mouth from spreading rumors.
How dare this little bitch hit her? She definitely wouldn't let her off. Zhao Xiaoting's gaze at Ruan Sui'an was as if it were laced with poison.
Ruan Sui'an didn't waste words with her either. She raised her hand and slapped Zhao Xiaoting again. Having already been hit once, Zhao Xiaoting was on guard this time.
She tried to dodge Ruan Sui'an's second slap, but as soon as she moved, Ruan Sui'an grabbed her collar, then slapped her other cheek.
Of course, this slap was also delivered with controlled force.
Ruan Sui'an was quite satisfied with her handiwork—one on each side, that was fair.
Zhao Xiaoting hadn't expected Ruan Sui'an to move so fast, not even giving her a chance to dodge.
"You little bitch, don't go too far," Zhao Xiaoting glared at Ruan Sui'an with hatred.
Her entire face hurt terribly. Zhao Xiaoting felt some regret—why had she provoked such a madwoman?
But having already been slapped, she also felt unwilling to back down.
Ruan Sui'an frowned, her tone icy: "Little bitch? Who are you calling a little bitch?"
Without thinking, Zhao Xiaoting retorted: "I'm calling you a little bitch!"
Ruan Sui'an smiled: "Oh, so the little bitch is calling me a little bitch."
Only then did Zhao Xiaoting realize she'd been tricked. She widened her eyes in anger.
"You…" She could only utter that one word before falling speechless.
Damn this little bitch, why was she so difficult to deal with?
The people around were amused by their exchange, feeling quite pleased to finally see the haughty salesclerk get her comeuppance.
"Me… what about me?" Ruan Sui'an widened her innocent eyes, looking at Zhao Xiaoting.
Seeing Zhao Xiatong unable to speak, her gaze turned cold.
"You just spread false rumors, damaging my reputation. You need to compensate me for reputational losses, or I'll report you to Public Security."
Ruan Sui'an's words stunned Zhao Xiaoting. How had this escalated to reporting to Public Security?
If anyone should report to Public Security, it should be her—she was the one who got hit!
"Then go ahead! I only said a few words, but you slapped my face until it's swollen. If anyone gets arrested, it'll be you, definitely not me." Zhao Xiaoting said stubbornly.
She refused to believe that as the victim who got hit, she would be the one arrested by Public Security.
Ruan Sui'an looked at Zhao Xiaoting and chuckled lightly: "Heh… You don't actually think that just because I hit you, Public Security won't arrest you, do you? You spread the rumors first. Even if you got hit, you deserved it."
Zhao Xiaoting didn't understand the law well and was immediately intimidated.
The people around weren't too knowledgeable either, but seeing the young girl speak with such conviction, they believed her.
"Who told you to speak recklessly? Hurry up and apologize to the young lady. Otherwise, watch out—Public Security might arrest you, and then it won't be as simple as just apologizing."
"That's right, hurry up and apologize! If Public Security comes, you could be detained."
"Apologize, apologize now!"
…
The crowd around them began to jeer, wanting to see if this salesperson would still act as arrogantly as before.
They were even more eager to see the salesperson humbled.
Zhao Xiaoting glared resentfully at the people around her. They were many, and she was alone.
There was simply nothing she could do.