The shop assistant’s eyes lit up, and she immediately smiled even more warmly, turning to pick up several dresses from the shelf: “Comrade, take a look! These are all newly arrived styles. The fabric is really good, the cut is perfect, and these bright colors especially suit a bride! Your wife will definitely like them!”
Zhou Runqing’s gaze swept over a maroon dress, and he lightly touched the soft fabric with his fingertips, speaking decisively: “This one, then.”
The shop assistant’s eyes curved in a smile: “Comrade, you have good taste! This fabric just arrived, and the cut is waist-fitted. The bride will look slim and elegant; with a pinch of the waist, walking down the street, she’ll be absolutely charming!”
Zhou Runqing paused, frowned slightly, and then pointed to another apricot-pink dress. “Include this one too.”
The shop assistant’s eyes twinkled as she chuckled: “Although this one doesn’t have a fitted waist, it’s still very chic.”
She stretched the hem and added: “These two dresses require 2 zhang 4 chi of fabric coupons. If you have military fabric coupons, that’s much more convenient. You get priority exchange, and they’re even better than civilian coupons you won’t have to wait in line!”
In the department store, high-demand fabrics like Dacron-cotton blends and corduroy had a monthly civilian supply quota. Even with enough coupons, once the monthly quota ran out, you had to wait until next month.
Military coupons, however, weren’t limited by quotas. As long as you had enough measurements, you could pick up the goods directly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Runqing took out his officer ID and unfolded several fabric coupons with military insignia, taking out three one-zhang coupons.
The shop assistant took them with a smile: “Comrade, these two dresses take 2 zhang 4 chi, so you’ll still have 6 chi left!”
She glanced at the nearby counter. “Why not pick some Dacron socks for the bride as well? Durable and stylish, very practical.”
Zhou Runqing nodded, completed the payment, took the fabric package, casually slipped it into his military bag, and without pausing, walked straight to the leather shoe counter.
The shoe counter clerk was an experienced craftsman wearing a blue cap. He immediately stood up with a smile: “Comrade, looking for shoes?”
Zhou Runqing’s gaze swept over the shoes on display and, in a low voice, said: “For a female comrade choose the best.”
The craftsman immediately understood, smiling as he brought out two pairs of sheepskin shoes from the back: one dark brown, one black, both classic round-toe, low-heeled styles, plain surfaces with no extra patterns.
He placed them on the counter. “Comrade, these two are popular with female buyers. Whether paired with a dress or a Lenin-style suit, they look elegant!”
Zhou Runqing glanced at the two pairs, but his eyes drifted past them to a pair of off-white sheepskin shoes.
The shoes had a rounded, delicate toe, a one-inch square heel, and a matte, warm surface under the sunlight, like top-quality white mutton jade.
In his mind, he saw the woman’s skin smooth and fair, surpassing even the finest mutton jade.
He raised his hand, lightly pointing: “That pair.”
The craftsman followed his finger, paused in surprise, and then carefully lifted the off-white sheepskin shoes even more gently than the previous two pairs.
“Ah, comrade, you have excellent taste! These shoes are rare! Only a few large department stores have them; other places don’t.”
“But these shoes are beautiful but very easy to get dirty. Most women hesitate to buy them. Even a walk on a dirt path, a little dust, and they look dirty immediately.”
“Moreover, these sheepskin shoes can’t be washed casually. You have to take them to a specialized shoe shop for care, and that costs money it’s not cheap.”
Hearing this, Zhou Runqing didn’t even frown. His gaze stayed on the shoes, and in his mind, he pictured the woman wearing them with the apricot-pink dress, standing in the island family quarters waiting for him to come home.
Without a word, he said firmly: “This is the style. Wrap it in this size.”
The craftsman smiled, giving a thumbs-up. The female shop assistant nearby also leaned over enviously: “Comrade, you really take care of your wife!”
The man’s stern face broke into a rare, slight smile. After finishing the payment, he took the shoebox and left the store.
Back in the car, Xiao Liu teased: “Commander, it’s the first time we’ve seen you shop this long.”
The commander usually hated shopping for daily necessities, leaving such tasks to his bodyguard.
This time, the purchases were probably for Comrade Lin. He was cautious, unwilling to touch them, carrying the large packages himself.
Xiao Liu smiled knowingly, receiving a warning glance from the commander, and quickly drove toward the street Revolutionary Committee office.
At the entrance, Zhou Runqing and his companion walked directly into the office, revealed their identities, and explained their purpose.
The street office staff didn’t dare delay. They quickly retrieved old files for verification and efficiently issued an identity certificate as requested.
Outside the office, however, a few figures hid in an alley, closely watching the military jeep.
One gaze was particularly sharp and intense, practically sparking fire from the eyes.
The small followers whispered to each other:
“Boss, look at this military vehicle it’s totally different! Way better than that beat-up truck we’ve been tinkering with! If we could drive it, we’d be in heaven!”
“We, the descendants of poor peasants, driving this car? We’d be asking for a bullet instead!”
The so-called boss, Shen Lichuan, wasn’t thinking about the car.
He signaled to a follower, who understood and peeked toward the committee office entrance, pretending to maintain order, strolling with a red armband, and quickly reported back.
“Boss, guess what? This car really belongs to the commander who took Miss Lin away. The Revolutionary Committee officials are so fawning, calling him ‘Commander Zhou’ constantly. Looks like he’s helping Lin’s family get an identity certificate.”
“I even overheard this Commander Zhou is going to marry Miss Lin. He also told the street office to notify the materials department so that after they get the certificate, they can collect the Lin family’s returnable belongings.”
Shen Lichuan ground his teeth, punching the lime wall in the alley, his gaze wolfish and ruthless. He sneered: “The woman I’ve had my eye on, finally within reach, and he dares to be her hero! What a stroke of luck!”
The followers fell silent, intimidated by the fury on their boss’s face.
Shen Lichuan ignored the blood on his knuckles, bracing his anger, his eyes sharp enough to pierce a person’s heart.
He scanned the followers, narrowed his eyes, and summoned one.
The follower hurried over, bowing: “Boss, you called?”
Shen Lichuan whispered instructions.
The follower’s eyes lit up. “Yes, boss.”
The young follower strolled slowly to the door, munching on sunflower seeds.
The committee director, busy looking for household registration records, turned and saw Da Long lingering at the door. His eyes brightened:
“Da Long, perfect timing! You know Comrade Lin Yuqiu, right? Quickly write an identity certificate for her.”
The director then explained gently to Zhou Runqing: “Commander Zhou, Lin family’s old files are hard to find. This person is the son of a former Lin family servant having him write the certificate is most appropriate.”
Da Long, hands in pockets, brightened at the name Lin Yuqiu, raising his voice: “Miss Yuqiu?”
He approached, sizing up the uniformed man, feigning surprise: “You know our Miss Lin Yuqiu?”
“Wasn’t Miss Lin’s fiancé supposed to be Young Master Xie? Why are you helping Miss Lin get an identity certificate?”
Da Long had always followed his father in addressing Miss Yuqiu, so old habits died hard.
At these words, the warmth in the man’s face vanished instantly, his gaze froze, jaw tense, and his aura terrifying.
The director paled, quickly stepped forward to pull Da Long aside, apologizing to Zhou Runqing while scolding: “Why aren’t you writing the certificate yet? Stop talking nonsense!”
Da Long, hearing that the director accused him of lying, became fired up. He straightened his neck, raised his voice, clenching his hands: “Director, I’m not lying!”
“My father worked for the Lin family, and I visited the Lin house every day, hoping Miss Yuqiu and Young Master Xie would give me a little treat. They treated me well, gave me pastries, even taught me to read I remember it all!”
Da Long raised his chin high, eyes full of loyalty to the couple and distrust of Zhou Runqing, the sudden outsider.
He said, voice slightly red: “Miss Yuqiu and Young Master Xie grew up together, visiting bookstores, watching movies, practicing piano and calligraphy, always inseparable.”
“Miss Yuqiu’s voice was so wonderful then. That Jiangnan tune she sang was soft enough to melt you, sending shivers down your spine.”
“Young Master Xie sat beside her at the piano, accompanying her singing such beautiful scenes, sadly gone now.”
Seeing Commander Zhou’s cold gaze, the air around him seemed freezing. Da Long deliberately elongated his words, each one stabbing at Zhou Runqing’s mind.
“At that time, when Young Master Xie visited the Lin house, he could enter Miss Yuqiu’s private room freely who else had that privilege?”
The director slapped Da Long on the forehead: “Stop rambling, just write it!”
Da Long, sneaking a glance at the commander, finally took the pen and wrote the certificate as requested.
After leaving the office, he watched the jeep disappear, thrilled, and ran into the alley.
“Boss, you won’t believe it the Zhou commander was so furious, his face ashen! I was scared he might shoot me!”
Shen Lichuan sneered sharply: “Scared? If he shot you, his commandership would be over anyway!”
“Besides, he’s colluding with capitalists the military leader wanting a capitalist’s daughter costs more than us.”
“You all, find out where the young lady is now! This meat within reach, I, Shen Lichuan, will take a bite!”
“Yes, boss.”