Xu Suyu wandered into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
In this era—when everything required ration coupons, food was scarce, clothing styles were uniform, and even skirts had to follow standardized designs—there really wasn’t much to browse.
When she came to the capital, she had assumed the north would be cold, so she only brought a few long-sleeved shirts and coats. Unexpectedly, the temperature here was similar to Miancheng’s. She truly needed to buy a few short-sleeved tops to rotate between.
After purchasing gifts for the Jiang family, she headed to the women’s clothing section and pointed at three identical Dacron short-sleeved shirts in different colors hanging on the wall.
“Comrade, I’ll take all three of these.”
The saleswoman had never seen anyone buy three expensive Dacron shirts at once. “All three?”
“Yes, thank you.” She handed over the money and coupons together.
One white, one beige, one gray-blue. Three would be enough to change between.
The saleswoman took the payment and was about to retrieve the clothes when a gentle male voice sounded behind them.
“Comrade, please wrap up that gray-blue Dacron shirt for me.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Suyu turned and met Han Shumo’s equally surprised gaze.
She gave him a faint nod, didn’t even greet him, and shifted her eyes away.
The saleswoman explained, “All three shirts have already been purchased by this comrade.”
“Are there any others?”
She pointed to a few coarse cloth tops nearby. “There are some made of regenerated fabric. Do you want those?”
Regenerated fabric was reprocessed from old cotton, torn quilts, and plant fibers. It was rough, uncomfortable, and not durable.
Han Shumo shook his head. “This shirt is a gift. Please find me another Dacron one.”
“There aren’t any. Our supply is limited. This batch is sold out. New stock won’t arrive for at least two or three days.”
Han Shumo turned directly to Xu Suyu. “Comrade Xu, could you spare me one shirt? I need it urgently.”
Xu Suyu didn’t look at him. Her tone was indifferent. “I can’t.”
Standing at the counter, Han Shumo wasn’t used to hearing the usually gentle Xu Suyu speak to him like that. Why was she being so selfish today? Could it be…
“Comrade Xu, if you’re opposing me because I didn’t agree to marry you and you’re upset, there’s really no need. I did it for your own good—”
“Comrade Han, mind your words.”
She turned to face him directly. Her expression was calm, but her tone distant.
“I’m not interested in a man who already has someone in his heart. Nor would I waste my time targeting you.”
“In that case, please give me one shirt.”
Xu Suyu smiled faintly. Before she could respond, a soft voice sounded from not far away.
“Shumo?”
Han Shumo turned around in delight and saw the petite, sweet girl he had longed for all his life.
“Wanqiu? What are you doing here? Didn’t you bring your nephew and niece today?”
Qin Wanqiu was 159 centimeters tall. Her features weren’t as striking as Xu Suyu’s, but she had a delicate, modest charm. Overall, she wasn’t unattractive.
“I came to buy vegetables. And you are…?”
Her gaze fell on Xu Suyu, who still hadn’t turned around. Her voice dimmed slightly. “Did you bring your fiancée to buy clothes?”
Han Shumo immediately denied it. “She’s not my fiancée.”
Qin Wanqiu looked surprised, her voice rising. “She’s not? But everyone in the compound says a girl came to your house to marry you.”
“That’s just rumor. I’ve only known her for three days. We’re not close. The one I like is actually…”
He looked at Qin Wanqiu with burning intensity. “…someone else.”
He would confess properly somewhere private with a gift. This wasn’t the place.
Qin Wanqiu blushed and looked up at him. Their eyes locked, both nearly drowning in each other’s affection.
Xu Suyu had already accepted reality, but hearing this still disgusted her. Just hours ago, this man had been the husband who had “loved” her for a lifetime and granted her every request.
Now he was confessing to someone else—with a passion she had never seen in her previous life. It felt like realizing the money she had just spent was smeared with filth. Even though it was already spent, the residue still clung to her hands. How could she not feel sick?
The saleswoman handed over the clothes. Just as Xu Suyu was about to take them, Han Shumo quickly pulled Qin Wanqiu over to her.
“Comrade Xu, no one can wear three shirts at once. Please spare one for me.”
Qin Wanqiu looked surprised. “Shumo, you’re buying clothes?”
“I want to buy you a shirt, but the three in the store were all purchased by Comrade Xu. So I’m asking if she could spare one for you. Comrade Xu is kind—she’ll surely be willing to help.”
He looked at Xu Suyu expectantly. He knew her temperament—soft-hearted and easygoing. If he praised her a little, she would definitely agree.
But Xu Suyu said nothing. She simply looked at him calmly.
For some reason, the anticipation in his eyes turned uneasy—as though he had been caught doing something wrong.
Xu Suyu smiled lightly. “I’ve heard Comrade Han is kind. Then why are you forcing me for your own purposes? I owe you nothing. On what grounds should I help you? I cannot spare the shirt.”
Han Shumo was stunned. Even after he put it that way, she refused again?
Was this really Xu Suyu?
“Comrade Xu, you’ve seen Wanqiu’s clothes—patch upon patch. She truly can’t make do anymore. It’s just one shirt. Why be so selfish? I can pay you extra.”
“Hey!”
A lazy, roguish voice suddenly rang out from the entrance.
Xu Suyu turned and saw Jiang Sun approaching with one hand in his pocket, walking with an arrogant swagger. He shoved Han Shumo with obvious disdain.
“You blockheaded Han duck, I’ve got my eye on your mom. Go home and tell your dad to hand her over to me. From now on, I’ll be your father.”
“Jiang Sun! Watch your mouth!”
Jiang Sun stepped closer, a wicked grin curling at his lips.
“Why won’t you? It’s just your mom. Why so selfish? If that’s not enough, I can pay extra.”
“You…” Han Shumo was a little surprised. Jiang Xun was actually standing up for Xu Suyu. This guy had always been selfish, never caring about anyone else’s life or death. He had known Xu Suyu for less than a day—how could he possibly…?
Qin Wanqiu grabbed Han Shumo’s arm and said softly, “Shumo, forget it. Since Comrade Xu isn’t willing to give it up, I won’t compete with her. Don’t spend money on me because of this. My clothes can still be worn.”
Jiang Xun stared at Qin Wanqiu and spat disdainfully. “If a short, ugly rotten potato like you can’t wear nice clothes, blame your parents. What’s with the pitiful act? ‘Not competing with Sister’? She picked out the clothes first to begin with. You two idiots—don’t you understand first come, first served, money paid and goods delivered?”
After saying that, he strode straight over to Xu Suyu. At 188 centimeters tall, standing before the 170-centimeter Xu Suyu, he gave her an overwhelming sense of… security?
He lifted the candied hawthorn skewer in his hand and held it to her lips, bending down on his own initiative so his face was close to hers. His breath, faintly laced with tobacco, brushed against her cheek. The unruly smile on his face was dazzlingly bright.
“Sister, this candied hawthorn is for you. Don’t look at those two filthy things—look at me.”