Chapter 54 ☆ Shoe Repair (Part 2)

“…Humph!” Cheng Yaoyao immediately turned away and said, with a hint of self-deprecation, “I’m leaving!”

“…Wait!” Xie Zhao finally spoke.

Cheng Yaoyao paused, turned her back to him, and hid the smile in her eyes. “What?”

Xie Zhao walked around to her, took something out of his pocket, and handed it to her.

Cheng Yaoyao was disappointed and pouted. “Why give me money?”

Xie Zhao said in a slightly low voice, “You need to buy something for family. Use this money.”

Cheng Yaoyao said, “But…”

“I know this money isn’t much, but it’s all I can spare right now.” Xie Zhao looked at her seriously, narrowing his eyes. “You need to remember, men who live off women are not good men.”

The stack of money was about five yuan, neatly pressed. It was indeed not much, and Cheng Yaoyao had more than thirty yuan in her small purse from what she had earned today. She looked at the stack of small bills in the man’s rough, big hand, and a mixture of sourness and tenderness surged in her heart.

Cheng Yaoyao suddenly reached out and ripped off Xie Zhao’s torn coat, revealing most of his shoulders and chest muscles. His shoulder muscles were smooth, with several crisscross scars on his tanned skin. They had scabbed over and did not look like fresh injuries.

Xie Zhao was caught off guard and looked at Cheng Yaoyao in embarrassment. “Sister?”

Cheng Yaoyao was mistaken and flushed. She asked first, “Where did you get the money? Did you help others carry goods again, or did you do something else? You came to the city to learn how to drive, didn’t you? You need to be very focused when learning to drive. What if you get too tired, get distracted, and cause trouble?! What about me… what about Grandma and Xiao Fei?”

Xie Zhao put on his coat to cover the old scars, and a smile appeared between his brows.

Seeing this, Cheng Yaoyao’s face turned even redder, and she almost pounced on him to tickle him.

Xie Zhao hurriedly said, “I didn’t go to work. This money was earned from selling mountain products. Grandma hasn’t been sick for a while, so there’s some money left.”

Cheng Yaoyao groaned. “The wound on your shoulder is from carrying goods!”

“Yes.” Xie Zhao quickly admitted it, following Cheng Yaoyao’s lead. “Last time, Grandma told me not to carry goods anymore. I’ve been studying hard these days and won’t be distracted.”

Cheng Yaoyao was satisfied. She looked at the money in her hand, thought for a while, and handed it back to Xie Zhao. “You should keep it. You need money to live outside. A man cannot live without money.”

Xie Zhao held her hand, wrapping his big hand around her soft, smooth fingers. “When I make more money in the future, I’ll give it all to you.”

“You have to keep your word!” Cheng Yaoyao’s eyes twinkled, and she finally smiled.

In the original book, Xie Zhao became a big boss, wealthy enough to rival a country. She was in charge of all of Xie Zhao’s money, so she was going to make a fortune.

Xie Zhao sent Cheng Yaoyao to the corner of the street. The supply and marketing cooperative was not far ahead. Xie Zhao stopped, as there were too many people in front of him. It would be problematic if people saw him following Cheng Yaoyao.

Cheng Yaoyao raised her hand to cover her forehead. The sunlight made her skin appear transparent and white. “I’m leaving.”

“Go back and say hello to Grandma for me, and tell her and Xiao Fei not to worry about me.” Xie Zhao looked at her ink-like eyes and rosy lips, instructing, “Be careful when you go out and don’t go alone.”

“You’ve told me so many times.” Cheng Yaoyao laughed at him. “I remember.”

Xie Zhao asked again, “…Is there anyone accompanying you when you sign up?”

Cheng Yaoyao had long forgotten her earlier mention of signing up. She looked at her watch and urged him, “I’m with Han Yin and the others. You should go back quickly. You’ve been delayed for a long time because of me!”

She waved to Xie Zhao and ran briskly towards the supply and marketing cooperative.

Xie Zhao suppressed the disappointment in his eyes and stood on the street corner, watching Cheng Yaoyao’s retreating figure. He didn’t turn around and leave until he saw her go in with Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng.

Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng, unaware of the situation, criticized Cheng Yaoyao again. “Going out for a while, what time is it? We thought you met a gangster again!”

Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, “No. My shoes were broken, so I went to get them fixed.”

Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng hurriedly looked at the shoes on her feet. Cheng Yaoyao’s shoes, brought back by her father from Guangzhou, were foreign goods that the educated youth envied.

“Where did you get them repaired? They look great. The craftsman must have great skills.”

Cheng Yaoyao raised her chin proudly. “Of course.”

Zhang Xiaofeng smiled and said, “What’s in your basket? It’s such a big bag that Han Yin and I can’t carry it. I’ll keep an eye on it for you.”

“I almost forgot!” Cheng Yaoyao took the large bag of cicada shells from the basket and brought it to the counter that specialized in selling medicinal herbs and dried goods. “Hello, do you buy cicada shells?”

The saleswoman, a middle-aged woman, looked at Cheng Yaoyao with curiosity. “Are you here to sell cicada shells?”

It was unusual to see someone as beautiful and elegantly dressed as Cheng Yaoyao associated with cicada shells.

Cheng Yaoyao smiled calmly and said, “The children in the village asked me to sell them.”

“No wonder.” The woman showed an expression of “as expected” and put the bag of cicada shells on the scale.

Although the bag looked large, it weighed only 3.7 jin after being weighed. Some broken shells were mixed in, so the final weight was discounted to 3.5 jin.

The national unified price for cicada shells purchased by the supply and marketing cooperatives was 2.1 yuan per pound. The saleswoman handed Cheng Yaoyao 6.05 yuan.

Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng were surprised. “So cicada shells can be sold for money. It’s much better than our hard work earning work points. Why should we work? We could just pick up cicada shells and sell them!”

The children could earn 6 yuan and 50 cents by looking for cicada shells under the scorching sun for several days. The most capable laborers in Tianshui Village could only earn 80 cents a day. Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng, as educated youth from the city and weak girls, could only earn 30 cents a day.

But Han Yin complained only a little because not everyone could find cicada shells. She worked hard every day, doing chores for the people she lived with, and was so tired that she fell asleep immediately. How could she have the energy to find these things to make money?

Cheng Yaoyao put away the money, and Han Yin took her to the fabric counter, saying happily, “I just saw two pieces of fabric. Can you help me choose which one?”

Summer had arrived, and the supply and marketing cooperative had a new batch of brightly colored Dacron fabrics. Han Yin picked out two pieces: one with a pink base and white flowers, and the other with red and white plaids. They were both beautiful.

Han Yin had obviously been struggling in front of the counter for a while. The salesgirl smiled and said, “Just buy what you like. There are only a few feet of each item left, just enough to make a blouse.”

Han Yin compared the fabric to her body and asked Cheng Yaoyao, “You’re the best at dressing up. Can you help me see which one looks better on me?”

Cheng Yaoyao stared at the pink one with white flowers and touched it. Han Yin asked, “Pink?”

Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, “You have a wild temperament and strong features, so the red one suits you.”

Han Yin was pleased with the compliment but hesitated, “But pink is also beautiful… Let me compare it again.”

Zhang Xiaofeng said with a smile, “I also told her she looks good in red, but she just can’t decide.”

Han Yin put the red fabric on the counter. Before she could completely let go, another hand swiftly grabbed it.

“I want this material.”

The voice sounded very familiar. Cheng Yaoyao turned around and saw that it was Wu Man and Lin Lulu. Wu Man held the fabric and asked the salesperson, “How much?”

This is coming for me. Cheng Yaoyao frowned, and Han Yin said angrily, “I was the first one to see this material!”

Wu Man ignored her and slapped money and cloth coupons on the counter. “Wrap it up for me!”

“Did you hear what I said? I want to buy this piece of fabric!” Han Yin was infuriated by Wu Man’s attitude and reached out to grab the material.

Wu Man hid the fabric behind her, and Lin Lulu stepped forward. “My friend saw this fabric first, and we paid for it first. Why do you think it’s yours?”

“You!” Han Yin was about to get angry, but Zhang Xiaofeng pulled her back.

Zhang Xiaofeng whispered, “She’s the daughter of the brigade secretary.”

Han Yin’s face changed, and she forced herself to calm down, glaring at Wu Man unwillingly.

Lin Lulu noticed their recognition and showed a sense of superiority. She chatted with Wu Man, “This fabric is perfect for making a new blouse. You can wear it when you get selected into the art troupe.”

The salesperson wrapped the fabric and said enviously, “Arts Troupe? That’s a great unit.”

“Oh, I don’t know if I’ll be selected yet. Lulu, please stop talking.” Wu Man couldn’t hide her smile.

Han Yin gritted her teeth in anger. Zhang Xiaofeng patted her shoulder and whispered, “Don’t get angry. There are other materials.”

The salesperson added, “Don’t worry, there will be another batch of this fabric next week. If you come early, you should be able to buy it.”

Wu Man and Lin Lulu exchanged looks and deliberately said in a voice that everyone could hear, “I don’t like wearing the same clothes as others, but if I’ve worn them several times by then, what does it matter if others get the leftovers from us?”

Han Yin’s eyes turned red with anger, and she almost lunged at them. “You!”

Zhang Xiaofeng held Han Yin tightly. Cheng Yaoyao sneered and glanced at Han Yin and Lin Lulu’s faces. “What’s the big deal about the leftovers? Haven’t you heard the saying? Wearing the same clothes isn’t a big deal. It’s embarrassing for the one who looks ugly.”

Wu Man and Lin Lulu’s faces turned pale. They thought they were good-looking, but Cheng Yaoyao’s words were like a fatal blow, leaving them with no retort.

Han Yin couldn’t help but laugh out loud with a “puchi” sound.