“That jacket belonged to my dad. It’s one of the few keepsakes he left for me and my mom…”

As soon as Xu Xiaoyue said this, the others immediately understood.

“But… the style looks way too youthful,” Zheng Jiaojiao couldn’t hold back, her tone laced with skepticism.  

“Really? I didn’t realize Jiaojiao paid such close attention. That outfit was what my father wore when he got married in his youth. He kept it for years, never willing to take it out and wear it.”

Xu Xiaoyue lowered her gaze as she answered calmly.  

“Good child, it’s all in the past now.” Liu Ye stepped in to ease the tension.  

Zheng Jiaojiao hadn’t expected Xu Xiaoyue to be so quick with excuses—*her father’s clothes?* She was certain that wasn’t the case. The frustration festered inside her, yet she couldn’t press further. If she kept pushing, it would only make her seem overly fixated on the matter.  

Liu Ye was a woman of action. Right after the meal, she had Yan Shuli take the two girls out for a stroll.  

Zheng Jiaojiao was happy to spend time with Yan Shuli—she’d be even happier if Xu Xiaoyue, that eyesore, weren’t tagging along.  

Xu Xiaoyue couldn’t care less about Zheng Jiaojiao’s thoughts. By the 1970s, Beijing already had buses, and soon after boarding, they arrived at the state-run department store.  

The sight before her was impressive—four large characters emblazoned above the entrance, two stone lions standing guard below, and the entire building dedicated to the store’s merchandise. Even by later standards, the architecture was striking.  

She stepped inside. A shop assistant, who had been resting her head on the counter, momentarily brightened upon seeing Xu Xiaoyue’s face and rose to greet her—only to slowly slump back down after scrutinizing her clothes.  

In this era, salesclerks didn’t offer the *”customer is king”* service of later years. Sometimes, shoppers even had to put up with their attitudes.  

Still, the state-run store carried a decent variety of clothing—ready-made garments as well as fabrics.  

Xu Xiaoyue skimmed through the selection. Most of the ready-to-wear pieces were the popular Lenin-style suits or plain-colored shirts, the designs disappointingly monotonous.  

By contemporary standards, these clothes were fashionable, but Xu Xiaoyue wasn’t impressed by a single one.  

Since it was the girls picking out clothes, Yan Shuli didn’t follow them inside.  

Zheng Jiaojiao was dazzled by the array of choices. Suddenly struck by an idea, she let go of Xu Xiaoyue’s arm and smiled sweetly. “Sister Yue, why don’t we split up and pick our own clothes?”

Xu Xiaoyue nodded, watching as Zheng Jiaojiao skipped away cheerfully.  

After circling the first floor several times, Xu Xiaoyue only took a liking to a cardigan and a skirt. The cardigan’s cut was decent, but the design was far too plain.  

Before transmigrating into this novel, Xu Xiaoyue had studied design. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a keen eye for aesthetics—everything she wore and used was meticulously chosen.  

“Excuse me, how much are these two pieces?”

The shop assistant barely lifted her eyelids, quoted a price, then went back to fiddling with a string of beads.  

The pearls, plump and glossy under the light, caught Xu Xiaoyue’s eye. Though artificial, they were well-polished—perfect for embellishing clothes.  

She leaned in. “Are these pearls for sale too?”  

“Yeah, you want to buy? They’re on discount—no coupons needed, just ten cents each.” At the mention of the pearls, the shop assistant perked up slightly.  

Truth be told, these pearls had been sitting here for over half a year. Despite the low price, they were neither edible nor wearable. Plenty asked, but few actually bought them.  

A few days ago during the meeting, they emphasized that the top priority now is to sell off this batch of pearls by any means necessary.

Xu Xiaoyue estimated that the pearls weren’t expensive. She held them up against the cardigan to determine the placement, then bought a box of needles and thread and began sewing them on.  

Her fingers were slender as scallion stems, deftly threading the needle and stitching the pearls onto the fabric. With a few quick movements, the plain garment was transformed into something entirely different.  

“H-how did she do that?” The shop assistants gasped, crowding around to examine the dress, running their hands over it in awe.  

Xu Xiaoyue smiled without answering. Once they had finished admiring it, she took the modified garment into the fitting room and changed into it.  

The perfectly fitted blouse accentuated her slender waist. Not only had she sewn on pearls, but she had also taken in the waist and tucked the hem into the skirt. Paired with her little leather shoes, the look was innocent yet irresistibly alluring.  

The shop assistants stared, eyes wide, itching to touch it.  

“Not bad, though the skirt still feels like it’s missing something,” she remarked, turning in front of the mirror.  

“I want this dress!” A sharp, girlish voice rang out as a young woman strode forward, grabbing Xu Xiaoyue’s sleeve and addressing the nearby clerk.  

“Comrade, I bought and modified this dress myself. If you like it, you can buy the materials and make one too,” Xu Xiaoyue said calmly, gently pulling her sleeve free.  

“No, I want the one you’re wearing. Name your price.” The girl turned to the shop assistants expectantly.  

The shop assistants hesitated. This was Sun Ningning from the Song and Dance (Cultural) Troupe—a VIP customer at their state-run store. None of them wanted to offend her.  

When Sun Ningning didn’t get the response she wanted, she turned back to Xu Xiaoyue with a hostile glare. “I’ll pay double what you paid. I want that dress off your back.” 

Xu Xiaoyue nearly scoffed. They say poverty breeds troublemakers, but apparently, even in the capital—where every inch of land was worth a fortune—manners were in short supply.  

Had the girl asked nicely, Xu Xiaoyue might have been willing to help her make one. But this entitled attitude? **No thanks.**  

She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.  

“Hey! Are you ignoring me?” Sun Ningning blocked her path, eyes locked covetously on the blouse. She had never seen such a design before—if she could get her hands on it, she could have the textile factory replicate it. And besides, she **had** to have it.  

Xu Xiaoyue ignored her, stepping around her.  

“Don’t you dare walk away!” Sun Ningning, furious at being disregarded, blocked her again. “Stop right there!”

Now Xu Xiaoyue was genuinely amused. Did this girl really think she could push her around indefinitely?  

“Comrade,” she said coolly, “even a dog knows not to block the road.”  

“Who are you calling a dog?!” Sun Ningning had never met someone so brazen. Usually, people cowered at just a look from her.  

“You think you can refuse me? That dress is mine now—strip it off!”

As she spoke, Sun Ningning grabbed at Xu Xiaoyue’s clothes. The shop assistants exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to intervene.  

Xu Xiaoyue shoved her away. It was clear now—this lunatic wouldn’t back down, and the shop assistants were just waiting to see how things played out.  

Fine. If they wanted a scene, she’d give them one.

“Help! Bullying in broad daylight—she’s trying to strip me! Is there no justice in this state-run store?!”