Chapter 25.1

Rickshaws were everywhere on the streets, but it was Wen Yue’s first time riding in one, making the experience particularly novel. They could also see buses on the road, which were more old-fashioned than those of later generations, with ticket collectors still present on board.

The roads were not as wide as those of later times and were very close to residential buildings. Passing by a clear river, Wen Yue saw several women chatting and laughing as they washed clothes by the riverbank. The surface of the river reflected the shadows of the weeping willows planted along its banks, teeming with vibrant life.

Wen Yue loved this feeling.

Before long, the rickshaw reached their destination and stopped.

Wen Yue jumped off the rickshaw, squinting up at the four-story building in front of her. The light yellow exterior wall was adorned with a large billboard displaying the words “Yuan City Department Store.”

Because it was the weekend, the area in front of the department store was packed with various bicycles. Looking inside from the entrance, the place was bustling with people.

“What are you standing there for? Didn’t you want to go in and look?” After paying, Zhou Yao saw Wen Yue standing dazedly and lightly tapped the back of her head.

Ren Yeliang laughed heartily, “Probably scared by the big building since it’s her first time seeing one! The first time I saw it, I was stunned too, wondering how a building could be so tall and big. You’ll get used to it. I heard the buildings in Shencheng are even taller and bigger!”

Wen Yue came back to her senses, her eyes curving into a smile without explaining.

She merely felt a sense of deja vu, like a scene from a movie had unfolded before her eyes. She wasn’t scared, considering she had seen quite a bit in her past life.

After wandering around the department store for two laps, Wen Yue thought it felt a bit like the furniture city and underground night market she had visited with her best friend in her previous life—bustling with people. The shops sold all sorts of things, but mostly clothes, pants, and shoes.

Wen Yue even saw some accessory shops. The accessories had a distinctive style of this era, but she didn’t see the kind she had in mind.

“Do you see anything you like? How about buying a few more sets of clothes?” Zhou Yao had little interest in the goods in the department store. His material desires were minimal; he purely enjoyed the thrill of making money and seldom spent it.

The clothes, pants, and shoes he had at home, as long as they weren’t worn out, could last indefinitely.

Before marrying Wen Yue, he had low standards for food as well; as long as he could fill his stomach, the taste didn’t matter. Now, after marrying Wen Yue, he had become a bit picky, but even if he ate meat every day, it didn’t cost him much.

His biggest expenditure to date was the sewing machine he bought recently.

More than two hundred yuan.

Wen Yue shook her head, her soft voice responding, “No, I can make clothes myself.” Besides, the clothes in the mall weren’t to her liking; they couldn’t compare to the ones she brought back from Shencheng.

Strange, she remembered that flared pants and workout pants should be quite popular around this time, but she hadn’t seen them in the mall.

Curiously, Wen Yue asked Zhou Yao.

“Shencheng has just started to popularize them. They haven’t spread here yet.” Zhou Yao’s lips curled into a smile, his deep, dark eyes reflecting amusement. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have sold out so quickly before. I guess once we sell out this time, they’ll almost be in vogue here.”

Wen Yue was surprised. “You seem to know a lot about Shencheng’s trends?”

Zhou Yao lightly hummed in acknowledgment, not wanting to elaborate. He changed the subject, “Since you didn’t find anything you like, how about we go see a movie?”

“It’s almost noon; maybe next time. Don’t you have a lunch appointment?” Wen Yue was a bit tempted but thought seeing a movie would take at least a couple of hours. If they went now, it would be afternoon by the time they finished.

Zhou Yao thought for a moment and agreed, leading them to the designated small restaurant.

The small restaurant wasn’t far from the department store; they strolled leisurely and arrived just in time.

As they entered, a smiling woman in an apron greeted them warmly, “How many of you? What would you like to eat? The menu is on the wall. Take your time to look, and call me when you’re ready!”

There were five of them, so they were led to the round table inside.

Wen Yue sat in a chair, curiously observing the restaurant’s interior.

A large handwritten menu was posted on the wall. A ceiling fan turned slowly above, and the table and chairs had a vintage feel. The cups on the table were enamel, with various motivational slogans printed on them.

Zhou Yao casually ordered a few meat dishes first.

The proprietress took notes with a pen and paper, cheerfully asking, “Would you like some drinks?”

Zhou Yao glanced at Wen Yue beside him, hesitating for a couple of seconds.

“Go ahead, I don’t mind,” Wen Yue softly said.

Meeting a boss usually involved drinking; she understood that and didn’t have any objections. In her previous life, her dad would drink baijiu whenever he met with old friends, as long as it wasn’t excessive drinking.

Zhou Yao raised an eyebrow, “Then let’s start with four bottles of beer.”

The proprietress responded cheerfully, “Got it.”

“Aren’t you against me drinking?” Zhou Yao moved his chair closer to Wen Yue.

Wen Yue gave him a sidelong glance, correcting him, “I’m not against you drinking. I’m against excessive drinking and drunken tantrums directed at me. I completely understand having a drink with friends or elders. Don’t make it sound like I’m unreasonable.”

Her voice was very soft, but the table was small, so Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao heard it clearly.

They pretended to look at the sky, the ground, and the menu on the wall, acting as if they hadn’t heard anything, while secretly pricking up their ears.

Oh, how novel it was, their brother Yao being scolded; they couldn’t miss this.

“Don’t worry, what happened last time won’t happen again.” Zhou Yao, feeling a bit guilty, touched the tip of his nose and repeatedly assured her.

Wen Yue huffed lightly, “We’ll see about that.”

Meanwhile, more people trickled into the restaurant. A middle-aged man, around forty years old, entered and scanned the room before fixing his gaze on Zhou Yao, a smile spreading across his face as he called out loudly, “Brother Zhou!”

“Uncle Sun.” Zhou Yao responded with a smile.

Wen Yue found their form of address amusing.

One called the other “brother,” while the other called him “uncle.” Each stuck to their own title, it seemed.

“Ah, I’ve been too busy to have a meal with you all. Finally, I’ve managed to find some time.” Sun Xiang, speaking in a boisterous manner, tucked a black leather bag under his arm and sat between Ren Yeliang and Zhou Yao.

He looked at Wen Yue and exclaimed, “This young lady must be the sister-in-law, right? Oh my, she’s really pretty. Hello, sister-in-law, I’m Sun Xiang. You can call me Uncle Sun, just like Brother Zhou! Come, come, I don’t have much to offer, but take this watch as a small gift.”

Sun Xiang pulled out a delicate ladies’ watch from his black leather bag and placed it on the table.

The ladies’ watch had a gold chain embedded with jade, and the dial was also emerald green. Even by modern standards, Wen Yue found this watch exceptionally beautiful.

In simpler terms, it looked very expensive.

She felt embarrassed to accept it and waved her hand to decline, “Uncle Sun, this gift is too valuable, I can’t accept it, you can take it back.”

“It’s not expensive at all, it’s only about a thousand yuan.” Sun Xiang waved his hand indifferently. “Take it. I have a close relationship with your husband, don’t be polite with me! If you don’t accept it, it means you don’t consider me family, and that would upset me!”

Wen Yue looked at Zhou Yao.

“Take it,” Zhou Yao nodded slightly, his tone indifferent, “”Uncle Sun is in the transportation business, he has a transportation team, he can earn this much money in one trip, and even more.”

No wonder he was so generous; he was wealthy.

Wen Yue blinked, her lips curving into a shy smile, and softly said thank you.

Sun Xiang’s loud voice filled the restaurant, “That’s right. Your husband and I have a great relationship. If it weren’t for your husband, I’d probably be dead by now!”

Wen Yue’s curiosity was piqued.