◎Charming People to the Point of Dizziness◎

Song Shixi knew that the beginning was always the hardest, but she couldn’t help feeling a little anxious. Wu Qiuhong beside her was even more impatient.  

“Shixi, what do we do? If we can’t sell these, your ten yuan will be wasted!”  

“It’s still early, there aren’t many people yet. Let’s wait a bit longer…” If someone asked, it meant her items weren’t bad.  

Just then, Deng Cuixia, the stationery vendor next to them, seized the moment and walked over with a smile. “Hey, girl, these clothes look nice. Where’d you get them?”  

Their stalls were so close they could hear each other talking. Song Shixi didn’t believe Deng Cuixia didn’t know these were secondhand clothes. The extra question was either small talk or a hidden agenda.  

Song Shixi’s eyes sparkled with thought. A faint dimple appeared on her cheek as she curved her lips into a playful, charming smile and raised her voice. “Oh, these aren’t just any market goods! I bought them from the biggest department store in Beijing. I only wore them once or twice, and now I’m selling them at a low price to someone who’ll appreciate them. Sister, want to buy one?”  

Flattery first was always a safe bet. Sure enough, Deng Cuixia burst out laughing. “Oh my, I’m probably over a decade older than you—you could call me auntie!”  

“Really?”  

Song Shixi covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise. “Sister, if you hadn’t said so, who could’ve guessed? You look like you’re in your twenties!”  

Deng Cuixia was delighted by the flattery, but she hadn’t forgotten her real purpose. She reached out and touched a wine-red blouse hanging on the rack. The fabric had a fine sheen and a smooth texture—clearly high quality.  

“Are these really from a department store? How much are you selling them for?”  

Her mother-in-law’s sixtieth birthday was coming up, and all the relatives would be there. She wanted something nice to wear for the occasion but couldn’t bring herself to splurge on department store prices. She’d been hesitating for days.  

That morning, she’d noticed the new stall selling clothes. Though they were secondhand, they looked decent, so she’d been keeping an eye on them. Hearing the two girls’ conversation earlier, she’d hurried over, hoping to bargain.  

“Of course! Why would I lie? I’m an honest person—that’s why I told you upfront that I’ve worn these before, right?”  

“That’s true.” Deng Cuixia nodded.  

Song Shixi pressed on. “Sister, you’ve got an eye for quality. Feel this fabric—top-notch. And look at the stitching, so neat and precise. I paid over thirty yuan for this, but now I’m selling it to you for just fifteen.”  

As she spoke, she held the blouse closer for Deng Cuixia to inspect.  

“It really is nice.”  

Deng Cuixia murmured without thinking, then quickly caught herself. “But these are used. They’re old now, not worth much. You haven’t made a single sale all morning because your prices are too high.”  

“Look, you girls have been working hard. How about this—I’ll pay five yuan, just to help you out. Deal?”  

So, all this was just to nitpick and drive the price down.  

Haggling was human nature, and Song Shixi had mentally prepared for it. But slashing the price this drastically? That was too much.  

Still, a customer was a customer. Song Shixi would never turn one away. Besides, they were neighbors of sorts—building a good relationship now would make future business smoother.  

With that in mind, Song Shixi put on a reluctant expression and shook her head. “Sister, five yuan is too low. But if you’re really interested, I’ll throw in a hair clip for free. Look, this one matches the blouse perfectly. I usually sell these clips for fifty cents each.”  

She picked out a clip in the same wine-red hue and, without waiting for a response, continued, “This color is so unique and vibrant—it brightens your complexion without making you look sallow. Wear this in a crowd, and you’ll stand out instantly. And see these wave-like pleats at the waist? They accentuate your figure, making you look slimmer. It’ll look amazing on you.”  

“Plus, imagine pairing this with black pants or a long skirt, pulling your hair up, and adding this clip. So elegant, so stylish! Whether you’re working your stall or visiting relatives, you’ll turn heads.”  

Every word struck a chord with Deng Cuixia. She couldn’t help picturing the scene in her mind, already feeling a little giddy.  

Deep down, she knew the price was fair for such a nice piece, but she still hesitated, wondering if she could bargain further.  

Seeing her waver, Song Shixi played her trump card. “Tell you what—I’ll style your hair for free. You can hold the blouse up to the mirror and see how it looks. If you like it, buy it. If not, no pressure.”  

“You know how to style hair?” Deng Cuixia’s eyes lit up as she glanced at Song Shixi’s intricate braid. Tempted, she agreed, “Alright, let’s try it.”  

It was free, after all—no harm in giving it a shot.  

Song Shixi immediately grabbed the wooden comb she’d prepared earlier and handed Deng Cuixia a small round mirror. “Come sit here. There’s a stool.”  

Wu Qiuhong had brought the stool from their dorm.  

“Okay.”  

Song Shixi’s fingers worked deftly, weaving Deng Cuixia’s hair into an elegant updo in no time. Back then, people had thick, voluminous hair—just a few adjustments created a soft, face-framing look.  

“See? Gorgeous!” Song Shixi pinned the clip above Deng Cuixia’s temple, then held the blouse against her chest. “Well? So feminine, right?”  

It really was!

Usually, Deng Cuixia wore old, dark-colored clothes for her stall—durable and stain-resistant, but they made her look dull and lifeless, adding years to her appearance. Now, with a new outfit and hairstyle, she realized she could actually look this beautiful.  

Staring at her refreshed reflection in the mirror, Deng Cuixia felt her heart pound faster in her chest.  

Just then, several fellow female vendors she was friendly with crowded around, chattering excitedly.  

They’d been wanting to come over earlier but had held back until they saw Song Shixi styling Deng Cuixia’s hair. Assuming Deng Cuixia had already bought the clothes, they finally couldn’t resist any longer.  

“Cuixia, you bought this? How much was it? It looks amazing—so flattering!”  

“If you wear this back home, won’t your husband be completely dazzled?”  

“Not just dazzled—he’ll probably forget which way is up!”  

The last remark made everyone blush, teasing the speaker for being shameless at her age.  

But after the initial embarrassment, some of them began to entertain thoughts of their own. Middle-aged life tended to grow dull, but who wouldn’t want to add a little spark and excitement to their marriage?  

One of the aunties nudged her way to the front and asked Song Shixi, “Girl, do you have any more of this same outfit? I’ll take one too.”  

Song Shixi had been quietly listening without interrupting. Just as she was about to respond, Deng Cuixia cut in, “This one’s mine. Wrap it up for me.”  

“Hey, you haven’t paid yet! Then I—”  

“I was here first. Get in line.” Deng Cuixia ignored her protests, gripping the blouse tightly. Afraid Song Shixi might sell it to someone else, she hastily added, “Girl, I’ll go get the money right now. You have to save this for me!”  

“Of course.”  

Song Shixi’s smile widened as she handed the blouse to Wu Qiuhong to pack—which just meant stuffing it into one of the shopping bags Song Shixi had scavenged from the original owner’s room.  

Once Song Shixi agreed, Deng Cuixia hurried back to her stall, terrified that delaying payment even a second might cost her the blouse.  

“So, are there any more? I want to buy one too.”  

“Each piece in our collection is unique, but I can recommend something that suits your style, making sure everyone looks their best,” Song Shixi said gently, her eyes curving into crescents.  

“Alright, but if it doesn’t look good, I’m not buying.”  

“Deal.”  

The vendor sisters were a formidable force, helping Song Shixi make several sales before noon. Two women couldn’t find their sizes but still left with new hairstyles and hair clips, joining in the excitement.  

The original owner had been quite slim, so her clothes ran small. However, given the era’s conservative fashion, most garments were loose-fitting. Plus, having just arrived from the countryside, the original owner had prioritized practicality, often buying clothes one or even two sizes too big to extend their wear. As a result, most of the items fit a wide range of body types.  

Seeing the money in her crossbody bag filled Song Shixi with satisfaction. With no customers at the moment, she left Wu Qiuhong in charge and headed to other stalls to buy lunch.  

Once school let out for lunch break, the streets would be packed, and they’d be swamped. They needed to fuel up in advance.  

The street offered all kinds of delicacies. Since the economic reforms, many southerners had accompanied their children to the city for school and started small businesses. Spotting a vendor selling Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles, Song Shixi bought two bowls.  

“Qiuhong, you’ve worked hard. Hungry? Eat up!”  

Afraid of staining the clothes with food smells, Song Shixi didn’t dare place the bowls on the stall. Instead, she used the stool as a makeshift table, squatting to eat.  

“No, it’s fine! I’ll grab something from the cafeteria later. Besides, I didn’t do much—I can’t take credit for any hard work.”  

Wu Qiuhong waved her hands dismissively. She hadn’t expected Song Shixi to buy lunch for her too. After indulging in so many treats yesterday, she’d feel guilty accepting more today.  

Plus, she had no experience in sales and lacked Song Shixi’s silver tongue. All morning, she’d just stood around, only stepping in to pack clothes when Song Shixi was busy. She hadn’t contributed much.  

Song Shixi could easily guess what Wu Qiuhong was thinking and sighed inwardly. She considered Wu Qiuhong a friend and wanted to treat her as kindly as possible within her means—no strings attached. But she’d overlooked Wu Qiuhong’s feelings.  

Wu Qiuhong was principled and hated taking advantage. Every act of kindness from Song Shixi added to her guilt. A favor or two could be repaid, but too many would become a burden.  

On top of that, they’d only recently “reconciled,” amplifying Wu Qiuhong’s stress. Ultimately, their differing material circumstances and perspectives were causing friction.  

If this continued, their friendship would inevitably suffer.