Chapter 61: Meeting Again

Huang Yuwei’s expression stiffened.

Since Chen Qiming had put it that way, it was hard for her to refuse him.

She could only nod awkwardly, forcing a smile. “Then thank you, Brother Qiming.”

Chen Qiming’s ego swelled instantly.

Heh.

This kind of wealthy life was simply too wonderful!

Wheeling his bicycle, he walked side by side with Huang Yuwei. Feeling the envious stares of the male students around them, he felt his chest swell with pride, utterly ecstatic!

Chen Qiming chattered away the entire way.

It was nothing but boastful talk about how well the Chen Family’s business was doing and how much money they were making.

Huang Yuwei listened half-heartedly. Afraid that Chen Qiming would get too close to her, she could only walk faster and faster.

Finally, the two of them arrived at the department store.

There was a crowd inside, mostly students coming and going after school.

In this day and age, those who could afford to go to school usually came from decent families. Even those who struggled would tighten their belts for the sake of appearances just to buy a thing or two here.

As Huang Yuwei walked in, she happened to hear the salesclerk gasp in surprise.

“Transferring that much Special Supply Cloth? And you want it by tomorrow? Comrade, this requires Special Supply Fabric Coupons. You’d better have them ready!”

In those days, Special Supply Cloth wasn’t always kept in stock at the department store.

Xie Zhao had come to give them a heads-up so they could transfer the stock in advance.

Twenty meters was no small amount. The department store only kept five meters in stock. After all, who would need so much Special Supply Cloth for no reason?

Two meters was more than enough to make a full set of clothes!

Xie Zhao smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Comrade. I have the coupons. You’re a state employee; would I dare play a joke on you?”

The salesclerk straightened her back.

True.

She worked for the state and had connections in her family. She wasn’t afraid of Xie Zhao playing tricks on her.

“Alright! I’ll request the transfer this afternoon. Make sure you come tomorrow morning!”

Xie Zhao nodded with a smile and stacked the items he had just selected onto the counter.

There were notebooks, pencils, a small abacus, and a few books.

These were all to be brought back for Xie Tian.

The little girl had been depressed for the past two days, and Xie Zhao had noticed it immediately.

“Comrade, please tally these up for me first. As for tomorrow’s Special Supply Cloth, I’ll pay half the deposit first. Please make sure…”

However, before Xie Zhao could finish his sentence, a voice suddenly rose sharply nearby.

“Oh! Look who it is! So it’s you!”

Chen Qiming sneered and walked straight toward Xie Zhao. Staring at him, he said, “Since when is this place open to you? A country bumpkin like you can enter? Go take a leak and look at your own reflection! Can you afford anything in here? You don’t even look worthy!”

Back then, when he was in the Xie Family, he had been so poor he could barely afford undergarments!

He even had to wear Xie Cheng’s hand-me-down pants and clothes!

They were covered in patches, smelling of mold and sour sweat. And his shoes had never fit him properly.

In the winter, his feet would freeze red and purple. If he stubbed them on a small pebble, the pain would bring tears to his eyes!

And yet, a country bumpkin like Xie Zhao dared to enter a department store?

Who did he think he was?!

Chen Qiming’s chest burned with anger.

In a show of dominance, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Huang Yuwei’s hand.

Startled, Huang Yuwei instinctively tried to pull away. But when she saw Xie Zhao’s completely indifferent expression, a sudden, inexplicable ache bloomed in her heart.

Was he… still blaming her?

At this moment, everyone was staring at Xie Zhao.

Most of the customers today were students, and quite a few of them knew Xie Zhao. Since Xie Zhao hadn’t shown up at the start of the sophomore year, a little digging had made everyone realize what had happened.

“It’s him! The Fake Young Master! I heard his parents are country bumpkins from Shishui Village! Farmers! They don’t even have money for his schooling!”

“Exactly. Why is he here? Things in here are so expensive, how could he afford them?”

“Just looking around is fine too! If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to take it either. He used to be so well-off!”

…

The crowd whispered.

Xie Zhao, however, crossed his arms and stared at Chen Qiming with a half-smile.

“What, haven’t you had enough of being scolded?”

Xie Zhao said unhurriedly, “Or should I invite Widow Wang from the edge of the village to have a chat with you?”

Chen Qiming’s face instantly darkened.

“You’re slandering me! I’m going to the police station to report you! Do you have proof? You’re slandering my reputation! You’ll be thrown in jail for this!”

He yelled immediately.

Back at the hospital, he had fled out of guilt before he could think straight. Now that he had calmed down, he finally remembered: how long ago had that been?

As long as he wasn’t caught red-handed, anyone accusing him was just slandering him!

“Report me?”

Xie Zhao shrugged. “Sure! Let’s go right now! Just now, you kept calling me a country bumpkin and saying I don’t deserve to be here. Everyone heard you.”

“Student Chen, do you look down on farmers? Chairman Mao said that farmers are the contributing class, the predecessors of workers, and the main body of the industrial market!”

“We are all revolutionary comrades. What you are doing is undermining our great revolutionary solidarity and sowing discord in our great communist cause! I’d like to see who the police will arrest when they get here! Someone like you deserves to face a firing squad!”

He barked sharply, his eyes slowly sweeping over the surrounding crowd as he spoke.

He had heard all the whispering just now!

Calling people country bumpkins left and right was clearly a derogatory term.

In this era, Xie Zhao’s talk of revolutionary solidarity and Chairman Mao’s quotes acted as heavy labels that instantly silenced the entire department store!

Hiss!

Who dared to say another word?

Even if they looked down on him, they had to keep their mouths shut!

Chen Qiming’s face turned green and then pale. He opened his mouth, glaring fiercely at Xie Zhao. “I didn’t say that! Don’t go labeling me like that!”

He couldn’t help but add, “Heh, you’re just good with your tongue! Are you done looking at the things here? If you are, get out! We still need to buy things! You’re wasting everyone’s time!”

Chen Qiming was betting that Xie Zhao didn’t have the money to buy anything.

Although Huang Yuwei had seen Xie Zhao buying clothes and vanishing cream yesterday, she was still wondering in surprise whether he had really come into money.

Hearing Chen Qiming’s words now, she held herself back and did not help explain.

Her beautiful, delicate eyes stared at Xie Zhao, and a tiny hope she shouldn’t have had suddenly rose in her heart.

If.

She meant, if.

If Xie Zhao really had money and capability, would she have other options?

The crowd was also silent now.

They were afraid Xie Zhao would hold a grudge over what they had just said, yet they couldn’t help wanting to see him make a fool of himself.

For a moment, a strange silence fell over the room.

Meanwhile, Xie Zhao couldn’t be bothered to waste his breath arguing with him.

He was in a hurry to get back and hold his baby!

“Comrade?”

Xie Zhao turned his head and reminded the shop assistant, “Are my things packed? Has the deposit been calculated?”

Only then did the shop assistant snap out of it. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she quickly handed the wrapped items to Xie Zhao.