It was time to split the stall and let Li Fengmei try selling on her own.

When the store opened, Li Fengmei would be the main shopkeeper, while Xia Xiaolan would only manage inventory. She needed to focus on intensive revision in the months before the college entrance exam. She planned to begin serious studying in January, by which time the store renovation would be complete, eliminating the need to set up stalls in all weather conditions.

Making two or three trips to Yangcheng monthly for inventory would be enough to sustain the clothing store.

By next year’s college entrance exam at the latest, she needed to help Aunt Li Fengmei become independent, at least in managing the clothing store. Since she had promised Zhou Cheng to attend university in Beijing, Xia Xiaolan anticipated moving there in August or September next year. She couldn’t manage the Shangdu business then, so Li Fengmei would need to take full responsibility.

As for herself, with capital in hand, there were many business opportunities available, not necessarily in Shangdu – she could establish herself in Beijing.

Confident that life would only get better, Xia Xiaolan was full of enthusiasm.

She hauled her goods to the Railway Bureau’s residential area and hung up the freshly pressed coats one by one.

The expensive coats had crisp lines, and neither navy blue nor black were flashy. Well-off men these days didn’t like attention-grabbing clothes – they weren’t street hustlers. While women’s clothing focused on style and color, men wanted quality pieces suitable for all occasions.

The coats Xia Xiaolan stocked perfectly met these requirements – they looked high-end, were fashionably elegant, and both colors could withstand scrutiny.

Apart from the price, they were flawless.

Strangely, though Xia Xiaolan had set up her stall throughout Shangdu’s streets and alleys and encountered Zhu Fang’s mother, she had never met Zhu Fang himself. Yet on her first day at the Railway Bureau residence, there he was.

Zhu Fang had the day off and was visiting a friend.

Cycling around the corner, he spotted a stall in front of the residential building. Xia Xiaolan wore a yellow cotton jacket that emphasized her fair complexion, her hair in a high ponytail, blue jeans, and new Warrior sneakers, looking young and beautiful. Each slight movement of her head made her ponytail swing gently, each motion striking Zhu Fang’s heart.

This was a side of Xia Xiaolan he had never seen.

Beautiful even without adornment, now free of her rural clothing, she was captivating.

No wonder Xia Xiaolan’s goods sold so quickly – she was a living model. Wherever she stood, passersby couldn’t help but look twice.

Zhu Fang did more than look twice; he sat frozen on his bicycle.

Xia Xiaolan greeted him first, “Brother Zhu Fang, what brings you here?”

Ah, Xiaolan was still willing to speak to him.

His initial nervousness instantly gave way to renewed strength.

“I’m visiting a friend…”

Zhu Fang’s face burned red. Everything in the world had its match – Ding Aizhen couldn’t control her precious son, but Zhu Fang couldn’t handle Xia Xiaolan. Even if she had done something wrong, seeing her face dissipated his anger. Besides, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t done anything wrong. Though embarrassed and annoyed about Zhou Cheng at the Yellow River Hotel, Zhu Fang couldn’t direct that anger at Xia Xiaolan.

His uncertainty stemmed from how his mother had publicly humiliated Xia Xiaolan – he feared she would despise him.

Unexpectedly, Xia Xiaolan greeted him naturally, making Zhu Fang’s heart race.

“Xiaolan, I’m so sorry. My mother was unreasonable, but she won’t trouble you again, I—”

He wanted to say he had seen her boyfriend but changed his words: “You’re setting up a stall here?”

Zhu Fang wasn’t gracious enough to wish Xia Xiaolan well with Zhou Cheng. Not wanting to discuss other men with her, he shifted the topic to her stall.

So Zhu Fang had restrained his mother?

Xia Xiaolan had worried about retaliation from the Zhu family, but nothing had happened, and no one had disturbed her stall.

Whether Zhu Fang’s influence at home would last remained to be seen. Though Xia Xiaolan didn’t get along with Ding Aizhen, she didn’t hold it against Zhu Fang, casually responding:

“I’ve got some men’s wool coats. They’re expensive and selective about customers, so I’m trying the residential area.”

Looking at the coats hanging on the rack, Zhu Fang could tell the material was good without touching them. Learning they were 140 yuan each explained why they weren’t selling well. Such coats belonged in department stores – who would spend 140 yuan at a street stall?

Zhu Fang made up his mind. “Get me one in my size. I don’t have enough money with me now, but I’ll pay you when I come back.”

Zhu Fang only had a few dozen yuan with him, as large purchases usually required planning. He hadn’t expected to buy a coat spontaneously. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t worried about credit – they had dealt with each other several times, and Zhu Fang had formal employment. He wouldn’t default on a single coat.

“Do you prefer navy blue or black?”

“Navy blue!”

Being tall, Zhu Fang needed the right size. Xia Xiaolan found one, and he took off his warm outer coat, clipped it to his bicycle’s rear seat, and entered the building wearing the new coat.

The first sale was made but without immediate payment.

A businessperson couldn’t be awkward about money. If Zhu Fang wanted to buy, how could Xia Xiaolan refuse?

Even if Ding Aizhen wanted to buy, with real money in hand, Xia Xiaolan would sell… for someone like her, she’d just set a high price – take it or leave it!

Xia Xiaolan stamped her feet in place.

Even with two pairs of cotton socks, her feet were cold. The sneakers were non-slip and light but not warm. On her next trip to Yangcheng, she would buy some cotton boots.

Zhu Fang was visiting a friend. He parked his bicycle downstairs and quickly climbed to the fifth floor.

A newlywed couple lived there – the husband worked at the Railway Bureau, the wife at State Cotton Mill Three, matched by Ding Aizhen. They had a one-bedroom apartment. When Zhu Fang entered, his friend’s new wife had finished wrapping dumplings.

“Zhu Fang’s here? Have a seat and rest. Old Cheng, chat with him!”

Zhu Fang wasn’t interested in dumplings. After greeting Old Cheng’s wife, he asked if his friend had money on hand.

“I met a friend downstairs and owe them money. It’s far to go home, could you lend me some? I’ll return it tomorrow.”

Old Cheng teased, “Who do you owe money to that’s so urgent?”

Considering he hadn’t paid for the new coat he was wearing, Zhu Fang decided to borrow a round number.

“1,000 yuan?”

Old Cheng clicked his tongue. Who kept that much cash at home these days? But having just gotten married, their salaries, bonuses, and wedding gift money hadn’t been deposited in the bank yet – they had a thousand yuan available.

“Xiao Qin, where did you put our money? This is remarkable – Comrade Zhu Fang rarely asks for anything.”

The young couple was well-off, and Zhu Fang came from a prosperous family – he wasn’t the type to default on loans. Without further questions, they gave him 1,000 yuan. The new wife, Xiao Qin, looked at Zhu Fang more carefully. “I was wondering what was different today – that coat makes you look distinguished. Where did you buy it? I should get one for Old Cheng!”

Zhu Fang pocketed the money and headed out. “It’s from right outside your residential area. I need to go pay for it first – cook the dumplings when I get back.”

Bought outside the residential area?

Xiao Qin laughed in disbelief: “Why not say you found it on the street?”