Less than 20 minutes after Zhu Fang left wearing the new coat, he returned with money.

“Xiaolan, let me pay you for the coat.”

Xia Xiaolan guessed he had borrowed from his friend, thinking he was being too hasty.

“I didn’t know you wanted to buy before. Since we’re friends, I’d feel bad making a profit from you – just give me 100 yuan.”

Hu Yongcai had accepted cigarettes from her, and Zhu Fang had previously helped her with business without charge. Despite the unpleasantness with Ding Aizhen, she owed Zhu Fang a favor.

While a merchant couldn’t sell without profit, Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t let outsiders know her cost was 70 yuan, so she quoted Zhu Fang 100 yuan.

“Xiaolan, you won’t lose money selling me the coat at this price?”

Getting confirmation, Zhu Fang knew what to do. He took out the 1,000 yuan borrowed from his friend, removed 50 yuan, and thrust the rest at Xia Xiaolan:

“Here’s 950 yuan – count it. 100 is for the coat and the other 850 your boyfriend left at the restaurant. Since I saw you today, I’m returning it all.”

Xia Xiaolan was bewildered.

Zhou Cheng left money at the restaurant?

How did Zhu Fang know Zhou Cheng?

Her mind froze for several seconds before realizing – Zhou Cheng must have sought out Zhu Fang!

Zhu Fang did not explain, forcing the money into her hands before running back to the residential compound. Xia Xiaolan stood confused in the wind, her lips twitching as she pieced together what likely happened – Zhou Cheng must have approached Zhu Fang after Ding Aizhen’s scene, before leaving Shangdu. Though she hadn’t witnessed what Zhou Cheng did, she could guess – he had probably thrown money at Zhu Fang, showing off his wealth.

850 yuan left at the Yellow River Hotel?

Most likely a “tip” for Zhu Fang.

Any man with dignity wouldn’t accept such money – no wonder Zhu Fang returned it upon seeing her. Xia Xiaolan felt uncertain, frowning as she realized Zhou Cheng seemed different from what she’d imagined.

Liu Yong strongly opposed her relationship with Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng managed a large cigarette trading business while claiming to work for a classified organization.

Could an ordinary person have such capabilities?

Zhou Cheng’s family background must be unusual… Xia Xiaolan wasn’t concerned about their social compatibility, but rather his domineering nature. He was accommodating to her now while interested, but going behind her back to confront Zhu Fang – she disliked this behavior.

She wasn’t some naive girl to be impressed by Zhou Cheng acting like an overbearing CEO.

A relationship needed more than attraction; it required compatible personalities. Xia Xiaolan decided Zhou Cheng’s character needed further evaluation.

“How much are these coats?”

A young woman emerged from the residential compound. Xia Xiaolan pushed aside her discomfort and quickly began her sales pitch:

“140 yuan each, sister. Feel the quality of the fabric.”

The quality of fabric might fool others, but could it deceive a Cotton Mill worker?

Xiao Qin had already felt Zhu Fang’s coat and couldn’t resist touching another.

“Cashmere and wool blend – truly excellent material.”

The style was attractive too. Zhu Fang bought navy blue, but her Old Cheng could wear black. Black was more dignified and less likely to draw criticism from workplace leaders. Xiao Qin was determined to buy. Though 140 yuan was expensive, skilled workers like her with long service earned several dozen yuan monthly, plus bonuses – enough to buy her husband a coat.

But since money didn’t grow on trees, bargaining was necessary. After a lengthy negotiation with Xia Xiaolan, she only got two yuan off, but at 138 yuan, Xiao Qin felt she’d gotten a great deal.

With Zhu Fang leading the way, business finally picked up.

Xia Xiaolan skipped lunch, eating just two street-bought pancakes. By four in the afternoon, she’d sold three coats total.

Li Fengmei also returned with her goods. Without Xia Xiaolan beside her, the business had been slow. However, with each sale, Li Fengmei repeatedly emphasized that their clothing store would open before New Year on Erqi Road, inviting customers to visit.

When asked the store’s name, Li Fengmei was stumped – they hadn’t discussed it yet!

The clothes didn’t need to go to Xia Xiaolan’s place; they could be stored at Li Fengmei’s. Her third-floor apartment faced Zhu Fang’s friend’s fifth-floor unit across a dozen-meter gap, which Xiao Qin had noticed.

“So they’re relatives of someone in the compound – no wonder they’re selling outside. Old Cheng, how’s the coat? Was my hundred-plus yuan well spent?”

It certainly was.

Cashmere provided warmth and blended with wool, it created a crisp silhouette without being too thick – perfect for comfortable winter wear.

Zhu Fang stayed for dinner at the Cheng’s, leaving only after watching Xia Xiaolan depart.

All afternoon, he’d been distracted, losing every game of chess to Old Cheng.

When Li Fengmei asked about the store’s name, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t use a fancy foreign name. Fitting the era’s spirit and being memorable, most stores used surnames with “Ji” or “Shi,” like Zhang Cui’s Zhang Ji Snacks.

Liu Ji? Li Ji?

Such names suited food establishments but seemed odd for a clothing store. Xia Xiaolan suggested directly:

“Aunt, let’s use your name – ‘Fengmei Fashion’…”

Li Fengmei disagreed – it wasn’t just her business.

Finally, they settled on “Blue Phoenix.”

When Taotao returned from school, Xia Xiaolan patiently spent time with him, asking about his studies. At five, despite Li Fengmei’s dinner invitation, she hurried home before dark.

Liu Fen had dinner ready.

“You’re back? Quickly wash up and eat. You can study afterward – you’re going to school tomorrow, right?”

Grandmother Yu’s door was closed.

A bowl of tender stewed mutton sat on the tall cabinet, placed there by Liu Fen.

Grandmother Yu couldn’t understand – if it was about the Erqi Road storefront, they’d signed the contract and she’d received the 2,000 yuan annual rent, so their goal should be achieved.

Why did Liu Fen still help sweep her street?

Grandmother Yu suspected larger schemes, waiting silently for the mother and daughter to reveal their true intentions. The mutton’s aroma reached her nose as Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen chatted over dinner, their lively conversation bringing life to the entire compound.

Grandmother Yu got up and ate the mutton.

Why shouldn’t she eat it? She needed strength to match wits with these cunning women.

Early the next morning, Xia Xiaolan took the bus back to Anqing County with her books. Liu Fen swept Grandmother Yu’s street as usual and was about to head to the oil mill when Grandmother Yu stopped her, money in hand:

“I never owe anyone. Here’s payment for the mutton.”

What?

She’d thought the landlady was finally becoming agreeable after eating the mutton she’d sent last night.

This was the unyielding Grandmother Yu they knew!

Liu Fen had no choice but to accept the money.

Being straightforward, she blushed – her kind gesture of sending mutton had become a forced sale to Grandmother Yu. Embarrassed, Liu Fen took up her broom to sweep again – she had the strength, so helping wasn’t a burden. Her attitude toward Grandmother Yu wasn’t just sympathy; the old lady owned such property in Shangdu, hardly needing sympathy from a rural woman!

Liu Fen’s thinking was simple: since they’d rented the store for years and now lived in Grandmother Yu’s house, making them inseparable for the foreseeable future, why not get along while sharing the same roof?