Xia Xiaolan bought two large bags of merchandise.

Bai Zhenzhu was exceptionally strong, helping carry them to the guest house. On the first day, Xia Xiaolan had chosen only sweaters and pants. She dared not stock too many jackets – good jackets were expensive, and Yunan Province’s winters were colder than Yangcheng’s. Thin jackets wouldn’t suffice, so Xia Xiaolan planned to stock thick jackets on her next trip.

She had bought 900 yuan and spent over 500 in one go.

After deducting travel expenses and accommodation, she had less than 300 yuan left to work with. With the remaining money, Xia Xiaolan planned to buy two better-quality wool coats. Though the cost was high, each piece would bring more profit when sold.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to treat Bai Zhenzhu to a meal. Though the girl initially refused, Xia Xiaolan insisted, so Bai Zhenzhu accepted some inexpensive rice noodle rolls. She was supposed to share a room with Xia Xiaolan that night and explained:

“Yangcheng can be quite chaotic at night. If you don’t like sharing a room, I can sleep next door.”

Bai Zhenzhu had to accompany Xia Xiaolan until Zhou Cheng arrived.

How could Xia Xiaolan send her away? “Sister Bai, please stay – we can chat.”

After browsing the wholesale stalls, Xia Xiaolan was exhausted. The guest house conditions were passable, with hot water for showering, and Xia Xiaolan felt extremely relaxed. She was curious about how Bai Zhenzhu knew Zhou Cheng, but it turned out Bai Zhenzhu had never heard of ‘Zhou Cheng’ before.

“My brother asked me to pick you up and take care of you, so I came.”

Bai Zhenzhu’s family had run a martial arts school in the old society. Her brother served in the military up north, leaving her alone to maintain the household. Now that people had abandoned traditional martial arts in favor of qigong, Bai Zhenzhu had no means of livelihood and switched to selling fruit.

She showed no disdain for individual businesses, being one herself.

“Sister Bai, you’re amazing!”

Bai Zhenzhu shrugged it off, “Whoever causes trouble, I beat them up. Whoever has the stronger fist has reason on their side.”

While Xia Xiaolan wanted to sell clothing, Bai Zhenzhu felt she couldn’t help much there. If Xia Xiaolan were willing to sell fruit, Bai Zhenzhu could guarantee the cheapest stock. Bai Zhenzhu hadn’t reincarnated or time-traveled – she was simply a native Yangcheng girl. The atmosphere in Yangcheng was more open than in Yunan, with many individual entrepreneurs like her.

Money was easy to make in the 80s – as long as you weren’t scammed and worked diligently with some brains, you couldn’t lose money.

Though Bai Zhenzhu’s fruit business was good, what made her proud was her military brother: “He’s been promoted, and once he finds a wife, what else could my brother need in life? I’ll just work hard to earn money, so when my brother gets married, his future in-laws won’t look down on us!”

Well, she was another self-sacrificing girl.

The limitations of the era left Xia Xiaolan powerless to explain. She believed people should live for themselves first, while Bai Zhenzhu found more joy in dedicating herself to her brother. Xia Xiaolan had no intention of correcting her… They chatted until Xia Xiaolan gradually drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Bai Zhenzhu again accompanied Xia Xiaolan as she explored several wholesale markets in Yangcheng.

Among the dazzling array of goods, electronics were more profitable than clothing – from small items like watches and calculators to radios and televisions, everything imaginable could be found in Yangcheng. Purchase restrictions requiring vouchers had practically disappeared in Yangcheng, and the markets were flooded with various ‘smuggled goods.’ Every day, boats brought smuggled goods from Hong Kong – customs seized most, but some slipped through.

With the right connections, you can buy anything from customs warehouses at low prices.

Seized contraband wasn’t destroyed but sold cheaply to those with connections… Electronic watches were sold by the box, along with plenty of washing machines, TVs, and refrigerators. With a bit more money, you could even buy seized smuggled cars.

Xia Xiaolan was bold – whatever others dared sell, she dared buy.

But she lacked capital!

Looking at Yangcheng’s opportunities everywhere, more prosperous and open than Shangdu, Xia Xiaolan’s heart bled.

She didn’t even want to stay in Yangcheng anymore. She’d selected her stock, and the guest house cost money every night, just to meet Zhou Cheng. She could easily wait for him back in Anqing County.

Unfortunately, there were no mobile phones then – even “big brother” phones hadn’t appeared yet. Pagers had just emerged in Shanghai, landlines were the fastest communication tool, followed by telegrams… Either way, one party had to remain stationary.

Who knew where Zhou Cheng had driven to?

Zhou Cheng had encountered some trouble.

His and Kang Wei’s car had been ambushed. Zhou Cheng fired his gun without hesitation, winning them a chance at survival, and then found a familiar person by the roadside. Kang Wei’s eyes nearly popped out:

“Isn’t this sister-in-law’s uncle?”

Liu Yong’s clothes were soaked in blood.

Most was others’ blood, some his own, looking terrifying. His back had a large cut, bleeding profusely. Zhou Cheng found someone to treat Liu Yong’s wounds, but his fever wouldn’t break. They couldn’t just abandon him at a roadside hospital.

Liu Yong must have been attacked by the same group who tried to rob him and Kang Wei. Xia Xiaolan had said her uncle left to work as a mason… From Anqing County to nearly Shanghai for masonry work? Zhou Cheng had no choice but to contact someone and call the guest house in Yangcheng:

“Xiaolan, I can’t make it to Yangcheng this time. Head back to Anqing first, I’ll come see you on my way back.”

“Alright!”

His heartless future wife hung up rather cheerfully!

Zhou Cheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

But his luck – wasn’t Xia Xiaolan destined to be his wife? Though Liu Yong was just an uncle, he held a more important position in Xia Xiaolan’s heart than Xia Dajun. By saving Liu Yong, hadn’t Zhou Cheng saved his ‘father-in-law’s’ life?!

“Uncle ah, you are…”

Kang Wei thought Brother Cheng’s smile was too creepy, like a weasel who’d successfully stolen a chicken.

In his feverish state, Liu Yong restlessly shifted his body.

Xia Xiaolan knew nothing of Zhou Cheng’s situation, unaware he was showing filial piety on her behalf.

A peck of rice breeds gratitude, a bushel breeds enmity – when gratitude far exceeds a bushel, people either become mortal enemies or family… Bai Zhenzhu devotedly saw Xia Xiaolan off on the train. Carrying three large bags of clothing, Xia Xiaolan took the train back to Shangdu.

These three bags of women’s clothing represented all her current capital, including the 300 yuan borrowed from Li Fengmei. If anything happened to the goods, Xia Xiaolan would be back to square one.

Most of Xia Xiaolan’s four or five days in Yangcheng had been wasted on the train.

Meanwhile, Xia Hongxia had been watching the No. 1 Middle School gate daily, finally catching Chen Qing.

Chen Qing hadn’t gone home for two weekends. When Xia Xiaolan visited the school a few days ago, she gave him some self-compiled English study materials. Following her method, Chen Qing found some direction, if not dramatic improvement.

Delighted, Chen Qing finally decided to go home this weekend, hoping to seek more guidance from Xia Xiaolan.

But as soon as he left the school gate, Xia Hongxia caught him.

“Are you Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend?”

Chen Qing’s ears burned red, and Xia Hongxia knew she’d guessed right.

Like a successful hunter, Xia Hongxia desperately suppressed her satisfaction:

“…I have something to tell you about Xia Xiaolan.”