Mother Zhu was accustomed to having her clothes made at the tailor shop. Though the styles might not be cutting-edge, as a minor leader, her unit demanded steady elegance. She didn’t pursue the latest fashions; choosing good fabric resulted in quality clothes befitting her status.

Now that wool coats were in fashion, naturally, Mother Zhu wanted to order two.

The tailor shop owner kept addressing Ding Aizhen as “Director Ding,” making her feel completely content. She ordered three coats at once:

“Your styles are quite new.”

“The latest from Guangzhou. Only you could carry off such a distinguished look.”

Ding Aizhen was picky and proud, but her family circumstances were genuinely good. Both she and her husband were leaders – ordering three wool coats at nearly a hundred yuan each, the tailor shop owner was happy to flatter her.

She wasn’t lying either; these were indeed new styles from Guangzhou.

The tailor shop owner was still disgruntled – her shop could only make a few sets, while that stingy girl selling on the street…

Ding Aizhen left a deposit, and the tailor promised to make hers first, ready for collection in a week. Walking on the street after leaving the shop, she heard several women talking about how that stall with the particularly attractive clothes had returned with new stock, and this time the coats were especially beautiful… Hmph, street goods, what was worth buying?

Ding Aizhen sneered dismissively.

Unexpectedly, walking further ahead, she saw the crowded stall.

Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan weren’t short – how could Ding Aizhen miss such eye-catching figures?

The affectionate couple scene stung Ding Aizhen’s eyes.

Wasn’t that Xia Xiaolan?

Looking carefully, it was indeed Xia Xiaolan!

However, she looked different from Director Ding’s impression. The Xia Xiaolan Ding Aizhen had seen wore worker’s blue cloth clothes and unfashionable cloth shoes, looking thin while pedaling a bicycle loaded with goods.

Though extremely alluring, she dressed simply – this stark contrast had captivated her son Zhu Fang.

Looking at Xia Xiaolan now – plaid short wool coat, flared jeans, white square-toed chunky heels – she had completely transformed. Life seemed quite comfortable! Originally, such a chance encounter on Shangdu’s streets wouldn’t have angered Ding Aizhen so much, but Xia Xiaolan had that eye-catching Zhou Cheng beside her!

One handled the clothes, one took the money – a handsome man and beautiful woman, appearing to be a well-matched married couple.

But hadn’t Xia Xiaolan said she was quitting business to return to school?

Ding Aizhen had warned her not to reach above her station with Zhu Fang. When Anqing County No.1 Middle School’s teacher came saying Xia Xiaolan was a good student who could enter university, it slapped Ding Aizhen’s face repeatedly. As a future female college student, she certainly wouldn’t be reaching above her station with Zhu Fang and could look down on the waitress job Ding Aizhen had planned to fob her off with… From that day on, Xia Xiaolan truly stopped delivering to the Yellow River Restaurant.

Ding Aizhen had observed from afar that she was replaced by an honest rural woman, whom Zhu Fang said was Xia Xiaolan’s mother.

Unable to see Xia Xiaolan and not daring to disturb her studies, Zhu Fang suffered from unrequited love at home.

Previously, he could at least ask Xia Xiaolan’s mother about her situation, but recently the eel supply had completely stopped – they just said there was no stock. Zhu Fang came home sighing, and Ding Aizhen felt for her son.

Fine, let her be a vixen – if she truly could enter university, Ding Aizhen would suppress her dislike and accept Xia Xiaolan.

Ding Aizhen felt she was making a great sacrifice, stepping back only out of maternal love for her son.

Then suddenly she sees Xia Xiaolan, supposedly studying hard at school, selling from a street stall with another man… Look at this achievement!

Xia Xiaolan had never said she was with Zhu Fang, yet Director Ding felt the rage of her son being cuckolded. Ding Aizhen’s logic was simple and brutal – she could pick faults with Xia Xiaolan’s rural household registration, and Xia Xiaolan should listen respectfully.

But Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t follow her script – wouldn’t play pitiful or innocent, instead sharp-tongued, slapping Director Ding’s face repeatedly.

Ding Aizhen had been slapped by a rural girl, swallowing her broken teeth with blood. Zhu Fang was like a lost soul at home – what could a mother do?

Ding Aizhen had finally prepared herself mentally, only to discover Xia Xiaolan saying one thing and doing another. Anger made her lose rationality. She rushed forward, pushing aside two female customers about to pay:

“Xia Xiaolan, you shameless woman, fooling around with some wild man – how can you face my son?”

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t even looked up before retorting:

“Who’s your son to me? Why should I answer to him?”

Looking up – oh, wasn’t this Zhu Fang’s mother?

She had looked down on her, and Xia Xiaolan thought they would have no more interaction since she no longer delivered eels to the Yellow River Restaurant… Her expression was spectacular as if she wanted to devour Xia Xiaolan.

Ding Aizhen was nearly mad with rage!

The mighty Director Ding had lost all reason – she was now an enraged mother lioness, wanting to humiliate Xia Xiaolan with the harshest words.

“You’re buying clothes from this vixen, aren’t you afraid of catching her wanton air? Earlier she hooked my purchasing son until he couldn’t eat or sleep just to sell eels to the restaurant. Now she looks down on selling eels and has immediately hooked a new man… What does this man do? Does he give you money, or help attract these women to buy clothes?! Do you think someone who likes you would marry you? No proper job, just a penniless rural household registration!”

Ding Aizhen had started attacking indiscriminately.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t the type to take things lying down – if someone insulted her, she would repay in kind.

Why endure silently waiting for thirty years? She would settle scores immediately!

She swung the jeans in her hand, striking Ding Aizhen’s face: “If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak! Living to such an age only to behave like a dog – you think I’d need to sell myself just to supply some restaurant? Your Zhu family’s threshold is too high? I wouldn’t even look at it!”

Ding Aizhen was stunned by the strikes. Zhou Cheng, fearing Xia Xiaolan would make herself ill with anger, quickly embraced her.

“Don’t lower yourself to her level, calm down.”

Xia Xiaolan twisted and struggled, shouting at Zhou Cheng: “What right does she have to call you a wild man?”

Zhou Cheng suddenly became very happy – was Xiaolan angry for his sake?

When Ding Aizhen tried to rush over to hit Xiaolan, Zhou Cheng’s hands restrained her like iron clamps:

“Xiaolan has never spent my money. You’re also insulting these female comrades who came to buy clothes – they’re spending their clean money on goods, a fair transaction. How could it be because of me?”

Ding Aizhen had confused all these women earlier.

They had been peacefully selecting clothes when a mad woman suddenly rushed out, saying the clothes they were buying carried a vixen’s wanton smell. They had already paid – should they take the clothes or not?

Caught between advancing and retreating, the mad woman was both berating Xia Xiaolan and insulting them as well.

Saying they only gathered to buy clothes because of the handsome man.

Well, that factor did exist, but stating it so bluntly – how could people face each other?

With Zhou Cheng’s words, the women came to their senses and started arguing back:

“Your thoughts are too filthy!”

“Such offensive words – aren’t private merchants people too? They’re not your family’s slaves, can’t they change businesses?”

“I bet it’s people with mouths like yours who forced her original business to close, making her switch to selling women’s clothes!”

“Your tone is more superior than the mayor’s – do you control the sky, earth, and even street clothing stalls?”

Xia Xiaolan was indeed alluringly beautiful – honestly, what woman wouldn’t want to look so pretty?

Xia Xiaolan had an enviably alluring face that made others jealous, and in business she was calculating, haggling until dry-mouthed over small amounts. The clothes were beautiful but expensive, making them hurt when paying. Logically, they should dislike Xia Xiaolan and applaud when someone cursed her – why were they defending her instead?

It must be because this mad woman was too detestable.

The chorus of voices left Ding Aizhen red-faced.

“If you had nothing worth a vixen’s attention, why would she be interested in you?”

Zhou Cheng thought seriously for a full half minute:

“…Because I’m more handsome than your son?”