Chapter 161

This trip allowed Ji Wanmei and Zhou Min to learn more about each other, and their relationship noticeably grew closer.

When Zhou Min spoke to Ji Wanmei, she was less reserved than usual, and her speech was much more relaxed and natural.

Ji Wanmei was naturally very happy; Zhou Min was the first good friend she had made again at school.

In the evening, the two returned to their dormitory together and saw that Zhou Yuejuan and Fang Xiaoqin had also returned to school from home.

As soon as Ji Wanmei entered the dormitory, Fang Xiaoqin, who was chatting with someone, quickly took out a bar of soap with yellow printed paper and tied with hemp rope from her bag and said to Zhou Yuejuan, who was sitting on Ji Wanmei's bed:

"Zhou Yuejuan, I have something for you!" Fang Xiaoqin said, deliberately glancing at Ji Wanmei. "It's an old Shanghai brand, an essential oil soap, jasmine scented, it smells especially good."

Zhou Yuejuan took the soap with delight, held it to her nose and smelled it: "Wow, it smells so good! This must be very expensive. I saw Ji Wanmei had one before."

Fang Xiaoqin was quite pleased with Zhou Yuejuan's flattery and said smugly, "It's not like she's the only one who can afford it. Who is she showing off to by deliberately putting it on the bathroom counter?"

Zhou Yuejuan knew that Fang Xiaoqin wanted to embarrass Ji Wanmei, so she deliberately exaggeratedly flattered her: "Oh, thank you so much, Fang Xiaoqin. Thanks to you, I can finally use some high-end products."

Ji Wanmei raised an eyebrow slightly, said nothing, and walked into the dormitory.

When Zhou Min came in from behind, she saw that Fang Xiaoqin and Zhou Yuejuan were each holding a bar of essential oil soap. Wasn't that the kind that Ji Wanmei had bought a hundred of at the wholesale market that afternoon?

The colors, packaging, and brand are exactly the same.

The stall owner initially insisted on a price of 80 cents, but Ji Wanmei bought a hundred at once, and Zhou Min bargained it down to 62 cents per piece.

Perhaps before today, Zhou Min still felt a sense of awe and admiration for these brand-name goods in the city, but after Ji Wanmei took her to the wholesale market today...

Zhou Min realized that the high-end goods that Fang Xiaoqin was so proud of actually only cost 62 cents to purchase.

If it's the factory price, the cost will only be cheaper.

Even a family like Zhou Min's could afford it.

The premium and gap in those brand names are entirely due to the vain and crazy pursuit and smug showing off of middle-class people like Fang Xiaoqin, which makes people from the lower class like Zhou Min think that they need to go to great lengths and pay a high price to afford them.

In essence, they are all just everyday necessities.

Just because it's a brand name doesn't make it any more noble than the ordinary soap they use.

To express her gratitude to Zhou Min, Ji Wanmei took one of each item, saying she wanted to give them to Zhou Min.

However, Zhou Min rejected him.

Those items were meant to be sent back to the shop for sale by Ji Wanmei. Zhou Min was already doing well to broaden her horizons by following Ji Wanmei around; she absolutely must not accept any of her things.

After this experience, Zhou Min felt more at ease and comfortable using the soap she bought for two cents a bar, and no longer felt inferior.

Fang Xiaoqin and Zhou Yuejuan, seeing that Ji Wanmei hadn't reacted at all after their charade, and instead exchanged a knowing smile with Zhou Min as if they were some kind of clown, felt utterly embarrassed.

After a while, Fang Xiaoqin couldn't stop talking and said to Zhou Yuejuan, "Do you know what? I found out about Lu Zhuoxuan's family situation!"

Zhou Yuejuan quickly walked over and asked with great interest, "Really? What's the situation like at Lu's family? Tell me about it!"

Lu Zhuoxuan has a handsome and charming appearance, a witty and gentle manner, and a family background that makes people look up to him. At school, almost no girl can see him without blushing.

Zhou Yuejuan also longed for it, fantasizing about how glamorous it would be to date someone like Lu Zhuoxuan on a university campus.

Fang Xiaoqin said smugly, "I asked my uncle about it. Senior Lu Zhuoxuan's parents both work in Beijing, and I heard they hold very important positions. He lives with his grandmother in East China, and his grandmother is also a very powerful person! She is the third-generation successor of our East China Shu Embroidery Hall, a century-old family business passed down from her ancestors, and her family has a lot of businesses."

Fang Xiaoqin wanted everyone in the dormitory to hear her, so she deliberately spoke loudly, "My uncle once wanted to interview her. Unfortunately, that old lady Lu is too old and rarely comes out of retirement now."

Zhou Yuejuan exclaimed in surprise: "Is that Shuxiutang? I heard my mother say that a cheongsam made by Shuxiutang costs several hundred silver dollars, and ordinary people can't buy it at all."

Ji Wanmei sat on her bed packing her things, showing no intention of participating in Fang Xiaoqin and the others' discussion or conversation.

Although Grandma Song, whom Fang Xiaoqin was discussing, has now become Ji Wanmei's mentor.

But Ji Wanmei had no intention of revealing or showing off this master-disciple relationship.

After quickly washing up in the bathroom, she went back to her dorm room and lay down to sleep.

After classes officially started, Ji Wanmei would spend her free time in the library, apart from her regular classes.

That day, Ji Wanmei went to the library with Zhou Min again.

Coincidentally, Ji Wanmei ran into Lu Zhuoxuan at the library.

Lu Zhuoxuan appears to be the library's assistant administrator; he can come and go as he pleases.

Ji Wanmei recalled the rumor that this library was donated to East China University by Lu Zhuoxuan's grandfather after he was exonerated.

"Junior, what a coincidence to run into you here!" Lu Zhuoxuan smiled gently at Ji Wanmei, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

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