Just then, a commotion broke out at the counter on the left. An older woman, holding up her newly purchased work clothes, exclaimed, "What's wrong with these cuffs? They're so baggy you could stuff two fists in them! When I'm working, the wind blows dust all over them. They're not even as good as my old coat!"

"Exactly! These trouser legs are the same; they keep falling down when rolled up, and tying a string around them is uncomfortable." Someone nearby immediately chimed in.

Zhao Jingxiang's face darkened. "Why are there so many rules about work clothes? If they're too big, can't you alter them yourself?"

"Change it? You make it sound so easy!" the auntie exclaimed. "My husband earns ten work points a day, where would he find the time to mess around with this? Besides, who's going to pay for it if we mess it up?"

Upon hearing this, those who had just bought Zhao Jingxiang's factory work clothes began to have doubts.

Someone with sharp eyes noticed that Zhou Jiuzhen was wearing the same work clothes from the booth across the street, and tentatively walked over: "Hey girl, can you try this on?"

“Of course.” Ling Huanwu immediately handed it over.

Zhou Jiuzhen got off the chair, raised his hand to try out the posture of farm work, and then squatted down to simulate the action of planting rice. His eyes lit up and he said, "Hey! It really doesn't get in the way! Tightening the cuffs makes it easy to work, and loosening them doesn't hurt my arms. This design is brilliant!"

Now no one hesitated anymore.

The people who had been crowding in front of the city's garment factory's counter suddenly surged over, completely surrounding the cooperative's booth.

"Give me two!"

"I want three items, and one for my son too!"

"Give it to me first! My husband is going to work at the reservoir tomorrow, and we need one of these!"

Zhao Jingxiang watched helplessly as everyone in front of his counter disappeared, and he was so angry that his hands were shaking.

He yelled at Zhou Jiuzhen, "You're just trying to take shortcuts! You're using these petty tricks to fool kids!"

Ling Huanwu was busy issuing invoices when she heard this. She looked up and smiled, "Director Zhao, work clothes are for workers to wear, to make it easier for them to work. How can that be called opportunism? Look, everyone's hands are raised—that's how workers vote with their hands."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cheer suddenly erupted in front of the cooperative's booth.

It turned out that the last piece of work clothes had been snapped up, and those who missed out were stamping their feet in frustration, asking, "When will there be more in stock? Can we pre-order?"

Ling Huanwu picked up a pen and wrote on the blackboard: "Fifty more items will be restocked tomorrow. Pre-orders are accepted."

As the sun set, the cooperative's booth was empty, but the city factory's counter was full of hanging items, almost all of which were unsold.

Looking at the glaring "Sales 3" on the ledger and listening to the laughter coming from the next booth, Zhao Jingxiang suddenly felt like a ridiculous bum!

Ling Huanwu, meanwhile, kept her head down checking the reservation list, the smile on her lips never fading.

She looked up and around, searching for Zhou Jiuzhen.

People came and went in the supply and marketing cooperative, and the abacus beads clicked loudly.

Zhou Jiuzhen, who was in the daily necessities section not far away, clutched the few yuan in his pocket, his eyes scanning the shelves twice before finally settling on the row of tin boxes of face cream in the glass counter.

The sales clerk had just finished weighing brown sugar for someone when he quickly stepped forward half a step and said, "Comrade, I'd like the Friendship Snow Cream with the red peony printed on it."

After paying, he clutched the small tin box and turned around to see Ling Huanwu holding a ledger, craning her fair neck and looking around.

Meanwhile, Tie Dan and Gang Pao were chattering away around Ling Huanwu.

Zhou Jiuzhen walked over with a sullen face.

Two sharp glares startled Tie Dan and Gang Pao, who immediately turned around and fled.

Zhou Jiuzhen shoved the tin box into her hand, his voice a little muffled, "Here, for you."

Ling Huanwu looked down at the face cream in her palm; the red peony on the box glowed warmly under the incandescent light.

Just as she was about to look up and say thank you, Zhou Jiuzhen grabbed her arm and pulled her to a corner.

Behind the supply and marketing cooperative was a small compartment used for storing miscellaneous items. It was usually used for temporary storage of goods and occasionally as a fitting room, with a faded blue cloth hanging as a curtain.

"What are you doing...?"

Ling Huanwu's voice was slurred by his actions, and she was pressed down onto a pile of sacks as soon as she stood still.

The cubicle was dimly lit, with only a little sunlight filtering in through the small window overhead. You could see the beads of sweat on his forehead and the tiny, barely concealed flames in his eyes.

"Your hand is cracked." Zhou Jiuzhen's voice was a little hoarse as he looked at her hand, which was holding the face cream.

She usually washes her hands with soap until her knuckles turn red, and now that the weather has turned cool, small cracks have appeared.

Ling Huanwu's heart softened. Just as she was about to speak, she saw him reach out and gently clasp her hand in his, his fingers slowly covering hers against his chest. "It hurts so much here..."

Before he finished speaking, his kiss landed on her forehead, not on her cheek.

His lips gently brushed against hers, then landed on the back of her chapped hand, lingering for a long, long time…

When the two returned to the clothing section booth, they saw Zhao Jingxiang approaching with a livid face. His gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a few seconds, and the smile on his face vanished instantly.

Zhao Jingxiang glared fiercely at Zhou Jiuzhen, then led the porters behind him away from the supply and marketing cooperative without looking back.

When Director He learned about the sales figures for the new work uniforms, he was so happy he almost jumped for joy in his office.

He held Ling Huanwu's hand tightly, his eyes shining brightly. "Comrade Ling, you really made our supply and marketing cooperative proud in the department store this time!"

"Comrade Ling, I look forward to our next collaboration. Every time I meet you, you bring me many surprises."

“You truly are both beautiful and talented! Not only do you look just as good as any movie star in the Hong Kong magazines, but your features are like something out of a painting! Just the short time you were at the supply and marketing cooperative, my office was practically trampled by all those single young men. How about I introduce you to someone, like my nephew…”

Zhou Jiuzhen secretly hid to the side, his eyes fixed on Director He's hand holding Ling Huanwu's. Upon hearing this, he jumped out as if facing a formidable enemy.

He gripped Ling Huanwu's small hand tightly with his large hand, puffed out his cheeks, and glared angrily as he began to assert his dominance, "Director, I'm Huanwu's boyfriend, the kind of guy we've had a wedding banquet with. You don't need to worry about being a matchmaker; I'll never let go!"

"die?"

Director He opened his mouth wide, clearly shocked by that word.

Have young people today reached the point where they feel like they'll die if they don't have their partner?

He awkwardly released Ling Huanwu's hand, waving his hand and saying, "So Comrade Ling has a girlfriend. The two of you are indeed a perfect match. Last time I thought you were the officer who escorted Comrade Ling. Well then, I wish you a long and happy marriage..."

Director He stared at Zhou Jiuzhen's eyes, which were as sharp as blades, and his voice trembled with fear. He quickly finished his compliments and made an excuse to escape.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiuzhen's anger dissipated, and he squinted his eyes in satisfaction. When he opened them again, he found that Director He had already vanished without a trace.

He looked down blankly and met Ling Huanwu's almond-shaped eyes, which held a hint of anger.