Wang Meihua and Gu Shaoying stayed in Yongning for 10 days before setting off home on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
Gu Shaoxuan and Xia Enruo saw them off onto the train and watched it disappear into the thick fog.
"Shaoxuan, you look a little unhappy. Are you reluctant to part with them?"
Gu Shaoxuan didn't speak, he just nodded.
Xia Enruo didn't say anything more, but simply took his hand and walked out of the station.
Xia Enruo closed her shop on the day before the Lunar New Year and did not resume normal business until the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.
After a busy year, you need to take a break during the Chinese New Year. You can never earn enough money.
Two days ago, she bought a bunch of clothes with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, but didn't buy any for Gu Shaoxuan or herself.
Xia Enruo always wanted to take Gu Shaoxuan to choose the clothes herself so that they would fit perfectly and avoid having to take them back to exchange them if they were the wrong size.
"Shaoxuan, you haven't bought any new clothes for the New Year yet. Let's go to the department store today and buy you a nice outfit."
“Enruo, no need. How old am I? Do I still have to wear new clothes for the New Year like a child? Besides, I have to wear a military uniform every day when I go to the army. Even if I buy some, they'll just sit at home.”
"Who said only children can wear new clothes for the New Year? Besides, I haven't bought any clothes yet. Don't you want to go shopping with me?"
Gu Shaoxuan was naturally pleased to hear his wife's words; he couldn't wait for Xia Enruo to take his arm and go shopping at the market.
I've dreamed about this kind of scene before.
Before closing for the Spring Festival, Xia Enruo did a quick calculation. After six months of operation, the restaurant and laundry had a net income of over 20,000 yuan, which she planned to use to expand the business after the Spring Festival.
She set aside 1,000 yuan for daily expenses and deposited the rest in the bank.
The two took a bus to the department store, where the festive atmosphere grew stronger as the year drew to a close.
The entrance to the department store was packed with pedestrians, making it impossible to move.
"Shaoxuan, there are so many people here. Be careful with your pockets, don't let anyone rummage through them."
"Don't worry, the money is in my shirt pocket, it won't get lost."
Xia Enruo led Gu Shaoxuan up to the second floor. Sure enough, there were far fewer people in the clothing section. Only the section on the first floor selling candy, peanuts, and local products was crowded.
Xia Enruo took a fancy to a long men's wool coat; she had liked it when she accompanied her mother-in-law last time. Gu Shaoxuan would definitely look good in it.
"Shaoxuan, do you think this outfit looks good?"
Gu Shaoxuan walked over and touched it; it really did look quite good.
"It looks good and it's quite substantial."
Indeed, the vocabulary for describing men is so limited. Quite "heavy."
"Try it on, let me see, is it nice?"
Gu Shaoxuan listened to his wife's words and put on the clothes.
Xia Enruo took a few steps back; he really was handsome.
Gu Shaoxuan is tall with broad shoulders and a straight posture, without any hunchback.
Wearing this coat makes me look really sturdy.
Just like the Kuomintang uniforms from the Republican era in TV dramas, they're absolutely stunning.
"It looks great, it's so beautiful! Shao Xuan, look in the mirror, do you like it?"
"It's really nice, this coat is so warm."
"Salesperson, how much is this dress?"
"The shirt your husband is wearing costs 200 yuan."
The salesperson called out from a short distance away.
People who were also picking out clothes at the counter turned their heads to look when they heard that it cost 200 yuan.
"200 yuan? That's too expensive. I wouldn't even dare to dream of such expensive clothes these days."
"That's right, it's equivalent to five months of my salary. I only spend about ten yuan to buy my husband a new shirt, and I knit the sweaters myself."
"Those clothes look expensive. We wouldn't even dare to try them on; we could only touch them and look at them."
"There are so many good things these days, but with our salaries, we can only look at them and not really appreciate them."
...
Gu Shaoxuan thought it was too expensive at 200 yuan a piece. He had never worn such expensive clothes before.
"Enruo, this dress is no good, it's too expensive, it's not worth it."
The sales clerk heard what he said and came over.
"Sir, this coat is definitely worth the money. Look, the outside is pure wool, and the lining is rabbit fur. It's very warm to wear."
People at the counter also crowded around, looking around as the salesperson pointed.
They wanted to see what was so good about this 200-yuan outfit.
But after the salesperson said that, it really was worth the price. Let alone pure wool, even the large pieces of rabbit fur inside the garment are extremely rare. No wonder it's so expensive. It's truly a rare find.
Hearing the crowd nodding and chattering amongst themselves, the salesperson continued:
"We only received three of these clothes in Yongning, one each in small, medium, and large sizes. We know that if we received too many, they wouldn't sell. They've been sitting here for almost two months now, and we haven't sold a single one."
Xia Enruo touched it and found it to be quite nice. The quality of clothes in this era was just right, with very little adulteration.
No wonder Gu Shaoxuan said it was heavy; of course, the fabric is heavy, unlike in a few decades when artificial technology will be available, and many fabrics will be made of chemical synthesis.
Most importantly, the rabbit fur is so soft that you don't want to let go of it.
"Shaoxuan, do you like it? If you do, let's buy one."
Gu Shaoxuan liked the clothes from the bottom of his heart, but the price was really expensive, equivalent to three months' salary. He really felt bad about spending so much money on a piece of clothing.
I'd rather save the money to buy clothes for my wife. If she looks beautiful in them, I'll feel warm inside. As a grown man, it doesn't matter whether I wear clothes or not. Besides, I'm used to wearing the military uniform issued by my unit when I'm in the army.
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