But the last thread of restraint in her mind still held her back.
She glared viciously at Su Jin, thinking to herself that she could deal with this “dead girl” however she wanted in the future.
If she acted in front of everyone, it would only backfire on both her and Zhao Zhengwen.
Having said that, she positioned her hand to the side, her feet feeling as if they were weighed down by iron, moving only slightly.
Su Jin didn’t look at her and simply walked past, heading straight to the salesperson.
The supply and marketing cooperative was neatly arranged, with goods in glass display cases by the entrance. Behind the salesperson were more shelves, the topmost holding bright red-patterned hot water flasks, towels, and bedding.
Several women in drab gray clothing were carefully inspecting each quilt, checking the stitching, feeling the texture with their hands. Each woman seemed to examine multiple quilts inside and out, feeling their quality.
The salesperson was busy, with customers asking for white sugar in one corner, water flasks in another, as well as soap, Vaseline, face cream, and more.
Su Jin went straight to the point: “Comrade, please give me three bars of soap.”
The salesperson replied: “Sure!”
Jiang Heng walked over: “Comrade, bring two quilts as well.”
He wanted two quilts this time because the wedding had been arranged in such a hurry. The quilts at home were a bit old, and he didn’t want his young, fresh wife to be wrapped in worn-out bedding.
“All right!”
Li Chunhua snorted from the side, finally having a chance to mock.
“Two quilts at once? What kind of household are you, what kind of standard?”
Her tone was full of disdain and a hint of envy.
Each quilt cost four yuan, so two would be eight yuan—half a month’s work for a typical peasant, who would usually be reluctant to spend that much unless they were buying for a new bride or really needed them.
She told the salesperson: “Comrade, don’t bother giving them the quilts. They can’t afford it; it’ll just waste your time.”
Li Chunhua was certain Jiang Heng had very little money.
His family was a poor old man raising him alone in a mud-brick house, with no other relatives to support him. If it weren’t for his lucky break becoming the team leader, and being over twenty years old, no girl would marry him!
Even a year’s salary as a production team leader was only slightly more than a normal peasant, maybe ten extra yuan—not much, even for a man living on his own. She was completely sure Jiang Heng had no money.
She turned to Su Jin: “You married him, and all he has is a team leader title. What does he have? Look, he didn’t even need to give a red envelope for your marriage.”
Su Jin raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So you can afford it, can you?”
Li Chunhua snorted, looking up at the ceiling: “Of course. We have four men in our household, so we get plenty of grain each year. But someone as weak as you? Marrying him, you probably won’t even have enough to eat.”
Li Chunhua often boasted about her own productivity, saying she bore five sons for the Zhao family, the best in the village. Su Jin muttered under her breath, feeling like her face had sprouted blemishes.
Jiang Heng’s voice was deep and firm: “Comrade, I am the customer.”
The few words made the salesperson flinch—indeed, the customer was Jiang Heng, not the middle-aged woman. There was no need to follow her instructions.
Li Chunhua’s anger, previously suppressed, started to rise again.
“Salesperson, you’d better open your eyes and see who’s who. Otherwise, some people can’t afford things but still make you fetch them, wasting your time while real customers wait!”
She was like a performer in a drama, her shrill, loud voice directed at the salesperson while she sneaked glances at Jiang Heng and Su Jin.
The salesperson froze, unsure why this middle-aged woman was lecturing her.
Su Jin chuckled lightly: “Sister Zhao, huh? You sure talk a lot when I come to buy things. You keep jabbering away but don’t even buy anything yourself, disrupting a comrade’s work.”
Li Chunhua stomped her feet on the floor, making a loud “thump-thump” sound, clearly angered by Su Jin’s words.
Su Jin approached the salesperson, calling out loudly: “I’m buying things too, comrade! One bar of soap, please.”
The salesperson smiled politely: “Sorry, ma’am, the soap just sold out.”
“What? Sold out!?”
She immediately roared like thunder: “What’s going on? It’s only just been restocked today, and it’s already gone? You must have hidden some for your own family! I’m telling you, comrade, that’s not right. You’re abusing your position for personal gain. Do you want me to report you?!”
Her voice grew louder, especially on the word “report,” threatening enough to scare the young salesperson, who had only recently started.
The salesperson’s eyes welled up as she explained: “Ma’am, I really didn’t hide anything. Fifty bars came in today, and they were just sold immediately.”
“Do you think I’m naive? You think this spiel can fool me?”
“No, ma’am, really! I’m not lying. They’re truly sold out.”
The young woman, holding back tears from being falsely accused, explained firmly.
“Hmph! Everyone knows salespeople at the cooperative often help acquaintances save stock for themselves.”
Su Jin watched Li Chunhua’s unreasonable behavior and thought it was like watching a monkey show.
Later, the cooperative manager checked the inventory—everything was accurate.
“Ma’am, the soap really is sold out. Comrade, please wait for the next restock.”
Li Chunhua scuttled sideways like a crab. “No! I want soap today! It’s so hot, I’ll still stink after bathing without it!”
“Then why didn’t you come earlier?”
“I… I’m late, that’s all.”
She then noticed the three bars of soap in Su Jin’s hands and immediately lunged for them, aiming directly at the target.
Su Jin sidestepped, and Li Chunhua collided with the glass display case.
“Dead girl, why do you have so much soap?”
The salesperson explained: “Comrade Su Jin asked for them first.”
Li Chunhua bellowed: “No! One person can’t buy so much soap. You can’t sell it to her.”
Su Jin: “Soap isn’t limited per person. I can buy as much as I want. You don’t get to decide.”
But Li Chunhua, thinking she had been delayed by Su Jin at the entrance, felt she had every reason to “grab” the soap herself.
“No! Don’t you know goods are scarce? You two just took three bars!”
“Who’s goods aren’t scarce? Everyone gets their share if they come early.”
“No! You two don’t need that much soap!”
