Huang Ying's eyes were already brimming with tears of grievance, but she held them back when she heard Zhou Yan speak.
She turned to look at Zhou Yan, sniffing, "Was your noodle good?"
"Whether it tastes good or not is a very subjective matter, so I won't praise it myself. If you're curious, you can ride your bicycle over and try it yourself tomorrow." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Okay! I'll come!" Huang Ying nodded firmly, her gaze resolute, "I'll ride my bicycle over myself!"
He invited me to eat here!
Who could refuse?
"Hmm?" Everyone looked at Huang Ying with somewhat strange expressions. What's wrong with this girl? She actually agreed?
Zhao Shulan smiled with some relief and glanced gratefully at Zhou Yan. This young man was really nice, he was easy on the eyes and much more reliable than Huang Bing. Plus, he didn't smoke.
"Huang Bing! Starting tomorrow, you and your sister will come! By bicycle! You'll eat for every meal she eats, or you can forget about pocket money." Zhao Shulan's face turned cold as she spoke to Huang Bing.
He doesn't like home-cooked meals, so let him eat at Zhou Yan's restaurant. Three meals a day won't bankrupt the family. As long as he gains a few jin and looks more presentable, that's fine.
"Mom, I'll ride my motorcycle." Huang Bing's face fell. Eating here was no problem, but riding a bicycle was a nightmare.
As soon as he got his new bike, he loved to ride it around everywhere. A trip to Suji only took twenty minutes, and he could have a meal and go out to play.
If he rode bicycle with Huang Ying, who knows how long it would take.
"Mother is brilliant!" Huang Ying smiled happily, winking at Huang Bing.
Zhou Yan remained silent. Perfect. One sentence, two monthly subscribers.
A huge profit!
As for how to complete the task?
We'll just have to wait and see!
May be if that girl rode her bicycle to eat here everyday, she really would lose weight.
The Huang and Zhao families left, apparently planning to find a place to drink tea and play cards, spending a leisurely afternoon.
Zhou Yan entered. Aunt Zhao and Comrade Old Zhou had already cleared the table, leaving only a table full of unwashed dishes.
"When did you learn to ride a motorcycle? I've never seen you ride one before." Aunt Zhao asked Zhou Yan curiously.
Not to mention their Old Zhou family, no one in the entire Zhou Village owned a motorcycle.
Zhou Yan had just hopped on the motorcycle with a smooth, effortless motion and ridden it away, clearly a skilled rider.
"There was a coworker in the canteen who had a small motorcycle. We were very close, and I would ride it around the factory entrance whenever I had free time, so that's how I learned to ride it." Zhou Yan fabricated.
Aunt Zhao nodded, somewhat impressed, and said, "That motorcycle is impressive."
"When I make some money, I'll buy one and take you all for a ride." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"You should save your money. First, build a house and get married. Motorcycles use oil, and going out costs money." Aunt Zhao shook her head.
Zhou Yan didn't say much, and seeing the two who were about to wash the dishes, he said, "Come on, wash the dishes when you get back, change your clothes, and let's go to Jiazhou for a trip. It's been a long time since I took you all there."
Zhou Momo had already put on the little bag that Aunt Zhao had sewn for her and was happily running around the restaurant, shouting, "Let's go to Jiazhou! Let's go!"
"Okay." Aunt Zhao nodded with a smile, calling Comrade Old Zhou upstairs to change.
Zhou Yan also went upstairs to change out of his chef's uniform. He changed into a slightly worn polyester shirt, black trousers, and faded canvas shoes.
He glanced down at it. It was alright, clean and tidy. Apart from being a bit shabby, there wasn't much wrong with it.
He had over four hundred yuan on him, all in large unity notes and one or two yuan notes. He didn't take any small change or penny, and rolled it up into a thick stack.
A short while later, Aunt Zhao and Comrade Old Zhou came downstairs.
Aunt Zhao wore a blue and white floral shirt made of polyester, black suit pants, and leather shoes with brass buckles. Her hair was tied up, and she looked energetic and dignified.
Comrade Old Zhou was wearing an old Zhongshan suit with patches on the elbows, and his indigo trousers were faded from washing. The only decent thing about him was his pair of leather shoes.
There was no way around it, when the house collapsed, Comrade Old Zhou's clothes were all gone. He'd only bought him a chef's uniform last time, and hadn't gotten him any other clothes yet.
Zhou Momo was wearing a green sweater today, carrying a small green bag—handmade by Aunt Zhao, with a pumpkin pattern on the chest and it looked quite stylish.
She rummaged in her bag and stuffed an orange-flavored hard candy into everyone's hands, generously saying, "One for each of you, orange-flavored candy, very sweet!"
Zhou Yan unwrapped one and put it in his mouth, the orange flavor was strong, and it was indeed very sweet.
"Sit with your brother or your father?" Aunt Zhao asked, looking at Zhou Momo.
"Guo Guo!" Zhou Momo leaned against Zhou Yan without hesitation.
"I'll tie this garment on for you so your butt won't get all bruised from the bumpy ride." Aunt Zhao took an old garment, folded it twice, and tied it to the front bar of the bicycle with a rope.
Zhou Yan reached out and lifted Zhou Momo onto the front bar, which was now secured with the garment.
Aunt Zhao locked the door, and the two bicycles rode off towards Jiazhou.
Comrade Old Zhou is busy slaughtering cattle all year round. By the time the beef is sold out, it's already afternoon. He's exhausted after getting home and making something to eat, so he has no time to go to Jiazhou for fun.
He usually waits for holidays when he's not working, taking a day to visit Jiazhou.
Zhou Momo had only been there twice in her life, one of which was when she was still an infant, so she has no memory of it.
The little one loves listening to people talk about the city, always showing an expectant expression, and frequently asking Zhou Yan when he'll take her to Jiazhou.
"Fat little boy, chubby and plump, rides a horse to Rongcheng. Rongcheng is so much fun! Fat little boy rides a white horse, the white horse jumps high. Fat little boy wields a Guan Dao (a type of halberd), wielding the Guan Dao skillfully. Fat little boy picks up copper coins, picking up many copper coins. Fat little boy buys steamed buns, but the steamed buns have no candy, making fat little boy cry..."
The little one held the handlebars in one hand, singing a nursery rhyme in a childish voice, her head bobbing up and down. Her two little braids, like two tiny antennas, swept back and forth in front of Zhou Yan, cute and funny.
The distance from Suji to Jiazhou city was more than ten kilometers. The road conditions were fairly good, and they rode at a leisurely pace, arriving at the intersection of Yutang Street and Tuqiao Street in about half an hour.
Jiazhou Department Store is located here, spanning two blocks, one side on Tuqiao Street and the other on Yutang Street.
This intersection is also known as Jiazhou's Little Crossroads.
Surrounding it are many well-known shops in Jiazhou, such as Changshengtang, Liao Guangdong, Yudong Restaurant, Continental Hotel, Post Office, Xinhua Bookstore, and New Zhonghua...
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it Jiazhou's Central Business District (CBD).
"Are we going to shop at the department store as soon as we arrive?" Zhao Tieying looked up at the grand department store and said with a smile.
"Yes, let's buy what we need first, before they close." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"That makes sense, they close on time, not a minute late." Aunt Zhao nodded.
After parking the bicycle, Zhou Yan took Zhou Momo's hand and led his parents into the department store.
It was Sunday, everyone had a day off, and the department store was packed with people. The bicycles lined up quite a distance outside, and an old man had brought a stool to stand guard, watching over customers' valuables.
Upon entering, a bustling crowd filled every counter.
"Comrade, how much is this Seagull brand women's watch?"
"Comrade, let me try that shirt on."
"Comrade..."
People were asking prices, others trying on clothes and feeling the fabric—it was quite a lively scene.
Zhou Yan picked up Zhou Momo and carried her on his shoulder to prevent her from being accidentally bumped into or stepped on.
"Wow! So many people!"
"Guo Guo, look! There are so many dolls over there!"
"There are so many pretty clothes over there!"
"Guo Guo..."
As soon as her gaze lifted, the little one's eyes lit up, and she immediately started chattering away.
Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao followed behind Zhou Yan, their expressions a little restrained.
The last time they were at the department store was two years ago.
The department store had a lot of beautiful things, but the prices were indeed expensive.
Last time they came, they just strolled around, glanced at everything, and didn't even dare to ask about the prices.
If you asked a few more questions, the sales clerks would be incredibly rude.
"Comrade, let me ask you something..."
"Ask, ask, ask! You're asking but not buying, what's the point of asking! I've answered you eight hundred times, this shirt is sixteen yuan and fifty cents, not a penny less! Take it or leave it!" The round-faced sales clerk at the next counter rolled her eyes impatiently and hang the clothes back up.
"You...you comrade, how could you be so awful! I am extremely dissatisfied with your service!" The customer's hands trembled with anger.
The sales clerk was indifferent: "Hmph, you have a problem with me? Go ahead and report me! Even if you want to buy it today, I'm not selling it to you."
Zhou Yan was tall, and his gaze swept across the crowd, seeing similar scenes unfolding at many of the counters.
Department stores in those days were state-owned. Whether they were profitable or not didn't affect the sales staff's salaries, so the sales staff were all arrogant and looked down on everyone.
Look at the slogan hanging on the wall: "Strictly Prohibited to Hit or Verbally Abuse Customers!"
That was a characteristic of the era.
Zhou Yan was engrossed in looking around and eventually walked to the watch counter.
This is the most popular counter, packed with customers, all crowding around the glass counter to look.
Behind the counter stood two sales clerks, a man and a woman, calmly answering customers' questions.
Zhou Yan peeked at the price; a Shanghai brand men's 17 brick watch was priced at 70 yuan.
That was quite expensive, equivalent to two months' wages for a frontline textile factory worker.
"You want to buy a watch?" Zhao Tieying followed him, noticing Zhou Yan had stopped, and asked softly.
"Yes, I need to keep track of time when making braised meat, a watch would be more convenient." Zhou Yan nodded.
Just then, a customer left, so he approached the counter, smiling, and said to the sales clerk, "Comrade, could I try on this Shanghai brand men's watch?"
The saleswoman, a woman in her early twenties, looked up at Zhou Yan upon hearing his voice. Her previously furrowed brows relaxed, her voice softened, and she nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll get it for you."
Zhou Yan handed Zhou Momo to his mother, took the watch, and put it on his wrist. It was made of steel, cool to the touch, and shimmered silver on his wrist. It was also a bit heavy.
However, once the watch was on his wrist, his bare wrist was adorned, and it did feel quite different.
"It suits you quite well. A man wearing a watch definitely elevates his image." Zhao Tieying said with a smile.
"What about me?" Zhou Momo asked, holding out her small hand.
"You're still young. When you grow up, a women's watch will look good on you too." Zhao Tieying said, pointing to the women's watches in the display case.
"It looks really good." Zhou Miao, standing beside Zhou Yan, nodded in agreement.
"Want one for you too?" Zhou Yan asked, smiling at him.
Zhou Miao was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly: "What would I do with it? No, no."
"It's convenient for you to have a watch while fishing, so you can pack up when it's time and not miss work." Zhou Yan smiled, took off the watch, put it on Zhou Miao's wrist, and nodded, saying, "It fits perfectly, and you don't even need to adjust the strap."
"Seventy yuan each, not cheap. If you're not buying, don't try it on in turn. I'm too lazy to clean it if you get it dirty." the male sales clerk said, his tone carrying his usual sarcastic tone.
"Tsk! You should mind your own business! You talk too much!" The female sales clerk rolled her eyes at him, then smiled at Zhou Yan, saying, "It's alright, take your time trying it on. Would you like to try on some other styles?"
The customers nearby turned around in shock.
Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
This is such a double standard!
Just because someone is handsome, does that mean they can't be scolded?
Is there no law anymore?