“Oh, I should have brought your sister-in-law and the others with me!” Xu’s mother lamented, her face a mask of regret. Fortunately, it was the county’s sole department store, a swirling vortex of humanity. Xu’s mother, caught in the throng, was jostled repeatedly.
“Daughter!” she cried out, her hand shooting out to grasp Xu Ying’s arm. She glared fiercely at the two young men who had bumped into her. “You walk as if you have no eyes!”
One of the men, initially annoyed, bristled with indignation. But then he turned, his gaze falling upon Xu Ying, and his irritation vanished, replaced by a sudden, delighted smile. “Hey, where did this pretty girl come from? Our county actually has such a beautiful girl!” The speaker was undeniably handsome and well-dressed, but his manner was insufferably arrogant, every gesture radiating a casual flippancy.
Xu Ying stood tall, an aura of cool indifference surrounding her. Dressed in a black wool coat, tight jeans, and leather boots, she stood out distinctly in the bustling crowd. The man’s eyes were filled with undisguised surprise as he brazenly reached out a hand towards her. Xu Ying glared, her hand shooting up to swat away his audacious touch. “Get out.”
Zhang Zhiguo had never, in his entire life, been rejected by a woman. He had been handsome since childhood, born into a family of considerable influence. Both his parents held respectable jobs, and his sister was married to a high-ranking official, making him a veritable mover and shaker in their social circle. Women had always vied for his attention, desperate to please him. Now, Xu Ying’s sharp rejection ignited a furious glint in Zhang Zhiguo’s eyes. “Do you know who I am?” he snarled.
“It’s none of my business who you are!” Xu Ying retorted, her gaze filled with utter disgust. Such a man, so full of himself, casually teasing others – his character was truly deplorable.
“My brother-in-law is an official!” Zhang Zhiguo threatened, his voice rising. “If you offend me, I’ll make your life a living hell!” He fully expected this young girl to cower before the mention of an official, especially one several ranks higher than her own boss.
Xu’s mother, indeed, was terrified. She quickly tugged at her daughter’s arm, urging her to back down. They couldn’t afford to anger someone like that!
Xu Ying, however, merely sneered. “What’s the matter? Can an official do whatever he pleases? Can his son bully ordinary people and become a tyrant? This is a new society! Do you intend to follow the example of the landlords of old and oppress the common folk?” Xu Ying’s voice rose with each word, culminating in a ringing declaration: “Everyone, come and see! This man is bullying an innocent girl!”
The department store was already packed, and Xu Ying’s shout instantly drew the attention of countless onlookers. Zhang Zhiguo found himself subjected to a multitude of stares, a flicker of viciousness mixed with panic crossing his face. This woman is utterly shameless! She dares to publicize such a thing? Has she no regard for her reputation? “Shut up!” Zhang Zhiguo hissed, his anger tinged with desperation. His father had just warned him that the new secretary was a busybody. What if this incident spiraled out of control, just like the trouble in Xiang County next door? Zhang Zhiguo knew he had created a monumental mess. He immediately retreated, disappearing into the crowd with his friends, his face a mask of despair.
Xu’s mother watched the man flee, then unleashed a volley of curses at his retreating back. “A mere boy, barely grown, yet so full of himself! You dare to bully my daughter because she’s beautiful? Do you know who my daughter is? The factory director in Xiang County was thrown into prison with the very evidence my daughter found firsthand! If you want to imitate that factory director, go right ahead and try!” Having been truly frightened just moments before, Xu’s mother, now seeing her tormentor flee, felt her confidence surge back.
Zhang Zhiguo, who had already put several meters between himself and the formidable woman, felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead, despite the winter air.
“Mom, are you ready for the fried food?” Xu Ying asked, gently pulling her mother along.
Xu’s mother merely sniffed, then, head held high, strode purposefully towards the department store’s food section. She had thought the ground floor was crowded, but upon reaching the third floor, she realized it was an even greater throng. The bustling space was a sea of people, so tightly packed that it was almost impossible to squeeze through.
“Are you Xiao Xu?” A hand from the crowd patted Xu Ying’s shoulder. Xu Ying turned to see a younger girl with two braids, smiling brightly as she asked the question.
“I am!”
The girl’s eyes sparkled. “That’s right! My brother asked me to find you. Come with me.” Xu Ying followed her somewhat suspiciously towards a door, a little curious. “Who is your brother?”
“Sun Erming. My brother said you would definitely come back on the day the department store launched new products, so he asked me to wait for you here early. There are too many people outside, you can’t even squeeze in. This is our employee passage, which leads directly to the exhibition area.” She added, “By the way, my name is Sun Sanhong.”
“You don’t happen to have an older brother named Daming, do you?” Xu Ying ventured, a sudden thought striking her.
The girl’s eyes truly lit up with astonishment. “How did you know?”
“Just a guess!” Xu Ying replied, a slight, awkward smile on her face.
Sun Sanhong looked at her with an expression of profound admiration, much like Lu Daya had looked at her before. “You’re not a fortune teller, are you?” After blurting it out, Sun Sanhong quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, glancing around to ensure no one was listening, then let out a sigh of relief.
Xu Ying shook her head. “I’m just lucky; I can be right even when I’m guessing blindly. How are the fried goods and braised duck products selling in the department store today?” Xu Ying was more concerned with her commission. The department store had bought five thousand yuan worth of goods from the factory this time, and she wondered how the initial sales would fare. There were many people, but she wasn’t sure about their purchasing power. In those days, everyone was quite frugal.
Xu Ying quickly followed Sun Sanhong to the exhibition area, where several young girls stood looking utterly lost. “Isn’t there a tasting event? Where is it?” Xu’s mother walked over and began to loudly inquire. The other customers, hearing her, also voiced their dissatisfaction. They had been promised samples, but where were they?
“Why aren’t there any tastings?” Xu Ying walked over and asked the sales staff.
A saleswoman looked horrified. “We really are supposed to do tastings? This bag costs several dollars! There are so many people here; how much would we need to give away?” She worried, “What if we give out too much and our boss blames us?”
“The samples for the tasting are all from our food factory, so you don’t need to worry about that,” Xu Ying assured them. “Now, fry all the fried goods, heat up the braised items, and start the tasting. Cut the braised and fried food into small pieces – not too tiny, and not too big.” If the pieces were too small, people wouldn’t get a proper taste. If they were too large, the factory would lose money. The ideal size would allow people to taste it, stimulate their taste buds, and entice them to buy.
“Just listen to Xiao Xu,” Sun Sanhong interjected. “She was sent by the food factory.” As soon as she said this, the sales staff’s worries vanished instantly. Without hesitation, they tore open the packaging and began the tasting.
Xu Ying then walked towards the sales area on the other side. The sales staff there were clearly distracted, sitting listlessly. Xu Ying approached, rapping her knuckles on the counter, her face serious. “It’s time to get busy! Everyone will be coming to buy fried food and braised food soon. Are you all ready?”