Buying a Watch for Lin You

Lin You did not insist further. He raised his hand, took off the watch, and carefully slipped it into his pocket.

This watch meant a great deal to him.

"Dad, that watch looks really good on you."

Lin Hongzhuo stared intently at the watch on Lin You's wrist.

Xia Yan affectionately pinched his cheek. "When you get into university in the future, Mom will buy you a nice watch too."

"Pinky promise."

Lin You glanced at the watch on his wrist, quite satisfied, and reached for his money, only to be stopped by Xia Yan.

Xia Yan patted her own pocket. "I bought this for you, so I'll pay for it. Sister, how much is this?"

"My dear, I can tell we have a connection. I'll give you the employee price: 130 yuan and a watch ration coupon."

Seeing how straightforward Xia Yan was, the saleswoman offered her the internal price. Even as an internal price, it was not cheap.

The 800 yuan Xia Yan had brought with her was already half gone. Truly, accumulating wealth without doing business was somewhat difficult. It seemed that after the New Year, she would need to rethink her career planning. Being a teacher was fine, but it was still too monotonous for her.

Her pig farm plan needed to be accelerated.

Thinking of the pig farm, Xia Yan suddenly remembered that she had promised to slaughter two pigs for everyone this coming New Year.

Alas, her already flat wallet was about to shrink again.

Must make money, must make money!

Her New Year wish! To make a fortune and provide well for her babies and her husband!

Xia Yan took out the money and coupons and handed them to the saleswoman. The latter smilingly accepted them, counted them through, and pulled out a packaging bag to box up the watch.

Xia Yan took Lin You's hand and looked at it earnestly. Although the watch style was not as fashionable as those of later years, it looked remarkably good on Lin You.

"It suits you so well. As expected, a handsome man looks good wearing any style of watch."

The saleswoman chimed in with a flurry of compliments.

Being praised by his wife in front of so many people, even Lin You blushed. He gave a soft cough and said, "It's just that my wife has great taste."

Looking at this older husband and younger wife, the saleswoman could not help comparing them to her own husband. Truly, comparing people only drives one to frustration!

Being a battalion commander at such a young age, his future achievements would certainly be extraordinary.

"My dear, do you want to buy anything else? I'm familiar with every corner of this department store. Just say the word, and I guarantee you get the internal price!"

"Actually, yes, I'd like to buy some clothes."

"Buy clothes?"

The saleswoman looked around. "My dear, let me tell you. Two intersections down, there's a street with a free market. The quality of the clothes there is no worse than the department store's, but the main thing is that they are much cheaper, and the variety is greater too."

"Really?"

Hearing about such a great place, Xia Yan was naturally delighted. She could save money and have more choices.

"Of course it's true. Keep your voice down though; don't let others know I told you. Just walk east as you leave the department store."

The saleswoman whispered behind her hand.

"Thank you, sister. From now on, I'll send more people your way to buy watches."

"Alright! When the time comes, just tell them to look for Sister Liu in the watch section!"

Courtesy was reciprocal. Although Xia Yan's words were somewhat polite pleasantries, hearing them made the other woman very happy.

Stepping out of the department store, the family walked in the direction Sister Liu had indicated. Passing a newspaper kiosk, Xia Yan bought a newspaper for 5 fen.

"Wife, what are you buying a newspaper for?"

"To check the news and national policies."

"Oh? You actually care about such things?"

Lin You was somewhat shocked. He truly had not expected his wife to care about so many worldly affairs.

"Of course! National policies are the weather vane, and they point the way to making money in the future. Follow the country's lead, and you'll have everything!"

"Mom, is that a rhyming chant?"

Eating the candied haws his mother had just bought him, Lin Hongzhuo did not forget to chime in.

Xia Yan looked at him. This youngest son of hers really was a little chatterbox of questions.

While called a free market, it was actually a black market. When Lin You appeared in his military uniform, he attracted many gazes—some hostile, others full of vigilance.

Two burly men at the entrance of the street stared intently at Lin You without blinking.

Lin You instantly grew alert.

This was no free market; it was a black market, and such places were highly unsafe.

Yet Xia Yan rather liked such places—they had plenty of goods and were cheap!

"Wife, you must never come to a place like this alone in the future, you hear me?"

"Why?"

Xia Yan did not understand.

Lin You said earnestly, "To call this a free market sounds nice, but to call it what it is, it's a black market. Do you have any idea what you look like? Would it be safe coming here alone?"

"What I look like?"

Xia Yan touched her face, only then realizing her man was complimenting her looks.

"Got it, let's go in and look around."

As the two stepped inside, some of the fainthearted folks caught sight of Lin You and hurriedly packed up their stalls to leave. Being caught here was no small matter.

Xia Yan discovered that there really were quite a few things in this black market—even pork.

"Should we buy some pork to take back?"

Lin You remembered what his wife had said yesterday about making braised pork belly.

"No need. When I came earlier, I went to the meat vendor, and he saved some prime pork belly for me."

"When did you go? How come I didn't know?"

"Right when you went to the restroom."

Xia Yan looked left and right. "I mainly came here to look at clothes—to buy a few pieces for the children, my parents, and my younger sister. I didn't expect there wouldn't be much worth buying in this free market."

After taking a turn around the area without finding what she wanted, she only stopped right before leaving when she saw someone selling milk candies at the entrance, and bought a bag to satisfy the three children's cravings.

Failing to buy any clothes, the group had no choice but to head back to the department store. Fortunately, the clothing section and the watch section were not on the same floor.

While browsing, Xia Yan visited the women's clothing shop, claiming she wanted to pick out some clothes for Lin Ling.

When she came back, she was holding an exquisite bag.

"What did you buy for the little sister?"

"Nothing much, just two Dacron shirts! Little Sister is in the cultural troupe, and the other day I noticed she didn't have a single nice shirt!"

Lin You raised an eyebrow. Two Dacron shirts? And that was nothing? His wife's tone was certainly grand; she probably had no idea how popular Dacron shirts were.

If Little Sister saw these shirts, she would undoubtedly be thrilled.

Next came the children's clothing, which the children loved most.

Seeing so many well-styled clothes for the first time, Lin Hongzhuo bolted off in a flash.

"Run slower! Xiao Zhe, go follow your younger brother."

"Alright, Dad."

Xia Yan, meanwhile, plunged straight into the children's wear boutique. Looking at the dress styles inside, she clicked her tongue inwardly. If only she were a design major; these styles were simply too 'ugly'.

Fortunately, her daughter was cute enough that whatever she wore looked right.

Selecting two little dresses that the saleswoman claimed were the most fashionable, Xia Yan was about to buy a padded cotton jacket as well when Lin You stopped her, otherwise there was no telling how much this girl would have bought.

"Where did this country bumpkin come from! You've gone and dirtied my clothes!"