There was a bus stop right at the entrance of the machinery factory. Cheng Fangqiu and Xu Qiqi walked over with umbrellas, and soon arrived at their destination. Rows of osmanthus trees lined the roadside, blocking most of the sunlight, so they closed their umbrellas.
In those days, unlike later times when you could check your phone to see when the bus would arrive, waiting for the bus was a matter of luck. If you were lucky, you could board soon; if not, you might have to wait half an hour or even an hour.
The bus stop had only a sign, with no seating area, so the two had to stand. After a while, they grew somewhat impatient. Fortunately, after five minutes, the bus arrived.
The bus was quite crowded, with only one seat available. Xu Qiqi let Cheng Fangqiu sit down with the fabric in her arms, while she stood nearby, waiting for another seat to become available.
Their attractive faces and figures drew the attention of many people, who subtly glanced at the two beautiful young women. Cheng Fangqiu was already used to such faint, lingering gazes, so she paid no mind, simply using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Xu Qiqi, however, felt somewhat uncomfortable. Standing, she had a broader view and could see the movements of many people, especially some men whose blatant stares were downright nauseating.
“Comrade, why don’t you sit here?”
The speaker was a young male comrade sitting next to Cheng Fangqiu. He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers, holding a briefcase, and looked like he was out on business.
As he spoke, he stood up. Cheng Fangqiu was momentarily stunned but let him move past her.
“This is too kind of you,” Xu Qiqi repeatedly waved her hand in refusal, but the man said, “I’m getting off at the next stop. Please sit.”
“Well, thank you then,” Xu Qiqi nodded at him. The man shyly pursed his lips into a smile, holding onto the bus handrail, not daring to look at her.
At first, Cheng Fangqiu thought nothing of it, assuming the man was just a shy and kind person. But soon she noticed that he kept stealing glances at Xu Qiqi, with a strange look in his eyes—admiration, pain, struggle…
This wasn’t the way a stranger would look at another stranger. Even if he had a crush on a female comrade he didn’t know, he wouldn’t show such an expression. Could they know each other?
But Xu Qiqi’s reaction didn’t suggest she knew him.
Having worked in photography for many years, Cheng Fangqiu considered herself sensitive to changes in people’s emotions. She was sure she wasn’t mistaken. Who was this man?
When the bus reached the next stop, the man indeed got off, but before leaving, he gazed in Xu Qiqi’s direction for a long time.
Cheng Fangqiu, who had been secretly watching him, naturally took all of this in. She frowned slightly and turned to ask, “Qiqi, do you know that man from earlier?”
Xu Qiqi, who had been looking out the window at the scenery, was momentarily stunned by the question, then shook her head. “No, I don’t. Why do you ask?”
“He kept staring at you. I think he might know you,” Cheng Fangqiu shared her suspicion.
After hearing the whole story, Xu Qiqi was even more confused. She searched her memory carefully but was sure she had no recollection of such a person. She then blinked at Cheng Fangqiu in a playful, exaggerated manner and joked, “Maybe he thought I was pretty and just his type?”
Her expression was exaggerated and mischievous, making Cheng Fangqiu laugh.
“By the way, I’ve finished the design sketches for the wedding dress. Can you take a look?” Cheng Fangqiu took a small notebook from her bag and handed it to Xu Qiqi, who eagerly opened it to find several pages of different designs.
There were designs for both men and women, each with a different style, but all exceptionally beautiful and matching.
“Qiuqiu, how are you so talented? I think every set is so unique and beautiful. I can’t decide,” Xu Qiqi said, her head aching from the dilemma as she flipped through the pages, unable to make a choice.
Cheng Fangqiu smiled slightly. “Zhou Yinghuai and I couldn’t decide either, so we drew lots and ended up choosing this one.”
Her finger stopped on the third page.
“This one is great. Hehe, I can’t wait to see the finished product,” Xu Qiqi said, looking very excited. She had always loved beauty and beautiful things since she was a child, and she was delighted just to catch a glimpse of them, no matter whose they were.
Cheng Fangqiu was also looking forward to it, a hint of longing appearing in her eyes.
—
The tailor shop recommended by Xu Qiqi required taking four bus stops, and after getting off, they walked for a few more minutes before arriving. From a distance, they could see the antique-style building, which somewhat resembled a grand courtyard from ancient times. According to Xu Qiqi, this place was originally the property of a wealthy local in Rongzhou, but after being confiscated, it was converted into a tailor shop.
Two stone lions stood at the entrance, one on each side, exuding grandeur. Above the large wooden door hung the tailor shop’s signboard, with black characters on a yellow background reading “Golden Finger Tailor Shop.” The name was quite interesting.
“Are you here to have clothes made?” A young girl stood at the counter near the entrance. Seeing the two of them carrying fabric, she immediately knew why they were there.
“We’re here to see Master Wu.”
“Third room on the left. If there are people inside, please wait outside.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Cheng Fangqiu and Xu Qiqi followed her directions and walked inside. Along the way, they saw many people, mostly women, with very few men in sight.
When they arrived, there were still people inside, and others were waiting outside, so they joined the queue.
“Today is actually not too crowded. Last time I came, there were four or five people ahead of me,” Xu Qiqi whispered to Cheng Fangqiu in a low voice.
As soon as she finished speaking, two more people stood behind them.
Cheng Fangqiu turned around upon hearing the noise but was surprised to see a familiar face. She raised her eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of astonishment. The other person was equally surprised to see her here, her eyes widening slightly.
“Why are there so many people? We still have to go to your Aunt Zhang’s house for dinner tonight,” a middle-aged woman complained impatiently. When no one responded, she turned her head and saw her daughter staring at a woman in front of her, looking as if she had seen a ghost.
“Xiao Fang? Do you know this comrade?”
Hearing this, Huang Lingfang snapped out of her daze and noticed that Cheng Fangqiu was acting as if she had never seen her before, continuing to chat with the young woman beside her.
“Xiao Fang?” Huang’s mother nudged Huang Lingfang’s arm, and only then did the latter turn her head. She then leaned close to her mother’s ear and whispered, “She’s the woman who caused Yanchen to be detained.”
Upon hearing this, Huang’s mother’s expression changed drastically, and her gaze immediately fell on Cheng Fangqiu’s face. She looked her up and down. Indeed, she was a beauty, with outstanding looks. No wonder that Zhao family boy had acted foolishly in public.
“Hmph, she looks just like a fox spirit,” Huang’s mother couldn’t help but mutter under her breath. Her voice wasn’t loud, but Cheng Fangqiu, being close by, heard it clearly.
She chuckled softly, “Still better than looking like a weasel.”
Unlike Huang’s mother, who spoke in a sneaky manner, Cheng Fangqiu raised her voice deliberately, ensuring that both Huang’s mother and Huang Lingfang could hear her clearly.
“Who are you calling a weasel?” Huang’s mother took a step forward, her face turning red with anger. She knew she wasn’t particularly attractive—her eyes were small, and her nose was round. To put it nicely, she looked endearingly simple; to put it bluntly, she was plain.
Perhaps because she lacked something, she desired it even more. She usually enjoyed shopping and dressing up. Today, she had specifically gone to the department store with her daughter to buy fabric and then came here to have clothes made.
Who would have thought she’d run into such a sharp-tongued little girl, who immediately struck at her insecurities! So ill-mannered!
But she forgot that she had started it all.
“I didn’t say I was talking about you. Why are you so worked up? Eager to take the blame?” Cheng Fangqiu wasn’t intimidated by the furious middle-aged woman. She turned to face Huang’s mother, shrugged her shoulders, and spoke calmly. Compared to Huang’s mother, who was almost hopping mad, Cheng Fangqiu could be described as completely composed.
Their commotion quickly attracted the attention of those around them. Where there’s gossip, there’s no shortage of onlookers, especially among women.
Xu Qiqi had been chatting with Cheng Fangqiu when suddenly Cheng Fangqiu started arguing with someone behind them. She was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality. Cheng Fangqiu wasn’t the type to pick fights, so there must be more to this.
“Qiuqiu, do you know them?”
“I wouldn’t say we know each other. I’ve only met her once before. I’ll explain in detail later,” Cheng Fangqiu said, glancing coldly at Huang Lingfang, who was standing behind Huang’s mother.
Seeing so many people around, Huang’s mother felt embarrassed and snorted, “Let’s go inside to find Master Wu. Once we get our number, we’ll leave. What bad luck.”
With that, she pulled Huang Lingfang toward the entrance.
“We’ve all been waiting here. You think you can just cut in line?” Cheng Fangqiu immediately spoke up to stop them when she saw how boldly they tried to skip the queue.
Huang’s mother didn’t care. “Do you know how much money I spend here every year? Master Wu always prioritizes my orders.”
“I don’t care how much you spend. What does that have to do with us? You can’t cut in line,” Cheng Fangqiu retorted, rolling her eyes and refusing to back down.
If this were modern times and Huang’s mother were a VIP customer with priority privileges, Cheng Fangqiu might have let it slide, as it would be the shop’s policy. But this was the 1970s, and everything was state-owned. Did she think she could get special treatment? She must be dreaming!
“We’ve been waiting here for a long time. Why should you get to cut in line just because you showed up?” Xu Qiqi also stepped forward, blocking Huang’s mother’s path. “Everyone is waiting in line, but you think you’re special? At your age, do you still have no shame? Is this fair, everyone?”
Xu Qiqi’s words rallied the crowd, and her statement stirred up a wave of discontent.
“It’s not fair! Who do you think you are? Master Wu always prioritizes your orders? What a joke!”
“All dressed up but acting like this!”
“Enough nonsense. Get to the back of the line!”
Huang’s mother’s earlier remarks had undoubtedly sparked public outrage. Everyone started chiming in, and just as the commotion grew, a middle-aged woman walked out from inside the shop. “What’s all this noise? Don’t you know you need to keep quiet here? Our colleagues are working in the back. If even one stitch goes wrong, who will take responsibility?”
Her words instantly quieted the crowd.
When Huang’s mother saw that it was Master Wu, her anger subsided a bit. “Master Wu.”
Master Wu followed the voice and saw Huang’s mother. Her expression softened, and she greeted her with a smile, “Mrs. Huang, what brings you here today?”
“I just bought some fabric. Can you take a look and see what style would work? Oh, and my daughter’s too.”
“This fabric is excellent, and the colors are vibrant. We’ll need to think carefully about the design. Come inside, and we’ll discuss it in detail,” Master Wu said, leading Huang’s mother toward the room.
Huang’s mother raised her chin, looking down at everyone with disdain, practically flaunting her smugness. But the next second, the smile on her face froze.
“Did everyone see that? Please bear witness. I’m going to report these two for their problematic behavior. They dare to show favoritism right in front of everyone. Who knows what they do behind closed doors?”
Both Huang’s mother and Master Wu turned around in shock, meeting a pair of cold, peach-blossom eyes.
“Young lady, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t just say whatever you want.”
Master Wu, terrified at the mention of being reported, turned pale. Having lived through those times, the word “report” was enough to strike fear into anyone. Seeing that Cheng Fangqiu didn’t seem to be bluffing, she quickly said, “I see you’re here to have clothes made too. Why don’t you come in with us?”
As she spoke, she took a few steps closer to Cheng Fangqiu and whispered, “This is the wife of Deputy Director Huang from the Municipal Public Security Bureau. You’re young. There’s no need to offend someone so important.”
She thought Cheng Fangqiu would be intimidated and take the opportunity to back down, but Cheng Fangqiu didn’t follow the script. Instead, she loudly declared, “So this is the wife of Deputy Director Huang from the Municipal Public Security Bureau? Everyone, take a good look. Such an important figure is here bullying us ordinary folks.”
“Don’t slander me! I’m just here to have some clothes made. How is that bullying?” Huang’s mother felt dizzy, nearly fainting at Cheng Fangqiu’s words. She was now truly experiencing how sharp this young woman’s tongue was.
“Why are you cutting in line just to have clothes made? Young lady, don’t worry. This old lady will stand as your witness. Let’s go report them right now. I fought against the Japanese invaders back in the day, so I’m not afraid of anything! And I can’t stand these bullying officials who abuse their power,” an elderly woman standing in front of Cheng Fangqiu and Xu Qiqi declared with a strong, resonant voice, patting her chest.
The term “bullying officials” struck Huang’s mother like an arrow to the heart, and her breathing quickened.
Huang Lingfang swayed slightly, almost dropping the fabric she was holding. She took a deep breath, suddenly recalling how this woman had once smiled and suggested to Director Tian at the police station that they investigate her father.
She’s not someone to mess with!
This thought flashed through her mind, and Huang Lingfang quickly grabbed her mother’s arm. She shook her head at her and then spoke in a gentle tone, “My mother and Master Wu are old friends. She just wanted to catch up, not cut in line. Since there’s been a misunderstanding, we’ll leave now.”
“A misunderstanding? This doesn’t look like a misunderstanding,” Cheng Fangqiu nearly laughed at the audacity of the mother and daughter. Now that they were scared, they were acting so meek, but just moments ago, everyone had witnessed how arrogant they were!
Xu Qiqi picked up where Cheng Fangqiu left off, “We all heard it just now. Master Wu said she would go inside to discuss in detail what style of clothes to make for you. With so many ears listening, there’s no way this is a misunderstanding.”
“That’s right, we all heard it.”
“Count me in for the report. I’m not afraid either.”
Huang Lingfang and her mother hadn’t expected things to escalate like this. Their hearts were filled with unease, but even more terrified was Master Wu. This was her workplace, and any disturbance would inevitably reach the ears of her superiors. By now, they had probably already heard about the commotion.
Given her boss’s temperament, no matter how skilled she was, if she made a mistake, she could face punishment. Fines or suspension were minor issues, but this incident had blown up and involved Mrs. Huang. If things weren’t handled properly, she might even be forced into early retirement.
The more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.
Not far away, a group of people hurried over, finally pushing through the crowd to reach the center of the commotion.
“What’s going on here?” The leader was a woman with short, ear-length hair, dressed in a sharp indigo suit. Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd before settling on Master Wu’s face.
Master Wu’s eyes flickered with discomfort and regret. Why had she been so foolish today? Knowing there was already an argument outside, she had still flattered Mrs. Huang in front of everyone. Was she trying to dig her own grave?
But her son was currently interning at the police station. If she didn’t curry favor with Mrs. Huang…
There was no cure for regret in this world. No matter how much she regretted it now, it was too late.