“Then come find us after you’re done,” Cheng Fangqiu said, clicking her tongue when she saw how flustered he looked—where was the confidence he had when he was holding her hand just now?
With that, the three of them split up.
The fabric section was crowded.
It was practically surrounded by women, and Cheng Fangqiu and Cheng Xiaohua had to squeeze their way into a tiny gap just to get a good look at the selection.
Behind the wooden counter stood three uniformed female shop assistants, helping customers select fabrics and handling payments. Behind them, rows of long poles displayed rolls of fabric in a variety of colors and patterns. The most popular options? Floral prints and various shades of red.
Floral fabrics were considered trendy—everyone, young and old, wanted to sew clothes from them. As for red fabric, it was essential for weddings. Tradition couldn’t be ignored. But red came in multiple shades, from deep crimson to bright scarlet, making it hard to choose.
Cheng Xiaohua was here to buy both floral fabric for everyday wear and red fabric for her wedding dress.
“My mom told me to get black or blue since they last longer, but I refuse! They’re so ugly!” she complained, pouting.
Growing up, she had never owned more than two new outfits. She always wore hand-me-downs, and those were always black or blue. Now that she finally had the chance to make her own choice, there was no way she was going to listen to her mother.
She wanted the best and prettiest fabric!
That being said, wanting to choose was different from knowing how to choose. Despite visiting the county multiple times, she had never been able to make up her mind.
That was why she had dragged Cheng Fangqiu along.
Sister Fangqiu was the most beautiful girl in their area, and she knew how to dress well. If she picked something, it was guaranteed to be good.
“You’re only getting married once. I think you should pick something you love,” Cheng Fangqiu agreed instantly.
With their opinions aligned, they got straight to picking out fabric.
Cheng Fangqiu first asked if Cheng Xiaohua had any favorites in mind.
With a slightly embarrassed smile, Cheng Xiaohua pointed to a few options.
Cheng Fangqiu turned to look—
And nearly winced.
The fabrics were bright red, neon green, and a chaotic mix of multiple colors blended together in an eye-searing combination. It was so intense that it practically assaulted her vision.
“This isn’t pretty?” Cheng Xiaohua blinked innocently.
Judging by Cheng Fangqiu’s stunned expression, she already knew the answer.
“Let me handle it.”
As a world-renowned photographer in her past life, Cheng Fangqiu’s sense of color was impeccable.
Not to mention, she had been a regular at major fashion weeks. Choosing fabric? This was child’s play.
Her sharp gaze swept across the shelves, mentally comparing them to Cheng Xiaohua’s complexion and features.
Fabric selection wasn’t just about picking a pretty pattern—it had to match the person wearing it.
Cheng Xiaohua had a warm, slightly tanned complexion and bold, dignified features. As long as she avoided extremely dark shades like black and navy, most colors would suit her, making her skin appear brighter and more refined.
Since she specifically wanted floral fabric, Cheng Fangqiu chose one with a soft cream-beige base decorated with forest-green floral accents.
As for her wedding dress, Cheng Fangqiu selected a rich brick-red fabric, one that carried elegant Chinese elements.
With the right traditional updo, the final look would be both graceful and refined—perfect for the occasion.
Hearing Cheng Fangqiu’s explanation, Cheng Xiaohua’s eyes lit up.
“Sister Qiuqiu, you really know so much! What do you think about adding a butterfly-shaped pankou (Chinese knotted button) to the chest? And what about adding tassels to the sleeves? Just imagining it sounds so pretty! Oh, and how should I style my hair?”
“I’ll draw it for you when we get back and explain it properly. You’re so smart—you’ll understand in no time.” Cheng Fangqiu looked at Cheng Xiaohua, who was already bubbling with excitement, and couldn’t help but smile indulgently.
Just as the two sisters asked the shop assistant to package their fabric, a lively female voice suddenly interjected.
“Hey, I want the exact same fabric as them.”
Cheng Fangqiu and Cheng Xiaohua instinctively turned to look.
Not far from them stood a young woman in a Blaji dress, holding onto the arm of a middle-aged woman. The fabric they were pointing at was precisely the two pieces the sisters had just selected.
Cheng Fangqiu frowned slightly, watching as the young woman stepped forward, a hint of hesitation in her expression.
“I was picking fabric over there and accidentally overheard your conversation. I thought the style sounded really nice, so…”
She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.
“This young lady’s design sounds very interesting to me. If you don’t mind, I’d like to invite you both to a state-run restaurant for a meal so we can discuss the details.”
A state-run restaurant?
The two sisters exchanged glances, both hesitating.
A meal at a state-run restaurant was tempting—very tempting. In this era, an average worker’s monthly salary was only thirty to forty yuan, yet eating at a state-run restaurant could cost several yuan per meal, plus ration tickets.
Even people in the city couldn’t always afford to dine there, let alone rural villagers like them.
They had never even stepped through its doors before.
But… they didn’t know this woman at all.
Cheng Fangqiu pressed her lips together, about to refuse, when the young woman spoke again.
“I really mean it. I’ve been struggling with fabric choices for a long time. How about this—you provide the fabric vouchers, and I’ll cover the cost of the fabric. I only need you to draw the clothing designs for me.”
At this moment, the middle-aged woman beside her took a step forward and added,
“My daughter, Qiqi, is getting married next month. If she can’t find the right outfit, she’d rather not get married at all. Girls, don’t worry, we’re not scammers or bad people.”
Cheng Fangqiu studied them carefully.
Their clothing was neat and well-maintained, their demeanor relaxed yet polite. They didn’t seem like the type to have ill intentions.
After a moment of thought, she nodded.
“No need for payment. It’s just a clothing design. Do you have paper and a pen? I can draw it for you right now.”
“Yes, yes!” The young woman’s eyes lit up with excitement. She hurriedly rummaged through her bag and handed over a notepad and pen.
As she did, Cheng Fangqiu took the opportunity to observe her more closely.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, around the same age as them. Her long hair was neatly braided into two plaits resting over her chest. Her skin had an olive undertone, her face was heart-shaped, and she had single eyelids—delicate and refined, with a high-class elegance.
“Actually, light lake-blue fabric would suit you even better. It would make your complexion appear fairer and give a softer, more ethereal look.”
“Then I’ll take that one too!”
The young woman didn’t hesitate. With a wave of her hand, she ordered the shop assistant to cut several meters of the light blue fabric as well.
…Wow. She really had money to burn.
Cheng Fangqiu’s mouth twitched, but she quickly refocused and leaned against the counter, swiftly sketching a few lines.
She wasn’t a professional fashion designer, but she had studied art for several years as a child, so drafting a simple clothing design wasn’t difficult.
“Compared to round collars, a square neckline would suit you better. Adding a few pleats here will enhance the waistline,” she explained while sketching.
As she spoke, more and more people gathered around.
Even the shop assistants leaned in, eager to listen.
After all, which woman didn’t love fashion?
Hearing Cheng Fangqiu’s well-articulated explanations, many of them stretched their necks, afraid to miss a single word.
But it wasn’t just what she said that attracted attention—it was her presence.
With her striking looks and stylish attire, she naturally drew people’s eyes. Her well-spoken insights only made her all the more convincing.
Tall and slender, she rested her arm effortlessly on the high counter, pausing every now and then to think.
In that moment, she looked just like a modern model from a fashion magazine—elegant, poised, and captivating.
Today, Cheng Fangqiu was wearing a cream-white blouse embroidered with delicate pink flowers. Unlike most people who either let their blouse hang naturally or tucked it into their pants, she had tied it into a neat bow at her waist, which made her waist look even slimmer and her legs appear longer.
A few women around her noticed and tried mimicking the style—realizing that it really did look different and quite stylish! Delighted, they eagerly showed off their new look to their companions.
One person started, then another followed, and soon, several others who had button-up shirts were adjusting their outfits to match hers. Those who weren’t wearing similar tops sighed in regret, already planning to try it as soon as they got home.
As for her hair, no one could figure out how she had styled it so elegantly.
The sections of hair on both sides of her head had been braided and wrapped together at the back, secured with a hairpin, while the rest of her hair cascaded down her back. It looked simple at first glance, yet on her, it appeared graceful and refined.
Clothes could be adjusted on the spot, but hairstyles… that would take some practice.
Cheng Fangqiu, completely unaware that she had just sparked a mini fashion trend, focused solely on her sketch.
Once she finished, she handed the paper and pen back to the young woman, who thanked her repeatedly. Despite their refusals, she insisted on paying for the fabric and even stuffed some snacks and fruits she had bought earlier into their hands.
“Meeting you two is fate. You’ve helped me a lot—please accept this small token of appreciation. Oh, right! My name is Xu Qiqi, nice to meet you!”
Xu Qiqi had a bold and carefree personality, exuding the effortless confidence of someone who had never truly struggled in life—most likely the daughter of a government official.
Making friends with someone like her certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Although they would probably never cross paths again, Cheng Fangqiu believed in the idea that “more friends meant more opportunities.” So, she extended her hand for a handshake and smiled.
“Cheng Fangqiu.”
“Alright then, I won’t keep you any longer. Enjoy your shopping!”
Xu Qiqi was eager to take her sketch straight to a tailor. After a quick goodbye, she pulled her mother along and left in a hurry.
Seeing how much money Xu Qiqi had spent just to get a design, the other onlookers who had considered asking for a sketch quickly gave up on the idea and gradually dispersed.
“Sister Qiuqiu, you’re amazing!” Cheng Xiaohua hugged the bundle of fabric close, her eyes full of admiration.
“They were just generous,” Cheng Fangqiu said with a smile.
Watching Xu Qiqi’s retreating figure, she couldn’t help but sigh—when would she get to live such a lavish life again?
Suddenly, Cheng Xiaohua pulled a wad of money from her pocket—the money she had originally set aside for fabric—and stuffed it into Cheng Fangqiu’s hands.
Cheng Fangqiu’s eyes widened. “This is the money your mother gave you!”
“But I already got my fabric, and we even saved some money thanks to you, Sister Qiuqiu. You also helped me pick the best fabric and design! I really appreciate it.”
Cheng Fangqiu looked at the earnest expression on the younger girl’s face and sighed.
“Alright, but I can’t take all of it. How about we split it? We’ll each take half as our secret stash?”
With a playful wink, she counted out half of the money and stuffed it back into Cheng Xiaohua’s pocket.
“I don’t want—”
“If you don’t take it, then I won’t either. Let’s just return it to Xu Qiqi,” Cheng Fangqiu cut her off and pretended to turn around, ready to chase after Xu Qiqi.
“Wait, wait!”
Cheng Xiaohua hurriedly grabbed her, unwilling to let such a rare opportunity slip away. She reluctantly accepted the money, carefully tucking it back into her pocket.
This was the most money she had ever owned by herself. Just the thought of it made her heart race with excitement and nervousness.
But before she could get lost in her thoughts—
Cheng Fangqiu suddenly looked around and asked,
“Where’s Comrade Zhou?”
He had said he would come find them after shopping.
So why hadn’t he shown up yet?