Chapter 20: Eating Qiao Qiao

"Celebrating? Did something good happen?"

Xu Yuexin lightly pressed Qiao Qiao's delicate nose with his fingertip and teasingly asked.

Qiao Qiao smiled sweetly, her eyes filled with joy: "I wrote a paper titled 'On the Linguistic Features of the Flower Wreath Article Below High Mountain', and it was accepted by a national journal."

"I want to celebrate with you."

"You're going to study me?"

Xu Yuexin laughed after hearing it, placed his large hand on Qiao Qiao's fragrant shoulder, and congratulated: "Congratulations, you've found the right way to publish a paper."

"People's Literature people came to see me today; I just got back from there."

"First go up and drop something off; wait here for a while."

"People's Literature looking for you? Is there new news about the book 'High Mountain'?"

"You're right; they plan to publish this book."

At that point, he patted the file bag in his hand: "These are royalties."

"Royalties?"

Qiao Qiao felt surprised and curious, "Didn't they say royalties stopped about twenty years ago?"

Since the year Qiao Qiao was born, the concept of royalties had vanished nationwide; she had only heard the term from university professors.

Xu Yuexin slightly raised the corner of his mouth: "Everything's been changing these past two years; what didn't exist before can now exist."

"Royalties are the same."

Qiao Qiao savored the implication in Xu Yuexin's words, feeling many emotions.

Indeed, as he said, this is an era that has gone from nothing to something, a world freshly renewed.

"Great, if royalties are restored, that would truly be a huge boon for the literary world."

Thinking of that, Qiao Qiao exclaimed excitedly, "You're the first person to try it."

"Hmm, crabs are really tasty."

Xu Yuexin patted Qiao Qiao's head and said, then walked toward the Faculty Building, clutching the file bag.

After returning home, Xu Yuexin stored the file bag in a drawer, took out forty‑eight brand‑new Great Unity notes, placed some together with the previous manuscript fee, and slipped the rest into his pocket.

His savings broke the four‑digit mark! After depositing the money, Xu Yuexin took a few White Rabbit milk candies from his pocket, went out, descended the stairs, and headed outside to meet Qiao Qiao.

"It's still early, let's wander outside first and buy a few things."

After saying that, Xu Yuexin led Qiao Qiao to the Dispatch Point, hailed a taxi, and headed for Wangfujing.

These days, Jingcheng's Three Ring isn't fully connected yet, so outside the Three Ring there's little foot traffic and the roads are quite empty.

The taxi drove smoothly until it entered the Three Ring, where pedestrians, bicycles, and buses gradually increased, giving the city its usual bustle.

When they arrived at Wangfujing, Xu Yuexin stepped out of the taxi. At that moment, a middle‑aged woman with a sour brow and drooping eyes approached quietly beside him and asked, "Young man, want to buy a magazine?"

"The Pierkadan fashion‑show one, it's really good‑looking."

Xu Yuexin almost couldn't hold back his laugh: looking at her shady appearance, he thought she might be a vendor selling material unsuitable for children.

"Is that all?"

"If you don't buy, go find someone else."

Xu Yuexin waved his hand, saying helplessly with a mix of laughter and tears.

The middle‑aged woman persisted, and just then Qiao Qiao got out of the car; she had to hunch her neck and walked away dejectedly.

"Is she a scammer?"

Qiao Qiao, who hadn't seen the exchange from the car, asked in confusion.

"She sells fashion‑show magazines."

"She definitely doesn't have publishing permission."

Xu Yuexin said, pulling Qiao Qiao's hand into the bustling crowd on the street.

"Oh… so it's the March fashion show. Supposedly you need an organized invitation to attend."

Qiao Qiao suddenly realized, "It's a foreigner named something like Pier… something Dan."

"Pierkadan, a fashion designer."

Xu Yuexin added, "He wants to come to our country to expand his market."

"Expand the market? Isn't it that recently they've banned wearing exotic costumes? Our Jia Su Yuan even has aunties posted at the gate, cutting any bell‑bottoms they see."

Qiao Qiao said with lingering unease. She didn't think bell‑bottoms were attractive at all; she just felt it was unreasonable to cut someone's clothes for no reason.

It's said that Pierkadan's designs differ greatly from the common workwear and Zhongshan suits on the streets; would anyone be able to wear them out?

"When new and old collide, there's always a process. Rest assured, within three years no one will interfere."

"Those foreigners who see potential in our market will make big money later."

Xu Yuexin said with certainty, "Let's go check out the watches."

"Hmm, I agree with your judgment."

Qiao Qiao agreed, now especially convinced of Xu Yuexin's viewpoint and judgment.

"Just this one."

Around a corner, Xu Yuexin led Qiao Qiao to the front of a state‑run watch shop.

Inside the shop, they saw rows of glass cabinets filled with a dazzling array of watches from various brands.

Besides new ones, there were also second‑hand watches. These days, not many can afford new, so buying used watches is a common choice.

"Comrade, how are Shanghai Sea brand watches priced?" Xu Yuexin asked, stopping in front of the domestic‑brand display.

"New men's Hu Hai Brand 100 yuan, second‑hand unrefurbished 60 yuan, refurbished 40 yuan. Which do you want?"

A pretty female sales clerk slowly approached, her voice leisurely, still applying snow‑flake cream to her face.

Currently, being a sales clerk is a top‑tier job, and a watch‑shop clerk is even more lucrative, because the shop offers staff the benefit of buying second‑hand watches at low prices.

The sales clerks who work here are the cream of the crop, selected through multiple layers.

"Give me a new men's watch, and also a new women's watch."

Xu Yuexin said generously, pulling a stack of cash from his pocket and slapping it onto the counter.

Chen Qiaoqiao showed a slightly nervous expression and shook her head at Xu Yuexin: "No need to buy for me…"

"One watch—if I'm buying, I'll buy it."

Xu Yuexin replied nonchalantly.

Goodness, the young man in front of me is really rich; as soon as he opens his mouth he wants something new, and he'll also buy one for his companion.

The pretty female sales clerk sighed.

"The women's watch is 85, total 185."

The pretty female sales clerk set aside the snow‑flower ointment, took the money and vouchers, gave Xu Yuexin five change, and handed him a men's and a women's watch from the counter.

"Having a watch makes checking the time so convenient."

Xu Yuexin put the women's watch on Chen Qiaoqiao's jade‑white hand, then put the men's watch on himself.

He was today wearing the three‑toe leather shoes Chen Qiaoqiao gave him, a quality shirt, black trousers, and with the watch looked very spirited and capable.

"You look perfect wearing a watch."

Chen Qiaoqiao stared at the handsome Xu Yuexin for a while, almost intoxicated, "He looks especially dashing and graceful with it on."

"Let's go, the next shop."

Xu Yuexin took Chen Qiaoqiao's fair, tender hand and strode out of the store.

The pretty female sales clerk watched their backs for a moment, still marveling at Xu Yuexin's great financial power and envying Chen Qiaoqiao's beauty.

After buying the watches, Xu Yuexin led Chen Qiaoqiao straight to a bike shop, specifically requesting a Eternal brand bicycle.

The Xu Family has a bicycle mainly for Wu Yan's commute. Xu Yuexin bought one for himself to make future travel convenient.

"152 yuan, plus 30 industrial vouchers."

The female sales clerk, seeing a male customer, automatically assumed he wanted the 28‑inch model.

The 28‑inch bicycle, commonly called the "28‑big bar", has a large frame with strong load capacity, able to carry people and cargo.

During the early years when relations with the old Russians were tense, someone whimsically suggested using it to transport military supplies if war broke out.

Xu Yuexin took out brand‑new cash and industrial vouchers and placed them on the wooden counter.

The female sales clerk picked up the money and vouchers, counted them, and led Xu Yuexin to pick up the bike.

Inside the shop, brand‑new gleaming bicycles were lined up in rows. Xu Yuexin selected one, completed the invoice, and pushed the bicycle out of the shop.

"What are you standing there for?"

Beside the road of Wangfujing Street, after Xu Yuexin mounted the bicycle, he turned back to the Chen Qiaoqiao still standing behind him and said, "Hurry up and sit down."

"Eh."

Chen Qiaoqiao replied with a nod and quickly perched on the rear seat.

After confirming she was seated securely, Xu Yuexin rode the newly bought bicycle forward.

As they left Wangfujing, pedestrians on the roadside grew sparse, and Xu Yuexin took Chen Qiaoqiao to a park.

In the park, willows shaded the area; the May Chunfeng brought fragrant blossoms, making one feel refreshed, and the sunshine warmed everyone through.

At this moment, Chen Qiaoqiao on the rear seat, worried about balance, looped her jade‑like arms around Xu Yuexin's waist and then pressed her face against him.

Through his shirt, Xu Yuexin felt Chen Qiaoqiao's slightly warm cheek, and his mood brightened further.

What a pleasant, comfortable spring.

Arriving at the bike shelter, Xu Yuexin gave the parking attendant two cents for parking, and walked through the park holding Chen Qiaoqiao's slender white hand.

Watching the lake, listening to birds, smelling flowers, they unwittingly strolled to a spot with few tourists.

"Here."

Xu Yuexin took out a White Rabbit milk candy and handed it to Chen Qiaoqiao.

Chen Qiaoqiao took the candy, peeled it, and, still wrapped in a layer of paper, slipped it into her tiny cherry‑like mouth; her apricot‑colored cheeks instantly puffed up, looking especially cute.

Xu Yuexin also peeled a candy and put it into his mouth, also with the wrapper still on.

The White Rabbit with its wrapper intact is said to have a soul; the wrapper should stay whole.

Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao walked while eating, and before they knew it they had consumed all the candies.

"Want to go out and buy some more?"

Chen Qiaoqiao, with a candy in her mouth, said as she saw Xu Yuexin's pocket empty.

At that moment, Chunfeng brushed her face; a few strands of hair fluttered slightly, teasing her delicate, flawless visage, making her especially captivating.

"No need, you still have some here."

Xu Yuexin chuckled lightly, pressed his hand against her delicate, fair face, and wrapped his arms around her.

(End of chapter.)