Chapter 666: A First Glimpse at Wangfujing, a Secret Game of Chess at Donglaishun

First glimpse of the world at Wangfujing, a secret game of chess laid out at Donglaishun.

Xu Damao rode his bicycle, with Qin Jingru sitting sideways on the back seat, lightly gripping the corner of his jacket.

The bike wove through one alley after another, twisting and turning; Qin Jingru did not know where they had arrived, only feeling that the surroundings were gradually becoming lively and the voices of people were growing noisy.

"Xu Damao, where are you taking me?" Qin Jingru could not help but ask again, her voice carrying a touch of the timidity typical of a country girl entering the city.

"Hey, it's not easy for you to come to Beijing, I'm taking you to Wangfujing to see the world!" Xu Damao turned his head, grinned at her, and revealed a mouthful of white teeth.

"Wangfujing?" Qin Jingru muttered, then seemed to remember something, "I... I didn't bring any money. If we go in later and I just look without buying, people will laugh at me."

Xu Damao laughed dismissively, "If you want to be a city person, you have to have a thick skin."

"You're annoying!"

The noon sun was scorching; as Xu Damao pedaled, a layer of fine sweat seeped onto his forehead, and the white undershirt on his back was soaked through in a patch.

He pedaled with a huff and a puff, and before long, an imposing building appeared before their eyes—the Wangfujing Department Store.

In these years, this place could truly be considered the most well-stocked and stylish spot in all of Beijing.

In the first-floor lobby, counters for cigarettes, alcohol, canned goods, and candies were lined up in a row, the glass polished to a shine, reflecting the colorful goods inside.

Most eye-catching were the wires crisscrossing overhead, where iron clips held receipts and change, sliding from one end to the other with a "whoosh"—fast and accurate, making one's head spin.

Qin Jingru followed behind, her eyes unable to take it all in.

A sweet scent drifted through the air; it was fruit candy, along with the aroma of cream, drilling straight into her nose.

She couldn't help but secretly sniff.

Although life in Qin Family Village was better than in average villages under the leadership of Chen Qingshan, how could it compare to the prosperity of the capital?

Moreover, her family was already beyond the fifth degree of kinship from Qin Huairu's family, and other people's lives were not necessarily her own.

Seeing Qin Jingru staring fixedly at the White Rabbit Creamy Candies wrapped in blue, white, and red paper, Xu Damao immediately raised his voice to the saleswoman wearing an apron behind the counter: "Comrade, please, give me a jin of White Rabbit!"

The saleswoman was a sharp young woman; she responded and nimbly picked up the scale pan. After weighing it, she packed it in a paper bag and stated the price: "One jin of sugar coupons and two yuan and fifty cents."

Xu Damao readily took out the money and coupons and handed them over.

While the saleswoman was wrapping the candy, he grabbed a few White Rabbit candies and stuffed them into the pocket of Qin Jingru's jacket as he turned back.

Qin Jingru was startled, her face turning red instantly; she reached out to take them back, muttering in a low voice: "What are you doing? It's not good if people see!"

"Just to sweeten your mouth, why be so polite!" Xu Damao pressed her hand down.

The saleswoman saw the two of them pushing and shoving, and a hint of something strange flashed in her eyes.

She took an extra look at Qin Jingru, then glanced at Xu Damao, curled her lip almost imperceptibly, placed the bag of candy on the counter, and said nothing more.

Swept by that gaze, Qin Jingru felt even more flustered, her heart thumping like a trapped rabbit.

Xu Damao pulled on Qin Jingru's sleeve: "Let's go, let's go up to the second floor and take a look."

Qin Jingru didn't budge; the saleswoman's look was still pricking at her heart like a thorn, making her feel completely uneasy.

She looked up at Xu Damao, hesitated for a moment, and lowered her voice: "Xu Damao, my sister said that you... you aren't divorced yet. It's not appropriate for us to be like this."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Xu Damao's face paused, and he then said solemnly: "Jingru, I won't hide it from you. I did have some intentions when I brought you out today. I really can't go on with the wife I have now. She was a widow and brought a son with her. When I was showing movies back then, she was so good to me, always caring for me. I had just divorced, felt empty inside, thought she was a good person, and married her. But after she was married into the house? Everything changed! All that gentleness and kindness from before was gone! All she does is scheme, scheming for my little bit of savings. I have a small courtyard in Qianmen, and she insists on leaving it to her son! You tell me, she's just become pregnant with my child, and instead of thinking about the one in her belly, she's plotting to give my house to her son from before—no matter where you go, that doesn't make sense, right?"

Qin Jingru listened, entranced, and nodded: "In this matter, she is in the wrong."

"Who's to say she isn't! And the doctor said she has a history of miscarriages and can't have a son anymore. I, Xu Damao, am the only seedling of the Xu Family; I can't be without an heir, right? That's why I want a divorce. Jingru, if you don't have a partner, would you consider me? I'm really not a bad person; your sister Qin Huairu has a misunderstanding about me..."

Qin Jingru felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze, lowered her head, and said: "Actually, ever since my aunt married Boss Chen, our village has become prosperous. Although I haven't seen most of the things here, I'm not the kind of person who only cares about money."

Xu Damao felt a slight stir in his heart. He had thought this Qin Jingru was just a country girl who hadn't seen the world and could be won over with small favors. But listening to her words, it seemed her village wasn't poor; it looked like he would have to invest some capital!

At this moment, Qin Jingru began looking at Dacron-Cotton shirts.

"Jingru, this outfit of yours is too flashy. Nowadays, white Dacron-Cotton shirts and Dacron-Cotton pants are popular in the city, and with a pair of plastic sandals, you'll be a city girl! Attendant, get a set for my friend."

Qin Jingru looked up, feeling a bit shaken, but said something else: "This... is this okay? Making you spend so much money."

Xu Damao waved his hand and said: "Jingru, I won't hide it from you; if you say the word, I'll go find Xie Xiaolan to handle the divorce tomorrow."

"I haven't made up my mind yet!"

"No problem if you haven't made up your mind; you wear these clothes first. Even if you don't agree, I won't ask you to pay me back."

Qin Jingru had never met such a generous person; although she felt it wasn't right, she couldn't resist the temptation and followed him to the counter, half-reluctant and half-willing.

A brand-new white Dacron-Cotton shirt, a pair of navy blue Dacron-Cotton pants, and a pair of shiny black plastic sandals cost a total of over thirty yuan.

Qin Jingru asked: "Brother Damao, how much do you earn a month? Buying these for me, you... you won't have nothing to eat?"

Hearing Qin Jingru actually call him "Brother," Xu Damao chuckled, leaned into her ear, and lowered his voice: "That little salary at the factory? It's only enough for me to buy cigarettes and alcohol. I won't hide it from you, in my early years I dabbled in antiques with my master and saved up quite a bit."

Qin Jingru was stunned: "Really?"

"Jingru," Xu Damao said solemnly, "I have money, really, I have money."

On the surface, Qin Jingru still hadn't agreed to Xu Damao, but the little abacus in her heart was clicking away.

She felt that the reason Qin Huairu's family lived well was because Qin Xiaogu had married Chen Qingshan.

If she married Xu Damao, this rich man, would her own branch of the family live just like Chen Qingshan's family?

She thought for a moment and said: "If you help me get a job, I'm willing to marry you."

Xu Damao patted his chest: "Done! Leave this matter to me!"

Near noon, Xu Damao took Qin Jingru straight to that Donglaishun near Wangfujing.

The mutton hot pot was steaming, and Qin Jingru ate until she was covered in sweat, feeling wonderful inside.

In a private booth on the second floor, He Yuzhu was sitting across from a man.

That man was Secretary Liu.

He had been in Beijing for some days but hadn't met with He Yuzhu until now.

After meeting today, he was going to set off to take up his post in Liaoning Province.

He Yuzhu poured a full glass of wine for Secretary Liu and said with a smile: "I really acted like a coward this time; I didn't expect you to figure it out with just one question. Xueru's family background isn't good, and I don't want anything to happen to her. As for the exports of Xueru Clothing, I will do my best to have Liu Shi Trading help..."

Secretary Liu sighed and said: "This is my fault too. I was concerned about this and that, but I never concerned myself with your family!"

He Yuzhu shook his head: "This isn't such a big deal."

Secretary Liu smiled: "You kid, you really do have more ideas than others. However, you can't run away this time; you must take on the position of Revolutionary Committee Director at the factory. Also, you have to join the City Revolutionary Committee."

He Yuzhu was puzzled: "Why? I think being the Factory Director is just fine. If someone really comes to the factory to cause trouble and won't let me do it, I don't care. At worst, I'll go to the Military Factory, work as an assistant to Man Yatou, and help her research the Computer."

Secretary Liu didn't speak; he took a piece of paper from his pocket and slowly unfolded it. The paper was densely covered with over twenty names: "You have to keep an eye on these people for me. Screen them, check them, and make sure there are no problems. They just can't be allowed to actually cause trouble."

He Yuzhu looked at the names one by one, his expression gradually becoming grave.