CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 26: SPACE PROSPERITY 8

Taking her younger brother Jiang Ming’an to shop at the department store, Jiang Mingyue was unaware that she was being targeted again.

But even if she knew, she wouldn’t care.

Jiang Mingyue realized that whenever Xiao Jiang Ran was in a crowded place, he appeared very timid, like now, clinging tightly to her clothes corner, hiding behind her like a chick just hatched, curious about the world but afraid to step forward, only daring to peek from his shell.

Jiang Mingyue wasn’t worried, thinking that bringing him out a few more times should be enough; people from this era had incredibly strong willpower, unlikely to develop psychological issues easily. She believed Xiao Jiang Ran would be the same.

Approaching the shoe counter, Jiang Mingyue pointed at a pair of small leather shoes: "Comrade, can we try these shoes?"

The clerk, initially chatting, was not pleased to be interrupted. Looking again at Jiang Mingyue’s attire, carrying a basket, with her child wearing straw shoes, instantly judging them as poor people who couldn’t afford to buy, she decided not to waste time.

"Wow! These shoes are expensive; you can’t try them if you’re not buying."

Jiang Mingyue initially didn’t want to argue, but seeing the clerk’s unabashedly disdainful gaze made Xiao Jiang Ran shrink further behind her, which instantly annoyed Jiang Mingyue.

"Comrade, are you always judging people like this? I want to see your manager."

The clerk assumed Jiang Mingyue was bluffing and disdainfully ignored: do whatever you want.

Jiang Mingyue: Just wait.

She glanced around, determined to first resolve Xiao Jiang Ran’s shoe issue.

Just as she was about to call another clerk for help, a comrade from the adjacent candy counter approached, smiling as she retrieved the shoes: "Comrade, would you like your brother to try these shoes? I believe this size fits, come here brother, sit and let sister help you try these beautiful comfortable shoes."

After all, he was just a child; seeing such beautiful shoes, despite his shyness, his eyes twinkled with curiosity, looking up to inquire from Jiang Mingyue.

Jiang Mingyue tousled his hair, "Go ahead, if they fit, sister will buy them for you. Soon, Xiao Mao will have leather shoes too."

Originally, Jiang Ming’an and his elder uncle cared a lot about Jiang Ran as a family member, buying several pairs of leather shoes, but none ever reached him, all taken by Wu Cuilan back to her family’s nephews. Xiao Jiang Ran wore straw shoes weaved by Fourth Aunt and Shen Fanghua, occasionally during New Year’s, he would wear shoes made of patched cloth, regarded as the best, at least on cold days, his toes weren’t exposed.

"See, I told you they fit just right."

Wearing the leather shoes, Xiao Jiang Ran was as happy as a little puppy wagging its tail at Jiang Mingyue.

Seeking praise!

"They look great! Comrade, how much are they? I’ll pay right away."

The clerk politely quoted a price, Jiang Mingyue promptly fetched twelve dollars and two industrial coupons.

The clerk, still polite, asked if she needed anything else, almost offering a full-service to this sibling guardian.

Jiang Mingyue was unreserved and pointed to the candy counter: "That, that, and those three types, give me two pounds of each."

"Alright, in total it’s thirteen dollars with five sugar coupons."

Meanwhile, the previous clerk who looked down on them went pale, never imagining the siblings she despised not only had money but spent without blinking.

Despite their iron rice bowls, whoever sold well would be reported to the manager, and with poor impressions, there was no chance of being an outstanding employee at year’s end.

Jiang Mingyue paid no mind to the regret of the snobbish clerk. She continued buying several pairs of Liberation shoes, one for each family member, including her cousin and uncle, also purchasing enough fabric for everyone to make a set of clothing; had she not run out of coupons, she would have kept buying.

Before leaving, Jiang Mingyue specifically greeted the friendly clerk, who cheerfully handed her a prepared packet of brown sugar.

The clerk, named Gu Xiaoxiao, also came from the countryside. Knowing the hardships there, witnessing the siblings being looked down upon due to their rural poverty, she felt deeply pained and decided to assist Jiang Mingyue regardless of colleague harmony, although eighty percent was her duty.

However, the brown sugar was her goodwill; she was once a rural girl with unbearable menstrual pains but no brown sugar water to alleviate it, until she got this city job where things improved.

Afraid Jiang Mingyue found her abrupt, Gu Xiaoxiao hastily explained: "Comrade, don’t worry, I just feel a connection with you and wish to make friends; consider this my gift."

"So if I don’t accept, I don’t want to be friends? Okay, I’ll take it, thank you. I’m Jiang Mingyue. I also have a gift for you."

Finishing her words, Jiang Mingyue grabbed a pair of rabbits, male and female, from her basket.

Even after the siblings left, Gu Xiaoxiao was still in disbelief, utterly wind-swept; who could have thought her momentary kindness would earn her two rabbits? In those days, meat was scarce, yet here she received two rabbits. They’re easy to raise, eating wild vegetables, quiet, highly reproductive, ensuring her family would no longer lack meat.

As soon as Jiang Mingyue left, a figure rushed over.

"Did anyone see a sibling pair just now? The sister carrying a basket..." Xiao Gao came on Manager Zhuang’s order to invite the siblings for lunch, seeing them from the window and tasked for the invitation, but some matters delayed him.

The clerk who regretted earlier was now relieved, secretly hoping the siblings must have offended someone.

"Mr. Gao, do you mean the rural siblings dressed in rags, the brother wearing straw shoes?"

Despite Xiao Gao’s urgency, he could detect this clerk’s disdain for the siblings, instantly frowning.

"Duan Min, did you speak ill of them?"

Realizing Mr. Gao didn’t share her views, Duan Min immediately held her tongue, while Gu Xiaoxiao chimed in.

"Mr. Gao, Mingyue siblings just left. I saw them bicycling away, perhaps you cannot catch them; what’s the matter?"

Failing the leader’s task made Mr. Gao angry but knowing he couldn’t catch them, seeing Mingyue cycling like a breeze, he truly lacked the skill to chase.

Some things can’t be disclosed to outsiders, Xiao Gao muttered.

But a leader’s benefactor was mistreated, and this needed addressing.

"Duan Min, come with me to the manager’s office."

Gu Xiaoxiao wasn’t sure why Manager Zhuang’s protege took Duan Min, only knowing she emerged looking defeated, clearly reprimanded, instantly improving her mood.