When leaving, she advised Gu Jiajie, "Brother Jie, try to get a couple of hours of sleep; we’ll have to head to the county to catch a bus to the city once it’s daylight."
"Got it, make sure to wake me up then."
Gu Jin acknowledged, took the money bag and went back inside.
She did a rough count, realizing that she had one thousand four hundred seventy-three yuan and ninety-seven cents in hand.
This money was earned over three grueling days, but sadly it was a mere drop in the bucket compared to her needs three months later.
She sighed silently, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes to sleep.
...
The next day, at first light, Gu Jin opened her eyes.
She didn’t stay in bed or linger, she got up, dressed, washed up, and took the opportunity to wake her still-sleeping cousin.
Gu Jin left a note for the little wolf cub by his pillow, then picked up the floral cloth bag and left the room.
Chen Hong had also gotten up, seeing her son and Gu Jin up so early, she asked, "Why up so early, what are you guys up to?"
Gu Jiajie rubbed his hair and casually said, "Going to the county, someone wants to buy pork."
Chen Hong watched the two leave the house, puzzled by how they weren’t carrying any meat if someone wanted to buy pork.
She tilted her head in confusion and went into the kitchen.
Gu Jin and Gu Jiajie rode bicycles to the town, left their bikes at Liu Pingyuan’s brother-in-law’s house, and then caught a ride to the county.
In the county, they ordered two bowls of wontons and a few fried dough sticks at a state-owned restaurant, then headed over to the county’s bus station to catch a bus to Wanhai City.
Wanhai City is a leading fashion hub in Hua Country, with a top-tier economy.
In the current ’80s, although it lacks the skyscrapers of the future, it is already bustling, with many cars on the streets, and countless men and women riding bicycles.
The streets are lined with various shops, and by nine in the morning, the sidewalks are already packed. People, dressed in fashion-forward and bold clothes, wander the streets and shops.
These people include locals from Wanhai City, as well as those from outside working hard for a better life, each with faces full of hope and anticipation.
The country’s economy is getting better, and people’s faces beam with brilliant smiles. Life will only become more comfortable in the future.
This was Gu Jiajie’s first time in Wanhai City, and he felt overwhelmed, finding everything intriguing.
Especially when sitting in the vehicle, gazing at the young men and women’s outfits on the street, he finally understood the meaning behind his cousin’s words last night.
Wanhai City was indeed different from their county, belonging to an entirely different world, incomparable with Qingshan Village’s villagers.
Seeing Wanhai City’s prosperity, Gu Jiajie felt no inferiority; rather, determination flashed in his eyes, with a thing called ambition emerging from the depths.
The conductor started calling out, "Wanhai City Department Store is here, anyone getting off? Wanhai City Department Store is here..."
The bus slowly stopped in front of a six-story department store.
Gu Jin and Gu Jiajie got off the bus, and their attire clashed so much with the surroundings.
The siblings were not afraid of the curious glances around them, looking up at the majestic department store in front of them.
In the eyes of Gu Jiajie, the six-story department store made him feel so insignificant.
"Brother Jie, we’re going in."
Gu Jin reminded him.
"Coming!"
Gu Jiajie looked down and followed his cousin walking ahead.
They stepped into the first floor of the department store, surrounded by all kinds of large household items, and some glass counters.