Since the two had cleared things up openly, they quickly adapted to their roles.
The two went downstairs to eat and were stopped by a waiter, "Comrade Jiang Xinyu, your room lease is up. Would you like to renew?"
Jiang Xinyu looked up at Wei Kaiyun.
"Why don’t we leave tonight, we can return home by tomorrow night."
"Alright, you decide."
"Comrade, I’m not renewing. Can I check out at noon?"
The two walked along the streets of the Capital, which were full of people walking and biking.
"Director Wei, why are there so many people in the Capital?"
"The locals might not be many, most are here to build the Capital."
"True. Our city isn’t as crowded as this."
"We’re a small city. Do you really want to go home?"
"I can’t stop worrying about those things left behind."
"Alright, let’s head back, but I can’t return to the factory."
"We’re on a business trip funded by work, and to go back now..."
"Alright then. We’ll stay home for a night and leave the next day."
After breakfast, they didn’t go back to the hotel; instead, they went straight to the building.
"Coming to the building is pointless; we don’t have tickets for the Capital."
"I’ve got plenty of tickets, given to me from above. I’m also carrying two thousand yuan, all of which we’ll spend today."
"Are you really giving me money to spend freely?"
"Yes, it’s all yours, even what’s in the car. Use it as you wish; if you spend it all by tomorrow, I won’t mind."
"You speak so nicely."
"I’m speaking the truth." Despite their safe distance, everyone could sense the subtle ambivalence between them through their expressions and aura.
At the building, Jiang Xinyu wasted no time, counting the tickets in her hand, ensuring she had enough for a spree.
White sugar, bought. Brown sugar, bought. Ten pounds of candy, not available? Then five pounds will do.
Two pounds of cake. Several pounds of tongue cake. Ten pounds of rice candy. Ten pounds of peach cookies. Five pounds of Sachima. All these were Daoxiang Village treats.
After one go, she’d barely spent a third of her tickets.
Wei Kaiyun looked at the items. "Xinyu, I’ll go get the car."
Jiang Xinyu smiled awkwardly, "Okay, you go get the car, I’ll wait here. I still want to buy a cashmere coat."
"Alright, wait for me." Despite his expressionless face, Jiang Xinyu somehow saw pampering in his eyes.
After Wei Kaiyun left, Jiang Xinyu asked the salesperson to keep the items she bought at the counter and continued shopping, staying on the first floor.
Candles, bought twenty. Unsure when the city would have electricity, better stock up. Spotted toilet paper, much softer than what she previously purchased, bought ten pounds.
But there were no tickets. Jiang Xinyu felt dejected and returned to her counter.
"Little girl, what’s wrong?"
"Big sister, I got everything for the factory, but I want to buy toilet paper for myself, and have no tickets."
"How much do you want to buy?"
"Of course, the more the better. It’s softer here than back at home."
"I have fifteen pounds of paper tickets here."
"Big sister, what do you want in exchange?" They leaned on the counter, whispering with their heads together.
"Just give me five pounds of candy tickets."
"Big sister, that’s too much. These are public tickets; I have three pounds myself—will that do?"
"Three pounds is too little."
Jiang Xinyu fell silent, thinking that three pounds of candy tickets could buy a lot.
"Fine, I can only give you twelve pounds of paper tickets."
"Big sister, it’s not easy for me to come here. Have pity on me."
"Alright, I’ll give them all to you." She said, quickly pulling them out and stuffing them into Jiang Xinyu’s palm.
Jiang Xinyu’s candy tickets were ready too, and they exchanged them discreetly.
These fifteen pounds of paper took quite a bit of space, so she kept them behind the counter.
Jiang Xinyu continued shopping. She saw beautiful buttons, picked ten types, and took twenty of each—these didn’t require tickets. She purchased dozens more large buttons for thick clothing.
Bought a pair of scissors, two kitchen knives, and two fruit knives.
Picked up various small items, attracting lots of attention.
Half an hour later, Wei Kaiyun arrived.
"Director Wei, is everything complete?"
"Yes, keep shopping; I’ll load the car."
Onlookers felt relieved, realizing it was a collective purchase.
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, but helped Wei Kaiyun too. Together, they loaded everything into the car within ten minutes.
"You go buy some clothes."
"Alright, let’s go up and have a look."
Jiang Xinyu headed straight for the cashmere coat section, picking out two for Wei Kaiyun: one fitted, one cardigan.
She bought another two for herself, considering getting one for Wang Ailing too—the quality was excellent.
Then she went to the ready-to-wear section, circled around, found nothing appealing, and exchanged her cloth tickets for fabric.
"Nothing else you need? There are watches and stationery upstairs."
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, raising her wrist. "I already have a watch; don’t need one. I’ll look again at the end of the year."
She worried about having too many personal belongings in the car, fearing theft—not with these small things, but losing money. They needed to hurry back. Real concern.
"Alright, let’s go get some food."
They had lunch at a restaurant and also bought twenty flatbreads before leaving.
"I filled the thermos with hot water."
"Okay, I know. You sleep; I’ll drive."
"I can’t sleep; I’ll chat with you."
"What do you want to know?"
"Your life story, from childhood onwards."
"What’s there to be curious about? It’s just a simple life. We’re meant to be together in the future."
Wei Kaiyun paused and smiled. Yes, they were talking about their future together.
"Even so, I wasn’t part of your past, so of course I want to know."
"Really nothing remarkable about my life—my parents pampered me, so I rarely worked, they even supported my education.
If not for their passing, I’d still be at home."
"Don’t be sad; people can’t come back once they’re gone. Next time you visit your village, I’ll go with you and tell your parents that I’ll look after their daughter."
"Yes, their daughter is almost mine now; wouldn’t it be right to pay them a visit?"
"Alright, we’ll do it when we get the chance."
"Your parents were truly remarkable, raising you so well."
Jiang Xinyu feigned a smile, "No, I was usually by myself, rarely spoke. Only Wang Ailing was always good to me. Initially, I ignored her, but she remained the same. I changed after my parents died. Back then, I felt I didn’t want to live, but they appeared in my dreams, telling me to hang on and live well."