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Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: How Good-Looking?

This is a bit biased.

But Yi Chichi didn't plan to argue with them. Different ways of thinking naturally lead to different perspectives on issues.

This is a chasm created by the times.

There's no way to reconcile it.

So she chose to remain silent and not comment.

Wang Nan felt something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what, and after holding back for a while, he said, "Both of them were wrong."

The implication: It shouldn't all be blamed on the educated youth.

"You women always speak for women. If that Lin didn't take the initiative to sedu..."

"Shut up!"

Bai Chen, who knew Wu Yongfei well, saw that he was about to launch into group bashing and decisively stopped him.

"Talk less about other people's affairs."

Wu Yongfei, ...it seemed he hadn't really said much.

Why was Brother Bai so angry?

"I..."

"Enough with the 'I this, I that,' talk less and walk more."

Bai Chen was determined not to give him the chance to offend the group with his lack of restraint. The female comrades like Wang Nan aren't scary.

The aunts in the village, however, are terrifying!

A swing of the arm, and even big men like Uncle Da Niu have to kneel on the washboard; the slender male educated youths like them genuinely can't handle it.

After being interrupted twice, Wu Yongfei hesitated for a long time before, under Bai Chen's seemingly murderous gaze, he clammed up.

Without him stirring the pot, the conversation normalized.

The gossip among the aunts was truly abundant, discussing every little detail, leaving Yi Chichi and the others amazed.

Speaking of which, they ended up talking about an affair between an elder and his sister-in-law from a certain family.

Yi Chichi and the others were listening with great interest when Ge Sujuan suddenly said, "This kind of thing happened in my hometown too, but it wasn't with an elder and sister-in-law, instead it was with a father-in-law and daughter-in-law."

Goodness, that's even more outrageous.

"And then?"

Aunt Ma and the others' eyes lit up, and Bai Chen and the others perked up their ears.

Even Grandpa Liu's whip-swinging slowed down.

"And then, well."

Ge Sujuan looked disdainful, "Then life just went on."

"And they really could continue living like that?"

Yi Chichi felt she had gained new insights, in her previous life she had never encountered such things in her social circle.

The most extreme cases were just family alliances, with couples playing their own games for mutual benefit.

In matters involving interests, they presented a united front.

There were also cases of illegitimate children.

But such as father-in-law and daughter-in-law...

Truly none.

In her circle's words, it was just too tasteless.

As long as there's money, there's a bunch of young and pretty girls and young guys available, so why bother with the forbidden fruit?

"That whole family has no shame."

Ge Sujuan's tone carried a hint of anger. Zhou Qiuyu held back and held back but couldn't suppress her curiosity, "Did anyone report them?"

"The old man is the one who handles that."

Yi Chichi and the others understood then, no wonder there were no reports.

Reporting it would be like sheep entering a tiger's mouth.

When it comes to self-interests, nobody would risk themselves for unrelated people.

Just as she finished speaking, Aunt Niu hit the core question, "Did they have a child?"

"They did."

The pregnant young wife sitting on the cart couldn't hold back her curiosity, "Whose child is it? If it's the father-in-law's, should the child call him grandpa or dad?"

That was a good question, and Ge Sujuan paused.

She thought seriously, "They call him grandpa, it's unclear whose it is."

This was truly hard to comment on.

Everyone really didn't know what to say, so they had to change the topic.

"The Wen family kid is coming back."

Not familiar, this scoop isn't that juicy.

Yi Chichi lost interest in the gossip and started watching the scenery.

But the conversation between Aunt Ma and the others infiltrated her ears without fail.

The commune hadn't been reached yet, and she already had a clear understanding of the Wen family kid's background.

In Aunt Ma and the others' words, this Wen family kid is a talented youth from the village.

He joined the army in '66 and in less than five years, rose from a small soldier to an official rank.

It's said he's now a battalion commander.

He's barely 23 years old now.

In peacetime, this age is considered elite no matter the era.

But that's not the main point, the main focus is that Aunt Ma and the others said the Wen family kid is handsome.

"How handsome??

Somewhat having a preference for good looks, Yi Chichi became curious about the Wen family kid's appearance.

"Hard to say, just handsome, all the unmarried girls and young wives in the village like looking at him, we also like looking at him."

This description was quite abstract, so abstract that Yi Chichi and the others couldn't imagine his appearance at all.

Thus, the topic ended there.

With laughter and chatter, they reached the commune.

Auntie and her group parted ways with Yi Chichi and the others upon arriving at the commune.

Upon learning they were heading to the county town, Grandpa Liu took a puff of dry tobacco, the spicy acrid smell hitting the nose.

He looked quite content, squinting and reminding, "Remember to come back early, we're returning at three."

"Okay, Grandpa, we'll meet you here on time."

Bai Chen politely replied, then led Yi Chichi and the others towards the bus station.

A bus ride was necessary to reach the county town, and they were quite lucky to catch a departing bus just in time.

Aside from being crowded with no standing room, there were no other issues.

The bus wobbled along the way towards the county town.

A little after nine in the morning, they arrived at their destination.

As the bus door opened, fresh air hit, and Yi Chichi and the others felt revived once they stepped off.

Taking a deep breath of fresh air, they began discussing where to go.

"Let's go to the department store first."

Wang Nan was the first to respond, Yi Chichi puzzled, "The county has a department store?"

Supply and marketing cooperatives, department stores, including the Friendship Store, were products of the planned economy era.

The difference between a supply cooperative and a department store wasn't much, just more product variety and larger area.

Ordinary people couldn't enter the Friendship Store in the short term, Yi Chichi didn't have the thought to.

She was interested in touring the department store though.

"There's one."

With that, Wang Nan asked them, "Shall we go?"

"Let's go."

So the group of nine rushed towards the department store like wild horses.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the department store near the Baoshan County government.

Baoshan County has a long history and cultural connections, with many factories and a lot of Russian-style buildings.

In addition to this, there's also a railway.

According to Bai Chen, this railway was built between 1910-1933.

The post office Yi Chichi wanted to visit was located at 32 Youdian Road, not far from the department store.

Like the department store and the county government, the post office was a landmark building and easy to find.

"Do we split up or go together?"

After arriving at the department store, Wang Nan asked.

Yi Chichi didn't mind, but Wang Nan and the others all wanted to shop on their own.

So, after agreeing to meet at the entrance later, they dispersed to their desired areas.

Yi Chichi wandered around inside and out like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, discovering that the department stores of this era were somewhat like future supermarkets.

To pinpoint a difference, it might be that besides groceries, cultural items, and daily necessities, department stores also sold agricultural products.

Whereas future supermarkets do not sell agricultural products.

For agricultural products, you'd need to go to specialized grain or equipment stores.

After figuring out the merchandise categories in each area, Yi Chichi headed straight for the clothing and fabric section.

Underwear freedom, here she comes!

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