How to Thrive in the ’60s

It was getting late, and the two went to the post office first and sent a telegram to Lao Yun's family saying that they were safe, and then went down the street and turned into the department store.

Yunshang's goal is very clear. When he arrives at the department store, he must buy two hot water bottles first, so that Gu Shinian doesn't have to get up early every morning to boil hot water.

I wanted to buy it when I went to the supply and marketing agency in the county before, but unfortunately it was in short supply. The two of them were unlucky. The last time they went to the supply and marketing agency, they just sold out.

The department store in the provincial capital occupies an entire four-story house, which is far from what a two-story supply and marketing cooperative in Qinghe County can match.

Entering through the spacious door, in front of you are rows of spacious and bright glass counters, which are filled with a variety of goods.

Yunshang noticed that in the corner of the first floor, there was also a counter for customizing and modifying clothes.

Many people choose fabrics and styles on the counter, leave their measurements, and then collect the vouchers, and they can come to pick up new clothes in a few days.

There are also people who have 'outdated' clothes on their hands, reprocess them at the counter, and through the skillful hands of the tailors, they will become another new piece of clothing with a different style.

Such a novel corner makes Yun Chang's eyes wide open.

Gu Shinian also noticed the counter, hugged Yunshang and squeezed over, chose two pieces of woolen fabric, and ordered two woolen coats for Yunshang, and then at Yunshang's insistence, he also chose for himself I bought a piece of woolen cloth and ordered a new dress before giving up.

The two were young, and the first shot was three woolen coats, which attracted the eyes of the people around the counter, secretly guessing which family raised the two of them.

Gu Shinian calmly took the clothes receipt under the inquisitive gazes around him, turned around and hugged Yunshang and quickly disappeared into the bustling crowd.

"Second brother Gu, let's go down from the fourth floor."

Yun Chang also realized that he and Gu Shinian were too generous, afraid of being watched, so he didn't dare to stay below.

There are two curved staircases leading to the second floor in the hall on the first floor. The steps are two meters wide. From the perspective of this era, the stairs are spacious and foreign.

The two went up the stairs on the right to the second floor, and found that the second floor was a clothing counter with fewer customers than the first floor, so they took her to the third floor.

"Second Brother Gu!"

As soon as Yun Chang reached the third floor, her eyes lit up, she reached out and patted Gu Shinian's shoulder, motioning him to let him down.

There are several large counters on the third floor. In addition to the hot water bottle that Yunshang is thinking of buying, there are also the most face-saving items for newlyweds when they get married: sewing machines, bicycles, radios, watches, etc.

Among them, the most attractive thing is the stationery counter. In addition to displaying the standard cadres and hero brand pens, there is also a Montblanc brand fountain pen that is highly collectible in the most conspicuous position.

The lines are smooth, the pen body is made of black resin, and the delicate white six-pointed star on the top of the cap is very eye-catching under the illumination of the light bulb.

Yun Chang couldn't take his eyes away with just one glance.

Turning around, he saw Gu Shinian lying on the counter, staring at the Montblanc fountain pen.

"Second brother Gu, this is good, buy it!"

There were not many customers on the third floor. Several salesmen were lying on the counter, chatting while looking at the customers outside the counter.

The sales clerk at the stationery counter saw the two children lying in front of the counter and didn't leave. After only one glance, he lowered his head and continued chatting about knitting sweaters. Hearing Yun Chang's words now, he was amused and contemptuous in his heart:

"Go and go, have you read? You're only a little old, and you want to learn how to put a pen on your chest, and don't see if you can afford it! Go somewhere else to play!"

Gu Shinian came back to his senses, glanced at the salesman, lowered his head and asked Yun Chang, "Ah Chang, how is this pen?"

"It's beautiful! I want it!" Yun Chang expressed his wishes succinctly.

She can't be angry with the salesman,

She and Gu Shinian were indeed still young, and before the time to use the pen, the salesperson was not wrong except for the slightly bad tone.

Gu Shinian straightened up, pointed to the Montblanc fountain pen on the counter and said, "Comrade, let me take a look at this fountain pen."

The salesperson laughed even more, put down the half-knitted sweater in his hand, took out a pen from the corner of the counter, and said:

"Little comrade, that pen is not cheap, it costs seventy or eighty yuan! Hey, it's cheap, it's only sixty cents a cent, you've been addicted to it!"

"..."

Both of them were speechless. It was not good for them to be young, and they were often dismissed as children.

Gu Shinian took a deep breath and said again, "Comrade, I'm helping others choose pens, not buying them for my own use."

The salesperson glanced at the two of them suspiciously, took back the pen worth 60 cents, and slowly took out the Montblanc pen.

Gu Shinian took the pen, checked it carefully, and asked the salesperson to issue the ticket.

"You really want it? This one costs seventy-five yuan..."

The salesperson is still a little unsure. A pen costs 75 yuan and three months’ wages for a worker. You can buy a cheaper watch, and you can buy food on the black market for the family to chew for two months. Is there really so much money on the child?

Seeing Gu Shinian nodding, the salesman opened the bill neatly, clipped it to the wire above his head, and slid to the cashier with a swipe.

The pens in the leather box became more and more high-end. The salesman carefully put them into the carton, tied a red ribbon on the outside, and finally handed them to Gu Shinian.

Gu Shinian put the pen into the military bag in Yun Chang's arms, and took her to buy two hot water bottles. After that, he walked around the bicycle selling place twice and went up to the fourth floor without saying a word.

Yun Chang was a little puzzled, lying in his ear and asked, "Second brother Gu, we have bicycle tickets, why don't we buy a bicycle?"

"I bought enough things today, so I won't buy them for now."

Two children, three woolen coats, a Montblanc pen, and if they buy a bicycle, isn't this a clear way to tell others that they are fat sheep?

In order to avoid being targeted, bikes should be bought later.

The fourth floor is where the furniture is sold. There is only one counter inside. There is a row of red-painted furniture in the back, including kang cabinets, boxes and cages, vertical cabinets, wooden chairs, etc.

The two took a look at the stairs on the fourth floor and went down. They didn't go to the clothing area on the second floor, but went directly back to the first floor. They walked past counter after counter.

I bought scarves, gloves, and wool socks before going to the food counter.

On the counter, fruit candies and white rabbit toffee are packaged separately in glass jars, which are colorful and beautiful. There is also a small plate of loose biscuits next to it, as well as cannabis flowers and various candied fruits.

The two of them were not short of these foods, and they left the department store with just a cursory glance.