Qin Yuchen brought Gu Qinghe to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
As this was the only place selling general merchandise and daily goods in the entire residential compound, it covered a vast area and had a constant stream of people coming and going, easily rivaling the large department stores she had visited in her past life.
Qin Yuchen walked side by side with her, explaining along the way, "You can buy all the common daily necessities here, but if you want to buy large items, you'll have to go into the city."
Gu Qinghe nodded, her gaze sweeping around the surroundings. The variety of goods was indeed dazzling, and purchasing them required not only money, but also the corresponding ration coupons.
Fortunately, the coupons she brought from Shanghai were nationally universal and could be used anywhere.
Yet, after taking a brief look around, she still hadn't decided what to buy for Qin Hongying. She looked over at Qin Yuchen beside her and asked, "Brother Yuchen, what does Aunt Qin usually like?"
Given Qin Hongying's status and position, she certainly wouldn't lack valuable luxury items like bicycles, watches, sewing machines, or radios.
But if she only gave some cheap candies or pastries, it would look far too shabby.
Qin Yuchen paused slightly, genuinely stumped by the question.
His mother didn't like many things. She had spent the better part of her life devoting her energy to her work, and apart from enjoying a drink, she seemed to have no other hobbies or interests.
"Does drinking count?" After pondering for a moment, Qin Yuchen asked earnestly.
"Ah?" Gu Qinghe's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly realized he wasn't joking with her and couldn't help laughing softly, "Of course it counts. Then I'll pick out a couple of good bottles of wine for Aunt Qin later."
However, the selection of liquor in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was limited. The kind of high-end wine she wanted was hardly ever circulated on the open market, and buying it would be very difficult even with personal connections.
Still, it wasn't completely impossible. Gu Qinghe's eyes rolled as an idea formed in her mind.
She casually picked out two bottles of Fen wine and paid for them, then walked over to the daily necessities section and asked as if nonchalantly, "Brother Yuchen, is there anything you like?"
Qin Yuchen froze, realizing that Gu Qinghe intended to buy something for him.
Even though he was mentally prepared, his heart still gave a tug, and a trace of sweetness spread deep within him.
Outwardly, however, he maintained a calm expression and refused, "It's the thought that counts, there's no need to buy me anything."
She and Gu Xiuyuan had come all this way, which was already troublesome enough. If anyone was going to buy gifts, it should be him; how could it be her turn to spend money?
"Why is there no need?" Gu Qinghe's pretty face scrunched up into a frown of disapproval, "Since Aunt Qin gets one, you should naturally have one too."
With that, regardless of whether Qin Yuchen agreed or not, she began browsing on her own.
Regrettably, the mainland had not yet opened up, and Qishi was far away from prosperous regions. Not a single luxury brand she had seen in her past life was available in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
She had no choice but to ask the clerk to take out a few belts, carefully comparing them. Grasping at straws to pick the best of the worst, she selected the most expensive one and asked, "Do you like this?"
Qin Yuchen glanced at it. The leather was soft, the workmanship exquisite, and the metal buckle gleamed—far better than the ones he usually used.
"Are you sure you want to give this to me?" Qin Yuchen gave her a brooding look. In his impression, Gu Qinghe wasn't someone so generous.
This belt cost roughly half a month's salary for an ordinary worker.
Gu Qinghe nodded. While she could be particular about certain things, she wasn't so stingy as to begrudge this small amount of money.
"Hello, please wrap up this belt for me."
Gu Qinghe handed the belt to the clerk and reached out to pay, but Qin Yuchen suddenly grabbed her hand: "I appreciate the thought, but I'll pay for this."
Gu Qinghe stared at him in astonishment, "How can that be..."
It was supposed to be a gift from her to him; how could she let him pay for it himself?
Qin Yuchen said in a tone that allowed no room for refusal, "Listen to me, keep that little bit of money for yourself."
As a young girl, she should have more pocket money so she could buy whatever she wanted in the future, and there was no need for her to spend money on him.
Gu Qinghe was naturally unwilling. She tugged at her hand, but found it didn't budge at all as his large hand firmly held hers in place.
Seeing that he was about to hand the money and coupons to the clerk, she pouted, her eyes reddened instantly, and she complained with a wronged voice, "You're hurting me."
Hearing this, Qin Yuchen genuinely thought he had used too much force and made the young girl cry, so he immediately let go of her.
A flash of triumph crossed Gu Qinghe's eyes. Taking advantage of the gap, she shoved the coupons and money into the clerk's hands, grabbed the belt, and walked away.
"Alright, alright, we're done shopping, let's go look at something else."
Qin Yuchen's stern, handsome face froze as it dawned on him that he had been outmaneuvered by this little fox. A mix of sheepishness and helplessness flickered in his eyes.
Under normal circumstances, he would have seen right through it instantly, but seeing Gu Qinghe's reddened eyes—real or fake—he had instinctively chosen to compromise first.
His jaw tightened, and he thought that when getting along with Gu Qinghe in the future, he must keep his guard up.
Yet he failed to notice that the look in his eyes as he watched Gu Qinghe held a few extra traces of a previously unnoticed tenderness.
Meanwhile, Fang Ya, who had hurried all the way to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, happened to witness this scene, and her heart sank.
If Qin Yuchen merely regarded Gu Qinghe as a younger sister, that would be one thing.
But if not...
A cold glint flashed in Fang Ya's eyes. No matter what methods it took, she would never hand over the man she had waited for all these years to someone else.
Suppressing the emotions in her heart, she put on a smile, walked quickly up to Qin Yuchen, and asked with feigned surprise, "Yuchen, you're back?"
Qin Yuchen nodded at her indifferently, his gaze returning to Gu Qinghe, who was currently picking out snacks in the snack section.
Fang Ya bit her lower lip in frustration, followed his line of sight, and asked with apparent confusion, "Yuchen, do you know that girl?"
"Mn." Qin Yuchen's cold eyes lifted slightly, his whole demeanor lacking its usual iciness.
"She is so pretty," Fang Ya complimented, then asked as if casually, "I wonder if she's seeing anyone."
The corner of her vision remained fixed on Qin Yuchen's reaction.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, obvious displeasure appeared on Qin Yuchen's face, and his sharp gaze swept toward her: "Why do you ask?"
His gaze was too sharp and oppressive; Fang Ya almost failed to maintain her smile and had to pinch her palm to keep her composure.
She half-joked, "Oh, it's nothing major. My cousin, who is the head of the security department, is already in his twenties and still single this year. I was just thinking that if you knew the girl, you could help introduce them?"
"No!" Qin Yuchen refused flatly without a second thought, looking at Fang Ya with a hint of growing impatience.
His younger sister wasn't someone just any stray cat or dog could approach.
Unable to hold back, Fang Ya blurted out, "Why?"
In her impression, although Qin Yuchen had a cold temperament, he wouldn't be so heartless as to reject someone's face in public.
Yet Qin Yuchen couldn't even be bothered to explain, his tone so cold and rigid it bordered on ruthless.
"No reason. In the future, Dr. Fang should focus more on her own affairs and stop wasting excess energy on other people!"