Chapter 14: The Unimaginable Joy of Spending Money

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Zhou Susu glanced at the saleswoman beside her, whose face was full of impatience, and suddenly raised her voice by an octave.

“Comrade!”

“Ah? Yes!” The saleswoman was startled by her shout and quickly responded.

Zhou Susu extended her hand and pointed to the two pieces of fabric on the counter that Zhang Cuihua had disdainfully dismissed as “pretty but useless.”

“This floral one and this checkered one—I said I wanted five yards each, right?”

The saleswoman nodded. “Yes, yes.”

Zhou Susu smiled slightly. “I’ve changed my mind.”

“I want ten yards of each!”

“What?!”

Not only the saleswoman, but even the onlookers couldn’t help but gasp.

Ten yards?! Nowadays, pulling three to five yards of cloth to make a new garment usually meant there was a big celebration at home.

She was asking for twenty yards at once—what was she planning? To replace everything from bed sheets to curtains in the house?

Zhang Cuihua’s eyes nearly popped out.

“Zhou Susu! Are you crazy? Twenty yards of fabric, that costs so much money and so many fabric coupons! You…”

Before she could finish, Zhou Susu’s next move made her swallow her words.

Zhou Susu leisurely pulled out a brand-new leather wallet from her bag (a spatial item, low-key but luxurious).

With a snap, she opened the wallet with the grace of a movie heroine.

Then, under the astonished gazes of everyone, she drew out a crisp “Great Unity” banknote.

Its vivid color gleamed dazzlingly under the dim light of the supply and marketing cooperative, almost hurting people’s eyes.

“Comrade, please issue the receipt.” She gently placed the ten-yuan bill on the counter, her tone as casual as saying, “Give me a scallion.”

The entire room fell silent instantly.

But what suffocated them even more was yet to come.

As Zhou Susu took out the money, the opening of her wallet “accidentally” faced Zhang Cuihua’s direction.

Zhang Cuihua felt a flash of red light before her eyes. Looking closely—

My heavens!

The small wallet was stuffed with a thick stack of “Great Unity” notes! A rough count showed at least a dozen or twenty bills!

Zhang Cuihua’s breath caught immediately.

She felt as if something had violently stabbed her eyes.

Money!

So much money!

She had been married to Officer Wang for years and managed the household funds, but she had never seen so much cash piled together in her life!

Where on earth did this Zhou Susu get so much money?!

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The saleswoman, experienced as she was, recovered after three seconds of shock.

Her face lit up with a broad smile.

“Oh my! Girl, you really have good taste!” She briskly started cutting the fabric, her words as sweet as honey, “These two types of cloth sell best here! If you make curtains or dresses with them, you’ll be the most fashionable in the entire compound!”

“Is that so?” Zhou Susu smiled faintly. “Good.”

She put away her wallet and glanced sideways at Zhang Cuihua, a cold smirk forming in her heart.

Trying to guilt-trip me with “frugality and thriftiness”?

Sorry, sister’s playing the “cash power” game now.

The joy of spending money is something stingy people like you could never imagine.

With the saleswoman’s attentive service, Zhou Susu quickly completed the purchase.

Twenty yards of cloth cost her nearly thirty yuan and a thick stack of fabric coupons, but she didn’t even bat an eye.

Carrying the heavy fabric without even looking at the frozen Zhang Cuihua, she turned and headed toward the grocery section next door.

“Hey, take care, miss! Come again next time!” The saleswoman waved enthusiastically behind her.

Zhang Cuihua was still dazed, when her son Wang Xiaohu tugged impatiently at her sleeve.

“Mom! Are you going to buy or not? I’m starving!”

“Buy… buy what!” Zhang Cuihua snapped back, venting her anger on her son, “All you think about is eating! The house is barely scraping by, and you still want to eat! You’re such a loser!”

After her rant, she only dared to buy two yards of the cheapest labor cloth, paying with a sullen face.

Meanwhile, Zhou Susu had already entered her “shopping spree” mode.

She approached the grocery counter and pointed to the most beautifully packaged can of “Panda Brand” malted milk powder on the shelf.

“Comrade, I’ll take one can of this.”

“All right!”

Then she pointed to the glass case holding the oil-paper-wrapped, obviously expensive peach pastries and egg cakes.

“This, this, and that—give me a pound each.”

“Okay!”

The surrounding customers were stunned by her attitude of “buying without looking at the price.”

What kind of wealthy young lady had come out to experience life? So extravagant!

Malted milk powder was a high-end nutritional product; normally, only families with connections could get a can.

Usually, only when the elderly or children were sick would they be willing to drink it.

And those premium snacks were something ordinary families might not even buy during festivals.

But here she was, buying them like cabbages.

Zhou Susu, loaded with bags, left the supply and marketing cooperative with complete satisfaction.

Having money feels wonderful.

Especially when you can use it to slap the faces of those who look down on you—it’s simply exhilarating!

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When Zhou Susu returned to the military compound, she immediately caused quite a stir.

Carrying twenty yards of floral fabric in her left hand and malted milk powder plus various snacks in her right, her “fully loaded” appearance was impossible to ignore.

“Oh my, has Susu struck it rich?”

“My goodness, is that malted milk powder she’s holding? That stuff is expensive!”

“Captain Lu really spoils her. With this kind of spending, she could blow through mountains of gold!”

Li Saozi was picking vegetables in the yard and watched this scene with envy so sharp it almost made her teeth ache.

She shouted mockingly, “Susu, you’re living the good life. Our Old Li’s monthly allowance isn’t even enough for one of your shopping trips. Comparing with you just makes me sick!”

Zhou Susu stopped and turned around with a radiant smile.

“Can’t help it. Who told me I married a good man? My Lu Zhan said money is for me and my daughter to spend, as long as we’re happy.”

She deliberately emphasized “my daughter.”

Li Saozi was so choked by this she turned purple with rage.

Zhou Susu ignored the envious, jealous, and hateful gazes in the yard and went straight home, slamming the door shut with a bang, shutting out all rumors and gossip.

“Mom! You’re back!”

An’an, like a little swallow, ran over with short little legs.

“Oh, my sweet baby.” Zhou Susu put down her things, scooped up her daughter, and kissed her soft cheek.

“Look what mommy bought for you.”

She proudly revealed the beautifully packaged can of malted milk powder.

An’an looked curiously at the large tin, not knowing what it was.

Zhou Susu went into the kitchen, scooped two generous spoonfuls of malted milk powder into An’an’s small enamel cup, then mixed it with warm water.

A rich, sweet aroma of malt and milk instantly filled the room.

An’an sniffed eagerly, her eyes sparkling, saliva nearly dripping.

“Here, taste it.”

Zhou Susu brought the cup to An’an’s lips.

An’an took a cautious sip.

The next moment, her eyes widened in amazement!

Sweet, fragrant, warm… how could something so delicious exist in the world?

She couldn’t hold back, gulping down the entire cup in one go, not even noticing the white “milk mustache” around her mouth.

After finishing, she licked her lips with satisfaction and looked up at Zhou Susu with big eyes, asking in a baby voice,

“Mom… is there more?”