Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 168 - 167 Going to the Provincial City

Chapter 168: Chapter 167 Going to the Provincial City

Lin Chun finally replied to their letter. Although he missed them too, since Lin Xia had visited in May, he did not want them to come and was worried about causing a bad influence.

Lin Xia and the others were somewhat disappointed but also understood.

Lin Xia made some beef jerky and sausages and mailed them to Lin Chun, asking him to pass some on to Lu Zheng.

Afterward, Lin Xia really took Lin Qiu and Lin Dong to the provincial city.

However, now even with money in their pockets, they could only afford hard seats on the train. Fortunately, no one minded this.

It was Lin Qiu’s first time on a train, and after the initial excitement, she felt it was nothing like she had imagined.

She whispered to Lin Xia, "Sis! This train really isn’t that great! It stinks!"

Thinking about how her sister did not rely on their second brother to help with transporting goods before, how much hardship she must have gone through on those constant round trips—Lin Qiu felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.

Lin Xia couldn’t help but laugh. She put her arm around Lin Qiu’s shoulder, "Bear with it, it’ll be better once we get off!"

Nowadays, people didn’t bathe very often, using soap to wash clothes, so not having lice was already good enough, what more could you ask for in terms of smell?

Especially during this season, even though the train windows were open and there was wind coming in as they moved, it still couldn’t disperse some odors.

When it came time to stop at the station, the stuffy heat was even more unbearable.

Lin Dong, sitting opposite them, had none of these thoughts as he was busy chatting with a middle-aged man sitting next to him.

The man seemed to be someone who traveled often and was sharing some interesting experiences with Lin Dong, who was all ears.

After enduring a night on the train, Lin Xia took the two of them to have breakfast first thing after they disembarked.

In the past, Lin Xia pretty much always rushed every time she came, never taking the time to look around.

This time, having brought Lin Qiu and Lin Dong with her, she took the opportunity to have a leisurely stroll.

To Lin Xia, the provincial city of the ’80s didn’t yet have the prosperity it would later on.

But to Lin Qiu and Lin Dong, it was a different story; everywhere seemed better than their hometown.

The two of them looked around everywhere, feeling their eyes weren’t enough to take it all in.

Lin Dong said excitedly, "Big sis! The provincial city is really great!"

Seeing the smiling faces of her younger siblings, Lin Xia also felt happy. "Dongzi, if you think the provincial city is good, then work hard to get a chance to attend university here, just like Sister Xiaoqing!"

Lin Dong felt as though a seed had been planted in his heart. "Big sis! I’ll definitely get into a university here!"

Lin Qiu’s focus, however, was clearly different from Lin Dong’s. "Sis! Look at their clothes, the way they cinch at the waist—it’s so pretty!"

Ever since learning tailoring, she paid special attention to other people’s attire and unconsciously noticed these details, feeling that this trip had really broadened her horizons.

"Then when you get back, you can also try to cinch the waist tighter!"

After that, they rode the tram with a big braid to Saint Sophia Cathedral.

In the three-story department store, Lin Xia bought each of the three siblings a pair of black leather shoes.

She had been coveting these leather shoes for a long time, and now that she finally could afford them, they were perfect for the upcoming autumn season.

Lin Dong was about to start high school, and she did not want him to look too shabby.

After all, when there were no means before, one could make do, but now that there were means, naturally they should not shortchange themselves in material terms.

They wandered around the department store, and Lin Xia brought them to the counter selling watches.

Lin Xia wanted to buy a Shanghai-branded watch for each of them.

Now that she had made some money and came to the provincial city, she wanted to treat her younger siblings, who had not had an easy time in the recent period.

Lin Qiu and Lin Dong followed behind with their cloth bags, adamantly refusing to let the purchase happen.

"Sis! We don’t need them!" Lin Qiu’s head shook like a rattle-drum, thinking the cost of one hundred and twenty yuan each was just too expensive.

She knew her sister had made a good amount of money this time, but that was no reason to spend it so recklessly.

Having bought leather shoes before had already left her feeling light as a feather, and she had never worn leather shoes in her life.

Lin Dong glanced at the display case while also trying to persuade Lin Xia, "Big sis! We really don’t need them! Don’t waste the money!"

In reality, he had many classmates with watches and he had envied them, but he had never mentioned it to his big sister because he understood how hard it was to make money.

The salesperson had initially looked down on the three siblings with their cloth bags, wearing clean but simple and plain clothes, and speaking with a non-local accent while arguing in front of the counter.

She had just thought of scolding them to drive them away when she overheard their conversation and sensed the underlying situation.

Lin Xia wrapped her arms around their shoulders with a smile, "This is a reward for you both! Each of us will have one, and we’ll buy another when big brother comes back!"

She wouldn’t trust mailing such valuable items as watches during these times—that would be too risky.

Lin Qiu and Lin Dong were unable to dissuade Lin Xia, who ended up buying three watches.

"Just put them on right away!" Lin Xia said, then looked down at her simple watch after putting it on. The products made now would surely be different from those in the future, but her watch could last for decades.

Lin Qiu and Lin Dong obediently wore their watches. Although it pained them to spend so much money, the joy on their faces was unmistakable when they actually wore them.

They now had watches of their own too!

As they walked, Lin Dong and others would occasionally glance at the watches on their wrists, struggling to hide their smiles.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Xia couldn’t help but laugh, knowing that in the future, they would possess even more.

When Lin Qiu, Lin Dong, and Lin Xia emerged from the department store feeling pleased with themselves, they hadn’t gone far when, unexpectedly, Lin Xia saw someone she hadn’t anticipated.

There stood Lu Zheng, dressed in a white shirt and jeans, his tall figure eye-catching wherever he stood.

Their gazes met, and both paused for a moment.

Lu Zheng hadn’t expected to encounter Lin Xia here.

It had been quite a while since he last sent her a letter, and he knew Lin Chun had received one afterward, but he had not received any in return.

He thought, perhaps the young lady didn’t want to deal with him?

But his expression never gave anything away, his solemn demeanor revealing no clues.

Feeling slightly awkward about not having received a reply, Lin Xia still couldn’t avoid greeting him when they met, "Lu Zheng! What a coincidence!"

"Yes," Lu Zheng’s gaze shifted to the two beside Lin Xia.

Lin Qiu and Lin Dong stared wide-eyed at the tall man before them, unsure of what relationship their big sister had with him.

"These are my younger siblings, Lin Qiu and Lin Dong!" Lin Xia introduced them, "And this is Lu Zheng from big brother’s workplace!"

Lin Qiu and Lin Dong greeted him in unison.

After exchanging greetings and inquiring briefly about how Lin Chun was doing at work, it seemed there wasn’t much else to catch up on, so they waved and parted ways.

Lu Zheng stood still, feeling that something was slightly off.

Having walked a distance, Lin Qiu looked back and whispered to Lin Xia, "Sis! That’s the guy you were talking about, right?"

She found the man incredibly handsome and imposing; she hardly dared to take a good look at him while standing aside.

"Mhm!" Lin Xia hummed in response, with no further comment.

Curiously observing the two of them, Lin Dong chimed in, "Big sis, what secret are you two talking about? Let me in on it too!"