The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 68

Zhang Jingjing had always thought of Song Mingyue as a delicate girl. She remembered their first meeting: Song Mingyue had worn a well-fitted dress, her hair was beautiful, and her skin was as tender as a lotus root. She clearly looked like someone raised in the comfort of a loving home—the kind of girl meant to be held in the palm of one’s hand and pampered by a man for a lifetime.

But Song Mingyue had dismantled that impression, and the impressions of everyone else, step by step. She could be gentle, yet she possessed an unyielding resilience, like a great tree that would never be blown over. She radiated a complex charm, and every facet of her personality was equally captivating.

If I were a man, Zhang Jingjing thought, I would undoubtedly be drawn to her and fall in love. It was through Song Mingyue that she first understood what “personality charm” really meant, and that a woman could have many sides—that life didn’t have to revolve solely around a man.

Song Mingyue, unaware of these musings, finished tidying up and collapsed onto the bed. “I’m exhausted. Let’s sleep early; we have a busy morning tomorrow.”

They only managed a few hours of sleep before the old-fashioned alarm clock in the room went off. Song Mingyue rubbed her bleary eyes; it was exactly 4:30 AM. She nudged Zhang Jingjing awake. “Jingjing, get up. We need to wash up. It takes time to get there, and we shouldn’t be late. Come on.”

Zhang Jingjing was so tired she could barely open her eyes. In the past, even if the sky were falling, she would have insisted on getting her full sleep. But through squinted eyes, she watched Song Mingyue bustling about with an energy as if she’d been injected with adrenaline. If Mingyue can do it, why can’t I?

The guesthouse wasn’t far from Huating Road. The staff had told them to just follow the flow of the crowd, as most people at this hour were heading in that direction. When they arrived, it was 5:20 AM. Er-Mei hadn’t arrived yet, so they waited under the designated sign.

It wasn’t until 5:40 AM that Er-Mei rushed over, breathless. “I’m so sorry, I accidentally overslept today.”

Since they were the ones asking for a favor, Song Mingyue knew when to be gracious. She smiled and said it didn’t matter.

Only then did Er-Mei strike up a conversation. “I never knew Qin Shuang had such a beautiful and spirited niece! Why on earth do you want to sell clothes? This line of work is exhausting.”

“I have a passion for fashion,” Song Mingyue replied. “The hardship is just part of the price.”

Most people sold clothes just to make a living; Er-Mei rarely heard someone say they did it because they liked the clothes—usually, those people were just customers. Looking at Song Mingyue’s own stylish attire, she couldn’t help but look at her with newfound appreciation. “Come on, let’s head in.”

Huating Road was already teeming with people. Er-Mei led the way, chatting as they walked. “How many pieces are you planning to take?”

Song Mingyue had her plan ready. “About 300 pieces.”

Er-Mei turned around, smiling. “Clothes are cheap here, but 300 pieces will still cost hundreds of yuan. You brought enough cash, right?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Don’t say a word once we’re inside; just listen to me. Are there any specific styles you’re looking for? Yesterday’s stock in my shop was quite popular.”

“I’ll wait until I see what’s available,” Song Mingyue said.

Er-Mei kindly offered a tip: “These clothes might not suit your area. Aren’t a lot of places still using fabric coupons to make their own clothes? They have no aesthetic sense and wouldn’t know what’s ‘fashionable’ if it hit them.”

She wasn’t wrong, but aesthetic sense was something that developed gradually. Once people saw someone dressed well, trends would eventually follow. Song Mingyue’s goal was to be that trendsetter. There was no need to explain this to Er-Mei, though—everyone had different perspectives.

Er-Mei, knowing the place inside out, took them to a warehouse at the very back. “Most people only shop in the front sections. This area is usually only open to those who have been referred.”

Song Mingyue thanked her sincerely, and Er-Mei laughed. “Well, you’re my friend’s niece. The quality here is great and the prices are low—take a good look.”

The warehouse was massive and divided into two sections. By the entrance, workers were stacking clothes, and deeper inside, a large space held rows of samples. Er-Mei explained, “Most of these clothes are labeled and sent to major department stores, where some sell for more than ten times the price.”

The owner emerged from a small office. “Er-Mei, this is a rare sight—you actually brought someone today?”

“Let me introduce you. This is my ‘sister’s’ niece, and she wants to try her hand at the business. This is Boss Ma, the person in charge here.”

Song Mingyue took the initiative to reach out. “Hello, Boss Ma. Please, just call me Mingyue.”

Boss Ma, charmed by the beautiful and capable girl, told her to pick whatever she liked and promised a good discount.

Song Mingyue scanned the area. There were many beautiful dresses, but they weren’t suitable for Mo City—even in summer, few people wore dresses on the streets there, let alone in autumn. However, her eyes fell on a set: a plaid shirt paired with black trousers. It was relatively understated but stylish, and it matched the current tastes of most people.

I’ll take the gamble, Song Mingyue thought. She selected a batch of plaid shirts and simple trousers, along with a few dacron dresses just in case.

Seeing them choose conservative styles, Boss Ma offered a word of caution: “Those are very common on the streets—people are already bored of them. They might not sell well.”

“It’s alright, we’ll try it out,” she replied.

He didn’t push it further. He priced the sets at 8 yuan each. After checking the quality, Song Mingyue knew 8 yuan was a bargain; in a department store, a single shirt would likely cost more. She positioned her goods for the mid-to-high-end market to compete with the stores, planning to sell the sets for at least 15 yuan to build her reputation.

As Boss Ma calculated the total, he couldn’t help but ask, “Mingyue, are you seeing anyone?” He had a younger brother who was spoiled and rich, and his parents were constantly scouting for a “pretty” match. The moment he saw Song Mingyue, he thought his brother would love her.

Song Mingyue smiled gracefully, her eyes calm. “I’m married. My husband is in the military.”

Boss Ma sighed with disappointment. “Ah, the military—good, very good.”

She had never expected the process to go so smoothly. She had braced herself for days of scouting, but thanks to Er-Mei, she had bypassed all the obstacles and reached the “finals” on her first try. I truly am lucky.

By the time everything was packed, it was past 10:00 AM. Before leaving, Song Mingyue got Boss Ma’s contact information so future shipments could be sent directly to the train station.

The three of them struggled out with several heavy bags of clothes. Er-Mei warned them, “Shanghai isn’t all that safe right now. You’d better keep these clothes on your person—leaving them at the guesthouse will only invite thieves.”

It was true; public security in the 1980s was chaotic.

“Thank you, sister,” Song Mingyue said, genuinely grateful. “Let me treat you to a meal at the International Hotel.”

Er-Mei laughed, shocked. “The International Hotel? Do you know how expensive that place is? Your entire budget for today wouldn’t cover one meal there.”

Song Mingyue knew it was expensive—she had been a frequent visitor in her past life. She knew it had dominated the Shanghai dining scene since the 70s, and she had longed to taste it again. But at 300 to 400 yuan, it was indeed beyond her current means.

Zhang Jingjing stood by, dumbfounded, having never realized a single meal could cost so much. Er-Mei pointed to a small diner across the street. “I’ll be honest—if you really want to thank me, let’s just eat over there.”

Song Mingyue found Er-Mei to be thoughtful and loyal. She couldn’t understand why her grandmother had cut ties with her later in life; she was certain it must have been Qin Shuang’s fault.

As they ate, Song Mingyue asked, “Does Qin Shuang have someone she likes?”

“Why are you so interested in your aunt’s business?” Er-Mei asked suspiciously.

Song Mingyue felt a bit awkward. “I just think she’s a bit naive, even though she acts tough. I’m worried she might get scammed.”

Er-Mei nodded in agreement. “You understand her quite well. She isn’t as arrogant as she seems; she actually has a very good heart.”

Their conversation centered on Qin Shuang, giving Song Mingyue much more insight into her past. After the meal, they parted ways, and Er-Mei told her to keep in touch.

They hadn’t bought their train tickets yet, as they didn’t know how long things would take, but with the business resolved in two days, Song Mingyue’s mind was still racing. She asked Zhang Jingjing, “Should we stop by Qin Shuang’s house? We thanked Er-Mei, but we haven’t thanked her yet, and we can ask her about the train tickets.”

Zhang Jingjing followed her lead. As they lugged the heavy bags toward Qin Shuang’s house, they noticed a crowd gathered from a distance. Song Mingyue pushed through, hearing the neighbors whispering, “What a tragedy. How could the Qin family raise a daughter like that? She has no shame at all.”

She stopped a passerby. “What happened?”

“Oh, you’re the relative from her family, right? Go, hurry and save your great-aunt! Qin Shuang snatched someone else’s man, and now they’re here to take revenge on her family.”

Many people were blocking the entrance, and the front door was shut tight. In those days, if a family was home during the day, the door was usually wide open. Keeping it locked was a mark of deep humiliation.

Song Mingyue had no memory of this in her previous life—Chen Cuicui and Qin Shuang had never mentioned it, so there must have been a hidden reason. But regardless of the cause, she could not stand by and watch.

She rushed through the crowd and kicked the door open.