Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

Chapter 13: Supply and Marketing Cooperative's Extravagant Purchase Shocks the Entire Hospital;

Sun Jingyuan led He Yushui out of the alley and headed straight for the town's supply and marketing cooperative. In those days, the supply and marketing cooperative was the only department store in town. The store was spacious and well-organized, and the goods on the shelves were neatly arranged. However, most of the sales clerks in the state-owned enterprise had an innate laziness and indifference.

Several female sales clerks leaned against the counter, slowly knitting sweaters with knitting needles in their hands, chatting amongst themselves in small groups about everyday matters. Their voices were low, but they paid no attention to the customers who entered the store. When they saw Sun Jingyuan and He Yushui dressed in ordinary clothes, they only glanced at them briefly before turning their attention back to their work. They neither approached to greet them nor inquired about their needs, displaying a completely businesslike, take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

Sun Jingyuan was used to the behavior of employees in state-owned enterprises and didn't intend to argue. He walked straight to the bicycle exhibition area, pointed to the most eye-catching Forever 28-inch bicycle, and said in a calm tone, "Comrade, may I ask if I can test ride this 28-inch bicycle? I'd like to check out its condition and feel."

The middle-aged female sales clerk closest to Sun Jingyuan stopped her knitting, glanced at the bicycle, then looked at him. Her tone wasn't exactly enthusiastic, but it wasn't harsh either. She simply replied politely, as is customary: "Young man, this bicycle is a sought-after and valuable item. The factory has a clear rule that test rides are not allowed. If you really want to buy it, show me your receipt to complete the formalities; if you're just looking, don't come any closer. If you damage it, it'll be difficult for both of us to explain."

Another young salesperson nearby chimed in, his tone somewhat dismissive: "That's right, so many people can't even buy one of these 28-inch motorcycles even with a ticket. How can you just test ride one? If you don't have a ticket, just look at it and don't keep us from getting things done."

Several neighbors who came to buy daily necessities also turned to look over, their eyes showing a hint of understanding—in those days, bicycles were top-tier luxury items. Not to mention ordinary customers, even low-level cadres in factories couldn't touch them without a ticket. It was perfectly normal for the shop assistant to refuse according to the rules.

"Brother Sun, why don't we just call it quits? The shop assistants have their rules too, let's not make things difficult for them." He Yushui tugged at Sun Jingyuan's sleeve and whispered her advice. She was shy by nature, and seeing the people around her made her even more awkward.

Sun Jingyuan patted her hand to comfort her, without offering any further explanation. He calmly took out the brand-new permanent bicycle ticket from his inner pocket, then took out a neatly stacked wad of ten-yuan bills and gently placed them on the counter. His voice was steady and clear: "I have the ticket and enough money. I'll buy this bicycle."

The sales clerk, who had initially seemed somewhat lazy and perfunctory, instantly brightened up when her eyes fell on the ticket and cash. She quickly put down her knitting, leaned forward slightly, and carefully examined the ticket to confirm its authenticity. Once she was sure it was genuine, her cold expression vanished, replaced by a polite and professional demeanor, and her tone became much warmer: "Oh, so you're the one with the ticket! I didn't explain clearly earlier, please don't mind! This Forever 28-inch motorcycle is a flat price of 180 yuan with a ticket. I'll issue you the ticket right away!"

As she spoke, she deftly tidied the counter, took out a proper invoice book and pen, and showed no trace of her previous negligence. She followed the rules throughout the process, and her attitude was respectful and proper.

Sun Jingyuan counted out eighteen ten-yuan bills, gently pushed them to the counter, and said in a calm tone, "Please issue a formal invoice. We need to register the business with the Public Security Bureau later."

"Don't worry, it's all legitimate. Registration and licensing won't be delayed at all!" The salesperson said quickly while issuing the invoice, unable to resist striking up a conversation, "You're so young, yet you've already bought such a big item. You're really promising. May I ask which organization you work for?"

Sun Jingyuan took the invoice and change, speaking in a calm and kind tone, deliberately concealing his identity as a factory doctor: "I don't have any high-ranking job, just an ordinary worker in a steel rolling mill, earning a meager living."

"So you're a worker at the steel rolling mill. That's a good company, stable and reliable!" The saleswoman smiled and handed over the invoice and bicycle keys with both hands. She even called to the male clerk next to her, "Quick, help this gentleman push his bicycle to the door, be careful not to scratch or bump it!"

The change in attitude was entirely a matter of proper courtesy from a state-owned store employee to a respectable customer. There was no deliberate flattery, nor the previous harshness and ridicule. It was simply an adjustment of service attitude according to status and rules, which was reasonable and in line with the reality of the times.

Sun Jingyuan declined the shop assistant's help and pushed his brand-new bicycle out of the supply and marketing cooperative. He Yushui followed beside him, her eyes full of undisguised surprise, but she sensibly refrained from asking any questions about his profession.

Afterwards, the two went straight to the clothing counter. The sales clerks there maintained the same disciplined attitude as those in state-owned stores, and seeing that Sun Jingyuan was spending lavishly, they politely came forward to greet him. Sun Jingyuan first picked out two pure cotton white shirts, two pairs of durable work pants, and a pair of sturdy leather shoes for himself. The whole outfit cost him six cloth coupons and 110 yuan.

He Yushui stood to the side, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. Watching him spend money without a care in the world, she was filled with shock. In this day and age, ordinary people couldn't save that much money in half a year, but Brother Sun spent it on clothes so casually.

"Rain, come here." Sun Jingyuan picked up a blue floral dress and gently held it up against her. The girl was slender, and the dress fit her perfectly.

He Yushui's cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her head, not daring to utter a sound, her heart pounding faster. Sun Jingyuan assumed it was just him taking care of a younger person and didn't think much of it. Seeing that the sales clerk didn't stop him, he picked out a white collared shirt, a pair of floral thin trousers, and a pair of black leather shoes, placing them all on the counter: "Please pack these up together."

"One cloth coupon in total, twenty-seven dollars and sixty cents." The sales clerk quickly calculated the price, speaking politely.

Upon hearing the price, He Yushui immediately became anxious and grabbed Sun Jingyuan's arm, pleading softly, "Brother Sun, this is too expensive. I can't accept it. Let's return it!" Twenty-seven yuan was enough for an ordinary family's living expenses for more than half a month. She really couldn't accept such a heavy sentiment.

"It's just a set of clothes that fits well, you can wear it to school or go out, it's not expensive." Sun Jingyuan smiled, paid for the clothes and cloth coupons without saying a word, and handed them to her. "Take it, girls look good in bright clothes."

Carrying large and small bags of clothes, Sun Jingyuan pushed his brand-new bicycle and went straight to Dongxinglou Restaurant. Sun Jingyuan ordered four authentic Shandong dishes: braised sea cucumber with scallions, sweet and sour pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a bowl of egg drop soup. The table was full of dishes, and the aroma was irresistible. In those days, it could be considered a top-notch banquet.

The meal cost twelve yuan. He Yushui sat at the table, fidgeting the entire time, handling her chopsticks with extreme care. In all her life, she had never eaten such a lavish meal, much less met such a casual and generous person. Sun Jingyuan, however, ate with ease, constantly piling food onto her plate, urging her to eat more, without the slightest reluctance.

After finishing their meal, Sun Jingyuan rode his bicycle, carrying He Yushui, towards the courtyard house. Upon arriving at the gate, he had He Yushui take the clothes back inside while he pushed the bicycle to the neighborhood office. He successfully completed all the necessary procedures, including vehicle registration and stamping with the official seal. After confirming that all the documents were complete and correct, he slowly pushed his gleaming Forever bicycle into the courtyard house.

As soon as He Yushui stepped into the courtyard carrying a large bag of brand-new clothes, she immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard. Neighbors who were picking vegetables and doing housework in the courtyard all put down what they were doing and gathered around her.

"Rain, what are you carrying? The material looks so smooth!" Yan Bugui was the first to step forward, pushing up his old glasses on the bridge of his nose, his eyes fixed on the package. With his keen eye for detail, he could tell at a glance that it was high-quality fine cotton cloth.

"Oh my, this floral dress is so beautiful!" Auntie Er reached out and took the dress, gently unfolding it. Her fingertips touched the delicate fabric, her face full of envy. "The material is so soft, and the workmanship is exquisite. You rarely see this in our town. It's so precious!"

"That's right! This outfit must cost at least twenty yuan. We ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of it!" The third aunt sighed, unable to resist touching it a few more times, her eyes full of envy.

Qin Huairu was also squeezed in the crowd, looking at the brand-new dress, her heart aching with jealousy. She had been married to Jia Dongxu for so many years, and all she wore were patched old clothes; she rarely even had a clean-fitting jacket, let alone such a beautiful dress. She immediately asked, "Yushui, did your brother, Shazhu, buy this for you?"

"No... it was Brother Sun who bought it for me." He Yushui lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, but it still clearly reached everyone's ears.

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers instantly erupted in a frenzy. They stared wide-eyed at He Yushui, their faces filled with shock, and murmurs of discussion rose and fell.

"Sun Jingyuan bought this for you?" Yan Bugui's voice rose several decibels as he asked incredulously, "Why would he buy you something so expensive for no reason? This must have cost a lot of money and cloth coupons!"

"Yeah, Yushui, does he have feelings for you and want you to be his girlfriend?" The neighbor chimed in, and Yushui's face turned bright red instantly. She lowered her head and stood there helplessly, twisting the hem of her clothes, not knowing how to respond.

"Uncle, neighbors, the rain is still light and the children are in school. You can't make jokes like that, lest it ruin their future marriage prospects."

Just then, Sun Jingyuan slowly walked into the central courtyard, pushing his gleaming Forever 28-inch bicycle. His voice was gentle yet carried a hint of force, directly interrupting the crowd's discussion.

Everyone's gaze instantly shifted from He Yushui to the brand-new bicycle. The next second, the entire place fell silent. Everyone gasped, their eyes filled with shock, envy, and barely concealed jealousy.

This is a brand new Forever 28-inch bicycle, with a steel stamp and all the paperwork. In the entire courtyard, whether it's the three old men or the old workers in the factory, no one is willing to buy such an expensive item. This is a real matter of prestige, a rare item that ordinary people might not be able to afford even if they saved up for a lifetime!

"Sun Jingyuan, you...you really bought the Forever 28-inch bicycle?" Yan Bugui approached the bicycle, carefully touched the handlebars, his voice trembling, his face full of disbelief.

"I just picked them up from the supply and marketing cooperative, and all the paperwork is done." Sun Jingyuan chuckled, casually ruffled He Yushui's hair, and gently gestured, "Yushui, take the clothes back inside first, don't worry about what everyone is saying."

He Yushui felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and quickly ran back into the house with her clothes in her arms.

"You little beast! What a heartless monster you've planted!"

A sharp, angry shout suddenly rang out. Jia Zhangshi rushed out from behind her door, hands on her hips, pointing at Sun Jingyuan's nose and cursing, her face full of jealousy and ferocity. "You, a newcomer who just moved in, have been buying so many expensive things for that girl He Yushui for no reason. You must have ulterior motives! And this bicycle, where did you, an ordinary worker, get so much money and receipts? I bet it's all ill-gotten gains. I'm going to the neighborhood committee to report you right now and have them thoroughly investigate you, you bad element!"

"I'm spending money to buy clothes for a younger person around me. It's my way of showing my appreciation. I'm not stealing or robbing. Every penny and every ticket is from a legitimate source. Is it any of your business?" Sun Jingyuan said calmly, glancing sideways at the shrewish Jia Zhangshi. His tone was full of disdain, and he didn't take her tantrums seriously at all.

"I'm going to interfere! Why can't I interfere in what's happening in this courtyard!" Jia Zhangshi, in a fit of rage, spat as she roared, her face contorted with rage, "This money and these receipts are definitely illegitimate! I have to report you, get the factory fired, and kick you out of the courtyard!"

"Go ahead and report it if you want. The gates of the neighborhood office and the steel mill are open. Nobody will stop you." Sun Jingyuan was too lazy to argue with her. He turned around, pushed his bicycle, and wanted to walk to the backyard. He didn't want to waste his breath on this shrew.

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped, turned to look at Jia Zhangshi, who was hopping mad with anger, and said slowly, with a hint of mockery and sarcasm: "Jia Zhangshi, I felt something was off when I entered the courtyard. It's so quiet today. I didn't hear you slapping your thigh and wailing about Old Jia. It's quite unusual. How about this, I'll give you a dime. You can sit on the ground and keep wailing about Old Jia to entertain everyone. That way, you won't have worked for nothing."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors could no longer contain themselves and burst into laughter. They covered their mouths and laughed so hard they were doubled over, their eyes full of mockery as they looked at Jia Zhangshi.

Qin Huairu stood to the side, her face full of embarrassment. She wanted to laugh but dared not, so she could only lower her head and try her best to hold it in. Her shoulders were trembling. She felt ashamed and angry, but she did not dare to step forward to stop her.

Madam Jia was so angry that she trembled all over, her old face turned ashen, her chest heaved violently, she pointed at Sun Jingyuan, her lips trembling, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time, her heart filled with rage and humiliation, wishing she could rush up and fight Sun Jingyuan to the death.

"You little bastard! How dare you humiliate my mother like that! I'll fight you to the death!"

Just then, Jia Dongxu burst out of the house, his face full of anger, his eyes bloodshot, his fists clenched, and his eyes bloodshot. He charged straight at Sun Jingyuan.