As the first department store in Jiangbei, this place was different from ordinary supply and marketing cooperatives.
Generally in '91, many supply and marketing cooperatives had not completely abolished meat coupons, grain coupons, and other such items.
However, at the department store, the consumption of coupons had almost been completely abolished.
Except for some relatively special commodities, ordinary goods in the department store did not require coupons.
Therefore, although the prices at the Jiangbei Department Store were not cheap, it was always welcomed and sought after by all citizens.
This was still the case even though coupons were about to be completely abolished.
Compared to supply and marketing cooperatives and markets, the customers at the department store were naturally of a relatively higher caliber.
Here, citizens dressed in overcoats and new-style padded jackets streamed in incessantly. The moment Yu Zhou entered the main entrance, a trace of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
To be precise, the current department store was not much different from the shopping malls of later generations. However, in this era, there were no brand concessions, let alone catering, entertainment, or other facilities.
Throughout the four-story building, every stall sold goods, and none were privately owned.
All the busy staff were salespersons with official positions.
"Let's buy at the market! Or go to the supply and marketing cooperative to get a few feet of cloth, and I'll make clothes at home?"
Looking at the prices of clothes and other goods, Jiang Jie, whose mindset had not yet adjusted, trembled.
Good heavens, each of those overcoats cost over thirty yuan, wasn't that robbery?
If she bought a few feet of cloth and made it herself, it wouldn't exceed five yuan, it was too extravagant.
"Can you make this style? Even if we're not rich now, we're at least not suffering from poverty. We still need one or two outfits to maintain appearances."
"Doing business isn't easy..."
Yu Zhou found a seemingly valid excuse and pulled Jiang Jie to stroll around the department store.
Admittedly, from Yu Zhou's perspective, the styles of these clothes were too old-fashioned, but one had to consider the era. In the entire Jiangbei, only the clothes at this department store were considered somewhat fashionable.
"Does it look good?"
Jiang Jie said happily, holding a brand-new leather jacket against Yu Zhou.
She was truly reluctant to buy clothes for herself, as most of her clothes at this time were made from fabric she bought herself.
The sewing machine, as one of the "three major items" of the era, was not without reason.
Even her sweaters were knitted by hand, one by one.
Yu Zhou had said that to do business, one needed one or two presentable outfits. Naturally, her attention shifted to menswear.
In this season, a leather jacket was just the most suitable clothing.
Looking at his wife's happy expression, Yu Zhou felt a pang of reluctance.
Without further ado, he picked out several cotton overcoats for her, along with several small dresses for their daughter, before feeling satisfied and paying.
"My goodness, it's different when you have money. Not only are you shopping at the department store, but you're also buying so many clothes..."
"The lives of capitalists and ordinary people are truly different!"
Suddenly, just as the two were about to leave the store with their bags full, a sharp voice sneered at the store entrance.
Honestly, Yu Zhou hadn't expected to encounter trouble even at the department store.
Didn't trouble follow him wherever he went?
However, upon seeing the woman with a mocking and even somewhat resentful expression before him, he understood.
This woman was someone he and Jiang Jie both knew. Her name was Yang Xiaoyun, and she was an employee of the Second Factory, just like them, and also Zhang Weiguo's wife.
It was no surprise that Zhang Weiguo, having been embarrassed by Yu Zhou earlier, would tell his wife.
Since they had met at the department store, it was impossible for her not to stand up for her husband.
It was worth noting that Zhang Weiguo's wife also had some background. Her father was previously the cashier at the Second Factory and controlled a lot of the factory's assets.
Someone like her shouldn't have married an ordinary worker like Zhang Weiguo.
However, because of an incident many years ago, Yang Xiaoyun's father passed away.
Yang Xiaoyun then entered the factory to take his place and married Zhang Weiguo.
Having lived a life of affluence since childhood, Yang Xiaoyun, even in her forties, had maintained her proud disposition.
If her husband was wronged, her already lawless nature would naturally not consider the occasion, and it would have been a good thing if she hadn't started fighting on the spot.
"Yang Xiaoyun, what do you want?"
"There's a time and place for causing trouble. This is the department store, not the Second Factory's family residential area."
Just as Yu Zhou was about to speak, Jiang Jie pulled him aside and stepped forward herself.
This was why Jiang Jie was considered a perfect wife, a perfect woman.
In the Second Factory, both her personality and appearance were impeccable.
Why didn't she let Yu Zhou go and argue with Yang Xiaoyun? Because in Jiang Jie's heart, a man was the pillar of the family and should not get into petty arguments over trivial matters.
If word got out, it would be bad for Yu Zhou's reputation if he, a man, argued with a woman.
Even though Yu Zhou's reputation was already quite bad in the past.
"What do I want? You hire people to work but don't pay them, and now you have money to spend at the department store. What do you think I want?"
"Heh heh! I never expected it, rich people are all the same, capitalists, they deserve to be overthrown..."
Yang Xiaoyun was relentless. In her limited understanding, contracts were useless.
No matter what her husband had done, if he worked for Yu Zhou, Yu Zhou had to pay him.
As for how Zhang Weiguo had colluded with others to pressure Yu Zhou into abandoning his business, none of that was within her consideration.
It was already quite good that she hadn't gone directly to Yu Zhou's house to make a scene.
But since she had met him at the department store today, she couldn't hold back anymore and started spewing insults the moment she saw him.
She wanted to ruin the reputation of both the Yu Zhou couple.
"What kind of people are rich people? And what kind of person are you?"
"We agreed on everything before starting work, and there was a contract. Your husband withdrew without cause and incited others to gang up on us. Should we not deduct that day's wages?"
Although Jiang Jie disliked crowded places and causing a scene in public,
this did not mean she was weak. Once her family or her loved ones were touched, Jiang Jie would become stronger and fiercer than anyone.
"Oh my, you have the audacity to not pay wages... Hurry, everyone, come and judge... They hired people to work but withheld their wages..."
"The hearts of capitalists are black..."
Seeing that Jiang Jie had a point, Yang Xiaoyun immediately threw a tantrum.
She sat down on the ground and pounded it with both hands.
Instantly, people in the vicinity of the department store began to gather.