Seventies Sweetheart: From Breakup to Billionaire-Chapter 235: West City Department Store

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: West City Department Store
"Haven’t you had enough of this tantrum?" Cheng Jianfeng frowned. "Cheng Kun is my son, and Cheng Yun is also my son. I can’t treat them differently! There’s no room for discussion on this matter. If you really want to leave home, go by yourself. But if you dare to take Kun’er away, just watch and see if I don’t give you trouble!"
After speaking, Cheng Jianfeng strode forward, completely ignoring the mother and son behind him.
In all the years of marriage, it was the first time Cheng Jianfeng showed his temper like this. Chen Miaoying angrily stomped her feet but didn’t dare to actually leave home.
All the family’s money was earned by Cheng Jianfeng. She was like a dodder flower clinging to a great tree. How could she truly abandon the Cheng Family?
What’s more, if she left, wouldn’t she be paving the way for Cheng Yun?
That was absolutely unacceptable!
Lin Yun was completely unaware of the Cheng Family’s conflicts. He and Lin Xiang took the bus for more than ten stops, arriving at the West City Department Store.
"I’ve heard that West City Department Store has the most comprehensive variety of goods. Little girl, I’ll take you to buy new clothes."
Without further ado, Lin Yun led Lin Xiang up to the second floor, primarily selling clothes. At the women’s clothing counter, there were dresses in various colors, patterns, and styles—a feast for the eyes. Even from today’s perspective, they looked beautiful.
Lin Xiang immediately fancied a yellow dress, with half-sleeves, a large skirt, and a few handmade flowers sewn on the chest.
Upon checking the tag, the dress was priced at fifty-six yuan.
Forget it.
Lin Xiang took a few steps back, "Brother, let’s look at others."
She reached out to tug on Lin Yun’s arm but did not succeed.
Lin Yun’s gaze lingered on the dress that Lin Xiang had just looked at. He said to the saleswoman knitting at the counter, "Could you please take that dress down? We’d like to try it on."
The saleswoman glanced up briefly.
Lin Xiang wore a terylene shirt today. After numerous washes, it had begun to fade. The cuffs and collar showed wear and tear.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to wear pretty clothes. It was mainly inconvenient when selling fast food. The fear of getting grease stains that couldn’t be washed off made it impractical.
So at first glance, her clothes appeared extremely cheap.
"Comrade?" Lin Yun called out again when the saleswoman ignored him.
She turned sideways, facing away from them, "Our policy is that if you’re not sure about buying, you can’t try it on."
"But how can I know if it suits me if you don’t let me try it on?" Lin Xiang retorted unhappily.
"With your poor appearance, if you dirty or damage the dress without admitting it, then what?"
"You..."
Lin Xiang knew that saleswomen at department stores in the 1970s looked down on others. After all, it was a secure job, but the disdain felt firsthand was truly unpleasant.
"Brother, since she’s not sincere about selling, let’s go somewhere else. Oh, by the way, on the way up the stairs, I saw on the first-floor corner a notice board with photos, names, and information of all staff in the West City Department Store."
"I’ll browse elsewhere. You find out this comrade’s name and remember who the manager is. When we get home, I’ll write a thank-you letter myself to express my gratitude to this comrade for truly allowing me to experience classism!"
Lin Xiang spoke loudly. With a crowd of people in the department store during this time, and given that joining a commotion is a cherished activity, when Lin Xiang spoke, a considerable number of people gathered around.
Ms. Qian, the saleswoman, had worked at the department store for many years and treated everyone who walked through its doors with an extremely polarized attitude: either very enthusiastic or aloof.
But no one had ever dared to openly threaten her.
Only a fool would actually believe Lin Xiang intended to write a thank-you letter.
Ms. Qian set her knitting tools down on the counter, pointed at Lin Xiang, and began to criticize, "Young comrade, so young and yet you’ve learned to threaten people? What do you mean by allowing you to experience classism deeply? Do you know the impact of your words?"
Lin Xiang smiled softly, unperturbed by the finger-pointing, and responded clearly, "I truly don’t know the extent of the impact, so I need to ask your manager. I simply came to the department store to buy a piece of clothing, only to be unreasonably criticized for my poor appearance?"
"The country is always advocating for equality among all people, but you’re merely a department store saleswoman. How can you classify people into different ranks?"
"Are the clothes in the department store yours? If they’re yours and you don’t want to sell them to me, I’d understand. But they’re not! Since they’re hung here, they are for sale. And as a consumer, I have the right to ask you to take them down for me to try."
"If I truly damage or dirty the clothes during the trying process, you can ask me to compensate according to their value. Instead, you judge my modest attire and, rather than letting me try, make outrageous comments and humiliate me!"
"If all department store saleswomen behave like you, then the department store might as well not cater to the citizens of Hua Country and only serve those with wealth and power. After all, we ordinary people can’t afford them, right?"
Lin Xiang unleashed a torrent of words, leaving Ms. Qian no room to retaliate.
Once her voice faded, a massive applause erupted throughout the second floor.
"Well said! Absolutely well said!"
"Since the department store is open for business, everyone who walks through its doors should receive fair and equal treatment, not judged by our attire to determine purchasing ability!"
"If you insist on assessing people that way, the department store might as well not open its doors because we ordinary people can’t afford to shop there!"
Not only did Ms. Qian realize the problem was blown up, but other saleswomen did as well.
Every salesperson usually holds their heads high.
Even with initial excitement for work and enthusiasm for customers, over time, as their authority grows, they change.
Throughout the department store, there wasn’t a single salesperson treating every customer fairly.
And the disturbance on the second floor was significant enough to draw the manager of the West City Department Store upstairs.
He heard the entire story from witnesses and directly approached Lin Xiang.
Even though he was already in his forties, facing the young woman in her twenties, he chose to bow and apologize.