The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

The next morning, when Li Kaixin woke up, her parents had already eaten breakfast and gone to work.

After having breakfast with his younger siblings, Li Kaixin planned to use up all the receipts he had bought and the watch he had been rewarded with that day.

So, I decided to visit a few department stores in Beijing.

Li Kaixin first instructed her younger siblings, "Xiao Kai, Xiao Xiao, you two stay in the alley and don't run too far."

As he spoke, he slung his bag over his shoulder and prepared to leave.

The younger brother, Li Kai, rushed forward and grabbed his older brother's sleeve, asking, "Big brother, where are you going?"

"Let's go to the department store to buy something," Li Kaixin replied.

"Big brother, can I go with you?" Li Kai looked at his older brother expectantly.

Li Kaixin put on a stern face and said, "What do you think?"

The little guy immediately pouted and looked at him with a pitiful expression.

Li Kaixin's heart softened, but she knew that she would be going to several places today and buying a lot of things, some of which she couldn't openly bring back, so it was really inconvenient to bring her younger brother along.

So he shook his head helplessly, reached into his bag and grabbed a handful of walnuts and pine nuts from the secret space, and took out two cents.

He tempted, "Xiao Kai, if you don't come with me today, all these snacks and money are yours."

Li Kai's eyes lit up instantly. He snatched the money and food, and replied with a grin:

"Okay, big brother, I definitely won't follow you today."

"Okay, brother, I'm going out to play now."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and ran outside to show off to his friends in the yard.

Li Kaixin turned her head again and saw her younger sister Xiaoxiao still quietly sitting beside her. She also gave her two cents and a handful of walnuts and pine nuts, and said gently, "Xiaoxiao gets some too."

The little girl took the things, looked up at her older brother with a sweet smile, and said, "Thank you, big brother! Come back soon, big brother."

Li Kaixin thought to himself that his younger sister was the best, and couldn't help but take out another dime and put it in his sister's hand, saying, "My sister is so thoughtful. Here, your older brother will be back before noon."

After giving his younger siblings some instructions, Li Kaixin finally felt relieved enough to leave the house.

Li Kaixin went out and headed straight for the department store closest to her home.

Li Kaixin's mother brought her here years ago.

Li Kaixin, familiar with the area, arrived at the entrance of the department store in no time.

It was bustling with people coming and going, quite lively.

Li Kaixin stepped into the department store. Although it wasn't her first time there, she was always quite moved each time she came.

Compared to the shopping malls of later generations, it is naturally incomparable, but you must remember, this is still the 1960s.

Compared to the supply and marketing cooperatives I visited a few days ago, this place is probably bigger than twenty of them combined.

Looking around the department store, it was divided into small shops, each selling different items.

Li Kaixin had a clear goal and headed straight for the watch counter.

As Li Kaixin passed a bicycle shop, he couldn't help but slow down.

Rows of brand-new Forever and Flying Pigeon bicycles were parked there, making Li Kaixin unable to move.

He was thinking that he should go to the black market a few more times to look for Hu Laoliu and see if he could buy one.

Li Kaixin didn't look again, looked away, and walked towards the watch shop.

Stepping into the watch store, I saw a middle-aged female sales clerk sitting behind the counter. Hearing the noise, she merely raised her eyelids briefly before looking away again.

Li Kaixin understood this attitude.

It's clear that these days, sales clerks are considered one of the "eight high-ranking officials," holding a secure job that puts them in a superior position in the eyes of ordinary people.

Moreover, most of the people who can work at the counter here come from influential families.

Li Kaixin thought to himself that he couldn't afford to offend them, but he remained calm on the surface. He moved closer to the glass counter and looked at it carefully.

After looking at them over and over, I settled on a Shanghai brand watch.

Li Kaixin looked up, a sweet smile on her face, and said to the saleswoman, "Pretty lady, could you please show me this watch?"

The saleswoman was taken aback, probably because she hadn't been addressed like that in a long time. A slight smile appeared on her usually expressionless face as she said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Young man, you should call me 'Auntie' at my age. Do you have a ticket? I can't show it to you if you don't have one."

Her words weren't entirely snobbish; it's just that many people come to look at the watches every day, but very few actually buy tickets. After asking so many questions, she got annoyed and that's why she established this rule.

Li Kaixin quickly pulled out the watch voucher that the transport team had awarded him from his pocket, still smiling as he said, "Yes, sister."

The sales clerk glanced at the ticket, her smile widening, and she didn't correct the way she addressed him.

He deftly took out the watch, carefully handed it to Li Kaixin, and even unusually began to introduce it:

"Young comrade, you have a good eye. This Shanghai brand is a famous brand of ours. It keeps accurate time and is durable."

As Li Kaixin listened, she secretly sighed. If she hadn't seen her cold demeanor before, she would have thought she was a completely different person.

After listening to the introduction, Li Kaixin didn't hesitate much and decided to buy it.

After handing over the ticket and 110 yuan, the salesperson quickly issued the ticket and collected the payment.

Upon receiving the watch, Li Kaixin immediately put it on his wrist.

When Li Kaixin left, the saleswoman even escorted him to the door, still smiling, and said, "Take care, young man. I'll treat you again next time you come."

Li Kaixin left the watch shop and turned to enter the grocery store.

There were a lot of people here, much busier than the watch shop. Three sales clerks were busy behind the counter.

When he walked up to one of the sales clerks, the one with the same stern face as the one Li Kaixin had just entered the watch store earlier was standing there.

Li Kaixin placed ten Class A cigarette coupons, five Class A liquor coupons, five jin of White Rabbit milk candy coupons, and two milk powder coupons on the counter.

With a smile, he said, "Comrade, please change them all for me."

This time, not only the sales clerk in front of her was stunned, but also the customers buying things next to her and the other two sales clerks looked over, their eyes full of surprise.

The sales clerk looked Li Kaixin up and down, her tone clearly suspicious, and asked, "Young man, what are you going to do with all this high-end cigarettes, alcohol, candy, and milk powder?"

This inevitably aroused her suspicion; in this day and age, it's rare to see someone who can produce so many high-end tickets at once.

Li Kaixin was prepared. He raised his wrist at the right moment, revealing the brand-new Shanghai brand watch, with a perfectly timed smile on his face.

He explained, "These are coupons I've been saving up little by little over the years, coupons I'm reluctant to use, just waiting to come in handy this time."

The salesperson's gaze lingered on the watch for a moment, and the doubt on her face immediately dissipated.

Those who can afford to wear watches must come from extraordinary families.

The sales clerk's expression immediately brightened, and she greeted the customer with a warm smile: "Oh, I see! Please wait a moment, sir, I'll get it for you right away!"

The surrounding gazes suddenly became complex, some filled with envy, others with jealousy.

One of the younger female sales clerks even winked at him discreetly.

A short while later, a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes, five bottles of Moutai liquor, five kilograms of White Rabbit milk candy, and two cans of milk powder were taken out.

After settling the bill, it came to fifty-five yuan. Li Kaixin paid the money readily and took the heavy bag.

Before leaving, Li Kaixin politely thanked the salesperson.

The sales clerk smiled and replied, "You're welcome, young man, take care!"

As soon as Li Kaixin's figure disappeared through the doorway, the enthusiastic smile on his face vanished as quickly as the tide receded, and in the blink of an eye, his previous bitter expression returned.

He glanced at the people buying things nearby. His lips twitched.