After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

The county town and Qingshan Village are completely different.

The large Liberation trucks rumbled, kicking up clouds of yellow dust, and the sounds of bicycle bells filled the air. The crowd of people in blue-gray overalls flowed like a river. Lin Qingqing was stunned by the sudden wave of noise and instinctively wanted to shrink back.

A hand promptly grabbed her wrist.

"Sister, hurry up, the supply and marketing cooperative is over there!"

Lin Qingqing staggered after him, her feet aching terribly. It had taken her more than two hours to walk from the village to the county town; her feet felt like they weren't even her own anymore.

"Xiao He, slow down... slow down." Lin Qingqing was panting, with a layer of fine sweat on her forehead and a few strands of hair sticking to her cheeks, making her look disheveled and pitiful.

Jiang He suddenly stopped, turned around, and his gaze lingered for two seconds on Lin Qingqing's flushed cheeks and slightly parted, panting lips. His Adam's apple bobbed.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

Lin Qingqing nodded, looking at him timidly: "Can we rest for a while?"

Jiang He's gaze shifted downwards, landing on her pair of black cloth shoes covered in yellow dust. The shoes were old, with the big toe area worn white, looking quite shabby.

He suddenly squatted down.

Lin Qingqing was startled and hurriedly backed away: "What are you doing? In the street..."

"Don't move."

Jiang He knelt on one knee, completely ignoring the strange looks from those around him. He reached out and pinched Lin Qingqing's calf, feeling the muscles tense even through her trouser leg.

"Your older brothers are so careless, they can't even afford to buy you a decent pair of shoes," Jiang He complained, standing up and pulling Lin Qingqing along without a word. "Come on, there's a department store up ahead, let's go in and rest."

The department store in the county town is the most impressive place in the surrounding area.

The three-story building has a whitewashed cement exterior and a large red banner that reads "Develop the economy and ensure supply" hanging at the entrance.

Upon entering, a strong smell of face cream, fabric, and rubber shoes hit you.

The saleswoman standing behind the counter was cracking sunflower seeds, not even lifting her eyelids: "What are you buying? Don't touch things if you're not buying."

Lin Qingqing was stung by this attitude and shrank back. She was used to being gossiped about behind her back in the village and was most afraid of the cold face of a government official.

"Sister, look at this."

Jiang He completely ignored the salesperson's eye-roll and pointed to a piece of fabric hanging in the counter.

It was a piece of Dacron fabric, white with small floral patterns, and bright red buds scattered on it, so bright they were almost blinding.

"This color is too bright..." Lin Qingqing whispered, "I can't wear it."

She was a widow, dressed in red and green, and could be drowned in spittle.

"Who says you can't wear it?" Jiang He leaned on the glass counter, tilting his head to look at her with a smile. "Sister has fair skin, this will definitely look good on you. Besides, it's no one else's business if you wear it at home for your older brothers to see."

The salesperson spat out the sunflower seed shells, rolled her eyes, and said, "This is Dacron from Shanghai, it's two yuan and fifty cents a foot. Look carefully before you ask."

Jiang He's smile vanished instantly. He pulled out a stack of ten-yuan notes from his pocket, slapped two directly onto the counter with a crisp sound that startled the sales clerk.

"Take seven feet," Jiang He said calmly. "Keep the change; consider the rest a reward."

The sales clerk was stunned. Were there really such gullible people these days? But seeing those two ten-yuan bills, her attitude immediately did a complete 180-degree turn, her face powder practically falling off her cheeks in a smile: "Oh, young comrade, you're so generous! I'll get it for you right away!"

Lin Qingqing watched as Jiang He skillfully ordered people around, her heart pounding.

After buying the fabric, Jiang He took her to the shoe and hat counter.

A pair of white plastic sandals were placed in the most conspicuous position. They had transparent plastic straps, a small heel, and the buckles were two plastic flowers growing side by side.

"sit down."

Jiang He pointed to the wooden stool in front of the counter.

Lin Qingqing hesitated for a moment, but still sat down.

Jiang He squatted down in front of her and grabbed her ankle. His palms were dry and hot, and his fingertips had thin calluses, which made Lin Qingqing's ankle tremble.

"Xiao He, I can do it myself..." Lin Qingqing's face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed, and there were people watching around.

"It's inconvenient for you to bend over, don't move around." Jiang He didn't let go, but instead gripped her heel even tighter.

He took off her dusty black cloth shoes, revealing her feet clad in white socks. The socks were worn, the heels thinned, revealing the pinkish flesh beneath.

Jiang He's eyes darkened, and he lightly tickled the sole of her foot with his fingers.

Lin Qingqing froze, almost screaming, her toes curling up.

"Sister's feet are so small." Jiang He lowered his head, his voice muffled, "They fit perfectly in my hands."

"Alright, stand up and walk around." Jiang He clapped his hands and stood up.

Lin Qingqing stood up, her face flushed. The plastic sandals were a bit stiff, but they didn't rub her feet. Looking at the shoes on her feet—shoes that only city girls could afford—a surge of joy she had never felt before welled up inside her.

"It looks good." Jiang He stared at her feet, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Don't wear those tattered cloth shoes anymore. If your brother asks, just say I threw them away."

After leaving the department store, the sun was already high in the sky, and the two wandered aimlessly through the streets.

I passed by an old lady selling popsicles; her styrofoam box was covered with a thick quilt.

"Ice popsicles for sale! Creamy ice popsicles!"

Jiang He stopped and took out a dime: "Take two."

The old lady lifted the quilt and handed over two popsicles wrapped in colorful paper.

Jiang He tore off a piece and handed it to Lin Qingqing, then tore off another piece for himself and took a big bite.

"Hiss—" He frowned from the cold, then relaxed. "So sweet."

Lin Qingqing licked the popsicle in small bites, the coolness calming the heat in her heart.

"What flavor is that popsicle, sister?" Jiang He suddenly leaned over and stared at the popsicle in her hand.

"It seems to be... made from mung beans." Lin Qingqing stepped back.

"I'll try it."

Jiang He didn't give her a chance to refuse at all. He lowered his head and took her hand, biting hard on the spot she had just licked.

With a "crack," the popsicle was more than half gone.

Lin Qingqing stood there, stunned, looking at the half popsicle left in her hand, with Jiang He's neat teeth marks still on it.

"Mmm, this one is still the best, sister." Jiang He licked his lips, grinning mischievously. "Mine is yours, let's swap."

As he spoke, he shoved his half-eaten cream popsicle into Lin Qingqing's hand and took her half-eaten mung bean popsicle.

Lin Qingqing held the popsicle that still carried his body heat and saliva, unsure whether to throw it away or eat it.

"Why aren't you eating? Are you disgusted with me?" Jiang He raised an eyebrow, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "At home, you've used your older brother's cup, so why can't you use mine?"

Mentioning Qin Lie and Xiao Yong immediately made Lin Qingqing cower. She closed her eyes and, as if bravely going to her execution, stuffed the popsicle into her mouth.

Jiang He looked at her obedient appearance, a glint of triumph flashing in his eyes.