"This thing has a tag on it, labeled 'Not for Sale.' Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to try it on like this?"
Wang Yu's expression was somewhat awkward. The jacket looked quite formal, similar to a Western suit, but with signs of modification and tailoring in many places.
In this era, there was still a thriving profession – tailors.
After all, clothing back then didn't have the vast array of styles and choices as in later times. Many people would take their purchased clothes to tailors for alterations and adjustments.
It was even rumored that a certain super-famous excavator academy in the future started with a tailoring program... cough!
The suit jacket in front of them had clearly been meticulously altered by a professional tailor and was hanging there, obviously belonging to someone.
Would it be inappropriate for him to simply take it and try it on?
"What are you afraid of? We're just trying it on. We won't damage or dirty it. If it looks good, we can buy the same style and get it altered. Besides, since it's hanging here, what's wrong with trying it on?" Wu Lingling was nonchalant. She directly shoved the jacket into Wang Yu's hands. "Hurry up and try it on."
"This... alright." Wang Yu hesitated for a moment, then agreed. It made sense.
He casually took the jacket and put it on.
"Looks quite good!" Wu Lingling tutted, circling him and scrutinizing him. "I say, you guy, you're quite handsome usually. Why do you always dress like a little old man, in those dull, drab clothes?"
"Uh, that's my work uniform from the factory," Wang Yu replied helplessly. What did she mean by 'little old man'?
Factory uniforms were just like that, weren't they? Grey was durable and didn't attract mosquitoes or absorb heat in the summer. The design and style were also focused on practicality for work, with no consideration for appearance.
"Being handsome can't be eaten as food, can it? I need to set an example for my employees..."
Wang Yu's words were cut short by a sharp voice.
"Who let you touch this jacket?"
A shrill female voice, like a piercing magical sound directly into the eardrums.
Turning around, they saw a woman in department store sales attire, hands on her hips, glaring at them furiously.
The woman was quite pretty, with big curly hair, um, no, long wavy hair. She also had nail polish on, and looked rather familiar.
Oh, a familiar face?
After a brief moment of surprise, Wang Yu remembered. Wasn't this Du Yujuan, the former class beauty from his school days?
He had seen her before at Hong Jianjun's dinner party. She had a "super-friendly" relationship with Zhao Tao, who allegedly pulled strings to get her a stable job in a state-owned enterprise, a leisurely position.
So, she ended up being a department store sales clerk?
Well, department stores were state-owned, and sales clerks were considered to have a "rice bowl" in those days. The job was also quite leisurely, mainly involving quoting prices to customers, and then it was up to them whether they wanted it or not... It seemed to be true.
"Wang Yu, it's you, you scoundrel!" Du Yujuan's tone was sharp, full of dissatisfaction and disgust. "I only went to the restroom for a moment, and you've already put on this jacket! Don't you even look at where you are? Is this a place for people like you to come?"
Du Yujuan's voice was high-pitched and clear, immediately attracting a crowd. It was Saturday, and many people were shopping at the department store. A group of onlookers began to gather, forming a circle and enjoying the spectacle.
Wang Yu looked at Du Yujuan speechlessly. His former classmate and class beauty, although her academic performance in cultural subjects was not great, her music grades were always excellent. So, her voice truly lived up to her past achievements!
"What do you mean, 'a place for people like you'? Your department store is open for business, why wouldn't you let people in?" Wu Lingling retorted impolitely from the side.
"You, you wild girl?" Du Yujuan also recognized Wu Lingling. She remembered this girl contradicting her at Hong Jianjun's dinner party, which had caused her to lose face.
"What do you know, you wild girl? It's true that the store is open for business, but some things require you to know your own limits." Du Yujuan sneered and looked coldly at Wu Lingling.
"This is the high-end men's clothing section on the fourth floor. Any single piece of clothing here costs several hundred yuan. It's not something people like you can afford! If you want to buy clothes, go to the cheap wholesale stalls on the first floor."
Du Yujuan looked at Wu Lingling and Wang Yu with cold eyes.
At Hong Jianjun's dinner party, this wild girl had made her lose face, and then Wang Yu, by acting high and mighty, had stolen all the attention.
Back then, didn't he just have a few decent skills that attracted an old expert professor? Look at how arrogant you are. Now that the old professor is gone, you've returned to your original form and are just a poor wretch!
According to her lover... no, her "confidant," Zhao Tao, Wang Yu's car factory was about to go bankrupt. Their core products had already been completely taken over by them, and soon Wang Yu's factory would go bankrupt and he'd be sleeping on the streets!
Although she, as a woman, didn't understand anything about the market or products, if Zhao Tao said so, it must be true.
Hmm, Zhao Tao hadn't shown up recently. He must be busy with the matter of taking over Wang Yu's factory. Poor Wang Yu, still completely oblivious, had the leisure time to accompany this wild girl to the mall?
Indeed, a wild girl and a poor wretch, a perfect match like a duck matching a green bean. Unlike her and Zhao Tao, who were like a phoenix matched with a golden dragon!
Du Yujuan's gaze fell on Wang Yu.
Wang Yu had already taken off the jacket he was wearing and was silently changing back into his old, drab work uniform.
Seeing this, Du Yujuan found it even more irritating.
"Look, everyone, look!"
Feeling the eyes of the onlookers focused on her, Du Yujuan couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. She then unceremoniously extended her fair, tender orchid finger and pointed directly at Wang Yu's head.
"Just this kind of poor, dead worker, and you think you can come here to try on high-end clothes? Do you know what it means? A monkey wearing a dragon robe can't become an emperor!"
Du Yujuan's words drew a roar of laughter from the onlookers. Although they didn't understand the situation, they were happy to watch the drama unfold.
Du Yujuan, even more brazenly, snatched the jacket directly from Wang Yu's hand, carefully examined it, then patted away the almost nonexistent dust, her expression arrogant.
"Do you know this jacket was specially custom-made by our manager for an important provincial event? Its original value is over 1,500 yuan, and they specially hired a senior tailor for modifications, whose labor cost alone was over 600 yuan.
If you two stripped yourselves bare and could scrape together even a fraction of this jacket's cost, I'd eat shit on the spot!"
Du Yujuan's words made the onlookers burst into laughter again, while Wang Yu and Wu Lingling fell silent.
"What? Are you scared? Weren't you quite spirited just now, wild girl?" Du Yujuan sneered at the suddenly silent Wu Lingling. "Why aren't you so bold now?"
"It's nothing. I was just wondering if I should buy you a spoon. Otherwise, eating it dry might be too disgusting." Hearing Du Yujuan's words, Wu Lingling simply smiled faintly and then opened her small bag.