In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 17, Section 17: Acquiring New Clothes
Whether buying cloth, shoes, candy, or even thermos flasks and washbasins, almost everything required ration coupons. Without coupons, no matter how much money you had, you couldn't move an inch.

The sales clerk carefully checked the tickets, issued the invoice, collected the money, stamped the document, and delivered the goods, following the procedures meticulously.

The clothing section had a very limited selection of clothes, mostly work clothes, Zhongshan suits, military uniforms, and a very few "fashionable" Dacron shirts.

The colors are mainly blue, gray, green, and white.

The fabric section was the real "battleground," with various cotton, khaki, corduroy, and wool fabrics on display. Housewives carefully examined and compared them, calculating the dimensions of their fabric ration coupons.

The styles of leather shoes are even more monotonous, mainly black, with round or slightly pointed toes, and almost no other colors or patterns.

The air was filled with the distinctive smell of new cloth and the leather smell of leather shoes.

The hall was bustling with noise and people jostling shoulder to shoulder. rousing revolutionary songs and announcements played over the loudspeaker. Children excitedly pointed at the tin frogs and wooden toy guns in the toy display case, while adults carefully considered their purchases, their expressions focused.

There was no leisurely shopping like in later malls here; it was more like a battle for resources, filled with the tension and longing unique to the planned economy era.

Yang Guangming composed himself and headed straight for the shoe and hat counter.

He took out the precious shoe ticket and handed it over: "Comrade, could you please buy me a pair of leather shoes, size 42?"

The saleswoman was a middle-aged woman. She took the ticket, looked at it, and took out two pairs of black leather shoes from the counter, placing them on the glass counter: "These are the only two sizes available, size 42. Take a look. The pigskin ones are cheaper, and the cowhide ones are more durable."

Yang Guangming picked up the pair of leather shoes. They were a classic "three-piece" style, black, made of thick leather, and solidly crafted, meeting the aesthetic and practical requirements of that era.

He tried them on, and they fit perfectly. They felt firm, but that's typical for new shoes.

"These leather shoes, thank you, comrade."

The sales clerk deftly wrote out the receipt: "Leather shoes, one pair, fifteen yuan and eighty cents."

Yang Guangming paid for and took the shoes, feeling a little more at ease.

Next was the fabric counter. It was even more crowded there; it took quite a while to get a turn.

He took out three cloth coupons: "Comrade, buy khaki cloth, dark blue, I want to make a pair of trousers."

The salesperson skillfully picked up a bolt of dark blue khaki cloth, measured its size with a wooden ruler. In those days, cloth was bought by the "foot," with one meter equal to three feet.

While taking measurements, the salesperson said, "The khaki fabric is 2.7 feet wide. You're tall, so if you want to make a pair of trousers, including the headband, you'll need at least 8.5 feet of fabric. Your three fabric coupons are exactly nine feet, that's enough."

With a ripping sound, the cloth was torn off. Yang Guangming paid for the cloth and took it. The rolled-up dark blue cloth gave off the smell of new fabric.

Finally, at the clothing counter, using the shirt voucher his sister-in-law had given him, he chose a basic white "Dacron" short-sleeved shirt.

This type of synthetic fiber fabric was considered a "high-end product" in those days. It was crisp, durable, easy to wash and quick-drying, and was one of the symbols of cadres and respectable people.

"A white Dacron shirt, seven yuan and two jiao," the salesperson quoted. Yang Guangming paid and carefully folded the new shirt.

Having bought all the necessary gear, Yang Guangming breathed a sigh of relief, but the task was not yet finished.

His eyes searched the mall and he quickly found the daily necessities section.

At a relatively quiet counter, he saw stacks of rough, yellowed toilet paper.

"Comrade, how much is the toilet paper?"

"One cent per stack, ten bills per stack." Yang Guangming asked for ten stacks, spending one cent.

The rough, thick paper felt heavy in his hand, which was exactly what he wanted—perfect for wrapping cooked food taken from the refrigerator, much better than taking it out bare.

Finally, he walked toward the stationery and crafts counter.

My gaze swept over the enamel mugs and notebooks printed with "Serve the People" before settling on a few small wooden boxes in the corner.

The boxes come in both square and round shapes, and while the workmanship isn't particularly refined, the wood is quite fine-grained.

He chose the smallest rectangular flat box, with a lid that could be fastened tightly and a velvet lining.

"Comrade, how much is this little box?"

"Two and a half cents."

Yang Guangming paid for it. This box was meant to hold the crucial rhinoceros horn slice, making it look more presentable when presented to Director Gu for appraisal, and also making it easy to carry.

As Yang Guangming walked out of the No. 1 Department Store, he carried a net bag containing new leather shoes, rolled-up fabric, a new shirt, a large stack of toilet paper, and a small wooden box.

The early summer sun shone warmly on him. He glanced back at the magnificent and bustling department store, the shop windows of this era vividly frozen before his eyes.

This trip was very fruitful. Not only did I prepare a presentable outfit for Monday's arrival, but I also prepared the necessary packaging for the flow of goods in the refrigerator and the sale of the rhinoceros horn slices, which is in line with the characteristics of this era.

He weighed the net in his hand, feeling the sense of security that the new item brought him, and strode across several streets to find a small tailor shop with a sign that read "Exquisite Craftsmanship".

The shop wasn't big, but it was piled high with fabric. An old craftsman wearing reading glasses was stepping on a sewing machine, making a rhythmic clicking sound.

"Master, could you please make me a pair of trousers?" Yang Guangming handed over a dark blue khaki fabric, gesturing to his waist and trouser length. "Just make the most basic straight-leg style."

The master craftsman put down his work, took the fabric, felt it, and carefully examined Yang Guangming's figure before nodding: "The fabric is fine. Come pick it up tomorrow afternoon, okay? It'll cost you one dollar and twenty cents."

"Okay, thank you." Yang Guangming paid the deposit and received the receipt. The final piece of the puzzle for his new outfit was complete.

Instead of going straight home, he took a roundabout route and ended up back in that quiet, dead-end alleyway next to the abandoned factory wall.

After confirming that no one was around, he leaned against the cold brick wall and his consciousness sank into the refrigerator space.

His gaze settled on the gift box containing Sumatran rhinoceros horn slices. With a slight thought, he carefully took out twenty thin, dark brown slices, each with a warm, jade-like luster and fine, intricate textures along its edges.

Each piece is as thin as a cicada's wing and exudes a unique, indescribable, delicate fragrance.

He took out the small wooden box he had bought at the No. 1 Department Store, opened the velvet-lined lid, and carefully placed the twenty rhinoceros horn slices inside, one by one. The thin slices looked even more lustrous against the dark velvet.

He weighed the box in his hand; it was very light, probably only about three grams. For him right now, the money from that amount was enough to cover his current daily expenses and some necessary social expenses, without drawing too much attention.

What he needs is a steady, long-term, safe path, not a one-time get-rich-quick adventure.

Close the lid; it fits perfectly.

Yang Guangming tucked the box into his pocket, feeling a slight sense of steadiness from its weight. Next, he would go see Director Gu Yongkang of Jishetang.

(End of this chapter)