Era: Starting from the local police station

Seeing the sign for the supply and marketing cooperative ahead, I remembered the candy I had promised my sister.

He parked his car on the side of the road and strode inside.

There weren't many people in the supply and marketing cooperative. A saleswoman eating sunflower seeds and another saleswoman knitting were chatting casually.

Beside her stood Aunt Liu, who had served vinegar to customers last time.

Xiao Guan was leaning over the counter, staring at a notebook, her lips moving slightly as she muttered something to herself.

As Jiang Zhenghua entered, Aunt Liu, who was buying vinegar, immediately noticed him. Seeing that he was wearing a police uniform, her eyes lit up, and she asked with a smile, "Officer, what do you need?"

As she spoke, she called out to Xiao Guan, who was reading a book nearby, "Xiao Guan, we have guests. Hurry up and greet them."

Miss Guan immediately raised her head and saw Jiang Zhenghua standing straight with a handsome face. A hint of joy flashed in her eyes, but when she thought of Aunt Liu's teasing words that morning, she couldn't help but blush.

She feigned composure and asked, "Officer, what would you like to order?"

Jiang Zhenghua smiled slightly: "How much are the fruit candies?"

Seeing Jiang Zhenghua's smile made Guan Wenshu's heart skip a beat, and she looked at Aunt Liu with a shy expression.

Aunt Liu pretended to be annoyed and said, "Oh dear, I forgot to tell you this morning when I taught you that fruit candies are six cents a pound, no coupons required."

Seeing this, the female saleswoman who was eating sunflower seeds was about to come over to help when she was stopped by Aunt Zhang, who was knitting a sweater.

She looked at Aunt Zhang in confusion, only to see Aunt Zhang nod at Jiang Zhenghua and Guan Wenshu and wink at them.

The saleswoman glanced over and saw that Guan Wenshu looked shy.

As someone who had been through it all, she immediately understood, stood quietly and looked in this direction, a kind of auntie smile on her face.

Before she could repeat herself, Jiang Zhenghua spoke up first: "Weigh out half a jin for me, and also get two packs of Daqianmen cigarettes."

Guan Wenshu nodded slightly, walked to the counter next to her, took out a brown paper bag, and began to pack colorfully packaged candies with clips.

Aunt Liu handed the vinegar bottle to the guest, then turned to ask, "Officer, did you buy this for your child?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Wenshu tilted her ear to listen carefully, even slowing down her movements as she put the candy in her mouth.

"Comrade, this is for my sister. I don't even have a boyfriend yet, let alone children."

Jiang Zhenghua also noticed the exchange of glances among the group and understood what was going on.

These days, dating a sales clerk isn't so bad.

Upon hearing his words, Guan Wenshu's movements as she packed the candy became a little lighter.

Aunt Liu beamed with delight, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Jiang Zhenghua. "Young man, you're quite perceptive. My help wasn't in vain." she thought. "Don't call me 'comrade,' my surname is Liu, just call me Aunt Liu. Look at you, so handsome! And you work in the police force, how come you don't have a girlfriend?"

Jiang Zhenghua's heart skipped a beat.

Goodness, they've started to gossip.

Is this the same creature that later became known as a best friend?

He immediately seized the opportunity to change his form of address, a smile spreading across his face: "Aunt Liu, I just got back from the army. I never had a chance to look for you while I was in the army."

At this moment, the female sales clerk, who was eating sunflower seeds, chimed in and asked, "Which police station do you work at? I've never seen you before. I know the police officers at the nearby police station quite well."

"I just reported for duty this morning at the Taotiao Hutong Police Station."

Aunt Liu, who was standing nearby, immediately brightened up and tentatively asked, "Comrade, is your surname Jiang?"

Everyone turned their attention to him, waiting for his answer.

Jiang Zhenghua nodded, then asked疑惑地问道, "Aunt Liu, how did you know?"

Aunt Liu clapped her hands and exclaimed, "So you're the newly appointed deputy director of the police station! You're so young and promising! Before noon, Zhang's wife, who lives in the courtyard in the alley ahead, came to buy soy sauce. She said that her husband, Old Zhang, went to Taotiao Police Station this morning and heard that a deputy director surnamed Jiang had come. I didn't expect to meet him in person now!"

After Guan Wenshu finished packing the candy, she couldn't help but glance at Jiang Zhenghua as she got up. Seeing him smiling at her, she quickly shifted her gaze to the scale.

Jiang Zhenghua exclaimed, "Wow!"

Their intelligence capabilities are truly terrifying; there's no doubt about it.

If you ever need to ask about anything in the neighborhood, these people will be able to provide accurate information.

Aunt Zhang, who was knitting, also stood up and asked with a smile, "Deputy Director Jiang, do you live in courtyard number 88?"

Do you know my home?

Aunt Liu said with a smile, "How could I not know? Your mother often comes here to buy things and knows that she has a son who is in the army and has made many merits. I just didn't expect that he would be so capable and handsome."

Aunt Zhang, who was knitting nearby, clicked her tongue and exclaimed, "Your mother is really going to enjoy life now. Your father is a level 5 fitter, your sister-in-law is a full-time employee at the textile factory, and although your brother does odd jobs, he still earns a good income. Plus, with you as the deputy director, this month's family income... tsk tsk, they can eat meat every day from now on!"

When she spoke, she specifically addressed Guan Wenshu, who was weighing sugar.

"Here's the candy you wanted, and you also want some Daqianmen cigarettes, right?"

Guan Wenshu felt the intense gazes of everyone and somewhat awkwardly handed over the paper package.

"Yes, two packs."

As he spoke, Jiang Zhenghua took the candy, pulled an envelope from his pocket, and found cigarette coupons and money inside.

Guan Wenshu took out two bundles of cigarettes with tongs and placed them on the counter: "It's one dollar and one cent in total, plus two cigarette coupons."

Jiang Zhenghua handed over the money: "Count it."

He put the cigarettes in his pocket, reached into the paper wrapper, grabbed a handful of fruit candies, and placed them in front of her: "These are for everyone to sweeten their mouths."

Guan Wenshu's face flushed red, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "No need, we cannot accept even a needle or thread from the masses."

Jiang Zhenghua looked at the beautiful, charming young woman with a smile: "Take it, as a token of my happiness on my first day at work, and to share the joy with everyone."

"Yes, Wenshu, since it's a token of Deputy Director Jiang's goodwill, let's accept it."

"Auntie, you and my mom have known each other for a long time, so please don't call me deputy director. Just call me Xiao Jiang or Zheng Hua. Otherwise, my mom will definitely say I'm impolite if she finds out."

"Alright, I'll call you Zhenghua then. When you get home, just say you're a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative surnamed Zhang, and your mom will know."

Jiang Zhenghua said to the others, "Then I'll go and get busy. The institute has a task today."

Aunt Liu waved her hand: "Go ahead and get busy. Come sit down when you have time and help us keep things orderly."

Jiang Zhenghua readily agreed, "Okay, it's my duty."

After saying that, he turned and strode out, thinking to himself, "If he really comes, wouldn't that be considered a form of 'official mission' to pick up girls?"

A chorus of exclamations came from behind: "Tsk tsk, such a young deputy director of the police station, and good-looking too. If I weren't married, I'd definitely pounce on him."

Aunt Liu joked, "Guilan, you should give up. Only our Xiao Guan's looks are good enough for that young man. Come on, have some candy, let's share in the joy, don't you think, Xiao Guan?"

Guan Wenshu said shyly, "Oh dear, Aunt Liu, why do you always tease me? This is for everyone."

Jiang Zhenghua packed his things away and started his motorcycle, thinking to himself, "In today's parlance, has this been half the secret to winning over my best friend, or rather, my future mother-in-law?"

This supply and marketing cooperative is so welcoming; from now on, this will be my go-to place to buy cigarettes.

He turned on the accelerator and drove towards the police station.