In the blink of an eye, a year flew by.
Shenghai had changed beyond recognition.
Warm morning sunlight spread across the asphalt roads. Plane trees and camphor trees lined both sides, their broad shade offering welcome coolness.
Dawnbringer cars rolled slowly down the long streets, while workers pedaled bicycles lightly through the crowds.
Ding-a-ling!
A sky-blue tram rattled past, its carriage crowded with passengers. Small signs hung on either side, bearing the words "Five cents for the whole journey."
"Starsea Brand watches, developed by Mystic Umbrella Company's watch factory! First come, first served!"
"Color televisions, now at a huge discount! Just twenty silver dollars each! Twenty silver dollars!"
"Come take a look! Bicycles for eight silver dollars apiece!"
Advertisements blared from a large mall bearing the sign "Yongan Department Store." Plenty of people browsed inside, most often young married couples. Hand in hand, they picked out newly discounted color televisions on the first floor, sometimes wandering over to the row of bicycles.
Both the televisions and bicycles came from Mystic Umbrella Company's factories, so their quality was assured. As Shenghai grew more prosperous and people had more money in their pockets, they became increasingly willing to spend it on these goods.
On the second floor, rich aromas filled the air. Children crowded around a counter, pooling their money and swallowing as they eyed the treats for sale: ice cream and all kinds of canned food, from luncheon meat and yellow peaches to even pickled mustard tubers.
The third floor sold classics and popular novels, along with a few science booklets, though hardly anyone bought those.
Several Wangdan University students sat in the third-floor rest area, each holding a book. As they read, they chatted quietly now and then.
"I can't believe color televisions have gone down in price again. That's