This was a side of Whitaker Scarlett he had never seen before.
She was already quite pretty without needing to dress up, but having changed out of her tattered rural clothes, she was even more captivating.
Whitaker Scarlett sold her goods so quickly because she was a living model; wherever she stood, passersby couldn’t help but take a second glance.
Parker Jace didn’t just glance; he was so stunned that he felt stiff on his bike.
It was Whitaker Scarlett who greeted him first, “Parker Jace, what brings you here?”
Ah, Scarlett was still willing to talk to him.
His heart, which had been racing with anxiety, suddenly felt lighter.
“I came to see a friend…”
Parker Jace’s face turned red. Truly, everything in the world has its counterbalance; Caroline couldn’t do anything about her precious son, but Parker Jace was helpless against Whitaker Scarlett. Even if Whitaker Scarlett had done something wrong, just seeing her face would make all his anger dissipate. Moreover, Whitaker Scarlett hadn’t done anything wrong; it was Kay who had gone to the Yellow River Hotel, and Parker Jace felt both embarrassed and angry, but he couldn’t direct that anger at Whitaker Scarlett.
He felt uneasy because he thought Whitaker Scarlett would resent him for how his mother had humiliated her in public.
Unexpectedly, Whitaker Scarlett greeted him warmly, and Parker Jace’s heart raced.
“Scarlett, I’m really sorry. My mom is unreasonable, but she won’t bother you again. I—”
He wanted to say he had seen her boyfriend, but at the last moment, he changed his words: “Are you setting up a stall here?”
Parker Jace still wasn’t generous enough to wish Whitaker Scarlett well with Kay. He didn’t want to discuss other men with her, so he shifted the topic to her stall.
So, Parker Jace had managed to keep his mother in check?
Whitaker Scarlett had been worried that the Parker family would retaliate, but there hadn’t been any movement from them, and no one had come to disrupt her stall.
Whether Parker Jace’s words at home were effective would take time to verify. Whitaker Scarlett didn’t get along with Caroline, but she didn’t hold it against Parker Jace either, casually replying:
“I brought in a batch of men’s wool coats. They’re quite expensive and picky about customers, so I came to try selling them in this family area.”
Parker Jace looked at the coats hanging on the rack; he could tell just by looking that the material was good. Asking about one, he learned it cost 140 dollars, no wonder the clothes were hard to sell. Such clothing should be sold in a department store; who would spend 140 dollars on a coat at a roadside stall?
Parker Jace had an idea, “Can you hold one for me that I can wear? I didn’t bring enough money with me. I’ll pay you when I come out later.”
Parker Jace only had a few dozen dollars in his pocket; he usually prepared in advance for big purchases. He hadn’t expected to buy a coat on a whim. Whitaker Scarlett wasn’t worried about Parker Jace buying on credit; they had done business several times, and Parker Jace had a formal job. What’s a coat? He wouldn’t just run off without paying, would he?
“Do you prefer navy blue or black?”
“Navy blue, please!”
Parker Jace was quite tall, and Whitaker Scarlett found the right size for him. He took off the warm coat he was wearing and draped it over the back of his bicycle, then put on the new coat and walked into the family building.
The sale was made, but no cash was exchanged.
A businessperson can’t be at odds with money; since Parker Jace wanted to buy the coat, Whitaker Scarlett certainly wouldn’t refuse to sell it.
Not to mention Parker Jace; even if Caroline wanted to buy it and brought real cash, Whitaker Scarlett would definitely sell it… For someone like Caroline, she would just set a high price; if she wanted to buy, she could, and if not, she could just leave!
Whitaker Scarlett stood in place, stamping her feet.
Even with two pairs of cotton socks, she was cold. The sneakers were lightweight and slip-resistant but not warm at all. When she went to Sablewick next, she needed to buy two pairs of cotton boots to wear.
…
Parker Jace was there to see a friend. He parked his bicycle downstairs and quickly climbed to the fifth floor.
The newlywed couple lived there; the husband worked at the railway bureau, and the wife was from the National Cotton Mill No. 3, a match made by Caroline. They had a one-bedroom apartment. When Parker Jace entered, his friend’s new wife had already finished wrapping dumplings.
“Parker Jace is here? Sit down and rest. Raymond, keep him company.”
Parker Jace’s mind was not on the dumplings; after greeting Raymond’s wife, he asked if Raymond had any money on him.
