Chapter 137: Winter Amusements

If one could bet on volleyball matches at this time, Hong Tao would certainly have staked a fortune on the Chinese team winning four consecutive World Cups. He knew that from 1981 to 1986, the Chinese women’s volleyball team swept the world, winning this honor five times in a row. The nation called upon all citizens to learn the "Spirit of Women’s Volleyball"—that is, their spirit of "selfless dedication, unity and cooperation, arduous struggle, and unremitting self-improvement."

Of course, many in later generations might not know that while Yuan Weimin led the Chinese team to those five consecutive victories, this generation of players was actually cultivated by a Japanese coach named Hirofumi Daimatsu. He had led the Japanese women’s volleyball team to an unbeaten streak of 175 matches. Later, Premier Zhou personally invited him to train Lang Ping and her cohorts, laying a solid foundation for the Chinese women's team to reach the pinnacle of the world.

Carrying this joy and honor, the Republic welcomed the 1982 Spring Festival. In high spirits, Hong Tao decided to distribute prizes and red envelopes to all his employees, just as he had the year before. Naturally, there was no chance to play the prank of giving the girls lingerie again; Han Yan took charge of escorting Hong Tao when he went to buy the prizes, specifically to prevent him from spending money on any more nonsensical items.

The prizes this time were down jackets. They were quite expensive, costing over 150 yuan in Foreign Exchange Certificates each. They only came in white or red and were produced in the United States, though Hong Tao had never heard of the brand; he guessed they were likely from some small back-alley factory in America.

"Isn't this too expensive?" Han Xue stared at the down jacket, her eyes nearly popping out. These jackets were far prettier than the padded cotton coats or military overcoats worn in winter, but the price tag made her heart ache—it was the equivalent of walking down the street wearing a domestic single-tub washing machine.

"You aren't the one paying, so why are you hurting? You're a young girl; you should be beautiful while you can. By the time you're forty and have saved a mountain of money, you'll realize your skin has yellowed and you're covered in wrinkles, and no amount of beauty will help then. You'll just be a haggard old woman!" Hong Tao trotted out his modern theories to lecture Han Xue. He had already spoiled these girls; even the most frugal among them, Han Yan, had learned to secretly buy a jar of Friendship-brand cold cream to rub on her hands and face, smelling sweet and fragrant.

"It’s as if your money falls from the sky!" Han Xue glared, reaching out to pinch Hong Tao’s ear, but she pulled her hand back when she caught the shop assistant watching.

"How about I buy you a set of that lingerie instead? Not for the others, just for you! Since you know how to help me save money. If you can wait ten years for me, I’ll definitely marry you!" Hong Tao leaned toward the shop assistant, goading Han Xue. He knew Han Xue was still intimidated by places like the Friendship Store and wouldn't dare to get physical with him here.

"If you have the guts, don't you dare come out!" Han Xue, as expected, was timid. Looking at the shop assistant who was already stifling laughter, she gnashed her teeth but didn't dare pinch him. She simply stamped her foot and hurried out, too embarrassed to stay.

"Beautiful sister, give me six of these down jackets. Just pick them based on the figure of the one who just left. Three red, three white!" With one gone, Hong Tao began chatting up the woman in her thirties.

"Hahaha, alright! Taking the coats is fine, but since your sister ran off, who’s going to pay for you?" The shop assistant, who had just closed her mouth, burst into genuine laughter upon hearing his address.

"Her money is all with me. Look, plenty of cash! Also, show me that leather jacket—size for someone about 1.75 meters, slim build. Pick one out for me!" Hong Tao pulled a stack of Foreign Exchange Certificates from his inner pocket and slapped them onto the counter, finally getting a chance to act wealthy without drawing suspicious glares.

"How many sisters do you have? Six?" the assistant asked, puzzled.

"Something like that. While she’s not back, help me pick out six sets of lingerie for them, heh heh... I'll give them as a secret surprise!" Hong Tao was shameless to the core, making even the thirty-something assistant feel embarrassed, yet he remained perfectly cheerful.

"Uncle Na! Keep an eye on her! She wants to pinch my ear!" With the assistant's help, Hong Tao left the store carrying a pile of plastic bags. The moment he stepped out, he shouted at Uncle Na to come and back him up.

"How old are you, still causing trouble when you go out! You bought so much stuff? Is there anything in there for me?" Uncle Na was quick; he grabbed the bags from Hong Tao and started digging into one.

"Hey..." Hong Tao was too late to stop him.

"What on earth is this... you little brat! Even if Little Xue doesn't hit you, I will! How old the hell are you! Already knowing how to play these games? Get back here!" Uncle Na had reached into the bags containing the lingerie. When he pulled out a piece of women’s undergarment with a look of utter bewilderment, his old face turned as red as a monkey's backside. He threw the bag to the ground and chased Hong Tao all over the street.

"Uncle Na! How old were you when you first visited a brothel?" Hong Tao, naturally, wouldn't let an old man and a girl catch him. Once their anger subsided, he hopped back onto Uncle Na’s tricycle, continuing to tease the old man.

"Little Xue, if he says one more word, tear his mouth shut!" Uncle Na commanded as he pedaled.

Back at the shop, Hong Tao was suppressed by the group of girls. There was nowhere to run this time, with Uncle Na and Lu Yunpeng blocking the door. If it hadn't been for Liu Bai-shi intervening, Hong Tao’s ears and thighs would have been pinched black and blue. The one who hit the