In the post-war era, re-gifting and returning gifts to shops were commonly occurring. My mother and Aunt Florence ran a1 . For them finding desirable stock (储备物) for the store was an adventure. But the greatest2 of all was getting the wanted items without taking too many3 ones ‘paired' with them. This pairing resulted in a highly saleable item being paired with something that had to be heavily discounted just to move it off the shelves4 at a loss.
One item I particularly remember was an ugly ornament (饰物) framed in a horseshoe. My mother was shocked by its5 . My aunt patiently explained she had to buy it to6 some attractive crockery sets (瓷器套装) in high demand. She had paid ten pounds for it and hoped to get five pounds for it. After briefly7 it at ten pounds, she put it on our bargain table, expecting the crockery sets would sell quickly and cover the8 on it. Several days later she managed to sell the ornament for three pounds to a value d customer who 9 to give it to a neighbour, who loved horses.
The following Saturday, our family was invited to a 21st birthday party, and my father was 10 with buying a suitable gift from the jeweler in town. However, he delayed his 11 because he had his car repaired. As a result, he 12 a wrapped present from our own store's stock. Little did he know that it was the 13 .
At the party, as the presents were14 , my mother held my shoulder tightly when she saw the ornament. The15 of our family, the gift's original purchaser, and the recipient's (接受者) family were a mix of shock and16 . My father, realizing his mistake, 17 that he thought it was a collector's item due to the ten pound price tag.
The next day, realizing my mother discovered the ornament which had been sold had been returned by Sheila, the recipient's mother, who 18 a ten pound refund , Aunt Florence burst into laughter, though the relationship between the19 owners of the ornament sourced.
20 this event, I learned the value of giving cash or gift cards.
