She bought her miniskirt there. It cost her 15 yuan ($2.47), nearly a third of her monthly wage.

"The average income was greatly improved. When our company reorganized from the previous foreign trade bureau, we got more bonuses than before. So I had a little extra money to buy nice clothes," she says.

Miniskirts had started to pop up. With her husband's encouragement, Chen became one of the few who dared to wear one.

"We knew each other in our teenage years. She is good-looking and wears it well. I'm proud of her," says Su Renjie, Chen's husband.

In the late 1990s, many State-owned enterprises in China underwent restructuring and had to streamline their working team. In 2000, both Chen and Su were laid off. With a lump-sum severance compensation, Su started to do business. As he earned enough money to support the family, Chen did not need to work outside. She became a full-time housewife.

Several years later, they moved to a new house of about 200 square meters, almost triple the size of their previous apartment. Today, their only daughter is 26 years old and a university graduate.

"This is the life I like," Chen says, smiling.

"When I was a kid, I helped my parents with housework, and they bought beautiful clothes for me as a reward. Now, beautiful clothes and housework are still my favorite things," she says, leaning back on the sofa.

The 100-square-meter living room is kept in excellent order. Potted plants, decorative paintings and a swing chair - everything is warm and clean.

"You just met in a good era," says Chen's mother, Meng Qingzhen, who was sitting beside her. "In our time, both your father and I had to work. Otherwise, we could not bring up three children."