Xu Qinghuan escorted Lin Xiaolan back to the supply and marketing cooperative, where she had planned to buy some things, so she conveniently bought a few right there—one aluminum lunch box, one thermos, two boxes of Snow Cream, two boxes of clam oil, and three pairs of socks for winter, spring, and autumn.
She also wanted to buy some bedding including quilts and cotton clothes, but Lin Xiaolan didn't let her buy them. Lin gently squeezed her hand and whispered, "In the back warehouse, there are some defective fabrics, I'll give them to you at a processing price, no coupons needed."
Xu Qinghuan was delighted, "I need cotton too."
"There's some cotton, but not much, and the quality isn't that great, but it's still usable." After saying this, Lin Xiaolan called a colleague, "Sister Yuan, help keep an eye out. My sister and I need to step out for a bit."
Everyone knew what was going on; taking relatives or friends to the warehouse to buy defective goods was something everyone did from time to time, always looking out for each other.
"Go on, go on!" Sister Yuan had heard that this little girl was going to the countryside, looking as beautiful as a fairy, and going to the rural areas was going to be tough, so they took care of her in whatever way they could.
In the warehouse, there were quite a lot of things, but Xu Qinghuan knew that these so-called defects were divided among the supply and marketing cooperative's internal staff, so she didn't take too much.
"No worries, I'll discuss it with Sister Yuan and the others, split it this month for me, and my share will go to them next month."
Lin Xiaolan packed ten feet of plain cotton fabric, ten feet of twill fabric for Xu Qinghuan. Usually, a ticket for one foot of plain cotton was 28 cents, but Xu got it for 25 cents. Twill required a ticket at 42 cents a foot, which Xu received for 40 cents.
One foot of khaki was 49 cents, a fabric used for making pants, firm, durable, easy to clean, but not breathable, the most luxurious fabric of this era.
Xu Qinghuan got it for 47 cents, buying four feet, enough to make a pair of pants.
Twenty feet of fabric was enough to make a set of bed linens, but Xu Qinghuan also wanted to make two sets of winter clothes, so she was about to go find colleagues to discuss fabrics when Xu Qinghuan stopped her.
"I'll bring what I have from home, don't worry about it. If it's cold, I'll figure it out in the Northeast."
She couldn't keep taking advantage of Lanlan, there was no end to it. In these years, Xu Qinghuan knew how scarce fabric was, and Lanlan might not get defective pieces in the next couple of months.
"Then buy a few more other things!" Lin Xiaolan picked up a slightly dented aluminum lunch box, an enamel mug, and grabbed a handbag half as tall as her for Xu Qinghuan.
With only four or five pounds of cotton, the Northeast is cold for half the year, and it was very cold, but the supply and marketing cooperative had no more, making these items quite sought after.
Lin Xiaolan packed everything into the handbag while saying, "A lot of things are still missing, especially cotton, I'll keep an eye out for you in the coming days, ask my mom to think of something too."
"Huanhuan, you must write to me once you're in the Northeast. If you need anything, just let me know, I'll find a way for sure!"
Xu Qinghuan's nose twitched, her eyes already getting blurry.
Lin Xiaolan hadn't heard a response for a long time, so she kept rambling on and stood up, seeing Xu Qinghuan with a reddened nose and eyes, tears suddenly flowed like rain as she hugged Xu Qinghuan tightly, patting her, saying, "What are you doing, what are you doing, you know perfectly well I feel bad inside, you bad girl!"
"Promise me one thing!" Xu Qinghuan choked back her tears.
"Mm, say it!" Lin Xiaolan wiped her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed, and let go of Xu Qinghuan.
"If you get a boyfriend someday, you must seek my approval before marrying him. I won't allow you to marry without my permission!" Xu Qinghuan deliberately put on a fierce expression, raising her small fists, "Don't forget, you're mine!"
Lin Xiaolan chuckled, but it made her feel like crying more, she buried her head on Xu Qinghuan's shoulder, "The same goes for you, without my permission, you can't marry anyone either."
"Alright, our words are golden!"
The two sisters clasped hands, looking at each other's tearful eyes, though they hadn't yet parted, their hearts were already also full of lingering feelings, difficult to dispel.
After buying so many things, the Snow Cream was the most expensive, a 110g box cost 6.95 yuan, and two boxes amounted to roughly half a common worker's salary for a month.
Xu Qinghuan spent a total of 42.58 yuan, originally having assets of 1,002.7, now she had 957.69 yuan on hand.
Once she entered an empty alley, Xu Qinghuan popped the handbag into her space, clapping her hands, not far ahead was the state-run restaurant, and it was almost meal time, the aroma of food wafted up in the wind.
Xu Qinghuan's stomach embarrassingly growled, so she took out two lunch boxes, washed them, and hurried towards the enticing smells.
Now having money and tickets, not trying the characteristic cuisine of this era would be a disservice to herself.
On a small blackboard at the entrance were the names and prices of today's menu offerings: braised pork required a coupon for one yuan a serving, braised spare ribs 30 cents, bean vermicelli soup 20 cents, braised bream 50 cents, meat buns required a coupon for a pound at one yuan fifty, 200 grams of rice with a food ticket for five cents.
Xu Qinghuan ordered two pounds of meat buns, two servings of braised pork, one serving of braised spare ribs, one serving of bream, plus 400 grams of rice.
She ate one serving of braised pork with 200 grams of rice herself, the rest all packed into aluminum lunch boxes.
The buns were wrapped in oilpaper.
Have to admit, the taste of pork not raised with feed was indeed fragrant, rich in flavor but not greasy, melting in her mouth, leaving an endless aftertaste.
Xu Qinghuan walked out of the restaurant with her lunch boxes, patting her round belly, feeling quite satisfied.
She once again entered an empty street alley, then stored the lunch boxes in the space, and continued on her way to the Zhiqing Office.
Lin Xiaolan's mother worked at the Zhiqing Office, Xu Qinghuan often visited the Lin Family, and Lin's mother always took great care of her, Lin Xiaolan had also talked to her mother ahead of time, arranging for Xu to be sent to the same location as Qiao Xinyu.
"Hello, are you here for registration?" An enthusiastic staff member greeted Xu Qinghuan as she arrived at the Zhiqing Office.
Very few young intellectuals wanted to go to the countryside, and the work at the Zhiqing Office was very challenging nowadays.
"I'm looking for Comrade Yuan!"
Seeing Xu wasn't there for registering, the staff member felt a bit disappointed but still called out, "Yuan Jiang, someone's looking for you."
The person who came out was Lin's mother, Xu Qinghuan quickly gave a sweet smile, "Aunt Yuan, it's me!"
Yuan Huilan hurriedly pulled Xu Qinghuan over to the side, speaking quietly, "Are you really going to the countryside? This really isn't a joke, once you register, there's no turning back!"
But thinking about how this child had already sold her job, she didn't know how to persuade her either!
"I'm definitely going to the countryside; I've already made up my mind!" Xu Qinghuan said resolutely.
Yuan Huilan felt unable to persuade her, heartsore, she touched Xu Qinghuan's head lovingly, "I've kept a spot for you over in Xinyu's team, if you're sure, I'll arrange for you to go."
"Yes, thank you, Aunt Yuan!" Xu Qinghuan was grateful for Lin Xiaolan, following Yuan Huilan, "Aunt Yuan, I heard the Northeast has great nuts and dried goods, I'll send you some delicious things when I get there."
Yuan Huilan felt a bit distressed, "If you have difficulties over there, you must tell us!"
She spoke to a colleague, "This comrade is the child of a martyr and a classmate of Qiao Xinyu, who has already gone to the Red Flag Commune in Anguang County, Shangjiang Team. I want to arrange for her to go there too so the two can be companions."
Upon hearing this, the staff member couldn't help but have great respect for Xu Qinghuan, "Sister Yuan, it's just perfect, we still have a spot here. Comrade, what's your name, did you bring your residence book?"
"I brought it, my name is Xu Qinghuan, voluntarily going to the countryside to help build the vast rural areas, accepting re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants!" Xu Qinghuan handed over her prepared residence book.