Chapter 16 - 16

Chapter 16 The TownAfter working on the farm for several days in a row, everyone was finally given a day off.Today, most people planned to go to town. Aunt Meihua told her that she should go early in the morning, otherwise there would be no seats on the tractor, and she would have to take an oxcart or walk.The package her family sent should have arrived. She'll send a letter home while she's at it, and then she'll check out the black market here. If it's safe, she'll sell a batch of grain and fruit; she already has quite a lot of stock in her storage space.Yun Ting got up early, washed up, ate a steamed bun, and then went out with her basket on her back. She had exchanged the basket with Aunt Meihua. She had asked the others last night, and everyone except Lin Xue had gone to town.When they came out, Yang Qingqing was also ready to come out, and the two of them headed towards the village entrance together.Upon arriving at the village entrance, there were only three people on the tractor, including Aunt Meihua. As soon as she saw Yun Ting, she waved happily to her, "Little Educated Youth Yun, come here quickly."" Aunt Meihua, good morning.""It's not early, I just arrived too. Educated Youth Yang, are you going to town too?""Yes, Aunt Meihua.""Oh! You city kids, your families must have given you a lot of money to come here, right?" an old woman asked, her eyes gleaming with barely concealed shrewdness."Hey, Li Big Mouth, what kind of question is that? These days, we're all just ordinary families, how much money do we have?" Aunt Meihuawasn't happy about it and retorted on her behalf." Meihua, I was just asking, not asking you. Why are you in such a hurry? Are you afraid I'll take it from you?""I just couldn't stand it. What did I steal? Explain yourself.""Auntie, you're exaggerating. We're just familiarwith Aunt Meihua. Besides, we don't have any money. How much could we possibly bring?" Yun Ting couldn't let Aunt Meihua be talked about because of them.This Li Big Mouth was one of the people who got into a fight on her first day at work. You can tell from her nickname that she's not a good person."Alright, Li Big Mouth, say no more," anotherAuntie advised."cut…"Several more villagers and educated youtharrived one after another, and the tractor quickly filled up and sputtered off toward the town.As for those who missed it, they'll have to figure it out themselves.Once they arrived in town, they all went their separate ways.Yang Qingqing probably also wanted to go to the black market, which is why she didn't go with Yun Ting. Yun Ting also had the same idea.She first went to State-run Restaurant to see if they had any steamed buns, and bought more to store in her space.When they arrived, there was a long line atState-run Restaurant, and Yun Ting joined the queue.Soon it was her turn."I want twenty meat buns.""Why so much?" The waiter frowned and looked at her with displeasure."Uh! I bought it for the other Educated Youth.""One dollar and forty cents, and four ounces of grain coupons per pound."Yun Ting handed over the money and took the meat buns wrapped in oil paper. He put them into his basket and waited until he walked out and turned to a secluded spot before transferring the meat buns from the basket into his spatial storage.She first went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, bought some fruit candies and sponge cakes, and didn't buy anything else.She wandered around, trying to find out where the black market was. Black markets are usually located in relatively secluded places, near hospitals.She finally managed to find her way to the vicinity of the hospital and saw some people acting suspiciously at the entrance of an alley; that must be the black market.She first found a place, entered the space, disguised herself so that she was unrecognizable, and then went out.She filled her basket with some rice and apples, but didn't take more. She hadn't figured out the situation yet, so she couldn't be too hasty.She paid a dime, and the gatekeeper waved her in.She found a spot and had just put her basket down when a woman in overalls came over." Little Sister, what do you have here?" she asked in a low voice."Sister, I have some polished rice and apples here, would you like some? They're really good."Yun Ting lifted a corner of her basket to show them to her."Wow! These apples are great, and this rice is good too. How do we exchange them?""Sister, these are all good stuff, not much. Apples are six cents each, and each one weighs more than a pound! Fine rice is five cents.""This...is too expensive!""Sis, you definitely won't lose out at this price. These apples are sweet and juicy, and look at this rice, the grains are plump and white. Have you ever seen such good quality rice?"The woman hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright! Give me four apples and five catties of polished rice.""Four dollars and ninety cents, sis. Since you're so generous in supporting Little Sister'sbusiness, here's an extra handful of fine rice for you!""Oh, thank you! Little Sister, next time you have something good, come to the textile factory and ask me for it! Just say you're looking for Zhou Yulan.""Okay, okay... I got it."With a good start, a few more people came, and the things in the basket were almost sold out. Today I earned 67.4 yuan. In an era when the average monthly wage was only ten or twenty yuan, this was not a small amount, all thanks to the convenience of the space.She doesn't plan to make a move today; she'll wait until next time!She bought two pounds of red dates from an uncle and five pounds of eggs from another aunt. Unfortunately, she didn't find any meat sellers this time, as she wanted to stock up on more meat.She didn't linger any longer, leaving the black market and heading to the State-run Restaurant. Having finally come out, she had to treat herself to a good meal.When I arrived at State-run Restaurant, I didn't see Yang Qingqing, but I did see Lu Jiayan. Zhou Yang was there, along with several otherEducated Youths." Educated Youth Yun, where's Qingqing? Isn't she with you?" Lu Jiayan asked her.Tsk tsk... They've even started calling each other Qingqing in private."No, when we got to town, she said she had something to take care of and we parted ways."Yun Ting didn't say much, but looked at the menu on the board: braised pork, braised fish, braised eggplant, plain noodles, and dumplings.She ordered braised pork, braised fish, dumplings, and white rice.The waiter asked her, "Can you finish this? We can't waste food.""Oh, some of it needs to be packed up and taken home, so it won't go to waste."If it weren't for the other Educated Youths there, she would have ordered several more to take away and store in her space!She chose an empty table to sit down, avoidingLu Jiayan's side; it was better to stay away." Educated Youth Yun, come over here with us!"Zhou Yang invited her."No need, I'm right here."The chef at State-Run Restaurant was quite fast; it didn't take long before the waiter called her to bring the food. These days, don't expect people to bring food to you! Those waiters... they're so arrogant!Yun Ting took out a lunchbox, divided it into portions, and put them in her backpack, which was actually to save space.She then devoured the rest of the food. Hmm,the chef at this State-run Restaurant was quite skilled; the braised pork was delicious.Zhao Weidong witnessed Yun Ting ordering food and became even more certain that her family was well-off. He secretly resolved to get his hands on Yun Ting. At that moment, Yun Tingwas unaware that she was being targeted by a disgusting person. Even if she knew, she wasn't afraid. She would make him know what the word "regret" meant.Yang Qingqing arrived late, but seemed to be in a good mood. Yun Ting guessed that she must have earned a lot of money today." Educated Youth Yang, over here." Lu Jiayan'seyes lit up when she saw her.Problematic ad?