Du Juan looked at the heap of supplies on the ground and felt a wave of relief. She had been one of the last few people to successfully buy goods; many people behind her in line had gone home empty-handed.
Meanwhile, Song Weian had managed to find several chickens and some dried goods like shiitake mushrooms and wood ear fungus at other stalls. When the couple reunited and looked at their collective haul, they beamed with immense satisfaction and joy.
“We really lucked out today,” Du Juan said to her husband, clearly moved. “With all these high-quality supplies, we don’t have to worry about Weining’s wedding banquet falling short anymore.”
Song Weian nodded with a smile, looking at his wife tenderly. “Wife, thank you for your hard work!”
Du Juan was delighted by the praise but gave him a playful, demure look. “What hard work? This is exactly what I should be doing as the eldest sister-in-law!”
Song Weian praised her from the bottom of his heart. “Ah Juan, you are a wonderful sister-in-law! I must thank you properly on Weining’s behalf!”
Du Juan was thrilled, her heart feeling sweet. Knowing that her husband understood and appreciated her efforts gave her a renewed surge of energy. She waved her hand grandly. “Let’s go. Time to head home!”
However, they quickly realized they had a problem: they had bought so much that it was too heavy for the two of them to carry on their bicycles. Just as they were fretting over what to do, Jun Ning pulled up in her small truck and stopped right in front of them.
Jun Ning remembered Du Juan. She was the customer who had bought the most today, spending several hundred yuan on various supplies. She had mentioned it was for a wedding banquet; in this era, no one else would be willing to buy so much at once.
“Do you need a hand?” Jun Ning asked with a smile. “I can give you a lift.”
Du Juan’s face lit up with joy, and she was about to agree instantly when she hesitated, fearing she might be a bother. “Is it really okay? We wouldn’t want to delay your business.”
“Not at all,” Jun Ning replied. “We’re heading the same way anyway. Go ahead and put your things in the back. You can put the bicycles in the truck bed too, then sit up front with me. I’ll drop you right at your doorstep.”
The truck Jun Ning had brought out featured a double-row cab with plenty of seating. By the end of the day, she had sold over 5,000 pounds of goods, replenishing her stock from her spatial dimension whenever necessary. She had successfully earned her “first pot of gold” in this era.
Many customers hadn’t carried enough cash and had supplemented their payments with cloth coupons, oil coupons, and sugar coupons. Consequently, Jun Ning now held a significant stack of various ration stamps.
She noted how simple and honest people were in this time. Most were willing to lend a helping hand whenever they saw someone in need—a stark contrast to the future she came from, where scammers and “accident fakers” made people too afraid to help an elderly person who had fallen for fear of being sued. In that future, doing a good deed required calculating the potential consequences—a true tragedy of society.
Song Weian and Du Juan loaded their belongings and bicycles into the truck with Jun Ning’s help. They climbed into the back seat of the cab, and Jun Ning began driving toward the city’s textile factory following Du Juan’s directions.
During the drive, Du Juan struck up a conversation. “Comrade, my name is Du Juan, and this is my husband, Song Weian. We are both cadres at the textile factory. How should we address you?”
“You can just call me Ah Ning,” Jun Ning replied smoothly. “No need for formalities. I don’t have a formal job; I just do a bit of private trading to make ends meet.”
“Is that ‘Ning’ as in peace and tranquility?” Du Juan asked.
Jun Ning nodded. “That’s the one.”
Du Juan chuckled. “What a coincidence! My brother-in-law has the same character in his name. We often call him Ah Ning, too.”
“That really is a coincidence,” Jun Ning smiled.
Du Juan then asked tentatively, “Ah Ning, would you ever consider bringing your goods to sell near our textile factory?”
Jun Ning had offered the ride specifically to build a rapport and see if she could secure a supply contract with a large factory. Hearing Du Juan’s question, she went straight to the point. “Sister Du, I’ve thought about it, but the city is under much stricter surveillance. I didn’t want to take the risk.”
Du Juan sighed in agreement. “That’s true. The city is tightly controlled, which is why supplies are always so short. We have to travel all the way to these commune markets and hope for a stroke of luck like we had today.”
Jun Ning added, “If I could get in touch with the factory’s procurement department, I could supply your factory directly. You’ve seen my goods—they’re all top-quality imports with excellent flavor. I can guarantee that once people try them, they’ll want more. Sister Du, if you can help me make that connection, I’ll make sure your family’s meat and supply needs are always taken care of. I have the right channels.”
Song Weian and Du Juan exchanged a meaningful look. They were both influential figures at the textile factory: one was the Director of Human Resources, and the other was the Deputy Director of the Factory Committee. They certainly had the ear of the procurement department.
Du Juan was a straightforward person. Seeing her husband give a slight nod of approval, she smiled at Jun Ning. “We can certainly put in a word with the procurement department for you. However, I can’t guarantee anything; the final decision rests with them.”
“I completely understand,” Jun Ning said sensibly. “Tell you what, Sister Du—if there’s a chance, let’s all grab a meal together. Bring the comrades from procurement along, and we can just treat it as making new friends.”
“That sounds perfect,” Du Juan agreed. “But if I manage to set something up, how should I get in touch with you?”
Jun Ning suddenly realized she lacked a fixed contact point in the city. The “Educated Youth” station was out of the question; her business needed to stay under the radar for now. “I’m embarrassed to say, Sister Du, but I haven’t found a permanent place to stay in Yucheng yet. Once I find a spot in the next few days, I’ll bring you the address, alright?”
Du Juan smiled understandingly. “That works. Once you’re settled, just come find us at the textile factory’s family quarters.”
“It’s a deal!” Jun Ning replied.
The conversation remained lively until they reached the base of the apartment buildings in the factory quarters. The arrival of the small truck immediately drew the attention of the residents. As Song Weian and Du Juan stepped out, two female colleagues who were close to Du Juan hurried over to greet them.