After that, she bought another 5 jin of pork, 10 jin of marrow bones, 10 jin of pork offal, and 2 jin of pork fat.
Pork cost 0.95 yuan per jin, which was relatively expensive, while the rest were much cheaper.
Marrow bones were 0.3 yuan per jin, pork offal 0.45 yuan per jin, and pork fat 0.78 yuan per jin.
The total came to 13 yuan and 8 mao and 1 fen.
It was far more expensive than grain.
Seeing her buy so much, the butcher generously gave her a bowl of pig’s blood as well.
Xu Sangluo accepted it with a smiling thanks.
However, this time Qin Zhiyi absolutely refused to let Xu Sangluo pay for everything herself.
After arguing back and forth for a while, the two finally compromised—each would pay half.
Qin Zhiyi didn’t have money on him, so he treated it as borrowing from Xu Sangluo.
After leaving the farmers’ market, the two of them went to the nearest supply and marketing cooperative to look around.
But this time Xu Sangluo only bought some daily necessities that didn’t require ration coupons.
Seeing that what she bought were basically things girls used, Qin Zhiyi didn’t say anything more.
After making their rounds, the bamboo basket was completely full, and quite a few paper packages were even hanging from the bicycle’s handlebars.
Xu Sangluo nodded in satisfaction. “Let’s head back.”
Hearing this, Qin Zhiyi quietly let out a sigh of relief, and on the return trip his cycling speed increased noticeably.
Although buying things had taken some time, the two still returned to Luoxi Brigade at around five o’clock.
Since Qin Zhiyi got off work late, the Qin family had grown used to eating dinner after six these days.
Their return with a full load naturally attracted the attention of many commune members.
Several aunties even came over curiously to greet them and ask questions.
Before Qin Zhiyi could speak, Xu Sangluo curved her eyes and gave a shy smile.
“Oh, this afternoon I asked Brother Yi to accompany me back to my parents’ house to get some medicine for injuries. As for these…”
She glanced at the meat and vegetables in the basket and didn’t continue, only pressing her lips together in an embarrassed smile.
Qin Zhiyi: “……”
But everyone immediately understood.
These things must have been given by her family to bring back.
People were a little surprised—so many items clearly meant Zhao Xiaoman’s family background wasn’t simple.
Then again, if they were poor, could they raise such a fair and delicate girl?
One of the aunties couldn’t help asking, “Where is your parents’ home? Is it far? Why haven’t we seen your in-laws come over for a visit?”
Xu Sangluo replied helplessly, “My family lives in the center of Yueyang City. Riding a bicycle there and back takes four or five hours, and everyone in my family is usually busy with work.”
Hearing that it was actually in the city—and even in the city center—several people widened their eyes.
Xu Sangluo waved her hand shyly. “Aunties, we need to hurry home to cook dinner, so we won’t chat anymore. Let’s talk another day.”
“Ah, ah, alright, alright. Hurry back then.”
Everyone was still trying to digest the information they had just heard and nodded reflexively.
Xu Sangluo secretly poked Qin Zhiyi in the back, signaling him to hurry up and leave.
The muscles on Qin Zhiyi’s back tensed for a moment. With a long push on the pedal, the bicycle shot forward like an arrow leaving the bow.
Xu Sangluo nearly fell off and quickly grabbed his waist.
The bicycle wobbled twice, swerving in an S-shape before it finally steadied.
Xu Sangluo let out a lingering breath of relief.
“I wonder when they’ll pave the roads here.”
She assumed what had just happened was simply because of the uneven road.
Qin Zhiyi pursed his lips and stayed silent for quite a while before speaking.
“You shouldn’t have said that just now.”
“Hm?” Xu Sangluo was slightly stunned.
Qin Zhiyi added, “It won’t be good for your reputation in the future.”
After all, they weren’t truly husband and wife.
Understanding what he meant, Xu Sangluo laughed.
“I know what you mean. But if a single girl with no relation to your family moves into your house, there’ll probably be even more gossip. Who knows what people would say by then. It’s better to let them keep misunderstanding. As for the future… if I leave someday, we probably won’t run into each other again anyway, so what impact would it have?”
After saying that, she smiled again.
“But it might affect you more when you want to marry a wife later.”
She could simply leave, but Qin Zhiyi would then be considered a man who had been married before.
Even though they didn’t have a marriage certificate, people in the countryside didn’t care much about that sort of thing.
Qin Zhiyi fell silent again for a few seconds before saying helplessly,
“I’m a man. It doesn’t matter.”
“Then that’s fine.”
Just then, the cart stopped at the entrance of the Qin family home.
The courtyard gate was open. Little Qin Yan, who had been squatting in the yard playing with dirt, immediately ran out when he heard the bicycle bell.
Seeing that it really was his father, he happily ran over on his short little legs.
“Daddy!”
Xu Sangluo jumped down and waved at the little guy with a smile.
“Yanyan.”
“Auntie!”
When the little fellow saw Xu Sangluo, his eyes lit up even more. He immediately changed direction and threw himself into her arms.
“Auntie didn’t leave?”
When the little guy woke up earlier, he had heard from his third uncle and little aunt that Auntie had gone home and would never come back again.
Although they had only spent half a day together, the little fellow had already grown very fond of her.
Auntie was so gentle. She could tell stories, and the dumplings she made were so delicious.
If only she could become his mother.
Unfortunately, his third uncle said Auntie was from the city and wouldn’t marry a country man to suffer hardships.
Even though he didn’t really understand, he knew that Auntie wouldn’t come again.
The little fellow had been disappointed for a long time.
He hadn’t expected to see her again.
Third Uncle had lied to children again!
The twins came out when they heard the commotion. When they saw Xu Sangluo, who had apparently left but now returned, they were also surprised.
When Xu Sangluo suddenly left earlier, they naturally assumed she had gone for good.
Then their sharp eyes quickly noticed the cart full of things.
Qin Zhiyi was already unloading the bamboo baskets, since the cart had to be returned to its owner.
The two of them hurried over to help.
“Big Brother, you’re back. Why are there so many things? Big Brother, where did you get the money and ration coupons?”
When Qin Zhiyu saw the meat, vegetables, rice, and flour in the basket, her face showed astonishment.
“Wow, it’s meat! And what are these?”
Qin Zhifeng also looked delighted as he examined the other items.
Qin Zhiyi hoisted the basket onto his shoulder and said as he walked,
“Your Sister Sangluo bought all of it.”
The two of them froze. What sister?
Then they realized and looked at Xu Sangluo, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion.
Xu Sangluo smiled and said,
“That wasn’t my real name before. From now on, my name is Xu Sangluo—Sang as in mulberry leaves, Luo as in the setting sun.”
The twins knew nothing about Xu Sangluo’s situation, so upon hearing this, they nodded in understanding.