“That’s right, that’s right. Hurry and deposit the money in the bank. I’ll wait for you outside.”
Just moments ago, Li Lan had been worried about Song Wanning carrying so much cash around, afraid someone might target her. She had completely forgotten there was a bank nearby.
The two of them walked to the bank entrance. After watching Song Wanning go inside, Li Lan waited for her outside.
Inside the bank, Song Wanning opened a savings account and deposited 700 yuan, keeping 300 yuan in cash.
The bank staff worked efficiently. It didn’t take long before she had finished depositing the money and walked out with her bankbook.
The moment she came out, she saw Li Lan pacing anxiously outside.
Smiling brightly, she walked over, linked arms with her, and said happily,
“Godmother, I made money today! Come on, I’m treating you to a good meal at the state-owned restaurant.”
She remembered every kindness Li Lan had shown her.
Especially today.
After seeing her sell the lingzhi for so much money, Li Lan hadn’t once thought about taking advantage of it. Instead, she had only reminded her to hide the money safely.
That genuinely touched Song Wanning.
“Child, the food at the state-owned restaurant is too expensive. Let’s not go.”
“You’ll need money for plenty of things in the future. You should save it.”
Li Lan knew the state-owned restaurant served delicious food, but it was expensive.
As farmers who spent their lives working in the fields, they couldn’t bear to spend money so extravagantly.
Although she had once been an educated youth from the city, after marrying Wang Jianguo, she had rarely gone to places like that.
“Oh, come on, Godmother. Please go with me. I really want to eat there.”
Song Wanning acted spoiled as she gently shook Li Lan’s arm, hoping to persuade her.
In the end, Li Lan couldn’t refuse and agreed to accompany her, though she repeatedly reminded her not to order too many dishes.
Before heading to the state-owned restaurant, they returned to the black market.
Song Wanning exchanged some money for grain coupons and meat coupons from a ticket scalper.
She also noticed an elderly woman selling eggs.
A basket containing more than thirty eggs sat before her.
After asking the price, she learned they cost three mao each.
Song Wanning immediately handed over ten yuan and bought the entire basket.
After buying the eggs, she asked Li Lan to help place them into her basket before covering them with cloth.
Next, the two women went to the supply and marketing cooperative.
Song Wanning purchased some meat and grain.
In truth, her space already contained an endless supply of food.
She had discovered this purely by accident.
Previously, while taking bread and milk, she had been astonished to find that after removing items from the shelves, they weren’t depleted at all. New ones would simply appear in their place.
The living supplies section contained rice, flour, cooking oil, and other staples.
The rice inside was premium-quality polished rice—far better than anything available outside.
The reason she was buying these supplies from the cooperative wasn’t because she needed them.
It was merely for appearances.
Everyone in the village knew she’d left home with practically nothing after the family split.
If she suddenly started cooking every day without ever buying any supplies, people would inevitably become suspicious.
As for where the money had come from, she’d already prepared an explanation.
She would simply say she’d borrowed it temporarily from Li Lan.
She knew Li Lan would gladly help cover for her.
She didn’t buy much grain.
She purchased about twenty jin each of rice and flour.
When she saw White Rabbit milk candies for sale, she bought a bag as well.
Those were meant as a gift for Li Lan’s youngest son.
After finishing their shopping at the supply cooperative, the two finally went to the state-owned restaurant.
Song Wanning ordered several dishes.
If Li Lan hadn’t stopped her, she probably would have ordered even more.
Wang Jianbang’s ox cart usually made one trip to the county in the morning and returned around noon.
Song Wanning and Li Lan weren’t planning to return at noon.
Before coming to the restaurant, they had gone to the county entrance to inform Wang Jianbang that they would be taking another vehicle back that afternoon.
There was also a tractor that traveled between the county and Wangjiawan Village.
It cost five mao per person, making it more expensive than the ox cart.
Now that Song Wanning had money, she certainly didn’t mind spending the extra five mao.
Altogether, she ordered three dishes and one soup.
The two of them couldn’t possibly finish everything.
In the end, they packed the leftovers into lunch boxes.
Earlier, Song Wanning had bought three aluminum lunch boxes at the supply cooperative.
Now they came in handy.
She asked the waitress to pack the dishes that had barely been touched.
Then she ordered a few additional dishes and had those packed as well.
It wouldn’t be right if only the two of them enjoyed the food.
She wanted Li Lan to take some home for her family that evening.
Li Lan had no idea that the extra food was intended for her family.
She assumed Song Wanning was simply packing it for herself and Xu Lanjiao to eat later.
After finishing everything, they had nothing else to buy.
They found the tractor heading back to Wangjiawan, paid the fare, and climbed aboard.
People from the villages surrounding the county usually chose the ox cart or simply walked.
Very few were willing to pay extra for the tractor.
Having finally found two passengers, the tractor driver immediately set off, worried they might change their minds.
The tractor was indeed much faster than the ox cart.
The ox cart took nearly half an hour to reach the county.
The tractor cut that time in half, arriving in just over ten minutes.
When they reached the entrance of Wangjiawan Village, several elderly women were sitting there chatting.
As soon as they saw Song Wanning and Li Lan getting off the tractor, everyone’s eyes turned toward them.
Especially after seeing them unload such a large pile of goods.
Some of the women became green with envy.
Among them was Zhou Fang.
She watched everything unfold.
Ever since the family’s money and grain had disappeared, she had suspected Song Wanning had stolen them.
Now she was even more convinced.
Otherwise, where could Song Wanning possibly have gotten enough money to buy so many things?
When the family had split, given Liu Cuihua’s personality, there was no way she would have given Song Wanning any money.
If she hadn’t stolen it, where had all this money come from?
“No, I have to go ask Liu Cuihua.”
With that thought, Zhou Fang immediately turned and ran off without looking back.
Meanwhile, Li Lan helped Song Wanning carry all the purchases toward her house.
As they walked through the village together, many people greeted Li Lan.
She smiled and nodded politely to each of them.
When they reached the village, Li Lan suddenly realized Song Wanning wasn’t heading home at all.
Instead, she had followed her to the Wang family house.
Feeling puzzled, Li Lan asked,
“Child, aren’t you going home?”
“Why did you come to my house instead?”
Song Wanning smiled.
“Godmother, when did I ever say I was going home?”
“I was coming here all along.”
“Don’t tell me you’re not welcoming me?”
“What are you talking about? Of course you’re welcome!”
“Come in.”
Song Wanning nodded and followed Li Lan into the courtyard.
Wang Ziqi and Wang Ziwen had just finished lunch and were resting in the yard.
When they saw Li Lan and Song Wanning return, both immediately stood up and walked over.
“Mom.”
“Little Sister Song, you’re back.”
Song Wanning and Li Lan both nodded.
Song Wanning stepped forward and placed the rice and flour she was carrying onto the table in the courtyard.
Then she removed the basket from her back and took out the eggs and meat, placing them on the table as well.
“Godmother, these twenty jin of rice and twenty jin of flour are to repay you.”
“When I had no grain, your family gave me food.”
“And these eggs and this meat…”
“Oh, right.”
“And this bag of candy is for Little Zixu.”
Li Lan stared blankly at the pile of supplies Song Wanning had placed on the table.
She was completely stunned.
At that moment, Song Wanning slipped fifty yuan into her hand.
“Godmother, this is the money I borrowed from you before.”
“Now that I have money, I’m paying you back.”