Father Bai had boasted that he would write the story of the production team growing medicinal herbs, but he got stuck right at the beginning, and it was suffocatingly frustrating.
Before Mother Bai could make fun of him, Father Bai asked the production team leader for leave and went to the county seat to buy things.
This time he was not only buying an iron wok, but also all sorts of odds and ends for daily life, so he brought quite a lot of money and grain with him.
Bai Shuhua was not especially worried either, after all, Father Bai had once gone to the city alone.
He had seen the world.
Father Bai did not disappoint. When he came back that night, he brought two large iron woks and a back basket full of things.
These two iron woks drew over Aunt Bai, who had been pouring water out.
She asked impatiently, “Third Brother, where did you buy these iron woks?”
Mother Bai answered, “Eldest sister-in-law, if they weren’t bought at the department store, where else could there be such new iron woks?”
Aunt Bai did not believe it at all. “To buy iron woks at the department store, you need coupons. If Third Brother bought two iron woks at once, how many coupons would that take? Third Brother, did you go to the black market?”
Father Bai immediately denied it. “Eldest sister-in-law, don’t talk nonsense, you’d be harming me. I’m a three-generation poor peasant, how would I go there. They really were bought at the department store, the coupons were exchanged for grain from other people. Barter is allowed, it doesn’t count as profiteering.”
Mother Bai was also a little angry, eldest sister-in-law was speaking without thinking at all, “Exactly, even if he had the nerve, he wouldn’t dare go to the black market. Eldest sister-in-law, have you been there?”
Eldest Uncle Bai cut in, “We’ve barely been to the county seat, let alone the black market.”
“What black market? Third Brother bought iron woks at the black market?” Grandmother Bai had not heard the whole thing.
It seemed the iron wok was too appealing, even Grandmother Bai, who lately had not really been willing to come out of the house to keep her youngest daughter company, had been lured out.
Mother Bai explained for Father Bai.
Father Bai casually picked up an iron wok and handed it to Second Uncle Bai. “Second brother, this iron wok is for you.”
Second Uncle Bai was very excited. “Was the money enough?”
Father Bai answered, “Enough, there’s still three yuan and five left, I also deducted the money from the exchanged industrial coupons.”
Father Bai had already divided the money up, so now he gave it directly to Second Uncle, not even needing to count it.
Second Uncle Bai kept nodding and thanking him. “That’s how it should be, that’s how it should be. I made a lot of mud bricks today, and if I make more for a few days I’ll help you put up the shed.”
Father Bai was very happy. “No rush, it’s hot now, it’s fine even without a shed. Later I’ll make mud bricks with you.”
Bai Shuhua immediately realized what was going on. Father Bai had outsourced the shed-building work.
No need to doubt it, that was his style.
Aunt Bai was still asking, “Third Brother, what did you use to exchange for the coupons, can you exchange for cloth coupons?”
Grandmother Bai was also very concerned about this question.
Father Bai’s brain was quick, and he did not want to take on extra work. “Coupons are not easy to exchange anymore, otherwise I would have been back already. The workers in the county seat are also living tight, we don’t have any connections or know any big leaders, but they do have a lot of coupons.”
Aunt Bai did not quite believe it and pursed her lips.
She also wanted to reach into the back basket and see what else had been bought.
Father Bai stood up at the right moment and blocked the back basket. “Oh, I’m already hungry, does your mother have anything to eat?”
Mother Bai said, “Yes, I left you some corn gruel.”
Second Uncle Bai held up the iron wok. “Then Third Brother, I’ll head back first.”
After Second Uncle Bai left, Grandmother Bai and Aunt Bai left unwillingly.
After they all left, Mother Bai even closed the room door before letting out a long breath.
Little Bai Jun followed her example and immediately got rewarded with a flick on the forehead.
Mother Bai began rummaging through the back basket, and Bai Shuhua stood on tiptoe to look inside.
The first things taken out were two sets of bowls, chopsticks, and plates, and four pairs of chopsticks.
“Why buy so many? Didn’t I tell you to just buy one bowl and one plate?” Although Mother Bai was not diligent, she was still frugal.
It should be said that in this era, the vast majority of people were thrifty and economical.
Father Bai grinned proudly. “Look more carefully.”
Bai Shuhua also widened her eyes to look closely, feeling that things were not simple.
Mother Bai frowned and picked at it critically. “What is this thing? Even the flowers are not printed together. Is this large bowl a little crooked? You didn’t even look at it, how did you buy it.”
Father Bai could not help laughing.
Mother Bai muttered, “Still laughing, you look just like a big fool who got fooled.”
Father Bai snorted. “I’m sharp, who could fool me. These are all defective goods, they don’t need coupons and they’re cheap, ordinary people can’t buy them, only insiders know about them.”
Mother Bai was curious. “Then how did you buy them?”
Bai Shuhua pricked up her ears, she was also curious.
“Because I got to know the department store director.” Father Bai was very pleased with himself.
Mother Bai looked left and right, very interested. “How did you get to know him?”
“I helped him with a small favor, later we chatted for a bit, he even wanted to treat me to a meal, I didn’t agree, so he asked me whether I wanted to buy defective goods. Just happened that I didn’t have that many coupons, so I agreed.” Father Bai made it sound very simple.
Bai Shuhua felt like a cat was scratching at her heart and liver. What exactly was that small favor, could he not explain it in more detail?
He would definitely brag about it to Mother Bai during their nighttime “kang chat,” and she would secretly listen then.
Mother Bai probably thought of that too. Knowing some things were not suitable to talk about in front of the children, she put the bowls and chopsticks away, then took out the other things.
“Cloth!” Mother Bai was excited.
“Look carefully, there are small holes on it, but it was cheap, no coupons needed, and the price was only half. I figured it could still be used in a pinch.” Father Bai pointed out the flaw with his hand.
Mother Bai did not care at all. “It’s fine, it’s fine, the holes aren’t big. Just sew them up with thread, and it can be used to make you a set of clothes.”
Father Bai waved it off. “I have enough clothes to wear, you make it. I’ll talk about it next year.”
Mother Bai fondled the cloth as if it were something precious, gently put it aside, and also warned Little Brother Bai not to touch it. Then she continued rummaging through the things. “What is this, so much grass?”
Father Bai set down the gruel bowl and went straight to the ground. “Slow down, this is a good thing.”
Mother Bai was very obedient, moving her hands and feet more lightly. “Come help me.”
Bai Shuhua and Father Bai both reached out to help.
“It’s a thermos liner!” Mother Bai’s voice rose.
“Hey, keep your voice down, look at the bottom.” Father Bai held the thermos liner up higher, making it easier for Mother Bai to see clearly.
Little Xiao Jun, who was playing nearby, also squeezed over to watch the fun, and his eyes were quite sharp. “There’s a little handle.”
“Don’t touch it. If the little handle breaks, the liner will shatter.” Father Bai issued a serious warning.
Mother Bai frowned. “Then… how do you use this? There’s nowhere to put it.”
Father Bai said, “If it were a good one, would it have come around to me to buy? Guess how much it cost?”
Mother Bai thought and thought. “No matter how cheap it was, it had to be fifty cents, right.”
Father Bai held out one finger proudly. “Ten cents.”
Mother Bai did not quite believe it. “So cheap!”
Father Bai hummed. “When I found this liner, the director didn’t even want to let me buy it, saying it had been sitting there for almost half a year and no one wanted it. Mainly because this flaw was in the wrong place. He even said he’d give it to me for free, but am I the kind of person who takes advantage of the public? After much bargaining, I gave one dime.”
Mother Bai thought it was really cheap, but also felt a little torn. “One dime is fair enough, but how do you use it? You can’t just lay the thermos down on its side.”
Father Bai grinned. “I thought of a way on the way back. Later you find an old set of clothes, take it apart, then pull some cotton out of a cotton-padded jacket, make it a little coat for it, and then I’ll find some wood and carve it a bit, so the little handle will be hidden. The bottom will be wood, so it can stand upright. Wrap the wood up with the clothes and it won’t fall out, and I’ll find some woolly sedge and weave it a grass shell. That would keep the heat so well, in winter we’ll have a thermos. Right, we still need to make a wooden stopper.”
Mother Bai thought it over. Although it was a little troublesome, they only spent one dime to get a thermos, so they were still getting the better end of the deal, but, “With your grass-weaving skills, even straw sandals can end up crooked, you should still find someone to weave the thermos cover.”
Father Bai did not argue. “Let Second Sister-in-law help weave it, her skills are good.”
Mother Bai also did not think there was anything wrong with that. “All right, Second Sister-in-law’s skills are much better than yours. Second brother only bought an iron wok, they still don’t have a kitchen knife?”
Father Bai shook his head. “I don’t know either, anyway he didn’t let me buy it, and it just so happened that I didn’t have that many industrial coupons either.”
“Why don’t you first borrow some mud bricks from somewhere, and let’s build the stove. I really don’t want to use the iron wok from Eldest Brother’s family anymore, even if it’s washed clean I can still hear her nagging.” Mother Bai was very unwilling.
Clearly, when the family split up, her parents-in-law had agreed that until they bought an iron wok, they could keep using it.
Father Bai also did not want to get mixed up with the eldest family. “Mm, this afternoon I’ll ask the production team leader, he knows every household’s situation.”
Mother Bai was very satisfied, then remembered something else. “If someone outside wants you to help buy an iron wok, don’t agree.”
Father Bai went back to drinking his gruel. “Am I stupid, taking on that job.”
Bai Shuhua believed that very much. If anyone wanted to take advantage of her father, that would be far too difficult.