Meng Zhizhi nodded repeatedly. “Me too!”
Just as the two were sighing with emotion, the No. 3 public bus swayed and wobbled over like a panda.
The public buses these days weren’t as big as those in her previous life, looking rather cramped and narrow.
As soon as the bus stopped, the conductor opened the door first, and a loud voice followed: “Exit before boarding, fare is ten cents, uniform fare is ten cents.”
At times like this, Zhao Mingzhu’s advantages shone through. Tall and quick-eyed, she grabbed Meng Zhizhi and charged forward.
“Make way, everyone make way.”
Though the two girls looked young, Zhao Mingzhu’s strength was undeniable. She pushed her way through, carving a path through the extremely cramped space.
Then she called out to Meng Zhizhi, “Come, Zhizhi, into my arms.”
Meng Zhizhi, “…”
Looking up, she was met with her best friend’s ample bosom.
Noticing the people around them staring, Meng Zhizhi’s face flushed bright red, hot and tingling as if thousands of ants were crawling over it.
“Mingzhu, don’t shout like that next time.”
She couldn’t handle it.
Zhao Mingzhu gave a flirtatious wink, stunningly beautiful. “I think you’re blessed and don’t even know it.”
If others wanted her to hold them, she wouldn’t even consider it.
Meng Zhizhi didn’t reply. The smell of gasoline inside the bus was too strong. Especially since the driver drove so aggressively—several sudden brakes in just two kilometers.
The jolting made Meng Zhizhi feel unwell. Fortunately, the window was open, and she leaned out to take a breath of the thin, cold air outside.
Only then did she feel alive again.
“That’s the opera house at Dashilan.”
When Zhao Mingzhu pointed it out, Meng Zhizhi was too exhausted to look, only glancing at it from afar.
She could vaguely make out the dusty-looking building.
Zhao Mingzhu was still chattering away, but Meng Zhizhi had no energy to listen. By the time they got off the bus, Zhao Mingzhu supported her. “Are you okay?”
Meng Zhizhi shook her head and spat out some sour fluid, her face pale and delicate. “I’ll live.”
After catching her breath, she felt much better.
Zhao Mingzhu frowned. “Want me to carry you on my back?”
Meng Zhizhi shook her head firmly. “I can make it on my own.”
Seeing she wasn’t forcing herself, Zhao Mingzhu nodded. The two of them headed to the State-Owned Store, both dressed quite plainly.
So much so that when they first entered, no one paid them any attention.
Of course, it was also because the State-Owned Store was packed with people everywhere.
After asking around, Meng Zhizhi finally found the stall selling enamel basins.
Enamel basins were considered valuable items, so this stall wasn’t crowded. On the glass counter, stacks of enamel basins were displayed.
Meng Zhizhi stepped forward and picked one up to examine. “Comrade, how much are these enamel basins?”
The salesperson was knitting a sweater and glanced at her. “The 36-centimeter Desheng double-flower enamel basin is three yuan and eighty cents each, plus an enamel basin coupon.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Zhizhi couldn’t help but widen her eyes. This thing was way too expensive. Just think, her bus fare was only ten cents. One enamel basin could cover a month’s worth of bus rides for her.
No wonder the entire Zhou family, over ten members, all shared one basin for washing their faces and feet.
This thing was practically a semi-luxury item. Even though Meng Zhizhi had money, she didn’t dare spend it recklessly.
“Do you have anything cheaper?” Truly, even a hero can be brought low by a single penny.
“If there’s something cheaper, we’d each take two enamel basins.”
One for washing the face, one for washing the feet and bottom—this was the most basic necessity of life!
The sales clerk glanced at her.
Zhao Mingzhu immediately declared, “I want two enamel basins too.”
Hearing that both of them wanted four enamel basins in total, the sales clerk finally set down the unfinished sweater in her hands, stood up, and pulled out a stack of enamel basins from under the counter. “These are defective ones—the patterns are printed upside down. They cost two yuan each, no coupons needed. Do you want them?”
Meng Zhizhi picked one up to examine it. They were all Desheng Double Flower enamel basins, but one clearly had the pattern printed right-side up, while the other was upside down. Though not aesthetically pleasing, it didn’t affect their functionality at all.
Without hesitation, Meng Zhizhi said, “I’ll take two.”
Zhao Mingzhu added, “I’ll take two as well.”
The sales clerk briskly pulled out four and handed them over. “Pick them yourselves. Once these defective items are sold, no returns or exchanges are allowed.”
Meng Zhizhi inspected them again, making sure there were no holes, and nodded. “I’ll take these two.” She then handed over four yuan.
When it was Zhao Mingzhu’s turn, she hesitated. “Maybe we could share one basin?”
Meng Zhizhi looked up, shaking her head with a smile. “And fight over it every day?”
That instantly silenced Zhao Mingzhu, who decisively made up her mind. “I’ll take two too.”
The purchase was swift.
The sales clerk promptly handed her two basins.
Even after walking far away from the enamel basin stall, Zhao Mingzhu kept muttering, “So expensive.”
Meng Zhizhi replied, “We actually got a bargain. Before, one would cost three yuan and eighty cents. We bought two for just four yuan—that’s practically a steal.”
Zhao Mingzhu thought about it and agreed.
After buying the enamel basins, Meng Zhizhi stood on tiptoe to look around. The stalls were crowded with people, but with a quick glance, she already had a goal in mind.
“Let’s go check out towels, clam oil, and snowflake cream.”
“Zhou Shechuan left me quite a few coupons before he left.”
No, these coupons were originally meant for Zhao Mingzhu.
Zhao Mingzhu didn’t seem to grasp the implication in Meng Zhizhi’s words. Instead, she happily wrapped an arm around her shoulder and said, “We can share the rest of the stuff.”
“That’s true.”
With towel coupons and money, shopping became much easier. They bought two towels in total. While they could manage without a towel for washing their faces, each of them needed their own towel for washing their bottoms.
When it came to snowflake cream, a small jar cost one yuan and fifty cents.
Both Meng Zhizhi and Zhao Mingzhu were reluctant to spend that much, but looking at the clam oil, they simply couldn’t bring themselves to use it. It was as greasy as lard, and applying it would likely clog every pore on their faces.
They exchanged a glance. “A woman should treat her face well!”
“Right, if your face isn’t good, nothing else matters.”
So, gritting their teeth, each bought a jar.
After finishing their shopping, they stepped out of the State-Owned Store and caught the enticing aroma wafting from the neighboring State-Owned Restaurant, which had just started serving. The rich smell made them glance over repeatedly.
Meng Zhizhi and Zhao Mingzhu exchanged another look, both recognizing the longing in each other’s eyes. “How about we eat something?”
“Let’s eat something then.”
So, carrying their enamel basins, they swaggered into the State-Owned Restaurant.
As soon as they entered, they spotted the small blackboard hanging on the wall, with the menu written in white chalk:
Braised Pork Tripe, Lamb Offal Soup, Stewed Offal, Spicy and Sour Shredded Potatoes, Stir-Fried Chinese Cabbage. Among these, the Braised Pork Tripe was the most expensive, priced at eighty cents per plate.
The lamb offal soup now costs forty-five cents a bowl.
While Meng Zhizhi was still hesitating over what to eat, someone happened to carry a large bowl of lamb offal soup from the cafeteria window. She glanced casually and saw the milky white broth steaming hot, with a few slices of lamb liver and tripe trembling on the surface, mixed with a layer of oil droplets and topped with a sprinkle of bright green cilantro.
The aroma of pepper and lamb couldn’t help but drift into her nose.
Meng Zhizhi swallowed her saliva shamefully. “Mingzhu, I want the lamb offal soup too.”
“I want the braised pork tripe.”
The two exchanged a glance. “How about you order one, I order the other, and we share?”
“Let’s do that.”
“I’ll get the lamb offal soup.”
The weather was unusually cold. It was hard to imagine how warm one would feel after drinking a bowl of steaming hot lamb offal soup.
Zhao Mingzhu waved her hand. “Buy it, buy it! Let’s eat first and worry about money and coupons later.”
They couldn’t possibly live such a miserable life even after crossing over.
Meng Zhizhi pursed her lips. “How about two freshly baked sesame pancakes too?”
“Perfect!”
Zhao Mingzhu made the decision without hesitation. She took the money to buy the food, while Meng Zhizhi handed her a pound of national grain coupons, which Zhou Shechuan had left behind before leaving.
Zhao Mingzhu didn’t stand on ceremony. She took the coupons and went to queue at the cafeteria window.
Meanwhile, Meng Zhizhi held four enamel basins and sat on a long bench, guarding their seats. As she looked around, a woman wearing a thick cotton coat and a felt hat approached her. “Young lady?”
Meng Zhizhi immediately looked over warily.
The woman smiled, trying to appear friendly, and pointed at the enamel basins in Meng Zhizhi’s hands. “Why did you buy so many enamel basins?”
Enamel basins were expensive and required industrial coupons, so it was impressive for a family to own even one. Even if one had money, they might not have the coupons.
Industrial coupons were hard to come by, yet Meng Zhizhi was holding four basins all by herself.
Meng Zhizhi quickly thought it over. Noticing the desire in the woman’s eyes, she handed over her enamel basins generously. “Sister, you can take a look.”
“My relative helped me buy these. These enamel basins are great in every way, except the pattern is printed upside down.”
Understanding the hint, the woman exclaimed, “Oh, these basins are really nice!”
“And they’re from Desheng Shuanghua!”
The woman held them in her hands, unable to put them down.
Meng Zhizhi glanced around and, seeing that everyone nearby was focused on their food, lowered her voice. “Do you want them? If so, three yuan each, no coupons needed.”
The woman’s eyes lit up. That was one yuan cheaper than the state-run store!
And, most importantly, no coupons were required!
“I want them.”
“How many?”
The woman wanted to say two, but she knew such an opportunity wouldn’t come again.
She gritted her teeth. “I want all four. Will you sell them?”
Her son was about to get married, and her daughter was also preparing for her wedding. She had been worried about not having enough dowry items.
These enamel basins would be perfect.
Meng Zhizhi hummed in agreement. “I’ll sell them.”
However, doing business in these times was considered speculation and profiteering. Noticing someone looking over, Meng Zhizhi immediately changed the topic, putting on a gentle and obedient expression. “Auntie, my mother asked me to bring these enamel basins to you. She said they’re important for my brother and sister’s weddings.”
As soon as she said this, the passerby who had been eavesdropping immediately looked away.
The woman also caught on. “I knew your mother cared about me. She knows how difficult things are for me at home right now.”
She fished out a ten-yuan note from her pocket. “I can’t let your mother keep covering for me every day—how would she manage her own life?”
Meng Zhizhi looked at the money but didn’t take it.
The older sister caught on and added two more yuan. “The extra two is for you and your sister’s travel fare back. And please thank your mother for me, for caring so much about my two kids.”
Meng Zhizhi gave an acknowledging sound and finally accepted the money. The older sister took the enamel basin and immediately turned to leave with it.
When Zhao Mingzhu returned, she noticed the enamel basin was no longer in Meng Zhizhi’s hands.
She paused, about to ask.
Meng Zhizhi winked at her. “I ran into our aunt, so I gave her the enamel basin early.”
“After all, her family’s wedding celebration is more urgent.”
Zhao Mingzhu understood instantly and couldn’t help exclaiming, “You’re amazing!”
She never expected that while she went to buy food, her best friend had managed to make a profit reselling the basin.
Meng Zhizhi grinned happily, taking a large bowl of lamb offal soup and a plate of braised pork tripe.
Zhao Mingzhu hurried to the window and bought two sesame seed cakes.
Freshly baked, the sesame cakes steamed with heat, their surfaces densely coated with sesame seeds, crumbling delightfully with each bite.
Paired with a sip of the hot, savory lamb offal soup—the liver smooth, the tripe crisp and chewy, the broth rich and flavorful—Meng Zhizhi instantly felt revived.
She knew how to enjoy food. Breaking off a piece of the crumbly sesame cake, she dipped it into the milky-white lamb soup. The cake soaked up the spicy broth instantly, blending the punch of pepper with the soup’s freshness, sending a wave of satisfaction straight to her senses.
Meng Zhizhi sighed contentedly. “Now this is real food.”
Compared to the Zhou family’s meals—cornmeal with eggs was still just cornmeal.
Zhao Mingzhu felt the same. Squinting as she exhaled white breath, sweat beading on her temples, she couldn’t stop eating. “If we had money and ration tickets, we could eat out like this every day.”
As they ate, Zhao Mingzhu tallied the expenses. “Braised pork tripe, eighty cents; lamb offal soup, forty-five cents; two sesame cakes, thirty cents total. Just used one jin of grain ration tickets.”
Altogether, the meal cost one yuan and fifty-five cents.
Meng Zhizhi calculated the profit from selling the four enamel basins earlier—one yuan each, totaling four yuan. That meant this meal was covered, with money to spare.
“No worries, we’ve got funds for eating out this coming week.”
They just had to be careful with their ration tickets. She wondered if Zhou Shechuan would send more.
If Zhou Shechuan and Zhou Ye could send money and tickets regularly every month, she and Mingzhu would live in bliss.
Shaking off unrealistic thoughts, Meng Zhizhi said, “Let’s buy back the enamel basins first.”
Otherwise, they’d have nothing to use tonight.
Zhao Mingzhu naturally agreed. The two returned to the State-Owned Store.
Meng Zhizhi didn’t rush to buy the enamel basins. Instead, she first purchased half a jin of White Rabbit milk candies.
With the candies tucked in her pocket, she strolled over to find the salesperson from earlier.
The salesperson looked surprised to see her. “Why are you back?”
Meng Zhizhi smiled warmly. “Comrade, I’d like four more enamel basins with the reversed flower pattern.”
Before the salesperson could refuse, she grabbed a handful of White Rabbit candies and slipped them into their hand.
The sales clerk paused, looking down at the four large White Rabbit milk candies and thinking of the children at home.
She gritted her teeth. “Normally, I shouldn’t sell so much to one person, but these are defective items—”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Meng Zhizhi nodded eagerly like a pecking chick. Only then did the clerk, acting as if she were stealing, squat down and quickly grab four more, handing them to Meng Zhizhi.
Meng Zhizhi paid swiftly and left, but before going, she learned the clerk’s name.
—Li Xiaoyan.
Meng Zhizhi smiled brightly. “Sister Xiaoyan, I’ll come see you again next time.”
Li Xiaoyan nodded with mixed feelings.
After leaving the State-Owned Store, Zhao Mingzhu glanced back. “Do you plan to come find her again next time you want to buy something?”
Meng Zhizhi nodded. “Mingzhu really understands me.”
Seeing that it was almost dark, she linked arms with Zhao Mingzhu and said carefreely, “Let’s go, let’s go. I’m tired from shopping. Time to go back and watch the fun.”
By evening, the Zhou family’s kitchen was still cold—no fire in the stove, no food in the pots or bowls.
This made the atmosphere inside the house feel off, the mood somewhat heavy.
“Have Meng Zhizhi and Zhao Mingzhu not returned yet?”
Author’s Note:
Zhizhi: Not yet, we’re out here eating and drinking well, Mother-in-law~
P.S.: Red envelopes for Chapter 8 have been sent out. Still asking for favorites, comments, and nutrient solution, my darlings~ I really, really need them, please!