They had arrived early enough that there was still some pork left at the market.
Jiang Ni bought two jin of pork belly and four pieces of pork spine.
She also bought a small amount of pork back fat so she could render it into lard at home. Cooking with lard would make the food much more fragrant.
After buying the pork and vegetables, Jiang Ni spotted a stall selling eggs nearby.
Eggs were rationed in this era and could only be purchased according to one’s allotted quota, so Jiang Ni bought only a small amount—enough to last the two of them a few days.
Next came some common kitchen necessities.
Soy sauce, cooking oil, salt, vinegar, dried chilies, and so on.
She also bought a large bag of white flour.
That way, she could make white-flour steamed buns at home.
Unfortunately, she didn’t see any rice.
In her previous life, Jiang Ni had been from southern China. She could eat flour-based foods, but she still preferred rice.
She also bought a complete set of cooking utensils, bowls, chopsticks, and other tableware.
Two bags of brown sugar and two tins of malted milk powder went into her purchases as well.
She bought enamel cups for the living room, small stools, and a complete set of duvet covers and pillowcases for the bedroom.
Then she went to look at the fabrics.
Most of the fabric available in this era was dacron, with a small amount of cotton. Most of the colors were rather dull and muted.
Jiang Ni bought all the cotton fabric they had, along with some cotton batting.
She planned to make herself several nightgowns and pairs of pants.
The original owner loved beautiful clothes, and her wardrobe had been filled with long silk dresses and skirts.
Now that Jiang Ni had come to join Fu Ruichen in the army, it was better to put those silk clothes away. Otherwise, someone might use them against her.
The seasons were about to change, and she also needed to make some autumn and winter clothes to keep warm.
As for the remaining fabric, she had plenty of plans for it.
Her belly would grow larger during the later stages of pregnancy, so she could make herself a few sets of underwear in the appropriate size.
She could also make a decorative tablecloth for the tea table in the living room. It would make the room look much nicer.
She wanted to make two cushions for the chairs as well.
Otherwise, those hard wooden seats would be terribly uncomfortable.
Watching Jiang Ni shop, Zhang Zhiqi couldn’t help being amazed.
Everything she bought was a necessity, but she always picked the best and most expensive options.
She was incredibly generous with her money, too. When it came time to pay, she didn’t even blink.
Thankfully, their regiment commander’s salary was high. Otherwise, even the wages of an orderly like him probably wouldn’t have been enough to support a wife who spent money like this.
By the time they finished shopping, both of Zhang Zhiqi’s hands were completely full.
Jiang Ni had been waiting for exactly this moment.
She turned to him and said, “Comrade Zhiqi, why don’t you put these things in the car first? They’re too heavy to carry.”
Zhang Zhiqi shook his head.
“It’s fine, Sister-in-law. I’m strong. I can still carry more.”
Before they had left, Commander Fu had specifically instructed him that Sister-in-law was unfamiliar with the area and that he had to stay with her at all times so she wouldn’t get lost.
Jiang Ni said, “Being strong doesn’t mean you have to carry everything. You’re still young. If you exhaust yourself, your unit will come after Commander Fu for it.”
The things in his hands really were quite heavy.
Zhang Zhiqi thought about it and finally nodded.
“All right, Sister-in-law. I’ll take these back to the car and unload them, then come back. Don’t go too far.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll just browse around here and buy a few little things. I won’t go far.”
Once Zhang Zhiqi’s figure disappeared, Jiang Ni immediately turned and headed down a small path nearby.
When she had been buying eggs earlier, she had noticed a middle-aged woman wearing a blue cloth jacket watching her from a distance every now and then.
Jiang Ni walked to a secluded corner.
Before long, the woman in the blue jacket appeared as well.
She was carrying a woven bamboo basket covered with a piece of blue cloth.
She lifted one corner of the cloth, revealing several eggs.
“Miss, looking for something? Auntie can help you find it.”
The supply cooperative in this area had limited stock.
The eggs Jiang Ni had just bought were nowhere near enough for her needs. The older woman had noticed that and had deliberately given her hints with her eyes.
The eggs in the basket still had traces of chicken droppings on them. They were clearly freshly laid by chickens raised in a local farmer’s household.
Jiang Ni said, “Auntie, I’ll take all the eggs in your basket.”
A delighted expression immediately appeared on the woman’s face.
She hadn’t been wrong about this woman.
The woman’s bearing was clearly different from the women in their county. She was obviously well-off.
“There are fifty eggs here. I’ll give you all of them for five yuan.”
“No problem.”
After taking the eggs, Jiang Ni asked, “Auntie, I also want to buy some other things. Do you know where I can find them?”
The woman’s expression immediately changed.
She understood what Jiang Ni meant.
A broad smile spread across her face.
“Yes, I do. But not many strangers usually go there. It’s just…”
Seeing the woman hesitate, Jiang Ni took out a one-yuan bill and handed it to her.
“Auntie, help me find the way. Consider this your fare.”
The woman’s eyes immediately lit up.
This girl was incredibly generous!
She accepted the money and looked at Jiang Ni as though she were looking at the God of Wealth.
“Of course, of course! Come with me, girl.”
Ten minutes later, Jiang Ni entered through a concealed entrance.
A huge open-air market appeared before her.
The goods in this black market were all laid out on the ground for customers to browse.
There was practically everything—livestock, poultry, and even antiques and other rare curiosities.
The woman in the blue jacket gestured toward the market.
“Girl, this is the place. You can find just about anything here.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
The woman hesitated before leaving.
“I’m familiar with this place. Whatever you’re looking for, just ask me. I’ll take you to find it.”
The truth was, she had seen that Jiang Ni had money and was generous with it. She figured that if she could make a decent profit from helping her, she wouldn’t have to work for an entire month.
Jiang Ni really did need her help.
“Auntie, I’m looking to buy quite a lot of things. If you can help me find the goods and also find a room where I can store everything, I’ll pay you for your trouble.”
The older woman was overjoyed.
“Of course! No problem at all! I have a storage room I normally use to store wheat. It’s very large. You can put plenty of things in there.”
As Jiang Ni browsed the black market, the woman followed alongside her, greeting the vendors whenever they passed their stalls.
She was extremely enthusiastic.
“People here usually come through someone they know. If you’re a stranger, some sellers might not be willing to sell to you, and they may charge you more. Girl, if you see anything you like, just tell me. I’ll go negotiate the price for you!”
Jiang Ni nodded as she continued browsing.
“All right. I saw some chickens and ducks over there. Let’s go take a look.”
Live poultry wasn’t officially sold to the public in this era. It only occasionally circulated among rural communities.
But here, there were live chickens and ducks, which meant Jiang Ni could buy them and store them in her spatial dimension.
The space was static. Animals inside didn’t need to eat, drink, or relieve themselves. Whenever she took them back out, they would still be alive and energetic.
With the older woman’s smooth bargaining skills, Jiang Ni bought two hundred live chickens and ducks from five different stalls for twenty yuan.
Several vendors followed the woman and helped transport all the poultry to the storage room.
Such a huge transaction naturally attracted everyone’s attention.
In an instant, Jiang Ni became the center of attention.
Sellers from the surrounding stalls hurried over, calling out to her and trying to make a sale.
“Miss, do you need pork? I’ve got plenty!”
“Come buy from me! I’ll give you a good price!”
“Don’t listen to him! Mine is even cheaper—only fifty cents a jin!”
“Beef is nutritious, girl! Buy some beef!”
The vendors’ competition worked perfectly in Jiang Ni’s favor.
She smiled and said,
“Whoever has the cheapest price, I’ll buy everything you’ve got.”