Director Zhang’s eyes lit up, and he said very happily, “Yes, of course.”
Each neighborhood committee had quotas for educated youth going to the countryside, and most families were unwilling to participate, which gave them headaches when trying to persuade them.
Now that someone was volunteering, they were naturally delighted.
Su Jiaojiao then whispered, “However, Director Zhang, could you keep this confidential for now? But I promise you, my sister and I will go to the countryside on time.”
Director Zhang thought for a moment and said, “Alright. You sisters have a good relationship, and I believe you.”
After that, Director Zhang lowered his head to make the registration.
Su Jiaojiao watched the information Director Zhang was recording, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, revealing a sinister smile.
Shen Qingyu, the good life in Yangcheng Stone Village is for you to enjoy.
After completing this task, Su Jiaojiao turned and went to the shopping mall.
In this era, buying many items required coupons—grain coupons, oil coupons, cloth coupons, and so on—but fortunately, clothes and shoes did not require coupons.
As she walked, Su Jiaojiao muttered quietly to herself, “Before going to the countryside, not only do I need to bring all my money and assets, but I also have to find a way to get these coupons.”
She had lived in the countryside in her previous life, and obtaining these coupons there was much harder than in the city.
Thinking of this, she turned and headed to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
The Supply and Marketing Cooperative mainly sold daily necessities, most of which required coupons. Usually, there were many customers here.
As Su Jiaojiao approached the entrance, she saw several aunties peeking around, their eyes shifting nervously.
Su Jiaojiao’s eyes darted, and she walked up to one of the aunties, asking quietly, “Auntie, do you have coupons to exchange here? Any kind will do.”
The auntie’s hand, tucked in her pocket, twitched slightly before she asked, “Girl, what coupons do you need?”
Su Jiaojiao said, “I need all kinds of coupons.”
The auntie said, “Girl, I have a sewing machine coupon that my daughter-in-law got from her factory. It’s 150 yuan. Do you want it?”
Upon hearing this, Su Jiaojiao smiled and said, “Auntie, the price of a new Yan-brand sewing machine is 120 yuan. Selling it for 150 yuan means you’re trying to make an extra month’s salary.”
The auntie looked somewhat embarrassed. She hadn’t expected this seemingly delicate and pretty young girl to know the market price.
She said, a bit guiltily, “How about this? For the sewing machine coupon, you can have it for 130 yuan. Consider it my loss. What do you think?”
“…” Su Jiaojiao replied with a faint smile, “How about this: a fixed price of 123 yuan, and I’ll buy it. If you really think it’s a loss, it’s fine. You can sell it to someone else. I’m not in a hurry—I can find a way to get a sewing machine coupon elsewhere.”
In this era, when the average worker’s salary was thirty to forty yuan, aside from free coupons distributed by work units, few families were willing to spend such a high amount on a sewing machine.
Unless it was for a wedding, and the bride specifically demanded a sewing machine. But most people were content with finding a second-hand one.
Hearing this, the auntie immediately grew anxious.
She said, “Fine, 123 yuan it is. Cash for the coupon.”
She had been waiting here for several days, but no one had been willing to take the sewing machine coupon.
If she didn’t sell this coupon soon, her daughter-in-law would find out, and all her efforts would come to nothing.
When Su Jiaojiao pulled out a stack of money and ration coupons from her trouser pocket, the eyes of those around her immediately lit up. Su Jiaojiao quickly covered them, then took out one hundred and twenty-three yuan to give to the auntie, before taking the sewing machine ticket from the auntie’s hand and putting it into her pocket.
Soon after, a crowd immediately gathered around Su Jiaojiao.
“Miss, I have fabric tickets here. Do you need them?”
“Miss, I have kerosene tickets. Do you need them?”
…
Su Jiaojiao weighed the money in her pocket and accepted all the ration tickets offered without refusal.
However, someone tried to take advantage of the situation by slitting open Su Jiaojiao’s trouser pocket to steal her belongings.
During this era, people preferred to carry money in their pockets, while pickpockets would skillfully slit clothing pockets to steal money without being noticed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Su Jiaojiao immediately caught a glint of cold light moving toward her thigh.
Her body reacted faster than her mind could process. With a swift lift and kick of her long leg, she sent the thief stumbling backward.
Even she herself was puzzled.
She opened her hands and looked at them.
“Huh? When did I become so strong?”
“Clang!”
The sharp knife in the thief’s hand fell to the ground, while the thief himself was sent sprawling.
“Ah!”
The surrounding crowd was startled and immediately stepped back.
“This… this is a thief?”
“He looks like a thief. How audacious, stealing in broad daylight.”
“This young lady is impressive—so alert to have spotted the thief. And to kick him away with one strike—what courage!”
Su Jiaojiao had not expected to knock down the thief with a single kick. She was momentarily stunned, then felt a surge of excitement.
“Great! Now I won’t have to worry about being bullied.”
Once she regained her composure, Su Jiaojiao shouted, “This person is a thief! Can someone please report to the Public Security Bureau and have him arrested?”
“Ah, right! Let’s arrest this thief and make him face the consequences!”
Soon, officers from the Public Security Bureau arrived and took the thief away. As the person involved, Su Jiaojiao followed them to give a statement.
However, on her way to the Public Security Bureau, she happened to be seen by Shen Qingyu.
Shen Qingyu wondered, “Why is Su Jiaojiao being taken to the Public Security Bureau?”
Beside her, Song Xiangdong glanced at the Public Security Bureau and then at Shen Qingyu, asking, “Xiao Yu, what’s wrong?”
Shen Qingyu shook her head and said, “It’s nothing. I just saw an acquaintance entering the Public Security Bureau.”
“Entering the Public Security Bureau? That probably means they’ve gotten into trouble.” Song Xiangdong frowned slightly and asked, “Should we go ask why your acquaintance is at the Public Security Bureau?”
“Better not.” Shen Qingyu replied, “What if we’re mistaken as accomplices? We wouldn’t be able to talk our way out of it.”
No matter what trouble Su Jiaojiao had gotten into, she decided to pretend she knew nothing and let Su Jiaojiao stay a few more days in the Public Security Bureau.
After leaving the Public Security Bureau, Su Jiaojiao looked up at the sun to estimate the time.
She muttered to herself, “It seems I still need to buy a watch to tell time more easily. It’s noon already—I’ll go eat at the State-Run Restaurant first.”
Soon, she arrived at the State-Run Restaurant.
It was mealtime, and the restaurant was filled with customers.
Her eyes immediately fell on Shen Qingyu and a young man sitting at a table.
Her eyes shifted thoughtfully, and she walked over, stopping in front of Shen Qingyu. With a smile, she greeted, “Sis, what a coincidence! May I join you at your table?”
After speaking, she politely smiled at Song Xiang Dong.
Su Jiaojiao was beautiful with fair skin, delicate features, and a good figure. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, warm and radiant.
Faced with Su Jiaojiao’s beauty and radiant smile, Song Xiang Dong was instantly captivated, staring at her in a daze.