Xu Ruyan walked out of the public security bureau.
The interrogation wasn’t her responsibility—her task was already complete. All that remained was to wait for Director Zhao’s news.
In a couple of days, she’d be taking the train to head down to the countryside with the group.
Xu Ruyan didn’t rest. She hurried over to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to stock up on supplies.
Holding ration tickets in her hand, she said with a sweet smile, “Sister, could you help me get twenty cans of malted milk powder, twenty bags of milk powder, twenty cans of luncheon meat, twenty cans of pickled fish…”
Xu Ruyan swept her gaze across the shelves, her slender, fair fingers pointing as her eyes curved into crescents with a smile.
“And those snacks and treats—peach crisps, stir-fried sunflower seeds, White Rabbit creamy candy, canned yellow peaches, biscuits… however much you have, pack it all up for me!”
The clerk at the counter was stunned, her eyes widening with suspicion. “There are purchase limits at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. You’re just a young girl—what do you need all this for? Do you even have ration tickets?”
Xu Ruyan nodded, placing her tickets on the counter, and said with a smile, “Sister, I’m an educated youth heading down to the countryside. In a few days, I’m leaving to support the Great Northwest.”
“There are over a dozen of us educated youths going down together. All of this was decided on by everyone—they sent me out to handle the purchasing and tally everything up. It looks like a lot, but once we split it among everyone, it’s really not that much!”
Xu Ruyan had her story prepared in advance.
In this era, it wasn’t unusual for educated youths going down to the countryside—especially those from better-off families—to stock up on supplies before departure, fearing the hardships of rural life.
The clerk’s suspicion eased somewhat.
She looked up at Xu Ruyan, noting the girl’s fair, clean features and the way her eyes curved like crescent moons when she smiled—obedient, sensible, and with a likable face that easily won people over. She didn’t think much more about it.
The clerk smiled and began packing up Xu Ruyan’s items. “The Great Northwest is tough conditions. Little sister, besides buying food, you’d best head to the department store to get some clothes and quilts too.”
Xu Ruyan had the same idea.
She knew the Supply and Marketing Cooperative had purchase limits, but when it came to hoarding supplies, the more the better—who would ever complain about having too much?
Xu Ruyan smiled sweetly. “Thank you, sister. Could you help me out and grab some daily necessities too?”
“Toiletries, washbasins, thermoses, fabric for clothes and bedsheets and quilt covers… and salt, firewood, oil, and rice! In short, anything that could be useful—pack it all up for me, the more the better. I have the tickets.”
Xu Ruyan nearly cleaned out the entire Supply and Marketing Cooperative. She bought things in bundles and packages so large that onlookers couldn’t help but click their tongues in amazement.
But she’d already said she was heading to the Great Northwest as an educated youth.
The people around knew how harsh conditions were there, so seeing her buy so much, they didn’t say anything—they just cast sympathetic glances her way.
Xu Ruyan didn’t mind. She walked to a quiet corner of an alley and transferred everything into her Spatial Dimension.
Looking at the growing pile of supplies in her space, she nodded in satisfaction, then turned and headed to the department store.
Once at the department store, Xu Ruyan bought things with even fewer reservations.
She used up all her time-limited ration tickets, then used more tickets to buy a sewing machine, a wristwatch, a bicycle… useful or not, anything this era had to offer, she bought it all!
Xu Ruyan also bought plenty of clothes—colorful floral-print shirts, all kinds of skirts, various styles of work pants, and all sorts of shoes and socks.
Afraid the clothes wouldn’t be enough, she used more tickets to buy five hundred bolts of fabric. Once she got to the countryside, she could sew her own clothes if she had time.
Fortunately, everywhere right now was full of people stocking up on supplies before heading down to the countryside.
Although Xu Ruyan spent lavishly and bought a lot, few people suspected anything—they just assumed her family was well-off and couldn’t help feeling a bit envious.
Afraid of drawing too much attention, Xu Ruyan told everyone she met while shopping: “I’m heading to the Great Northwest with over a dozen classmates soon. I’m buying extra for them—better safe than sorry!”
With that explanation, no one suspected a thing. In fact, they were quite understanding.
The Great Northwest was a harsh place—no matter how much you stocked up, it was never enough!
Everything Xu Ruyan bought was also in high demand in the countryside. Even if she didn’t need these things herself, they’d come in handy later for gifts and favors when she was out and about.
She finally bought some lard, rapeseed oil, various dried goods and cured meats, dried fruits, and pastries.
With the food purchases nearly done, she headed to the daily necessities section to buy some skincare products.
Snow cream, anti-chapping hand cream, face lotion, clam-shell oil… These were all essential items for the dead of winter, and ordinary people were reluctant to splurge on them.
Xu Ruyan waved her hand grandly and bought dozens of boxes of each—hoarding, hoarding, hoarding!
She also bought some summer essentials: floral-scented mosquito repellent water, mosquito nets, cooling mats for the heat… Anything Xu Ruyan could see, she bought, bought, bought!
A big brother nearby noticed she was heading to the Great Northwest as an educated youth, and seeing the young girl huffing and puffing as she moved her things alone, he couldn’t bear it. He quietly said to her,
“Comrade, my daughter is the same age as you, and she’s also heading to the Great Northwest soon.”
“I’ll tell you this in secret—don’t go spreading it around…”
The man paused, lowering his voice even further, sounding quite mysterious.
“If you really want to stock up for the Great Northwest, the department store isn’t enough. You’d best check out the black market—that’s where you’ll find what you really need.”
Xu Ruyan’s eyes lit up. Understanding the situation, she stuffed a Da Tuanjie note and a pack of cigarettes into the big brother’s hand, smiling softly as she asked in a low voice, “Big brother, could you point your little sister in the right direction… Where exactly do I find this black market you mentioned?”
Seeing that Xu Ruyan knew how to play the game, the man grinned cheerfully and leaned close to her ear, whispering an address.
Xu Ruyan nodded gratefully and smiled at him.
She had the supplies she’d gathered from the department store packed up by someone, then used the same method to move them to a secluded corner, where she stored everything into her Spatial Dimension.
Xu Ruyan was extra cautious.
She’d been spending lavishly at the department store, and it was inevitable that someone with ill intentions would set their sights on her as an easy target alone.
So with a thought, she simply ducked into her Spatial Dimension to hide, pulling out her watch to keep track of time, planning to wait two hours before going back out.
Two or three minutes after Xu Ruyan vanished from the alley—
The big brother who had secretly told her about the black market at the store suddenly appeared from who knows where, scanning the alley in every direction.
He didn’t see a trace of her. A vicious glint flashed through his cunning, ruthless eyes. He spat on the ground in frustration, grinding his teeth with a note of regret.
“Where the hell did she run off to? That little girl looked young, but she sure moved fast carrying all that stuff!”
A few more shifty-looking hoodlums with dyed yellow hair emerged behind him, wearing flashy floral shirts, looking sleazy, with clubs and other weapons in their hands.
“Big brother, so are we still doing this job or not?”
The big brother’s face darkened. He waved his hand irritably and glared, snapping angrily, “Forget it! What’s there to do? The target’s gone without a trace. Damn it, what bad luck—the fat was right in my mouth and it still flew away!”
“Big brother, should we go check the black market?” one of the underlings suggested tentatively.
The big brother pondered for a moment, then shot them a look, his tone sinister: “Take the boys and wait at the black market. If she doesn’t show within an hour, we call it off.”
From inside her Spatial Dimension, Xu Ruyan could naturally hear everything happening outside.
She sat calmly on an intricately carved wooden chair, taking a leisurely sip of tea brewed with Spirit Spring Water, a faint smile curling at her lips.
She wasn’t stupid. Whoever suddenly gave her black market intel at the department store—what kind of good person could they possibly be?
It was nothing but a classic honey trap. They wait for you to take the bait, then strip you clean of everything you’ve got!
Xu Ruyan was in no hurry at all.
She just waited leisurely inside her Spatial Dimension. If they wanted to ambush her at the black market, then let them wait!
They could wait until the ends of the earth, until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble—they’d never see her show up!
Three hours passed.
Xu Ruyan cooked herself a hearty lunch inside the Spatial Dimension, using the pigs she raised and vegetables she grew there.
Fragrant braised pork belly, savory green beans with eggplant, a bowl of plump steamed rice, and a tomato egg drop soup made with Spirit Spring Water.
Xu Ruyan ate to her heart’s content, squinting her eyes in satisfaction. To her surprise, she realized that the soreness in her legs from walking all morning had suddenly vanished, replaced by a surge of energy!
Her waist no longer ached, her arms no longer hurt, her eyes were bright and clear, and her whole body felt wonderfully refreshed.
Xu Ruyan froze for a moment, then a possibility struck her.
Her eyes flew wide open in delight. She quickly pulled out a small mirror and examined herself closely.
In the mirror, the young woman had delicate, lovely features—fair skin, a beautiful face, smooth and silky like an egg that might break at the slightest touch, with a rosy glow blooming beneath the porcelain complexion.
Xu Ruyan had always been pretty, but now she looked even more radiant, several shades more beautiful than before.
She tried clenching her fist, then threw a punch at a large boulder in the Spatial Dimension’s courtyard!
A dull boom echoed through the air.
The boulder shattered into pieces under her fist. Xu Ruyan stared in shock, then grew even more thrilled.
This Spirit Spring in the Spatial Dimension not only had beautifying effects—it could also strengthen the body!
She hadn’t tested it yet, but she guessed the Spirit Spring could probably cure illnesses too.
Xu Ruyan was so excited she nearly jumped for joy. This was a real treasure!
The Spirit Spring automatically generated a circulating water flow within the Spatial Dimension—truly inexhaustible and endlessly replenishing.
If she drank more of it, she wouldn’t need anyone else to protect her—she could defend herself with her own hands. From now on, who would dare bully her!
Xu Ruyan rubbed her hands together excitedly, a smile spreading across her delicate, fair face as two little dimples appeared on her cheeks. She looked absolutely adorable.
But Xu Ruyan still knew the importance of keeping a low profile.
Before leaving the Spatial Dimension, she deliberately smeared her face with something dark, changed into an inconspicuous navy-blue coarse cloth outfit, and tied a floral headscarf to cover half her face.
Only after confirming that no one could recognize her did Xu Ruyan step out of the Spatial Dimension with peace of mind.
She first went to the pharmacy to stock up on common household medicines.
It wasn’t convenient to keep pulling out the Spirit Spring Water, so buying some regular medications for daily use—just for appearances—was still very necessary.
Xu Ruyan didn’t just buy Western medicine. She also purchased a large quantity of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, especially the rarer items like ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms. She didn’t hold back and bought them all out!
After finishing her medicine shopping, she went to several state-run restaurants in town and ordered takeout from each one—baozi, mantou, dumplings, sesame cakes, shaomai…
All these ready-made foods added up to over a hundred catties. Stored in the Spatial Dimension, they wouldn’t spoil, and she could satisfy her cravings anytime!
After purchasing all these items, Xu Ruyan let out a long breath. She then headed to the black market to buy scarce goods not available on the open market, such as seafood, shellfish, and foreign trade products.
Using her willpower, Xu Ruyan surveyed the Spatial Dimension, now piled high with supplies. She clapped her hands together, and the more she inventoried, the happier she became, her eyes curving into crescents with a smile.
By the time she left the black market, it was already four in the afternoon.
As Xu Ruyan walked along the road, she overheard neighbors gathered together, cracking sunflower seeds and gossiping.
“Have you heard? The Lin family in the north of town… Xu Weiguo’s family… something big happened!”
Xu Ruyan paused mid-step, pricking up her ears.
“I heard about it too. Oh my, the whole town is talking about how Xu Weiguo cheated on his wife, had improper relations, and even murdered his ex-wife!”
“And that stepdaughter of his… what’s her name… Xu Yunhua! Didn’t they say she had no blood relation to him, that she was brought in from his second marriage and changed her surname to his? Well, turns out she’s actually his illegitimate daughter!”
“What? He even fathered an illegitimate child? What a beast! Isn’t he a live-in son-in-law of the Lin family? How is this any different from devouring a family’s entire inheritance!”
“That’s not all. My husband said they were arrested and taken to the police station today. The whole family couldn’t withstand the interrogation and confessed to everything. Director Zhao was furious and ordered them to be paraded through the streets before execution by firing squad!”