When they arrived in the county town, Hao Zhenzhen and Yang Xiulan parted ways with them.
Li Wanqing had originally planned to take a look around the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, but this was an era when you needed ration coupons for practically everything.
She had money on her, but no coupons, so there were many things she simply couldn’t buy.
Especially daily necessities such as firewood, rice, cooking oil, and salt.
He Mei wanted to help her out, but Li Wanqing refused.
She couldn’t possibly rely on other people forever!
“Wanqing, how about we go there?” He Mei suggested cautiously in a quiet voice.
Li Wanqing knew she was referring to the black market. You didn’t need ration coupons there, but the prices were higher, and there were risks involved.
She hadn’t intended to get involved with the black market before, but now she had no choice. Otherwise, she and her daughter wouldn’t even be able to get by.
“I’ll go with Nuo Nuo. You stay here.”
He Mei was worried, but Li Wanqing didn’t want to drag her into this.
Besides, when the risks were the same, fewer people meant it was easier to escape if something went wrong.
“Then I’ll go to the post office to withdraw some money first, and wait for you at the state-run restaurant.”
He Mei couldn’t argue with Li Wanqing and could only compromise.
Li Wanqing nodded, and the two went their separate ways.
The black market in the county town was constantly on the move. The original owner had been there once before, so Li Wanqing knew some of the tricks.
For example, the inconspicuous uncles and aunties standing around the streets. As long as you gave the right code phrase, they would lead you inside.
Carrying her daughter on her back, Li Wanqing knocked on the door of a courtyard.
An old woman wearing a dark gray shirt opened the door.
She looked Li Wanqing up and down. “Who are you looking for?”
Li Wanqing adjusted the child on her back and asked with a smile, “Auntie, has the Zhang family next door moved away? I’m a distant relative of theirs.”
The old woman’s eyes shifted, and she smiled.
“They moved away a long time ago, but I know where they went. I’ll take you there.”
Li Wanqing looked grateful. “Thank you so much, Auntie.”
Along the way, Li Wanqing showered the old woman with compliments, making the woman grin from ear to ear.
After several twists and turns, the old woman stopped in front of a courtyard.
“This is the place.”
She knocked on the door and called out, “Zhang family! Your relative is here!”
Before long, the door opened.
Another old woman answered it. The moment she saw the old woman accompanying Li Wanqing, she immediately understood.
“Oh, so you’re my niece! Come in, come in.”
The old woman who had led Li Wanqing there didn’t enter. She whispered something to the woman who had opened the door and then left.
Li Wanqing followed the other old woman into the courtyard. The woman was also quite friendly.
“Coming in or going out?”
“Coming in.”
As she answered, Li Wanqing took out a ten-cent coin, but the old woman didn’t accept it.
“Since you’re that old woman’s relative, I’ll waive the entrance fee.”
Li Wanqing was taken aback, but she still stuffed the money into the woman’s hand.
“That won’t do. Rules are rules.”
The county’s black market operated in secret. For safety reasons, entrance and exit fees had been established to prevent troublemakers from sneaking in.
Seeing how well Li Wanqing understood the rules, the old woman quietly reminded her, “If anything happens inside, find someone named Old Yan.”
Li Wanqing nodded and entered the black market with her daughter.
Inside, there was an astonishing variety of goods. There were even more things available than at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
However, Li Wanqing didn’t intend to buy too much. After all, she didn’t plan to stay at Renxing Brigade for very long.
She bought the rice and flour she needed, along with some eggs and meat. Most importantly, she managed to get two bags of milk powder.
This was even more precious than malted milk powder and was more suitable for a child Nuo Nuo’s age to supplement her nutrition.
The only problem was that it cost almost twice as much as at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. The two bags of milk powder didn’t require ration coupons and cost fourteen yuan.
*(The specific prices are fictional, with reference to prices around 1988. A 500-gram bag of milk powder cost approximately 3.6 yuan.)*
After buying everything, Li Wanqing was guided out of the black market through another exit.
It was a street away from the original courtyard, so there was no way to connect the two locations.
Not wanting He Mei to wait too long, Li Wanqing went straight to the state-run restaurant.
Before she even reached the entrance, she spotted He Mei from a distance. A man wearing a dark green outfit was standing in front of her.
The two seemed to be talking about something. He Mei looked flustered as she tried to reassure him.
The man, however, looked arrogant and self-righteous.
As Li Wanqing approached, she finally heard what he was saying and was immediately speechless.
This scumbag was a master of emotional manipulation.
“Meimei, you’re going to marry me. You can’t spend money so recklessly.”
Lu Wei frowned deeply.
He hadn’t expected that after only a month apart, this woman would have spent money again. And today, she was actually planning to treat someone to a meal!
He Mei pursed her lips and quietly explained, “Wanqing is my best friend. Treating her to one meal isn’t excessive.”
“She’s your friend. Why should you spend the money I’ve been saving for?” Lu Wei growled. “Don’t forget, we can only get married after we’ve saved enough money to secure the job.”
“Once we’re married, you’ll be able to return to the county town. You won’t have to suffer in the countryside anymore.”
He Mei pouted.
In the past, she might have eagerly wanted to get married as soon as possible so she could escape her current life.
But after their discussion last night, she wasn’t so certain anymore.
If the college entrance examination really was restored, did she still need to rush into marriage?
And did Lu Wei still need to hurry and secure a job?
If they could take the college entrance examination together, wouldn’t their future be better?
Just as He Mei was about to speak, Li Wanqing interrupted her.
“He Mei, who is this?”
Li Wanqing’s interruption instantly shifted He Mei’s attention.
“Wanqing! This is Lu Wei, my boyfriend.”
“Lu Wei, this is Wanqing, my best friend.”
Lu Wei was initially stunned by Li Wanqing’s beauty, but when he saw the child she was holding against her chest, the thought that had just crossed his mind immediately disappeared.
She was beautiful, all right, but unfortunately, she was already married!
Li Wanqing: ……
How truly grateful I am for your rejection!
He Mei linked arms with Li Wanqing as they entered the state-run restaurant.
“Wanqing, let me tell you, the head chef here makes amazing braised pork. We absolutely have to order it later.”
Lu Wei, walking behind them, twitched his eyelid.
What a spendthrift woman!
“Meimei, you’re all friends. Comrade Li surely wouldn’t let you spend so much money on her, right?”
A serving of braised pork cost three liang of grain coupons plus fifty cents.
It would be better to use that money to treat the drivers from the transport team to a meal. Once he joined the transport team, he could ask them to look after him.
He Mei frowned slightly, becoming somewhat dissatisfied with Lu Wei.
Wanqing was her lifesaver. Let alone one meal of braised pork—she would be willing to treat her to ten meals!
Li Wanqing patted her hand and then directly ordered a whole spread of dishes from the server.
Under Lu Wei’s visibly pained expression, He Mei happily paid the money and coupons before linking arms with Li Wanqing and walking farther inside.
Lu Wei followed behind them with a dark expression.
One meal had cost nearly two jin of grain coupons, plus one yuan and eighty-five cents…
After he sat down and saw He Mei take out another beautiful piece of clothing and hold it up against the child, comparing the size…
He was practically furious enough to pass out!
What a spendthrift woman!
Was she trying to kill him?!
He couldn’t take it anymore.
He really couldn’t take it anymore!