Jigu Commune is quite large, with a large population housing two major factories, one textile and one oil refinery, hence it hosts two supply and marketing cooperatives, two non-staple food stations, similar to a small county town.
Luckily, there are only a few streets in the commune. Li Xianglu, wearing a mask and a hat, cautiously looked around. She knew Ge Sanmei was also going to visit the supply and marketing cooperative today, and she absolutely could not afford to be recognized.
The supply and marketing cooperative consists of a long row of single-story buildings, already packed with people. The employees, dressed in black gowns with white collars, appeared exceptionally fashionable. They stood inside the counters, each wearing an expression of impatience.
Some people were buying soap, others were seeking matches, and still others needed cold cream. Everyone was desperately scrambling to buy things, and the busiest area was undoubtedly the western side selling cloths, crowded with people checking the fabric designs, incessantly asking for prices, while the employees looked visibly annoyed, complaining that these rural folks always came during market days, many asked but few bought! Truly exasperating!
Li Xianglu stood near the door at the industrial products area and saw Ge Sanmei and an excitedly expressive Li Jianwen at the cloth selling area. Ge Sanmei, in her familiar loud voice, stammered, "Comrade..." then hesitated, unable to continue, and lacked her usual domineering manner.
Seeing this, Li Jianwen stepped forward and politely said, "Comrade, two meters of that blue cotton, and one meter of the black rough fabric."
Ge Sanmei immediately contradicted, "No, no, not the cotton, it's too expensive, all rough fabric."
Li Jianwen frowned and said, "Mom, I want a garment of cotton. Wearing rough fabric is too embarrassing."
Ge Sanmei hesitated, and the impatient employee asked, "Which one do you really want!"
Ge Sanmei bit the bullet, "The cotton." Then added worriedly, "Make sure the size is a bit larger."
Just as the employee was going to cut the cloth, hearing Ge Sanmei's words, turned his head and glared fiercely.
Li Jianwen quickly explained, "Comrade, please cut as requested, my Mom is an old rural lady, she doesn't understand these things." He finished saying this without even glancing at Ge Sanmei.
Ge Sanmei, publicly called an old rural lady by her son, flushed red as people around turned their heads constantly looking at her, which made her feel embarrassingly exposed.
After the fabric was cut, Li Jianwen urged Ge Sanmei to take out the cloth tickets and money.
Ge Sanmei, looking quite disturbed, took out the money and then rushed out of the supply and marketing cooperative as if fleeing.
Li Xianglu, standing at the industrial products area, coldly watched the scene unfold in front, never expecting to see Ge Sanmei being publicly humiliated by her dearly beloved son.
At this moment, the crowd in the cooperative only increased. Li Xianglu stood in front of the counter watching the items sold, noticing something quite special, which in her previous life, was used as an antique decoration in hotels.
Li Xianglu quickly asked, "Comrade, how much for the kerosene lamp?"
Li Xianglu pointed to several dusty kerosene lamps on the shelf.
The sales clerk, momentarily stunned, looked up to see a stylish young lady asking about the kerosene lamp, his expression softened as he kindly explained, "The green tinplate domestic one is thirteen yuan and a half each, requiring twelve industrial coupons."
Li Xianglu was stunned for a moment and glanced at the brass-colored object next to her. It was a German-imported kerosene lamp, clearly engraved on the side with "First-class German Meister"! My goodness, her archaeology professor from her previous life had one just like this nostalgic kerosene lamp, but this was a new model! Excited at heart, she calmly asked, "Comrade, how much is this yellow one?"
The attendant glanced at the brass kerosene lamp, frowning slightly. It was an item from a capitalist country, mainly gathering dust here, and moreover, it was ridiculously expensive: "German-made kerosine lamp, twenty-one yuan and fifty cents, no industrial coupons needed."
When Li Xianglu heard this, her eyes lit up and she asked, "How many are there?"
The attendant didn't expect someone to ask for the number, but still went to flip through the record book and said, "The last two."
Li Xianglu struggled internally but decided to buy them. Considering the era, these items would probably become obsolete soon, so she quickly took out her money.
The attendant was also astonished, not expecting such a naïve customer. This was German goods, after all, and even if purchased, they wouldn't dare to use them openly, for fear of being criticized.
Yet he quickly and deftly moved from under the counter, taking out a small wooden box with a new brass kerosene lamp inside, and putting the dusty one into another empty box.
Then he issued the bill: "Forty-three yuan in total!"
Li Xianglu hurriedly took out five banknotes from her bag, they hadn't even warmed up yet and were already being spent, how painful.
The attendant, seeing Li Xianglu's somewhat hesitant glance, quickly yanked the money from her hand, as if afraid she'd change her mind, and hastily gave back seven yuan in change.
Li Xianglu then immediately scooped up the two wooden boxes tied with jute rope and walked out, many people staring at this naïve young girl. Whose naughty kid is this? Buying two kerosene lamps in one go for forty-three yuan! A temporary worker in the textile factory only makes twenty-three yuan, and regular workers make around twenty-eight or twenty-nine yuan. This naughty kid spent over forty yuan in a flash, obviously sneaking money from her parents!
Li Xianglu dared not stay any longer, she dashed out of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, then after several twists and turns, ensured no one was behind her before quickly putting the kerosene lamps into her space ring. These are treasures, she remembered from her previous life that someone had offered half a million for an old "First-class German Meister" lamp, and she had only spent a few tens of yuan, what a deal!
Delighted, she headed towards the Post Office area to find a new painting and calligraphy store; her brother hadn't arrived yet, so she ran to the State-owned canteen and bought twenty pork buns for two yuan, but needed food tickets for two kilograms.
Li Xianglu cleverly took out a stainless-steel basin from her space early, packed the buns, and found a table to eat three of them, filling her up completely. These buns were as big as a grown man's fist, with twenty of them containing a bit of green onion in the meat, the straightforward craftsmanship of that time being incredibly delicious.
Rubbing her round belly, Li Xianglu hurriedly carried her buns and headed outside.
Upon reaching the corner, she placed the buns into her space and found a public restroom to change clothes. There would always be people coming in to use the restroom, so Li Xianglu had to wait for a moment when it was empty to change. She couldn't strip down too much, so she just wore her old cotton-padded jacket over her down jacket, and pulled her old cotton trousers over her thermal pants. Shoes also had to be changed.
But now she couldn't take off her hat, as her head would become bitterly cold in the wind. Ah, she needed to find some yarn and idle time to knit a hat for herself.
She took out seven buns wrapped in cheesecloth and headed toward the Post Office.
As soon as she approached, she saw Li Jianqing anxiously standing there, looking around. Upon seeing Li Xianglu, he quickly came over, worriedly saying: "Little sister, where did you go? You scared me to death."
Li Xianglu, smiling warmly, extended the still steaming buns to him and said: "Big brother, I invite you to have buns."