Li Erfu just wandered around the health center, while Li Jianqing, familiar with the area, led Li Xianglu away.
The health center is the first row of buildings as you enter the ancient Guji commune. A walk of about fifty meters further leads to a row of neat streets.
By now, the day had fully dawned, the air pollution was minimal, and the morning fog dispersed quickly under the sunlight, revealing the surrounding buildings clearly to everyone.
Li Jianqing, excitedly clutching three yuan, looked around, feeling that everything seemed better than at home, though how much better could it really be? Most of the buildings were just earthen houses, with the better ones being brick houses, and the most upscale buildings being those two small buildings, probably the commune's office buildings.
People had started appearing on the streets in twos and threes. Li Xianglu's eyes were wide open; most girls on the street had long, dark, braided pigtails; some wore floral padded jackets and black pants, but most wore black and gray padded jackets with dark blue pants, with the more fashionable ones sporting a striking red scarf.
Most were walking; a few were cycling. Those on bicycles seemed much more prestigious, like people driving luxury cars in a previous life, all holding their heads high, looking quite distinct from the others.
Walking a few steps further, they saw a big sign with black characters on a yellowish-brown background: "State-owned Canteen." Li Xianglu curiously stood at the entrance, watching people continuously walking in with their lunch boxes—they were coming here to eat.
Unable to curb her curiosity, Li Xianglu followed in. The canteen was traditional, with each food-serving window above which were carved wooden characters stating the prices: pork buns for one dime, fried dough sticks for one dime, tofu pudding for five cents, and soy milk for three cents.
Everyone lined up orderly, ordered their food, handed over their lunch boxes, then received their food at another window and went to eat at big tables.
Seeing his sister's excited face, Li Jianqing felt a pang of sympathy and squeezed the three yuan in his hand, resolutely saying: "Little sister, come, let your brother treat you to buns."
Li Xianglu widened her eyes and smiled, shaking her head as she saw Li Jianqing's serious face and pulled him outside, laughing, "Brother, I just wanted to take a look inside. Besides, what time is it now? We just had breakfast."
Seeing his sister's serious face, Li Jianqing was reassured, but still said: "Little sister, if you get hungry later, brother will take you to eat buns."
Li Xianglu nodded, signaling she would definitely speak up if she got hungry.
The two wandered aimlessly, passing the State-owned Canteen and then seeing a large courtyard where a crowd was lining up to enter. Everyone was dressed simply, in a combination of black, gray, and blue coverall jackets with padded jackets and black wide-legged pants. Women mostly wore one or two large braids, while men had short hair, some wearing hats, all heading into the yard.
Seeing his sister's curious face again, Li Jianqing stepped forward to explain: "Little sister, this is the textile factory."
A textile factory? Near the Loess Plateau's commune? That seemed unusual, she remembered these large factories typically being in the southern cities.
Li Jianqing then said: "I heard from the team leaders that this factory was built later, moved here from the Provincial City. These people entering are the factory's workers, with iron rice bowls, receiving supplied grain."
After passing the textile factory, they saw a staircase leading up to a large gate with a winding path in front.
Catching sight of this place, Li Jianqing excitedly leapt up the steps. It was a cinema! The cinema hadn't opened yet because it was a market day, so they were going to start showing films successively from nine o'clock.
They already had employees taking out a small blackboard with writing on it, showing all-day screening of "Little Soldier Zhang Ga."
Li Jianqing understood the words on the sign and was thrilled. Li Xianglu hesitated briefly then stepped forward, "Brother, go ahead and watch, it's not often we come here."
Hearing this, Li Jianqing was delighted, feeling lucky to have a sister. He took out money and went to the small window to buy tickets: "Comrade, two tickets."
Li Xianglu quickly stepped forward to stop him: "No, just one, sorry."
The ticket seller rolled their eyes and handed out one ticket.
The ticket, printed in blue, read "Little Soldier Zhang Ga," with today's date and nothing else.
Li Xianglu took the ticket and handed it to her brother: "Brother, I don't like war movies, go watch it. We'll meet later at the Post Office nearby."
Li Xianglu had seen a small green-doored Post Office earlier, located next to a Xinhua Bookstore where books could be purchased.
Seeing his sister untroubled, Li Jianqing readily agreed, repeatedly admonishing her not to forget the time or the way, before reluctantly entering.
At that time, once you bought a movie ticket, you could watch until you wanted to leave, staying inside for two or three hours if desired. Li Jianqing excitedly walked inside.
Li Xianglu sighed in relief, finally having a moment apart.
She happily walked towards the nearby Post Office, which at that time was small, divided into two or three counters—one for selling stamps and sending letters, one for telegrams, and another for newspapers.
Entering, Li Xianglu found she was the only customer, with only staff cleaning inside.
A middle-aged woman with triangular eyes, seeing a raggedly dressed girl enter, thought she was just another loiterer seeking shelter or warmth and loudly scolded: "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Hurry up out if there's nothing, this is a workplace."
Though aware of the generally poor service attitude at that time, Li Xianglu was still annoyed and crisply said: "Auntie, I want to buy a newspaper."
Hearing the girl speak in the dialect of the Provincial City, the triangular-eyed woman paused, stood up, and measured Li Xianglu up and down before asking: "Do you have a letter of introduction?"
A letter of introduction? Li Xianglu was stunned. Required a letter of introduction just to buy a newspaper? What was going on?
Seeing Li Xianglu's stunned face, the woman frowned and said: "Without a letter of introduction, how can I sell you a newspaper!"
Li Xianglu felt annoyed yet helpless, finding it absurd that she couldn't buy a newspaper without a letter of introduction but had no choice but to leave.
She went to the adjoining Xinhua Bookstore, where people had started to come in, some picking up a book and reading right there.
Li Xianglu noticed the odd layout of the bookstore at that time: the counter in front, iron bars in the middle, with bookshelves holding books inside that people could access after greeting the staff, though they weren't allowed to sit on the floor or damage the books.
The clerks coldly watched all those who only read without buying.
Li Xianglu touched the 5 to 6 yuan in Mao tickets in her pocket and sighed. Oh well, she would need to figure out a way to get some money first; this amount wouldn't buy much of anything.