Five months later, Lin Ying saw the bustling streets again, but unfortunately, the atmosphere on the streets was tense.

Sitting in the car, Lin Ying saw two or three groups of Red Guards parading people through the streets. Lin Ying once again thanked her grandfather for not letting her fall to such a state.

After getting out of the car, Lin Ying took out a pen and paper and wrote down the directions. Although she would still talk to familiar people at home, she had gotten used to this.

However, in those days, few people were literate, and Lin Ying had to ask several people before she finally found out the address of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Just as Lin Ying was walking towards the supply and marketing cooperative, she saw a truck loaded with cotton. Overjoyed, Lin Ying hurriedly ran after the truck. She saw the truck parked at the back gate of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Lin Ying thought that the supply and marketing cooperative must sell cotton, so she couldn't wait to run towards the counter in front.

When it was finally her turn, Lin Ying quickly handed the sales clerk what she wanted, along with the money she had prepared.

After looking at what Lin Ying handed over, the sales clerk didn't take the money or tickets from her hand, but instead handed her the paper back.

"Self-reliance and hard work, comrade, we don't have cotton here either. If you can't find it, don't bother asking again!"

Lin Ying quickly grabbed a pen and paper and wrote: "Didn't another truck just deliver cotton?"

After finishing writing, Lin Ying first held up the Little Red Book, and then handed the paper over.

The sales clerk glanced at it and said, "Do it yourself and you'll have plenty to eat and wear. Those aren't just for our area; we need to tally them up and distribute them to the supply and marketing cooperatives in each township. We don't have any right now."

Before Lin Ying could continue writing, the salesperson said directly, "We don't know exactly when it will be available. There's such a long queue behind us, so come back and ask next time."

Lin Ying could tell from the salesperson's attitude that they didn't want to talk to her anymore, so she could only turn around and move aside.

Then I heard the salesperson say, "These days, one pound of cotton a year isn't even enough to go around. You want twenty pounds all by yourself? Dream on."

Lin Ying paused for a moment, then pretended not to hear and went out.

She must buy cotton, otherwise she won't survive the winter.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Ying walked towards the back door of the supply and marketing cooperative once again, still wanting to ask when she could buy cotton.

However, just as Lin Ying arrived at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, she saw a child climbing on the cart. The worker unloading the goods in front didn't see the child. After he forcefully pulled down a large bag of cotton, the cotton behind suddenly lost its grip and began to roll down. That spot was right above the child's head.

Lin Ying rushed over without thinking about anything else and caught the large bag of cotton before it hit the child.

"Which is heavier, a pound of cotton or a pound of iron?" The answer is naturally the same. Similarly, a large bag of cotton weighing 80 kilograms, or 160 pounds, falling from a truck would severely injure or maim a child who looks only four or five years old.

As Lin Ying ran this way, a man was also running towards them from inside the supply and marketing cooperative. However, he was a bit far away, and despite running as fast as he could, he was still a step too late.

Just as the large bundle of cotton was about to hit her grandson, a plump woman suddenly ran over and caught the cotton with one hand.

One hand? Bao Youxue swallowed hard, snapped out of his thoughts, ran over, and first pulled his grandson out from under the car: "Miss, do you need my help?"

After watching the child leave, Lin Ying thought for a moment and then followed the unloading team to deliver the cotton inside.

She wants to buy cotton, but it would be better to build a good relationship with the people there.

Lin Ying put the large bales of cotton into the warehouse inside before coming out.

Bao Youxue was astonished by the woman's strength. If it weren't for her, his grandson would likely be dead. There was no other way; he only had one child, his son and daughter-in-law were both working, and his wife usually took care of him.

But my husband heard from the village that his mother-in-law had passed away, so he went back to the village. Since it was probably a funeral and the children were too young, he didn't take them with him. So he asked my husband to take care of them.

He only had time to sign the form when the child ran out.

Sigh, there's nothing I can do. Schools are closed these days, so there's no way to send the kids to daycare. I have to take care of them myself.

"Comrade, thank you so much just now. If it weren't for you, my grandson would have been in danger."

Lin Ying shook her head, indicating that he shouldn't worry.

Seeing Lin Ying like this, Bao Youxue couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong with your voice?"

Lin Ying wrote: "When I was poisoned before, the doctor said to talk as little as possible and that I would get better in the future."

Hearing this, Bao Youxue smiled and said, "That's good. Comrade, thank you so much just now. Look, it's almost noon, my grandson and I will treat you to a state-run restaurant. We must thank you."

Lin Ying waved her hand and wrote, "I came from town to buy cotton and I still need to ask about cotton. I was just helping out, so please don't mind."

Upon hearing that Lin Ying had come to buy cotton, Bao Youxue frowned: "Buy cotton? Even if it's going to be a while, this batch of cotton is the first one sent this year, and it's all going to public institutions. The second batch won't be available for sale to the public. However, this year's cotton arrived a bit late, and it's said that the cotton yield this year isn't very high."

That might be a bit difficult.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ying knew that this person must have inside information, and hurriedly wrote: "I am a military dependent who is accompanying my husband this year. Winter is approaching, and apart from my husband's quilt, we have nothing at home, let alone winter clothes. If we don't have a cotton quilt, we may not be able to get through the winter. Could you please help me find out where I can buy cotton?"

Bao Youxue frowned when he saw the long passage written by Lin Ying: "Hiss, it gets below minus forty degrees Celsius here in winter. It's really hard to get through the winter without cotton clothes and quilts. But these things belong to the state and are limited, so there's nothing I can do. If it's really not possible, come to my house tonight, and I'll have my wife make room for you in one of the beds."

Lin Ying quickly waved her hand. In this day and age, everyone is struggling to make ends meet, so how could she possibly accept something from someone else?

Lin Ying smiled at the old man, took a White Rabbit candy from her pocket and gave it to the child. She wrote, "Thank you for telling me this, Uncle. I'll think of another way."

What other options did Lin Ying have? She had two ideas: one was to go to the provincial capital and the Friendship Store, where she could buy foreign exchange certificates if necessary.

Or, go to the black market.

Lin Ying didn't want to go to the black market. She didn't understand the rules of the black market, nor did she have Lin Rong's special abilities. If something went wrong, it would not only affect her grandfather but also Zhao Qinghuai.

"Wait, little girl!"