Zhang Hongmei felt a bit stuffy, so she found a seat by the window. Even though Liu Jianguo had a lot of luggage, she didn't feel cramped.

The father and son did not sit together; like Zhang Hongmei, they both chose to sit by the window.

It took an hour and a half of bumpy travel to reach the city. It was already noon, and Zhang Hongmei was getting hungry.

"Uncle, I'm hungry, let's go eat."

"Okay, I brought food coupons."

"No way, I have food coupons. You should save yours for my brother Jianguo. If he doesn't have food coupons in his first month here, he'll go hungry. Don't argue with me, we don't need to be so polite."

The three of them arrived at the restaurant with bags and packages, only to be dumbfounded. Why were there so many people?

Zhang Hongmei smacked her lips and said, "You two wait outside for a while. I'll go in and take a look. We don't have enough stuff to squeeze in."

"Okay, go ahead. We'll wait for you under the shade of the tree across the street."

Zhang Hongmei entered the restaurant with her shoulder bag on her back and glanced at what everyone was eating. The main reason was that this girl had decision-making anxiety; looking at what others had ordered might help her find what she wanted to eat.

But I was disappointed. The table was full of steamed buns made from two kinds of dough, and there were no vegetables, only a few pieces of vegetable soup that I couldn't identify.

"Comrade, what's being supplied today?"

See for yourself.

Zhang Hongmei glanced at the menu on the wall; it only had steamed buns, but braised pork was available. As for other dishes, forget about them.

"Comrade, seven steamed buns, a plate of braised pork, and three bowls of vegetable soup."

"Steamed buns are two cents, grain coupons are five per pound, braised pork is two pieces, meat coupons are one pound, soup is two cents, and coupons are not required."

"Then give me ten steamed buns. Here's four yuan for two jin of grain coupons and one jin of meat coupons. Comrade, we have a lot of food, could you please serve some out for me to eat later?"

The waiter became much more polite when he saw that Zhang Hongmei was using military ration coupons.

"Okay, I'll serve it to you and put it here. You can come and eat it when there are fewer people."

"Thank you, comrade."

Zhang Hongmei went out and told Liu Maocai, then returned to the restaurant and sat on a bench to wait.

Forty minutes later, Liu Maocai and his son came in for dinner.

Looking at the meat on the table, Liu Maocai glanced disapprovingly at Zhang Hongmei, "What a waste. We don't need to eat meat, and we can't finish all these steamed buns."

"Since we've already bought them, let's eat them quickly. We can save the remaining steamed buns for my brother Jianguo to eat tonight; they won't go bad. I'm hungry, so stop nagging me and just eat."

Liu Maocai had no choice. Besides, he was hungry, and he'd already spent the money; there was no point in talking. He'd better eat quickly, as he still needed to find his third uncle. Otherwise, he might not be able to get a ride back.

Zhang Hongmei only ate one steamed bun and drank half a bowl of soup, mainly because it wasn't sold in whole bowls. The father and son each ate three, finishing all the meat and drinking all the soup.

"Uncle, you go ahead with your business. I'll go to the Armed Forces Department by myself. Don't worry about me. I've been here before and I know the place. You have to go back today, so don't look for me. I'll be back in five days."

"Are you pregnant yourself? It's all my fault for not thinking things through; I should have gotten two letters of introduction."

"Don't worry, go ahead and get busy."

The three separated, and Zhang Hongmei, carrying a cloth bag, found the armed forces department based on her memory.

The gatekeeper stopped her. "Young lady, who are you looking for?"

"Sir, I'm looking for Zhang Xingguo. I wonder if he's here?"

"Who are you? What's your relationship with Zhang Xingguo? What do you want with him?"

“I am Zhang Hongmei from Liujiatun, Kaoshan Township, Baicheng County. I am the daughter of Zhang Xingguo’s former subordinate. I’ve come to visit him.”

"Then go in. Do you know his office?"

"I understand, thank you, sir."

Zhang Hongmei went straight to Zhang Xingguo's door and knocked. Wang Xiaoshun opened the door and smiled when he saw it was Zhang Hongmei.

"The commander was just talking about you, and here you are. Come in quickly."

"Thank you, Brother Xiaoshun. Uncle Zhang, I've come to see you."

"Oh, it's Hongmei! What brings you here? Is there something you need?"

"No, it's the off-season for farming now, so I came to take a look."

"It's good that you're alright."

"Uncle Zhang is afraid I'll need your help, isn't he? That's really hurtful."

"You brat. You know perfectly well that's not what I meant. Why don't you stay a few more days before going back?"

"Sure. My letter of introduction is for five days. I was just about to ask you for help."

"No trouble at all. I have a meeting this afternoon. Should I have Xiaoshun take you home first?"

"No need. I'll wait for you. I'm going out for a walk this afternoon anyway." Actually, she didn't want to see Zhang Shouyi and didn't want to spend time with him.

"Then let Xiao Shun come with you."

"No need. How could I, an adult, get lost? What time will I be back anyway?"

"Just come back at six o'clock."

"Okay, I'm going to play now."

"Do you have enough money?"

"That's enough. I'm not planning to buy anything else. This is the cured meat I brought. Brother Shun, you can keep it and take it home tonight. I'm leaving now!"

Zhang Hongmei strolled aimlessly down the street, wandering around without any particular destination.

I don't know how many streets I walked, but I saw a food supply station ahead. I didn't have much with me, so I looked inside to see if there was anything I could give as a gift. Although I didn't like Zhang Shouyi, he had lent me books after all, so I still had to return the favor.

Once inside, Zhang Hongmei was greatly disappointed. There were no vegetables or meat, only a few dry pastries and a large bucket of soy sauce and vinegar.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment; he turned and left the supply station.

Let's go check out the building. Maybe there'll be something good there.

Wandering around, I arrived at the building, which had three floors. It was much better than the supply station. The first floor was a general store, with everything from needles and thread to pots and pans—quite comprehensive.

After looking around, I decided to come back and choose one last time, and then go to the second floor to take a look.

The second floor sells clothing, shoes, socks, and fabrics.

I decided to buy it later, since I have cloth coupons anyway.

The third layer contains books, pens, comic books, clocks, bicycles, and sewing machines, which are practically considered luxury items.

I bought ten notebooks, ten pencils, two fountain pens, and ink. One was for Zhang Shouyi, and the other was for Liu Erya.

I also bought ten comic books so I can read them when I'm bored.

I bought so many things but only used two industrial vouchers.

Go downstairs to the second floor. Go to the fabric counter.

"Comrade, how much is this floral fabric?"

"Eight cents a foot, with a ration coupon for one foot of cloth."

"How much does this green cloth cost?"

"Six cents a foot, including a ration coupon for one foot of cloth. All other cloth will be this price."

"Then give me twenty feet of green cloth."

Zhang Hongmei took out twelve yuan and twenty feet of cloth coupons. As for ready-made clothes, she didn't want to buy them at all; she thought they looked too rustic, and she'd rather make them herself.

I also had shoes, and I didn't want to waste them. I carried my purchases downstairs.

Once you get to the first floor, that's your main battleground; you can buy whatever you want when you see it.

In the end, Zhang Hongmei received a small iron pot, which cost her two industrial coupons. She also got ten bowls, ten plates, and two large bowls.