These cost Zhang Hongmei a total of twenty yuan and ten industrial vouchers.

Looking at all the things she had bought on the ground, Zhang Hongmei was worried. In the end, she had no choice but to carry them in her arms, one in front and the other on her back.

I couldn't shop around anymore; I had too much stuff in my hands, and I didn't dare use my own methods. So I went back to the Armed Forces Department to find Wang Xiaoshun and put it in the car. Leaving it in the office might cause trouble for Zhang Xingguo. Sigh, I have to think about everything.

Back at the armed forces department, I left the things with the gatekeeper. "Uncle, could you watch them for me for a while? I'll go ask Brother Xiaoshun to put them in his car. I bought these for the whole village."

"Well, it's not a big deal."

When Wang Xiaoshun followed Zhang Hongmei over, he was dumbfounded. How much stuff did they buy? They really dared to spend money.

It took the two of them two trips to finish moving everything, mainly because Zhang Hongmei had secretly slipped out two bags of refined grains—one bag of rice and one bag of flour. These were for Zhang Xingguo.

"Brother Xiaoshun, I'm going to go for a stroll outside. You go ahead and get busy."

The purchase isn't finished yet! But the money belongs to someone else, and they're not even related to me, so it's not appropriate for me to say anything. Forget it, I shouldn't say anything and annoy people.

"Okay. Do you want to buy anything else? Or should I come along and help you carry it?"

"No need, Brother Xiaoshun. I haven't decided what to buy yet. I'm just strolling around." Zhang Hongmei said, waving goodbye to Wang Xiaoshun before leaving.

You just said you were just strolling around, but you didn't mention buying anything.

Zhang Hongmei was hoping to find a black market; she didn't necessarily need to sell the goods, just knowing the location would be enough.

There are very few people on the street at this time; almost everyone is at work, and those who are there are mostly elderly.

As I walked, I thought about what else I could take out of my storage space. After thinking for a while, I realized I could only take out food: shelled peanuts, soybeans, sorghum, and a bucket of soybean oil. I didn't dare take any green vegetables, but I could take some vermicelli. I could also take some liquor.

That's all. This is too conspicuous. But it's not easy for me to come all this way, so I might as well take this opportunity to improve my chances with Zhang Xingguo.

Zhang Hongmei was unaware that even without her trying to win Zhang Xingguo's favor, he still liked her very much.

Thinking about all this, I put a few packets of noodles into my bag.

Suddenly a boy ran over and nudged Zhang Hongmei's arm. He was running very fast and was carrying a large bundle in his arms.

He glanced cautiously at Zhang Hongmei without saying a word, then turned and ran away.

Zhang Hongmei didn't pay any attention, but then a few people chased after them. "Did you see a boy?"

"I didn't notice, I just got here." The group ignored him and ran off to chase after him again.

Zhang Hongmei shrugged, not paying any attention, and continued strolling forward.

"Hey, stop right there, yes, it's you."

"What do you want? Didn't you just run away?"

“I shook them off. Don’t worry about that. I just saw that you’re chubby and dressed nicely, so I wanted to ask if you wanted anything good. But I need fine grains.”

Zhang Hongmei thought to herself: Your whole family is thin, I'm so chubby I'm so envious. And does he have a dog's nose? How did he know I had refined grains?

Thinking of this, her whole body tensed up, and she looked at him warily.

"Don't be so petty. I know you have noodles because I smelled them. Are you going to exchange them or not?"

That's a dog's nose. "Let's leave here and talk about this."

"Okay, let's go to my house."

"I'm not going."

"Don't worry, I won't eat you. Although you have a lot of flesh, I don't eat human flesh."

"Do you still want to change places? Why are you talking so much? Choose another place."

"Coward, come with me."

"You're so bold as to let them chase you?"

"You... never mind, I won't stoop to your level. Only petty people and women are difficult to deal with."

Zhang Hongmei wanted to beat him up; that brat.

The two of them made their way through a maze of turns and ended up in a dirty, messy, and secluded dead-end alley.

"This is the safest place; nobody comes here. Look at my good stuff. If they try to steal it, I'll make sure they don't even get a glimpse of it."

The boy opened the bundle in his arms, revealing that it contained calligraphy, paintings, and ancient books.

“These all belong to my grandfather. All my uncles and aunts want them, but no one wants to take care of my seriously ill grandfather, so I would rather burn these things than give them to them.”

Zhang Hongmei didn't understand these things, but she still pretended to look through them.

How would you like to exchange these?

"In exchange for all the fine grains in your satchel." He noticed that the satchel strap had slipped down while Zhang Hongmei was walking, and it was also visibly bulging. So he made this offer.

Zhang Hongmei was amazed by the child's attentiveness, keen observation, and bold yet meticulous nature.

"Okay, I'll switch with you."

Zhang Hongmei took out six packets of noodles and placed them in the boy's hands. She then squatted down, put the books and paintings into her bag, and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute."

"What's wrong? Do you think it's too little? Or have you changed your mind?" Zhang Hongmei turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"How could that be? A real man is responsible for his actions and keeps his word. I was just asking if you still wanted it? I have plenty more, I'll trade them all with you, so they won't have anything to worry about."

"Are they all calligraphy, paintings, and books?"

"There are also porcelain ornaments."

"You've changed it, and now you want noodles too?"

What else do you have?

"Rice, wheat flour."

"Okay, give me a bag of rice and a bag of flour. I'll give you both boxes of stuff in return."

Zhang Hongmei thought to herself that this young man was really shrewd. In the current severe drought, grain was the most precious commodity, and nobody wanted his things. Was he trying to fool her?

After the boy finished speaking, he felt ashamed and lowered his head. However, he did not change his mind. Those things were passed down from generation to generation, and his grandfather said they were very precious.

Seeing the boy's ashamed yet stubborn expression, Zhang Hongmei decided to believe him. "Okay, I'll switch with you, but you'll need a cart. Don't worry, I'll bring the cart here for you." She didn't care how he got the things over; she needed the cart as cover.

"Give me five yuan and I'll give you the cart. Don't worry, it's new. I know where to buy one."

"Okay, here you go." Zhang Hongmei handed him five yuan, so the stroller could be stored in her storage space for later use.

Wait for me on that street ahead, I'll go and push it over to you.

After waiting for a while, Zhang Hongmei saw the boy pushing a brand-new wooden cart over.

The two parted ways and agreed to meet again at the same street the next afternoon.

Zhang Hongmei walked to a deserted dead end, put the cart into her ring, and decided to go back and wait. She didn't know if she was just lucky or unlucky.

But today's gains were really significant. Although I don't understand ancient books and calligraphy, I recognized the signatures. I really hit the jackpot.

He walked back happily, carrying a cloth bag full of small bags of grain on his back and a bucket of soybean oil in his hand.

With everything prepared, they didn't go into the compound, but instead sat in a secluded spot far away, waiting since these things couldn't be easily taken from the armed forces department.