Huo Yingjie was excited, wanting to spend time alone with He Tiantian.
Huo Yingjie got up and saw something sticky on his underwear. He quickly put it away so his family wouldn't see it and he would wash it himself when he got home during the day.
After getting dressed, brushing my teeth and washing my face, I grabbed my crossbody bag filled with various bills and went out.
He Tiantian was also ready, dressed warmly, with a black wool hat on her head, topped with a large wool ball, fluffy and soft, and looked especially pretty.
It was dark, and Huo Yingjie couldn't see clearly.
"Brother Yingjie, have some hot water to warm yourself up." He Tiantian offered her her water bottle, which was filled with hot water, so she could not only drink it but also warm her hands.
"Thank you!" Huo Yingjie was indeed a bit thirsty, so he took the drink and drank several mouthfuls. He felt completely refreshed, from the inside out, and his whole body felt comfortable!
He Tiantian carried the water bottle and followed Huo Yingjie.
Huo Yingjie was carrying a large basket containing burlap sacks, which he would use to pack things later.
"What are we going to buy today?" Huo Yingjie asked. In those days of scarcity, the Spring Festival was like a war. Sometimes, even if you had money and tickets, you could still not buy anything even if you lined up at the back.
He Tiantian thought for a moment and said, "It's not something we can just buy whenever we want. We can only buy what the supply and marketing cooperative has! Anyway, I brought all the coupons from home and a lot of money with me. I'll buy whatever I see and as much as I can. Otherwise, these coupons will probably go to waste if we don't use them. The New Year is coming soon, and we need a lot of things. We'll definitely use them when we get home."
Seeing that He Tiantian spoke eloquently, Huo Yingjie was very pleased. He touched He Tiantian's round head with his other hand, and accidentally touched the big pom-pom on He Tiantian's woolen hat. He couldn't help but laugh and pinched it a couple of times.
Now that it's dark, even if there are people around, they're all in a hurry, and no one pays them any attention.
Huo Yingjie took He Tiantian's hand, his big hand over her small hand, and they walked forward together.
He Tiantian was completely satisfied. The feeling of Huo Yingjie holding her hand allowed her to relive the precious excitement and happiness she had felt.
The two walked along the road at a leisurely pace. Even though there were some potholes and bumps, they were always able to avoid them or jump over them safely, thanks to their careful attention.
Before long, they arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative near their home, where a long queue had already formed outside.
He Tiantian took out the grain coupons and said, "Brother Yingjie, these are my family's grain coupons and money. Go buy some grain, and buy as much as you can. I'll go to the vegetable section over there and get some more cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and the like."
Huo Yingjie smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go queue up over there, you stay here. If the things are heavy later, just call me to get them."
"Okay," He Tiantian replied crisply, taking her things and joining the queue.
The two were several meters apart, but their eyes often met unexpectedly.
Huo Yingjie's eyes were always so warm and focused.
While feeling happy, He Tiantian also felt shy, and quickly turned her eyes away, her heart racing.
Previously, He Tiantian worried that when she saw Huo Yingjie again, her decades of past life experiences would have aged her and she wouldn't be able to get along with him easily. But when they actually met, hugged, and kissed, her hormone-fueled heart told her that it was possible.
No matter how many years have passed, because of love, that heart will always beat faster for this man.
Not long after they started queuing, more people lined up behind them, waiting for the supply and marketing cooperative to open.
At six o'clock in the morning, the supply and marketing cooperative opened its doors on time.
The people queuing at the door stirred. Inside, a salesperson holding a cardboard tube folded into a megaphone shape shouted, "Queue up! Queue up! Anyone who doesn't queue up won't be buying anything!"
Although everyone was anxious, they all lined up obediently so they could buy their things as quickly as possible. Anyone who didn't line up properly and caused trouble was arrested within two minutes by police officers from the nearby police station.
With order, the salespeople can move faster.
For example, with rice, each person can only buy ten jin (5 kg) per day; no more, even if you have money and coupons. The same applies to other things; each person can buy a maximum of three staple foods per day.
Huo Yingjie bought ten kilograms of rice, ten kilograms of flour, and ten kilograms of corn flour today.
He Tiantian bought 20 jin of cabbage, 10 jin of radishes, and 10 jin of potatoes, packed them all into sacks, and carried them over.
Seeing that He Tiantian was petite and carrying a large burlap sack, Huo Yingjie quickly went forward to greet her, saying, "I told you to call me, why didn't you?"
"It's not heavy, I can carry it," He Tiantian said with a smile. "It's already dawn, let's go back and come back tomorrow."
How could Huo Yingjie let He Tiantian carry it! Seeing that the sack wasn't full yet, he added another ten jin of rice and ten jin of flour. He carried the sack while He Tiantian carried the ten jin of cornmeal.
“Actually, I could have taken more,” He Tiantian said. She was very strong, and those weights were nothing to her. But… she just couldn’t explain to Huo Yingjie why she was so strong!
"With me here, how could I let you get tired!" Huo Yingjie laughed. "You just take that basket, let's go home."
Huo Yingjie carried a large sack, while He Tiantian carried a basket.
Huo Yingjie turned his head and saw a fair-skinned little face wearing an adorable pom-pom hat. Perhaps due to the large movement just now, small, round earlobes were exposed.
Dayushu Lane was three miles away from the supply and marketing cooperative. Huo Yingjie and He Tiantian carried their things home on their backs. Huo Yingjie planned to get a small cart when he got back today; it would be more comfortable than carrying them on his back.
"Oh? He Tiantian?" A woman called out to He Tiantian as they turned the corner.
He Tiantian turned her head and saw that it was Liu Lingli.
Liu Lingli acted as if she hadn't seen her a few days ago, so why did she take the initiative to greet her today?
He's the kind of person who doesn't get up early for nothing, what is it about her that he's interested in?
He Tiantian smiled and said, "Oh, it's Sister Lingli! You're back too!"
“Yes, I bought the ticket several days ago, so I'm a bit late. When I went to look for you, the people from Qijia Village said you had already gone home,” Liu Lingli replied. “You see, we're from the same place, so how about we go back together when we go back?”
He Tiantian smiled and said, "Let's talk about it later. Maybe I have other things to do!"
Liu Lingli wasn't angry at all; instead, she became even more enthusiastic, smiling broadly, and said, "Sure, whatever you want. I'm free at home, I'll come visit you!"
"Actually, I'm quite busy. I have to make cardboard boxes every day to supplement my family's income. It's perfect that you're coming to visit me. You can help me with the work, and I won't have to work so hard." He Tiantian said with feigned delight, "Sister Lingli, you absolutely have to come!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Lingli's face stiffened. What had happened to He Tiantian's family that had reduced her to this state, like hers, making a living by pasting cardboard boxes?
******
I highly recommend Cup's new book, "Husband, Time to Dinner." Her future husband is a handsome but mischievous boy. Since she's stuck with him, she'll do her best to discipline and mold him into a perfect, round and flat shape~ (To be continued.)
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