The next morning, it was still dark.

Pei Manning put on a bulky and thick cotton-padded coat, combed her hair into two shiny black braids, wrapped it with a green floral headscarf, combed her hair, and applied a layer of slightly yellowish and dark pearl powder on her face, hands, and neck, and dotted her nose bridge and cheekbones with fine spots.

"Puchi!" Pei Manning looked at herself in the bronze mirror and couldn't help laughing out loud.

I was once a spoiled child, born into the Pei family, the richest family in Jiangnan. I ate the finest food, wore the softest and most gorgeous clothes, and wore the most exquisite and luxurious accessories. I never thought about this day in the future.

However, Pei Manning does not regret it at all now.

I picked up the cloth bag that contained my clothes and left the Sumi Realm while the surrounding area was remote and quiet.

The cold wind cut my face, and there were still a few cold stars in the sky. People who had already gotten up early were hurrying to work along the quiet street lights.

A bicycle passed by her, jingling...

Pei Manning was stunned for a moment, and then she saw several people in chemical factory uniforms riding bicycles passing by her. She had never seen that bicycle before. It looked a bit like the legendary wooden ox and flowing horse, but without two wheels.

She looked at the tall bicycle curiously, then looked away.

"Auntie, do you know how to get to the department store?" Pei Manning walked for a long time before asking a passerby for directions.

When she was reading in the bookstore yesterday, she heard people talking about this place where she could buy many things.

The woman she asked stopped and looked at her in surprise. The street lights were not bright enough, but she could see that she was a woman with yellowish skin covered with freckles. It was that voice, soft and lingering, that made people's hearts soften.

"You don't even know how to get to the department store? Just go to the intersection of this street, turn right and go straight. When you reach the grain and oil station, turn right and go to the end. The tallest building you see is it."

The woman's mind was quite strange. She couldn't find anyone in the department store in the whole county? Isn't the tallest building the one?

"I came to visit my aunt. It would be inappropriate to come empty-handed, so I thought of buying something for her." Pei Manning explained quickly.

"Oh~ I was wondering, your accent doesn't sound like a local. That's unfortunate, the department store isn't open yet, you have to wait another hour."

Most people at this time are warm-hearted and simple, emphasizing the spirit of hard work and a willingness to help others.

"Well, my lady, I'm going to the food station to get food coupons and non-staple food.

It's on your way, just follow me first, and I'll show you the way when we get there."

Pei Manning paused, thinking it would be safer for them to travel together, "Okay, thank you, Auntie."

The woman was straightforward and waved her hand, "Why are you being so polite, young lady? It's just a matter of convenience."

When we arrived at the grain and oil station, there was already a queue of people holding grain and oil supplies at the door. Some were wrapped in quilts, holding small stools, carrying sacks, shouldering flat baskets, pushing wheelbarrows and bicycles, and they lined up in a long queue, looking impatient.

Pei Manning looked at them curiously, and then she heard the aunt who was leading her say, "My dear, I have to queue up here, so I won't take you there. Go this way, and you will reach the tallest building."

It was still dark outside, with only the sporadic lights from street lamps shrouding a thin layer of morning mist. But at this moment, the grain and oil stations, grocery stores, and state-owned vegetable stores were all bustling with queues.

"Auntie, I'll wait until the door opens. It's crowded and lively here. I'll wait here." Pei Manning smiled at her embarrassedly.

The aunt thought she was scared for a young girl to walk alone, "Well, the department store is closed anyway, it's more lively here, it's better to wait like this."

Pei Manning stood in the crowd, pricked up her ears, and listened to the people around her talking quietly.

"What's the special supply today? On May Day, there were two ounces of sesame oil and labor insurance gloves."

"Yesterday afternoon, I heard the announcement on the factory loudspeaker that today's National Day special supply of chicken, duck and goose, as well as standard flour, are available according to household registration. In addition, half a pound of peanuts are also available. I just don't know what is left when it comes to us."

"Oh, if I had known, I would have queued up in the middle of the night."

"There are so many people, how long will it take to queue? By the time I finish queuing here, the things over there will have been picked up." That's what happens in the past. The supply is insufficient and the people behind have queued in vain.

"Why rush? Anyway, the loudspeaker has announced that there is sufficient supply for National Day today."

…

Pei Manning listened for a long time before she realized that to buy food, oil, and meat... they not only needed money, but also various kinds of tickets.

Even vegetables can only be purchased in limited quantities.

She silently glanced at the 12.75 yuan in her bag and pursed her rosy lips. She knew she couldn't buy anything without the ticket.

Not long after, there was a sudden noisy sound, and several large trucks carrying things drove over slowly, surrounded by the cheers and crowds of people, and stopped in the open space next to them. The truck beds were filled with chickens, ducks, fish and slices of pork.

vehicle

The person on top jumped over.

"Make way, don't block the goods."

"People in the front, line up, line up, get your money and tickets ready, come one by one, the man wearing a hat, I'm talking about you! Go to the back and line up!"

"Stop squeezing! Stop squeezing! My shoes fell off!"

"Ouch, whose stick hit me?"

…

The already busy street became even more chaotic and noisy. Men, women, old and young rushed in, blocking the outside of the store and squeezing each other.

Pei Manning first looked at those huge objects - the trucks - with curiosity.

Then she looked at the pork, chicken and duck meat unloaded from the truck bed and swallowed unconsciously. From the time she left Pei Mansion to now, she had eaten meat twice in the past seven days, all thanks to Han Jingchen.

But she can't buy meat now because she doesn't have a ticket.