Chapter 38 Three-joint leather shoes
But, three dollars and fifty cents?
Zhu Rongrong reached out and touched her pocket, where five dollars lay quietly. She came out to buy soy sauce and canned food, not shoes. She had guests at home today, and she had to go to the state-owned restaurant to cook two dishes to bring back.
If she had spent the money... Thinking of that scene, Zhu Rongrong regained some of her rationality.
Seeing her hesitation and the look of shaking her head, Gu Yuehuai said, "I painted Trumpet Creeper. Since ancient times, Trumpet Creeper has been praised for its lofty ambitions and its beauty that rivals the sun. Literati and poets have praised it highly."
"I think only a city girl like you can wear this pair of shoes in a fancy way. If you don't want them, then I won't sell them to you. Take them home and keep them for yourself when you have the chance in the future."
Having said that, Gu Yuehuai sighed, turned around and prepared to leave.
Zhu Rongrong looked anxious. She really liked that pair of white mesh shoes, but three dollars and fifty cents...
Gu Yuehuai had just taken two steps when Zhu Rongrong's voice came from behind: "Wait! Wait a minute, I didn't say no!"
Gu Yuehuai turned around and smiled at Zhu Rongrong: "I knew that this pair of shoes was meant for you. Now that you bought my shoes, I can't let you lose out. These are the peppers I grew at home. I'll give you some."
When Zhu Rongrong heard that there were also peppers to be given away, her guilty conscience faded a lot.
She took out some money, counted out three dollars and fifty cents and handed it to Gu Yuehuai, then took the pepper from her hand. Looking at the pepper that was as red as flames without any scars or dirt stains, Zhu Rongrong said in surprise, "The peppers you grow are really good!"
Gu Yuehuai chuckled and said, "Take it home and make a plate of stir-fried pork with peppers. The red peppers are shiny with oil, and the meat slices marinated in soy sauce are fried in that way. I guarantee the aroma will go straight into your nose!"
Zhu Rongrong listened to her words and sipped her saliva unconsciously.
She saw Gu Yuehuai's face showing a strange expression and felt that this person was to her liking, so she said, "My name is Zhu Rongrong, and my home is in the compound of the County Revolutionary Committee. If you want to sell these fresh vegetables again in the future, come find me."
She loves food and spicy food. These peppers look like they were grown with great care and can be a long-term business.
"The compound of the County Revolutionary Committee? All the high-ranking officials live in there!" Gu Yuehuai's flattering words made Zhu Rongrong feel even more ecstatic. She shook her hair triumphantly, waved her hand and walked into the supply and marketing cooperative.
When Zhu Rongrong turned around, Gu Yuehuai's smile disappeared and her face became indifferent, as if the person who had just been trying so hard to sell the goods was not her. She pulled the headscarf on her face and went to the black market.
*
Huangying Commune, black market.
There are not many black market bases in the town, only two or three. Moreover, it is not like in later generations, where there are crowds of vendors setting up stalls to sell goods. At this time, everyone in the black market is hiding, and the whole street is filled with idle street urchins.
Some people squatted in groups of three or four on the street corners, with their hands in their sleeves, looking at the passers-by.
There were also women covering their heads with gray-blue triangular scarves, carrying baskets and looking around.
Occasionally, one or two "tycoons" pushing bicycles would appear, and in the blink of an eye they would be targeted by the grain dealers on the black market. After reaching an agreement, they would both leave the black market and find a deserted place to trade.
Gu Yuehuai was hunched over, with his head covered tightly, but his expression was very calm.
This was not her first time in the black market. Compared with her father and brother, she was not an old hand, but she was not panicked.
Gu Yuehuai hid in the corner for a long time, looking for a big fish to catch. This time her luck was better than when she was at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative. About ten minutes later, she spotted a young man who was riding a bicycle slowly coming from the corner of the street.
The young man was wearing a dark blue lapel sweater with a brand new military coat on the outside and a pair of three-joint leather shoes on his feet. As the saying goes, "Without shoes on your feet, you are half poor", so when you judge a person, you should first look at his shoes.
In the 1970s, only officers who had reached a certain rank were eligible to be issued three-joint leather shoes.
However, the young man had a playful smile on his face and was whistling while riding his bicycle. He did not look like an officer at all, so he was probably wearing his family's shoes. Looking at the several oil-paper packages hanging on the handlebars of his bicycle, it was clear that he was going to give gifts.
After Gu Yuehuai's analysis, he rushed out from the corner to block the traffic.
Seeing that he was stopped by someone, He Lanzhang stopped the car with a gloomy face and waved his hand impatiently, "I'm not buying food, you quickly get out of the way, or I'll send the militia over!"
If it weren't for the fact that it was close to the County Revolutionary Committee compound, he wouldn't have gone this way.
Gu Yuehuai was as steady as an old dog, and said shamelessly: "Comrade, I have good stuff here, hard currency!"
He Lanzhang looked at her suspiciously: "Hard currency? What? Fine grain?"
Gu Yuehuai waved at him and went to the corner first. The street vendors selling grain and eggs were not angry when they saw that Gu Yuehuai got there first, because they also noticed the three-jointed leather shoes on the man's feet.
This kind of person has a very strong family background, and if you provoke him/her, you might get yourself into trouble.
For those working in the black market, eyesight is very important.
He Lanzhang was really curious, so he pushed his bicycle and followed. When he saw the gold bars in Gu Yuehuai's basket, his expression suddenly changed and he lowered his voice and said, "Are you crazy? This thing is strictly prohibited!"
Gu Yuehuai smiled and said, "Food, and supplementary food as well."
In fact, Country Z froze private gold and silver trading in 1950, and clearly stipulated that domestic gold and silver trading should be managed by the People's Bank of China. No units or individuals were allowed to use gold and silver for pricing, and private trading was prohibited.
She knew all this, but, as she said, food was also a contraband item, so weren't there people selling it anyway?
He Lanzhang waved his hands: "I can't eat this."
After saying that, He Lanzhang turned around and left. Things like gold and silver involve too many things, and one could be doomed if not careful. He didn't dare to buy or sell them casually on the black market. If he was reported, his whole family would suffer.
He Lanzhang took two steps, then turned back and said to Gu Yuehuai hesitantly, "I advise you to hide it. Although it is the same as food, its nature is completely different. If you are caught, you will not survive."
"And I can also tell you with certainty that no one in Huangying Commune can buy it, so don't waste your time."
After He Lanzhang finished speaking, he left without looking back.
Gu Yuehuai watched him disappear down the street on his bicycle, frowned, and looked down at his basket.
She pondered for a moment, gave up selling the gold, and stuffed the gold back into the Sumeru space.
The young man was a little bit rebellious, but he should not be a bad person. At least he did not show any greed when he saw the gold. Of course, she called people over so loudly because she had the Sumeru Space to protect her.
If he dared to snatch it or call the militia over, she would stuff the gold back into the space. As long as he couldn't be caught in the act, who would believe what he said? Who would dare to believe that she had a portable space on her?
However, the gold sales plan failed, how to repay the debt?
Gu Yuehuai pursed her lips, and thought of the heavy ears of wheat in the Xumi space. Her brows relaxed slightly. The wheat sprouted quickly, and if she worked harder, she could harvest two rounds a day and grind them into flour with a millstone. That would be special first-class flour!
If she makes a few more trips, she should be able to pay off her family's debts, but it's a pity that the gold cannot be sold for the time being.
However, the national economy will eventually take off. When that time comes, she will sell the things in the space and buy more houses in first-tier cities. Then she will be able to become a landlady smoothly and realize the freedom of collecting rent.
Good days are yet to come, for now, just hold on.
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