Chapter 509: Going to the Market
When Wang Yumei heard Liu Guifang say there was nothing to buy, she asked, "Aren't you going to buy the instructor a few bottles of wine?"
“I won’t buy it for him, and he won’t let me buy alcohol either. What if I suddenly have to work during the Chinese New Year? He’ll scold me if I buy alcohol. I’ll buy some melon seeds and snacks for my son.”
Liu Guifang turned to Bai Zhi and asked with a smile, "Xiao Bai, what do you want to buy?"
"I just wander around and buy whatever I see. Our newly built little home is still missing a lot of things."
As soon as I got to the street, I saw some stalls selling bedding.
They were all colorful and hung there, and there were quite a few women around.
Bai Zhi realized that there were no bed sheets in the second bedroom, so she decided to buy a set.
The shop owner said these were leftover trade goods, and the quality was okay, but the patterns on them were a bit outdated.
Of course, this is only in terms of her aesthetic sense.
However, large floral patterns were popular during that era.
It is especially in line with the aesthetic preferences of middle-aged women.
There's a hole in the middle of the duvet cover, but no zipper, making it easy to put the duvet on.
When Liu Guifang saw the bed sheets and duvet cover, she kept praising how beautiful they were.
However, she herself does not plan to buy it.
When Bai Zhi mentioned wanting it, I enthusiastically offered my advice.
Bai Zhi chose a relatively plain T-shirt design.
I bought a set.
When Wang Yumei saw Bai Zhi looking at such cheap bed sheets and duvet covers, she felt a wave of mockery in her heart.
Sure enough, he was just showing off.
She couldn't help but start being sarcastic, "Old Lu's wife, I think we should buy better bedding. Aren't you afraid of getting a skin allergy from these fabrics on the bed?"
Bai Zhi, "???"
These are all pure cotton fabrics, what could possibly cause an allergic reaction?
There wasn't that much technology and ruthless work in this era.
Isn't this the kind of fabric that everyone uses?
After belittling Bai Zhi's cheap purchase, Wang Yumei naturally had to show off her own: "The bedding on my bed is all from the city, made of high-end silk fabric. My brother is in business and often buys me imported goods."
Bai Zhi said calmly, "I don't have a brother who's in business, and I'm not that pretentious."
Liu Guifang chimed in, "That's right, isn't this the kind of flooring we usually use? I think it's fine, and we don't have to worry about it getting ruined by washing."
“Sister Liu, I understand why you bought it. After all, your financial situation has been limited these past two years, and you've been saving money for your children and elderly parents. But this is Battalion Commander Lu's wife. She's using a mobile phone, which means she's obviously rich. I don't quite understand why she's using such coarse fabric. Could it be that your mobile phone is fake too?”
Bai Zhi, “???” She subconsciously reached for her mobile phone.
Then she remembered that she had left her mobile phone inside when she went out. After all, the market in December was too chaotic, and she was unfamiliar with the area, so she dared not carry such a valuable thing with her when she went out.
Of course, even if you take it out, there's no need to prove anything to this woman.
"Yes, if you say so, then it is."
Bai Zhi acted as if it didn't matter, paid for the sheets and duvet covers, and got them installed.
Then continue exploring.
Wang Yumei felt like she had punched cotton, unable to vent her anger, which made her very annoyed.
Bai Zhi strolled around the street, finding mostly shops selling general merchandise.
Of course, there were also supply and marketing cooperatives.
Currently, the policy of requiring ration coupons to purchase many items has been abolished, and ordinary people can shop freely as long as they have money.
Bai Zhi looked around but didn't see any shops selling home appliances. She asked Liu Guifang, "Sister Liu, are there any shops selling appliances on this street?"
"What appliance?" Liu Guifang asked.
Bai Zhi replied, "Just things like televisions and tape recorders."
It's so quiet at home, it's really boring.
Especially with the Lunar New Year approaching, she wants to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
How desolate would it be on New Year's Eve without a TV?
Upon hearing Bai Zhi's words, Liu Guifang's eyes lit up, and she asked with a smile, "You want to buy a TV?"
"I have that plan."
"We need to buy a TV in the county town," Liu Guifang said. "Xiaobai, if you want to watch TV, you can come to my house. I have a black and white TV. I don't usually turn it on because my son is studying, but we can watch the New Year's Gala."
"Okay, thank you, Sister Liu."
After finding out the details, Bai Zhi planned to take some time to go to the county town and get a television.
There's no refrigerator at home, so there's nowhere to put the grocery bags I bought, which is really inconvenient.
Since I'll be living here permanently with the military, this place needs to look like a home.
When Wang Yumei heard that Bai Zhi wanted to buy a TV, she started showing off in different ways, saying, "If you're going to buy a TV, you have to buy a foreign brand, and the size has to be right too, otherwise it'll look stingy."
After speaking, he looked at Liu Guifang and explained with a smile, "Sister Liu, I didn't mean to say that your TV is small. I know that your family is poor and it's understandable that you don't have a big TV."
Liu Guifang, "!!!"
Is it necessary to keep emphasizing her family's difficulties?
Whether this woman had low emotional intelligence or was deliberately flaunting her wealth, Bai Zhi found her extremely offensive, but Liu Guifang was clearly used to it.
As the eldest sister, she had excellent control over the situation. "Let's go buy some daily necessities first."
"Okay." Lu Ye had prepared most of the necessary items for the house.
Bai Zhi strolled around the street and bought some candies and melon seeds with Liu Guifang.
I was initially very happy to see the door gods and couplets I bought at the market, but then I realized that this was a military family compound and we probably didn't need these fancy things.
Besides, door gods are a bit feudal and superstitious.
She wasn't in a hurry to buy them; she planned to consult Lu Ye before purchasing the couplets.
Three women strolled around the street all morning.
Wang Yumei found the things in the small town unappealing and basically didn't buy anything.
Because of her frugality, Liu Guifang didn't buy much.
As for Angelica dahurica, she buys whatever she sees.
In the end, I bought a huge pile.
Liu Guifang helped her take some of it.
Originally, Liu Guifang wanted to advise Bai Zhi to be thrifty and manage the household well.
But seeing the young girl using a mobile phone to call home today, and the other party seemed quite wealthy, she wisely decided not to try to persuade her anymore.
People who are poor are frugal; why should people who have money to spend be frugal?
Who would willingly enjoy good fortune while suffering hardship?
When the three of them were out shopping until noon, Bai Zhi suggested that they eat lunch on the street before going back.
She said to Liu Guifang and Wang Yumei, "Sister Liu, Sister Wang, it's my treat today. I'm new here, so I'm very grateful for your care."
Liu Guifang hurriedly waved her hand to refuse, "No need, why invite me? We're neighbors, there's no need for such formalities."
Wang Yumei felt somewhat embarrassed and guilty upon hearing Bai Zhi's words.
"Just have a bowl of noodles, it's just a small token of my appreciation."
Bai Zhi insisted on treating them to dinner, and Liu Guifang had no choice but to agree.
Wang Yumei didn't expect Bai Zhi to understand etiquette; she must be trying to show weakness to her.
Out of respect for Sister Liu, she reluctantly agreed.
The three of them went to the restaurant where Bai Zhi and Ye Qingbai had eaten the day before.
Bai Zhi ordered three bowls of noodles and had just ordered two dishes when Liu Guifang quickly stopped her, saying that ordering too much would be too much for them to finish.
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