Chapter 12 Paying for Food...
The only thing missing was an iron wok; even with industrial ration coupons, you couldn't buy one.
How can you live without a pot at home?
After a brief moment of thought, Ren Qingsong first sent Miya and Zhou Tuan's relatives to the car.
"Sister-in-law, please wait here for a while. I'll go ask a friend if we can buy an iron pot."
"Alright, alright! Thank you for your trouble, Qingsong."
With such a good thing, how could Liu Limei possibly disagree? Noticing the worried gaze lingering on Miya, she immediately added:
"Don't worry, my daughter and I will take good care of Miya."
Upon hearing this, Ren Qingsong nodded and turned to leave.
Before long, the family members who had traveled together in the morning returned one after another, each carrying a full load of things, clearly having had a fruitful shopping trip.
Before getting on the bus, some people thought they had bought quite a lot of things, but when they saw what was around Miya, they suddenly realized it was nothing.
Someone spotted the tin thermos and excitedly shouted:
"A tin thermos! We asked the saleswoman repeatedly, but she only had bamboo thermoses. Where did you buy this?"
Facing the menacing gazes of the group, Liu Limei remained calm and composed, glancing at Miya, who was clearly frightened.
"Of course we bought it at the department store. We went there first, and there was only one left."
"No wonder."
"I knew it! That's why we can't buy them."
"It seems that next time I have the chance to come to the city to buy things, I should go earlier to buy valuable items."
...
Upon hearing the answer, everyone couldn't help but show expressions of "I see."
Especially after looking around and realizing that Liu Limei's two families had only managed to buy one, he felt much better.
Immediately afterwards, everyone started complaining that they had come all the way to the city but still hadn't been able to buy many things.
The group kept complaining about how the troops were stationed in remote areas, where supplies were scarce, and how many other things were lacking.
At this moment, a well-informed local military wife spoke up.
"If we can't come to the city, we can visit the local market. I heard that the town closest to the military base holds a market every month where you can barter."
The last four words were pronounced very clearly, and everyone present gave him a knowing look.
Only Miya was completely bewildered, not understanding why everyone was simultaneously curling up the corners of their mouths.
She couldn't help but move closer to the crowd, tilting her ear to listen carefully.
"What do they sell at the market? My family is missing quite a few things."
“We have markets in my hometown too. I’ve been there with the village before, but I don’t know how they differ from those in Mianning.”
"It should be about the same. The market is basically organized by the villages below, and it mainly consists of handicrafts made by farmers in their spare time, such as baskets and bamboo baskets; as well as vegetables that they can't finish eating; I heard that some mountain people will also bring the meat they hunt, without needing meat coupons."
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.
I never expected that people in the border region would be so bold as to sell wild animals.
While shocked, everyone couldn't help but be happy. Meat without ration coupons, a treat once a month—the kids in the family would probably be overjoyed.
Soon, the people on the bus agreed that they would all go to the market together next time.
A joyful atmosphere filled the car until Ren Qingsong appeared.
Because he was carrying two large, shiny iron pots on his back, it made people's eyes water.
Since the disbandment of the communal dining system, every household has been short of iron pots, and not just the kind of shortage of industrial ration coupons, but the kind of shortage where there are simply no pots available to buy.
Besides the iron pot, Ren Qingsong was also carrying a full bag of grain, which made people even more envious.
"Sister-in-law, could you please move aside?"
Liu Limei stepped aside, and Ren Qingsong immediately stuffed the grain in his hand into the carriage, leaving no space at all.
"I'll take the rest to the front to prevent them from breaking."
"Okay, okay!"
Aside from shouting "good," Liu Limei couldn't utter any other words.
She didn't expect that Ren Qingsong would actually buy the iron pots, and he bought two big ones at once, brand new and shiny, looking great.
It's better to make Ren Qingsong look better; it's more heartbreaking to see the new pot break than if she broke it herself.
The passengers, recovering from their shock, began to curiously inquire about the origin of the iron pot.
Liu Limei's face immediately turned cold, and she waved her hand, saying, "I don't know either. You should have just asked Battalion Commander Ren. I just got a free ride."
The unexpected setback caused many people to have a worse attitude towards Liu Limei.
Some people even began to think to themselves: No wonder he could raise a daughter who disrespects her elders; he's rotten to the core.
The atmosphere inside the car instantly became somber, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
The moment she arrived at the military base, Miya couldn't wait for the car to come to a complete stop, and disregarding the proper etiquette expected of a young lady, she leaped onto the ground.
When Ren Qingsong stuck his head out of the car door, what he saw was Miya disregarding safety.
There are many people around now, so he's giving his little sister some face. He'll see how he teaches her a lesson when they get back.
When Miya heard Ren Qingsong's words, she felt that he was talking to her. Thinking about her actions just now, she felt guilty and quickly stood up straight, taking the items handed to her by her sister-in-law.
Soon, everyone on the bus got off and headed home with their bountiful harvest.
Ren Qingsong glanced at Miya and the others, and instructed, "Sister-in-law, please wait here for a while. I'll park the car back where it was and come right back."
"Go ahead, I'll keep an eye on things for you."
As for whether Liu Limei meant helping to look after Miya or helping to watch over the things she bought, only she herself knows.
Looking at the mess on the ground, Miya was at a loss for what to do.
There was too much stuff; it was impossible to carry it all back by hand alone, and the same was true for Ren Qingsong.
She thought to herself: It seems she also needs to find a way to go to the market with everyone and buy some baskets or something.
"Sister-in-law, will you go to the market that everyone mentioned on the bus?"
"Of course I'm going! It's not easy to find meat without a ticket. I'm going to try my luck. Eating in the cafeteria every day is too expensive."
After eating her first meal at the canteen, Liu Limei immediately realized that if her family ate there every day, it would probably cost her husband most of his monthly salary, which made her feel the pinch.
Unexpectedly, Miya let out a terrified sound upon hearing this.
"Eating in the cafeteria costs money!"
“Of course,” Liu Limei looked at Miya with some surprise and asked incredulously, “Don’t you know?”
Miya shook her head, looking bewildered. She had never heard of having to pay for food and drink after joining the army when the imperial court conscripted men.
Moreover, she always saw Ren Qingsong getting his meals with meal tickets. "Third Brother said the tickets were issued by the army?"
“That’s right,” Liu Limei affirmed first, then gave Miya a heartbreaking answer.
"The military provides different benefits based on rank, just like city dwellers, with a monthly ration. But it's different for us family members. We don't have ration coupons, and we eat what our husbands... no, no, no... your third brother's share of the food."
“After eating, you have to exchange money for tickets. In our family of five, only Lao Zhou earns money. Every month, we exchange tickets to eat in the canteen, and our monthly salary is almost gone.”
Miya felt an overwhelming pang of heartache at the thought of spending money on food these past few days.
If I had known earlier, I could have just picked some wild vegetables every day, made a soup, and filled my stomach.
She had never heard of anyone having to pay for a meal.
Seeing the regretful expression on Miya's face, Liu Limei immediately realized she had made a mistake and quickly tried to correct herself:
"Miya, don't worry. Battalion Commander Ren's salary is only slightly lower than my husband Zhou's. It's more than enough to support your sister. Don't worry."
Even if you have a lot of money, you shouldn't spend it like this!
Miya was on the verge of tears. The thought of all the money she had spent made her feel like her stomach was stuffed full, and she had no appetite at all.
Liu Limei never expected that her words would elicit such a response from Miya. For the first time, she felt that she should have learned more words during literacy classes, otherwise she would not be at a loss for words now.
“Miya, you…”
Zhou Qiang looked at the mother and daughter's haul for the day and raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Wow! There's quite a lot of stuff.
As he spoke, he casually reached out and grabbed his belongings, holding a bag in each hand.
Ren Qingsong silently picked up his own belongings, his chest, back, and hands were full of things, and he prepared to leave with Zhou Tuan.
Suddenly I noticed that the honey sprout next to me was like a pillar, completely still.
"Miya, what's wrong?"
Liu Limei realized that it was the result of her own words and was at a loss for what to do, but suddenly a brilliant idea flashed in her mind.
"Miya, from now on, we can just use the iron pot at home for cooking, it won't cost any money."
Upon hearing this, Miya, feeling guilty, seemed to have found a way to make amends and nodded repeatedly.
"Sister-in-law, you're right. I want to learn from you."
"What should I study?" Zhou Qiang asked his wife curiously.
Liu Limei rolled her eyes at him, not wanting to voice Miya's worries and fears, "What does it have to do with you?"
After saying that, she quickened her pace and walked forward.
Zhou Qiang followed with a puzzled look on his face, occasionally turning his head to cast a questioning glance at Da Ni.
Dani turned her face away, not daring to meet Miya's gaze. She somewhat understood what Miya was doing.
Just like when she lived with her grandmother in her hometown, she was terrified that her grandmother would catch her for wasting even the smallest thing. That kind of fear came from the depths of her soul and was indescribable.
Behind him, Ren Qingsong followed Miya forward with a puzzled look on his face.
"Miya, were you and your sister-in-law having a fight just now?"
"Still no money on you?"
Upon hearing the word "money," Miya immediately recalled the scenes of eating in the cafeteria over the past two days.
She vowed to be a good wife, how could she waste money like this?
Unconsciously, a bitter feeling welled up in her chest. "Third Brother, why didn't you tell me that eating in the cafeteria costs money?"
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