Inside the educated youth compound, Xie Yuyao and another person looked at each other in bewilderment.
"I'll go to the store to buy some rice, flour, and seasonings. Let's invite Brother Li and Chen Kai along."
Xie Yuyao thought to herself: With more people, Zhao Jianbin won't stand out so much.
"And Sister Lihong, I'll go get the money and tickets." Yang Shumei went back into the house and took out a stack of tickets and ten yuan, handing them to Xie Yuyao. "Take these and use them first."
"Okay, I'll put it in the tab later." Xie Yuyao took it without hesitation and put it in her pocket.
At this time, the other educated youth also finished work and walked in from outside the courtyard.
Yang Shumei: "Sister Lihong, Chen Kai, come have dinner with us tonight."
“Okay!” Wu Lihong and Chen Kai agreed with a smile.
It wasn't a secret that Zhao Jianbin liked Yang Shumei; even the older members of the educated youth team knew. Judging from the current situation, their relationship was already established, and Zhao Jianbin was formally introduced to everyone.
As for Xie Yuyao, having both money and tickets, she didn't even consider smuggling things out of her spatial dimension. After all, being in Qingshan Village, anyone with a keen eye could easily find out what she had bought.
The sales outlet in Qingshantun is next to the brigade headquarters and is one of the busiest places in the entire brigade.
At this time, many community members were sitting or standing in front of the shop, chatting idly. Xie Yuyao walked through the crowd and entered the shop, where she saw the only sales clerk, Zhang Hanqiao.
"Xie Zhiqing, what would you like to buy?" Zhang Hanqiao greeted her warmly, her child was still eating the malted milk powder that Xie had given her.
Xie Yuyao knew that she was the brigade leader's youngest daughter-in-law, and said with a smile, "Let me take a look first."
The counters here are different from those in the supply and marketing cooperatives. They are not made of transparent glass, but are built of blue bricks and covered with wood, with multiple partitions for displaying goods.
There is a row of wooden display cases against the wall, which are also filled with various kinds of goods.
Above the shipping container is a portrait of a great man, flanked by the words "Develop the economy, ensure supply." On the other side of the wall, the words "Serve the people" are prominently displayed.
A quick glance around revealed that the store sold various daily necessities, including kerosene, soap, matches, salt, basins, cups, and other small items.
Larger quantities of goods need to be purchased from the supply and marketing cooperative, but the cookware and non-staple foods she wanted were not available there.
Finally, she bought 5 jin each of rice and flour, seasonings such as oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, as well as three bottles of Wuliangye liquor, two bottles of red wine, and one bottle of juice.
Seeing that she had come empty-handed, Zhang Hanqiao asked with concern, "Can you carry all of this? I have a basket here that you can borrow."
"Thank you so much. I'll bring the things over as soon as I get them back." Xie Yuyao was in a hurry and didn't think to bring anything with her.
She glanced around again, then leaned closer to Zhang Hanqiao and whispered, "Do you know anyone who has meat they can trade?"
“Few people in the brigade go hunting, so they hardly keep any meat.” Zhang Hanqiao pondered for a moment, then hesitated, as if she had thought of something.
Seeing her expression, Xie Yuyao asked, puzzled, "What are you trying to say?"
"You know Zhao Dayong, right? He might have some things at home, but his situation is complicated, so you'd better not go."
Hearing this, Xie Yuyao understood. "Okay, thank you for telling me."
"You're welcome."
"By the way, do you have edamame and peanuts?" Since braised pork and stewed meat might not be available, Xie Yuyao thought of these two snacks to go with drinks.
Zhang Hanqiao smiled and said, "Not many people buy these two kinds in the countryside, and they're not available here. You can come to my house to get some; I have plenty."
"No need, I'll just buy these first."
Before leaving, she asked without much hope if they had any small pots, but to her surprise, they did.
Zhang Hanqiao pulled out a dusty, double-handled wok from a corner. "Someone asked me to bring it back from town, but then they didn't want it anymore. It's been sitting around for a while now, all covered in dust."
Xie Yuyao didn't mind at all and readily bought it. She could use the coal stove to stir-fry vegetables or make soup when she got back!
On her way back, laden with her purchases, she encountered Li Weidong, who was returning to the former educated youth compound.
Seeing that she had bought a lot of things, Li Weidong quickly walked over and asked her to unload the basket for him.
Xie Yuyao didn't stand on ceremony. She put down her basket and said with a smile, "Let's have dinner together later. Sister Lihong, Chen Kai, and Zhao Jianbin will also be there."
"Okay, Shumei agreed to Zhao Jianbin's request?"
"Not yet, let's see how he performs."
Her tone was a little arrogant, which made Li Weidong shake his head with a smile, a hint of doting light in his eyes.
How was your outing today? Did it go smoothly?
"Yes, I didn't encounter any difficulties." Li Weidong then told her about what he had seen and heard during the day, as well as the order situation.
Upon learning that she had already received a considerable number of orders and deposits, Xie Yuyao was overjoyed and beamed with happiness.
The men carried baskets on their backs, and the women carried cooking pots; from a distance, they looked like a family.
When Zhao Honghui returned, he was greeted by this heartbreaking scene, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Ring ring ring...
A crisp bicycle bell rang out, and Xie Yuyao stopped and turned to look. She saw Zhao Honghui riding a bicycle, which soon arrived nearby.
The bicycle suddenly stopped, and he braced himself on one long leg, his cold aura seeming to return to the time when they first met.
Xie Yuyao had no idea what was wrong with him, and she would never have guessed that it was related to her.
He glanced at the two men expressionlessly and said in a calm tone, "The blue bricks have been approved, and delivery will begin tomorrow night."
"Thank you!" Xie Yuyao smiled faintly, secretly wondering: Did you encounter some setback?
As a fellow man, Li Weidong knew very well why the other party was unhappy, so he deliberately said, "Thank you! Then I'll have the male educated youth come back early tomorrow to unload the bricks."
"You're welcome."
As dusk approached, Zhao Honghui knew it was time to leave, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, and he couldn't move.
The atmosphere fell silent, with only the whistling wind and the chirping of insects in the fields.
"Big brother!"
Zhao Jianbin's shout broke the silence. He and Yang Shumei were squatting by the well washing vegetables. Seeing Xie Yuyao and the other two, Zhao Jianbin and Yang Shumei got up and went over to them.
"Big brother, why are you so late coming back?"
"I went to the brick factory and will deliver a truckload of bricks tomorrow evening."
"Thank you so much." Yang Shumei's eyes lit up with surprise as she thanked her repeatedly.
As far as she knew, there was a queue to pick up bricks from the brick factory, but she didn't expect it to be so fast. It must have been Zhao Honghui who did the work.
"You're welcome."
Suddenly remembering something, Zhao Jianbin chuckled and said, "Brother, could you go back and tell my mom that I won't be coming home for dinner?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Honghui raised an eyebrow. Did this mean they were officially dating?
Yang Shumei was thinking about how to thank Zhao Honghui when she heard this and her eyes lit up. She extended an invitation: "Comrade Zhao, why don't you stay for dinner?"
"Okay." Zhao Honghui agreed without thinking, then glanced at Xie Yuyao, and when she didn't respond, he felt a little empty inside.
Zhao Jianbin's heart skipped a beat, and he stared straight at his older cousin. What do you mean by this? Didn't you say you had no interest in Yang Zhiqing?
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