Chapter 18 Buying
Things Lu Changzheng and Su Mo were unaware of what happened in Hongqi Commune.
After arriving at the county seat, the two went straight to the post office. Su Mo was going to send a letter, while Lu Changzheng was going to call the army.
"Are you sending a letter to your family?" Lu Changzheng asked.
"Yes, to my uncle, who is in the army in Guangxi Province."
Since they had decided to get married, Su Mo was not going to hide the situation at Lu Changzheng's home, but she would not tell him everything. After all, she had only known this man for two days.
"Do you want to send a telegram to your family to tell them about the marriage?"
"No, my parents have severed ties with me." Su Mo did not say much, but she still revealed the information that should be revealed.
Breaking up means something went wrong. If the man wants to regret it, it doesn't matter.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Lu Changzheng secretly held Su Mo's hand to comfort her.
Although he had guessed it a long time ago, it was another matter to know for sure. Lu Changzheng couldn't help but feel sorry for Su Mo's experience.
Just at this moment, people from the county revolutionary committee drove past the door of the post office. There were two people in the car who were tied up with badges on their chests.
Lu Changzheng frowned. He didn't know what his future father-in-law and mother-in-law would be like, but he could imagine that his wife must have had a hard time during that time. A person who has been pampered since childhood, her whole family broke up overnight, and she had to go to a distant place to work as an educated youth in the countryside.
I'm afraid ordinary people can't bear it.
"Don't worry, I will let you live a good life. When the storm is over, I will help you find out the situation." Lu Changzheng promised in a low voice.
Su Mo didn't expect that Lu Changzheng not only didn't mind, but also wanted to help her find out about her parents' situation. She couldn't help but smile at him gratefully.
"Thank you, Comrade Lu."
"You are my wife, your business is my business." Lu Changzheng said firmly.
In this era, the cost of mailing letters in local cities is 4 cents, and it is 8 cents to other cities. Therefore, most of the face values of stamps are 4 cents and 8 cents, and there are also a small number of 22 cents, 43 cents, 52 cents and other face values. Large-denomination stamps are used for international letters, and 22 cents is a stamp for international airmail.
In China, if the distance is far, you need to affix an extra 8-cent stamp. For example, if you send a letter from Heijiang Province to Guangxi Province, you need to affix 2 8-cent stamps.
Because she was going to submit articles to various newspapers in the future, Su Mo bought 50 8-cent stamps at one time, spending 4 yuan. Then she bought 50 envelopes (2 cents each), 10 notebooks of letter paper (10 cents each), and 2 bottles of ink (0.24 yuan each) at the post office. Including the money for stamps, the total cost was 6.48 yuan. After
Lu Changzheng finished his phone call and came out, he saw Su Mo bought so many envelopes and letter paper. He thought Su Mo bought them to write to him in the future, so he happily reached out and took them and carried them himself.
The supply and marketing cooperative in the county is not far from the post office. Lu Changzheng hung the things on the handlebars, and the two of them pushed the cart directly over.
"I want to buy some cotton, but I don't have enough tickets. Do you know where there is a free market?" Su Mo asked in a low voice.
Let's test the waters this time, and I will know the way next time I come.
The corners of Lu Changzheng's mouth twitched slightly. It seems that his wife is not a shrewd person. Seeing that she is familiar with the place, it is estimated that she has been to the black market in Haishi many times. But with his wife's appearance, it is too unsafe to go to the black market.
"I am wearing a military uniform today, so it is not convenient for me to go to that place. How much cotton do you need?"
Lu Changzheng is not a person who sticks to the rules, and he does not reject the free market. If there is nothing to sell in the supply and marketing cooperative, and he needs it in time, he has to go to that place.
Su Mo calculated and reported a number: "About 30 kilograms!"
Lu Changzheng was shocked. What was his wife going to do? Did she know how big 30 kilograms of cotton was? He was riding a bicycle today, not a tractor.
"Wife, what are you doing?"
"This... well, marriage requires dowry, I want to make two quilts." Su Mo was a little embarrassed.
Lu Changzheng felt so happy that his mouth curled up. It seemed that he was not the only one who was enthusiastic about the marriage. His wife had already started preparing dowry.
"You can just go to the commune and order it. Our commune has its own collective workshop. You don't need a ticket to order cotton there. You just need to pay according to the market price."
Hongqi Commune grows cotton. Every year, they keep enough cotton for the commune's collective workshop. The excess is sold to the purchasing station.
"So good?" Su Mo's eyes lit up. "Then how about cotton blouses?"
"I don't know about that. We'll ask later." Lu Changzheng said. He also said this in a letter from his family two years ago.
The new secretary who came a few years ago was really capable. Since he came, the economy of Hongqi Commune has been much better than before, and the members' lives have been much better. Since he came, the brigade of Hongqi Commune has never suffered from famine again.
The two of them were chatting when they arrived at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative. The communes were still harvesting in the fall, so there were not many people in the supply and marketing cooperative.
Because it was a small county town, the supply and marketing cooperatives were not divided into different types like in the sea market, but there was just one big supply and marketing cooperative with different types of counters.
Su Mo first went to the counter selling daily necessities and said to the saleswoman, "Hello, comrade. Please bring me two enamel basins, two enamel pots, two iron thermoses, two toothbrushes, a tube of toothpaste, a bar of soap, a bar of soap, and a bundle of toilet paper."
The saleswoman was stunned for a moment when she saw Su Mo listing a series of things, and then smiled and said, "Comrade, are you getting married and buying dowry?"
Su Mo smiled and nodded.
Taking advantage of the fact that someone was moving things this time, she bought everything at once, so that she wouldn't have to buy and move things herself next time.
Although she had space, she was the focus of attention of many aunts during this period, so she would rather not use the space if she could. Moreover, the original owner gave people the impression of being petite and weak. If she suddenly became strong and moved a lot of things, everyone would definitely find it incongruous.
She had just seen that the supply and marketing cooperative had bamboo baskets for sale. When the bamboo baskets were filled with things and covered with cloth, people would not know what she bought.
"Is this military comrade your partner? They are both so handsome, they are a perfect match." The eldest sister praised with a smile.
She liked this kind of dowry the most, because they bought a lot of things. Although they had a stable job, they also had tasks every month. If they did not complete them well, they would be criticized by the director.
"For the enamel washbasin, enamel pot, and thermos, I will get you the one with peony flowers and the word "happiness". The color is so bright and festive. Most people buy this one." The eldest sister recommended it to Su Mo with a smile.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, elder sister." Things are all the same these days, and Su Mo didn't have any special requests.
The elder sister was very happy to see that Su Mo listened to her recommendation, and quickly listed the things Su Mo wanted, put a full counter, and then began to quote prices.
"Enamel wash basin is 2.53 yuan each, and two are 5.6 yuan; enamel pot is 9.8 yuan each, and two are 1.96 yuan; iron shell thermos is 5.4 yuan each, and two are 10.8 yuan; toothbrush is 3.4 yuan a bunch, two are 6.8 yuan, toothpaste is 3.6 yuan a tube, soap is 5.1 yuan, soap is 3.81 yuan, and toilet paper is 2.3 yuan a roll." "
A total of 19.97 yuan, 4 industrial coupons." The elder sister smiled.
[Popular Science: Industrial coupons were issued at the end of 1961, and the purchase range was relatively wide: towels, blankets, wool, handkerchiefs, batteries, bobbins, iron pots, aluminum basins, aluminum lunch boxes, enamel washbasins, enamel cups, enamel bedpans, thread gloves, iron shell kettles, bamboo shell thermoses, sports shoes, umbrellas, cotton-padded shoes, sewing needles, sewing thread, oilcloth raincoats, rubber raincoats, artificial cotton products, nylon underwear, leather shoes, alarm clocks, radios, belts, knives and scissors, imported blades, various types of luggage, chocolate bars, and cigarettes, tea, and liquor outside the quota.
The issuance of industrial coupons was based on the proportion of salary income, with an average of one coupon for every 20 yuan of salary.
When buying industrial products, you need to give one industrial voucher for every 5 yuan. 】
【PS. These are the data found by the author. If there is any mistake, please correct me. 】
Su Mo gave the money and vouchers neatly. The elder sister happily put all the things in the net bag for Su Mo, and put the two fragile thermoses separately.
After the elder sister packed the things, she handed them directly to Lu Changzheng and continued with a smile: "Comrade, there are also new sheets and quilt covers. Do you want me to take a look at them?"
"Okay!" Su Mo nodded.
In the novels I read before, it was said that the salespersons in the supply and marketing cooperatives had a bad attitude. Looking at this elder sister, she is simply a clear stream among the salespersons. Su Mo was simply too satisfied. If there was a rating, she would definitely give her a perfect score.