The next day, after breakfast, An Qingbai and Zhuang Zhimeng rode their bicycles to town.
They're going on a date today; they agreed to it when they parted yesterday.
We went to the park, but there was an entrance fee of two cents per person. The two of us paid four cents to get into the park.
The park is quite large, and since it's late autumn now, there aren't many people.
The two strolled around the park and came across a large lake.
"There are boating opportunities on this lake in the summer, so we can come and have some fun then!"
"Okay, this sounds interesting. The boat ride on the lake is quite picturesque."
"It's cold now, so there aren't many things to do. It'll be much more fun when we come back when it's warmer!"
"OK!"
Zhuang Zhi dreamed that her parents were about to come home, so she wanted to bring them some local specialties.
"What do you think I should buy for my parents to take home?"
"I heard the supply and marketing cooperative got a new kind of red sausage, from Heilongjiang Province! I remember you gave me a pastry called 'donkey roll,' it tastes different here than in Beijing, you could buy some to take back. Have you ever tried the 'Bulaolin Candy' from Northeast China? That's fine too!"
"Okay, let's go check out the supply and marketing cooperative later!"
Seeing that there wasn't much to do in the park now, the two went outside.
Halfway there, they saw a photo studio and Zhuang Zhimeng wanted to take a picture to send back to her grandfather. After discussing it with An Qingbai, the two went in together.
"You're here to have your photos taken? What kind? Singles or couples?" the young man at the photo studio asked.
"We'll take two solo shots and one couple shot."
"50 cents for a single person, 60 cents for a double person."
“Okay!” An Qingbai handed the money to the young man.
How many days will it take to pick it up?
"7 days!"
"Can you expedite this? We need it this afternoon!"
"It's an extra 3 yuan per sheet. Do you offer express service?"
"Just one double-sized card will do, please!" This time, Zhuang Zhimeng handed over the 3 yuan.
After taking the photos and keeping the receipt, the two rode their bicycles toward the supply and marketing cooperative.
On the way, Zhuang Zhimeng couldn't help but laugh when he thought about An Qingbai's actions earlier.
"What are you laughing at? Is it that funny?"
"Haha, I can't help it! You're so funny, you're so stiff, it's not like you at all. You don't even know where to put your hands, you look as serious as if you're being interrogated. If my grandpa sees this, won't he worry that you have a bad temper?"
"I've never had my picture taken before, and I was so nervous that I didn't dare to make any movements or expressions."
"It's okay, we'll come and take pictures whenever we have time. We'll get used to it after taking more pictures."
"good!"
Upon arriving at the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhuang Zhimeng bought some of everything An Qingbai had mentioned.
I also saw dried shrimp, so I bought two packs.
I bought a few more bottles of Northeastern specialty liquor. I really didn't know what else to buy, so I thought I'd just leave it at that. If it didn't work out, I could just send it back later.
After buying their things, the two went to the state-run restaurant.
We offer braised beef with potatoes, braised pork belly, dried mutton, and dried cabbage.
The two ordered a beef stew with potatoes and a dried mutton and dried cabbage dish, which they hadn't tried before. It wasn't expensive, only 20 cents.
I ordered two bowls of rice and two bowls of egg drop soup, which cost a total of 70 cents plus 8 ounces of grain coupons.
Zhuang Zhimeng was also curious about the dried mutton and tried it. The taste was unique; there wasn't much mutton, but it was quite delicious.
After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, they sat for a while, took a group photo, and then set off for home.
When they arrived at the village, the brigade leader handed them the newspaper; it turned out the postman had delivered it that day.
The villagers were incredibly excited when they saw it and kept clamoring to see it. Luckily, three copies were delivered, otherwise there wouldn't have been enough for everyone, and the villagers almost tore them apart in a fight.
When Hao Caiyun saw the newspapers that Zhuang Zhimeng and An Qingbai brought back, she immediately put away Zhuang Zhimeng's copy, intending to take it back to show the old man and woman.
Shi Meiling knew they were going home today, so she told them she would come to her house for dinner later.
They also prepared a lot of local specialties for them. Knowing that Hao Caiyun loves to eat vermicelli, they gave her a lot, and also packed a lot of dried fruit, nuts, dried mushrooms, and dried wood ear fungus.
Zhuang Zhimeng gave Hao Caiyun the things she bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, and also gave her some Northeastern delicacies to take back to her grandparents.
She hasn't won anything in the recent lottery except for these three Northeastern treasures. I wonder if she used up all her luck by trying to win these.
If they only managed to extract one 500-year-old ginseng root, they would ask their parents to take the 500-year-old ginseng, along with some mink fur and deer antlers, back with them.
In the afternoon, Zhuang Zhimeng helped pack her parents' luggage, and then she, along with An Qingbai and Shi Meiling, saw her parents off at the village entrance. Watching them get on the oxcart, she felt very reluctant to part with them.
Hao Caiyun was also extremely upset, and tears were about to fall.
Shi Meiling also made an appointment with them to come again when they had time, and they were very welcome.
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