Today is the village's regular market day. Shi Meiling and Hao Caiyun had already arranged to go together last night.
When Zhuang Zhimeng heard that they were going to the market, she became interested and wanted to go with them.
Before dawn, the oxcart was already waiting in the village, with several people sitting on it chatting.
"Why is that landlord's family stewing goose again yesterday? It's not a holiday at all! My son was so hungry for it that he came home crying and begging for goose, and I had to give him a good spanking with the sole of my shoe to calm him down!"
"Who says otherwise? I can smell the aroma! His house is so far from mine, but I can still smell it!"
"I know, I know! I heard that Zhuang Zhiqing's parents went there yesterday!"
"Oh, no wonder. It seems their relationship is going to work out. This is the future in-laws meeting!"
"This educated youth Zhuang seems to come from a well-off family. If I had known her family was so well-off, I should have let my son go and get close to her!"
"Give me a break! With your son's ugly appearance, do you think Zhuang Zhiqing would even look at him? An Qingbai, no matter what, is good-looking! Can your son compare?"
The man was about to retort, wondering how her son could be inferior to the landlord's son, when he saw Shi Meiling and Hao Caiyun approaching, and quickly shut his mouth.
The three of them got into the oxcart, and for a moment no one dared to speak to them. They were especially afraid to speak to Shi Meiling, who was no pushover; she was the kind of person who could chase you for three miles with a large machete.
He was too embarrassed to talk to Hao Caiyun, who looked like a city person and was afraid that he would reveal his timidity if he spoke.
Wang Zhaodi wasn't afraid at all. "Zhuang Zhiqing, are you going to the market too?"
"Yes, Aunt Wang! We heard there's a market today, and we're all very interested, so we're going to take a look."
"Our market is quite big, you can spend a long time browsing! It's only at this time of year that it's crowded and lively, and there are so many things to see!"
At this point, the others also spoke up, talking about what was available at the market.
Hao Caiyun and Zhuang Zhimeng listened quietly, their hearts filled with curiosity.
When Zhuang Zhimeng arrived at the market, she was very disappointed; it wasn't what she had imagined.
It's just that one street in the town has been turned into a market, and it looks quite long.
Some traded poultry and livestock, while others traded daily necessities, such as small items like needles and thread, basic farm tools, and household items.
There were also a few vegetable vendors, a few candy vendors, and I think there were some fabric vendors, but not many items.
Seeing Zhuang Zhimeng's disappointed expression, Shi Meiling explained, "This is just a small market, where we exchange the most commonly used items. The real big market is during the New Year. There will be so many things to see then, and there will be performances too! It'll be so lively!"
Zhuang Zhimeng nodded without saying anything and followed Shi Meiling and Hao Caiyun.
They followed them to the fabric stall to select fabrics. The fabrics were cheaper than those at the supply and marketing cooperative and didn't require coupons. People from several nearby villages came here for the market, and the place was indeed very crowded at this time.
Hao Caiyun touched the fabric and found it quite nice, so she couldn't help but join the rush to buy it.
Zhuang Zhimeng remained silent in the back; she couldn't see what was so good about it!
When Shi Meiling and Hao Caiyun came out after grabbing the fabric, their hair was all messed up, so Zhuang Zhimeng went over and tidied it up for them.
The group continued strolling around, and as they walked, they came across a vendor selling chive boxes. Zhuang Zhimeng smelled the delicious aroma and, after asking the opinions of her two elders, bought three. The three of them ate them as they walked.
Shi Meiling went to a stall selling daily necessities and bought a broom handle for sweeping the kang (a heated brick bed), as the one at home was no longer working well.
Zhuang Zhimeng saw this and bought two as well. She didn't have any of these at home; she usually just used a regular broom and wiped things with a rag.
Hao Caiyun didn't find anything she liked at this stall; the variety was much better in Beijing.
As they continued walking, Zhuang Zhimeng didn't buy anything else, but watched as her two elders would occasionally slip into the crowd to snatch up some items.
Seeing that they were selling honeydew melons, Zhuang Zhimeng bought some to try.
It tasted quite good, so I gave one to my two elders as well.
Shi Meiling had tried it, but Hao Caiyun hadn't. After tasting it, she found it a bit sweet and didn't like it.
Seeing that she really didn't like it, Zhuang Zhimeng didn't give her any more and shared it with Shi Meiling.
Seeing that it was almost lunchtime, Zhuang Zhimeng suggested going to a state-run restaurant for lunch. The two elders had no objections, and the three of them walked to the state-run restaurant together.
We didn't encounter any more Red Guards on the way, probably because the market was under more relaxed management during its opening hours.
Zhuang Zhimeng asked the two elders to sit down while she went to order the food herself.
Check today's offerings; there's braised fish.
I ordered a braised fish, three servings of rice, and a serving of stir-fried dried tofu with green peppers. The total cost was two yuan plus one jin and two liang of grain coupons.
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