Chapter 138 Going to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative
"Eyes. The first time I saw your eyes, I saw your unyielding determination to fight against fate."
He still remembered Jiang Haitang standing in the crowd. Although her clothes were tattered, her eyes were dark and bright, revealing a spirit of not admitting defeat. Even when she was tearing at Li Shengli, her eyes were shining with hope for the future.
"My performance that day must have been terrible, right?" she asked hesitantly.
Jiang Haitang thought that if she had known that her future lover would see her in that kind of situation, she would have behaved better.
"You performed very well. You were brave enough to say the word divorce. I feel that you are different from ordinary women." Lu Liangchen praised with a smile.
"After our interactions, I saw how hardworking, capable, and intelligent you are," Lu Liangchen's fingers gently brushed across Jiang Haitang's cheek, "and I couldn't help but be attracted to you."
"I wasn't pretty back then." Jiang Haitang said with a smile.
"Your skin was just dark from the sun and wind, not that you were not pretty." Lu Liangchen gently pinched her ear. "I used to be a scout, and when I observe people, I pay more attention to their bone structure. Your bone structure is very beautiful."
"Really?" Jiang Haitang couldn't believe it.
Lu Liangchen held her little face with his big hands, his eyes gentle and focused: "Look at yourself in the mirror, don't you think you are not beautiful?"
His eyes and brows were filled with affection and doting, "My Tangtang is the most beautiful girl."
The two were immersed in the sweet atmosphere when Little Peach came running over.
She put her hands on her hips and said angrily, "Dad is wrong. Mom said that Xiao Taozi is the most beautiful girl."
That fierce and ferocious look is so adorable.
Lu Liangchen teased her deliberately: "Mom is the most beautiful girl."
Xiao Taozi widened her eyes and looked at him angrily, as if she would not give up until he changed his words.
Lu Liangchen couldn't help but laugh. He picked up Xiao Taozi and placed her on his lap. He pinched her nose and said, "Our Xiao Taozi is the most beautiful baby. When she grows up, she will be the most beautiful girl."
Little Taozi tilted her head and thought seriously for a while. She felt like something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. In the end, she simply stopped thinking about it.
Anyway, the most beautiful baby is the most beautiful. She smiled happily, and her eyes curved into two little crescents.
Jiang Haitang looked at Xiao Taozi, and the smile in her eyes became even more intense.
Little Peach suddenly remembered something and asked excitedly, "Dad, when are we going to ride the big 'woohoo' train?"
"The day after tomorrow morning," Lu Liangchen touched her head, "It will be very tiring along the way. Are you afraid, Xiao Taozi?"
"Brother Erwa said that Xiao Taozi is the bravest girl. Xiao Taozi is not afraid." Xiao Taozi straightened her chest and spoke in a firm tone.
"Our little Taozi is the best baby."
Jiang Haitang thought that since they were about to leave, should she buy some more things to take with her? So she asked, "Do you want to buy some more things to bring to the elders when we go to the capital?"
Lu Liangchen shook his head: "You've already prepared enough. It would be difficult to carry more. Besides, everything that should be prepared at home has been prepared. We just need to go back for the New Year."
Jiang Haitang didn't force herself, thinking it was right to listen to Lu Liangchen.
"The color fixation experiment was successful, and I'm going to start my vacation tomorrow. I thought I'd prepare some food for us on the way, and also prepare some food for Professor Gu and Professor Shu for the New Year."
"Okay, I still have some things to do tomorrow. I'll try to come back early to help you after I'm done." Jiang Haitang said with a smile.
"No, you're a grown man, you can't help." Jiang Haitang teased, "By the way, I'll get up early tomorrow to buy meat. When Xiao Taozi wakes up, you can send her to the next door before I come back."
"I'll take Xiao Taozi to work tomorrow, so you can go buy the meat without worry." Lu Liangchen took out all the money in his wallet and stuffed it into Jiang Haitang's hand, handing it to Jiang Haitang: "Here are the meat tickets and money, take them."
Jiang Haitang waved her hands quickly: "No need, I have the money and tickets."
"You are in charge of my food and drink, so my tickets and money should be given to you. I have already left enough for living expenses, and these are for household expenses, so they should be given to my wife to take care of." He lowered his voice and whispered in Jiang Haitang's ear.
Jiang Haitang's ears turned red instantly at the deep voice and hot breath.
Jiang Haitang's ears instantly turned red, and her heartbeat quickened. She scolded, "We haven't even gotten married yet, so who is your wife?"
"Who else could it be other than you? Haitang, we're getting married soon, so you should get used to the life of a housekeeper in advance."
Lu Liangchen took advantage of Jiang Haitang's distracted state and stuffed all the money into her hands.
In the living room, warm yellow light shone down, and the laughter of the three people intertwined together, creating a warm and beautiful atmosphere.
The next morning, Jiang Haitang went to the supply and marketing cooperative.
There were more people in the supply and marketing cooperative than usual, and there were long queues in front of almost every counter.
The constant sound of conversations and the clacking of abacus, mixed with the faint aroma of brown sugar and dried fruits in the air, filled the supply and marketing cooperative.
Jiang Haitang stood in the house wearing a thick cotton coat, and soon she began to sweat lightly due to the steaming heat.
In front of the fabric counter, several aunts stood on tiptoe, stretched their necks to look inside, wiping the sweat from their foreheads with their sleeves and muttering to themselves.
"Don't sell all the floral cloth. My daughter is waiting to have new clothes made!" The aunt with a shiny bun stomped her feet while holding the cloth coupons, and her coarse cotton shoes made a rustling sound on the ground.
"I want to buy indigo and make a new set of clothes for the elderly at home." said her aunt who was with her.
"You don't need this material. Hey, have you heard about the wool sweaters that the department store is selling recently? They're so beautiful, but it's a pity that they're not available."
“I heard it’s very expensive.”
"Yes, it's expensive, but it's cashmere. I'm thinking, after the New Year, if I can get one, I'll buy one for my daughter."
Jiang Haitang listened and felt that the production of wool sweaters should be accelerated. The current production volume could not even be guaranteed in Jincheng.
While Jiang Haitang was thinking about whether there was any way to speed up production, he squeezed towards the food area.
Soon, she found the food section and stood in front of the meat counter and started queuing.
Next to it was the candy section. A little girl with pigtails stared at the colorful fruit candies, breathing out white air. She tugged at her mother's sleeve and said, "Mom, don't forget! I want orange flavor! I want orange flavor!"
The little girl's red hairband swayed with her movements. Jiang Haitang thought of Xiao Taozi and a smile unconsciously appeared on the corner of her mouth.
She thought that she would also queue up in the candy section and buy some candy for Xiao Taozi. The little guy liked orange-flavored fruit candies the most, and every time he put them in his mouth, he would squint his eyes and hum a song.
While he was thinking, there was a commotion at the door. Several men squeezed in carrying a whole side of pork, and the crowd suddenly became agitated.
Amidst the constant calls of "make way" and "pass", there was a small amount of crowding and pushing among the people in the queue.
Jiang Haitang subconsciously held the tickets in her inner pocket tightly, but saw the old man in front of her staggering and about to fall due to being pushed.
She quickly supported the old man and helped him pick up the scattered banknotes.
The yellowed meat coupons and the warm grain coupons were blown away by the wind. Jiang Haitang squatted down, folded them carefully, and handed them to the old man.
"Uncle, please hold it. There are so many people here, please be careful."
"Oh, girl, thank you. If it weren't for you, the old man would have suffered a lot today!" The old man took the ticket with trembling wrinkled hands, and there was a sincere smile in his turbid eyes.
He thought he was going to fall just now, but he didn't expect to meet such a kind girl.
"It's what I should do. You're welcome." Jiang Haitang smiled and helped the old man to line up again.
As the pork arrived at the counter, the line returned to order.
Although there were many people queuing, the line moved forward at a fast pace, and soon it was Jiang Haitang's turn.
The light bulb hanging behind the counter cast a warm yellow glow on the pork. Jiang Haitang looked at the counter. In addition to fresh pork, there was also beef wrapped in frost and mutton with a strong smell.
She thought for a moment and then said, "Comrade, I need five pounds of pork, three pounds of lamb ribs, and two pounds of beef brisket. Do you have any pork ribs left?"
"Hiss——" There were gasps all around.
Although the Chinese New Year is approaching and every household is buying meat, it is rare to see people buying ten kilograms at a time.
Several sisters-in-law were whispering to each other, their eyes scanning her like searchlights.
The man who weighed the meat for Jiang Haitang was a young man who looked to be no more than twenty-two or twenty-three years old.
"For sale, no ticket required, 60 cents per pound, do you want it?"
"In addition to the meat I want, weigh me three pounds of pork ribs." Jiang Haitang immediately took out the bill and handed it to the person who collected the money.
The people around her have become numb. This girl not only has enough tickets, but also has enough money.
"Okay!" The young man skillfully cut and weighed the meat for Jiang Haitang. His movements were extremely skilled, and the amount of meat he cut was exactly the same as the amount Jiang Haitang wanted.
Jiang Haitang couldn't help but sigh, it turns out that there really is a top talent in every field.
"Mr. Jiang is here to buy meat today too." Sister Li from the candy counter next door also saw Jiang Haitang and greeted her with a smile.
Jiang Haitang hurriedly said, "Sister Li, you are on duty today."
Sister Li is Secretary Tan’s daughter-in-law and is familiar with Jiang Haitang. She remembers that Sister Li is usually in charge of warehouse scheduling and rarely appears at the counter.
"Yeah, there are a lot of people lately. The counter is too busy."
Sister Li winked at her and neatly stacked a stack of brown paper-wrapped pastries. Jiang Haitang instantly understood—supplies were tight during the Spring Festival, and even management had to come down to support the front lines.
After saying a few words, Jiang Haitang walked out with the heavy meat and went to queue at the candy counter.
The young man who was weighing meat for Jiang Haitang wiped his sweat and asked, "Sister Li, do you know this girl?"
He followed Jiang Haitang's back with his eyes, secretly clicking his tongue in his heart.
Now that supplies are in short supply, ordinary workers only get half a pound of meat coupons per month. Those who can get one pound of meat coupons are considered to be well treated, unless they are doing special work, they will receive higher subsidies.
But this girl just now took out ten kilograms of quota at a time. Seeing her young age, she should not be married yet, right?
Sister Li took a look and instantly understood the young man's thoughts.
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