This era wasn't like later generations, where money could buy anything. Cloth required cloth coupons, and a person's annual supply of cloth coupons didn't add up to more than three feet. Every household passed down adult clothes to children when they became worn out, and passed down older children's clothes to younger siblings when they became too small.
Three years new, three years old, and three years of mending. A piece of clothing has only fulfilled its purpose when it is worn to the point where it can no longer be torn. Don't think that the rags can be thrown away at this point; even the smallest pieces can be used to make shoe soles.
Which village has such a powerful person? He can actually get cloth to sell?
Zhou Yuanyuan's expression changed. She pulled Zhou Jiasheng's hand and quietly followed the two young wives.
In those days, even the supply of cloth in the supply and marketing cooperative was limited. As the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhao Guohui's authority was limited to obtaining a few pieces of cloth. As for cloth longer than three or five feet, Zhao Guohui needed cloth coupons to buy it.
"Guifang, let's talk about this when we get back." The young wife, known as Chunhua Niang, was startled. She quickly looked around and was relieved to find that no one noticed what Guifang said.
Chunhua's mother and Guifang were both from Lijia Village. Lijia Village was not far from Sanhe Town, only a dozen miles away. Chunhua's mother's name was Huang Weihong, and her family was in Xiushui Village. Guifang's surname was Cao, and she was the second daughter-in-law of the village chief.
Huang Weihong and Cao Guifang married into Lijia Village on the same day. They gave birth to two daughters and a son respectively. With such similar experiences, Huang Weihong and Cao Guifang have always had a good relationship over the years.
Huang Weihong went back to her parents' home yesterday and was surprised to see two bolts of khaki cloth in her usually impoverished family. Back then, families bought cloth in increments of three or five feet, so Huang Weihong had never seen anyone buy two bolts at once. Besides, when had her family ever become rich enough to afford two bolts of cloth?
Huang Weihong's sister-in-law showed off her new pants in front of Huang Weihong, saying that the cloth was brought back by her brother-in-law Huang Weidong through his connections, and everyone in the Huang family had a share, but the sister-in-law who was married was no longer considered a member of the Huang family.
Before Huang Weihong got married, she didn't have a good relationship with her sister-in-law. Although she was jealous, she couldn't say anything.
Huang's mother felt sorry for her daughter, so before she left, she secretly gave Huang Weihong two pieces of cloth, one blue and one cyan, saying that they were specially left for her by Huang Weihong's younger brother, Huang Weidong.
Huang's mother kept praising her youngest son to Huang Weihong for his success. He had been in the town for less than two months and not only brought back two pieces of cloth, but also gave her two dollars.
But Old Lady Huang felt a little regretful. There was so much cloth that her family couldn't wear it all. Instead of letting her eldest daughter-in-law get it for free, it would be better to give herself more money!
Huang Weihong ignored her mother's nagging and went home with the two pieces of cloth. Huang Weihong was not stupid. Although she didn't know how her brother got the cloth, she didn't really believe her mother's words.
No matter how talented my younger brother Huang Weidong is, he's only sixteen. How could he possibly earn such a high salary? It's impossible. And considering my mother's mysterious demeanor, perhaps the cloth wasn't legitimate?
Coincidentally, Huang Weihong had just returned home and had not had time to put away the two pieces of cloth when Cao Guifang came to visit.
Young wives all like to compare with each other, especially Cao Guifang. Her eyes widened when she saw that Huang Weihong's extremely poor family could actually give her two pieces of khaki as a return gift.
In order to dispel Cao Guifang's doubts, Huang Weihong had to say that the cloth was bought from her mother's village and was a discounted product, not worth much.
Cao Guifang didn't say anything at the time, but she was worried about it. The market was bustling with people, and Cao Guifang suddenly asked about the cloth. Huang Weihong was really worried that she would cause trouble for her little brother.
Cao Guifang assumed Huang Weihong had connections at the supply and marketing cooperative, so she took the opportunity to bring up the cloth issue. The supply and marketing cooperative sometimes had rebated inferior cloth that was significantly cheaper than genuine cloth. However, it took a lot of connections to get one.
Cao Guifang was also a smart person. Seeing that Huang Weihong didn't respond to her, she had already determined that the cloth Huang Weihong had indeed not been bought from the supply and marketing cooperative.
Along the way, Cao Guifang didn't mention the cloth again, and Huang Weihong's heart finally settled down. After the two of them walked around the market, they bought everything they wanted.
Seeing that it was still early, Huang Weihong gritted her teeth and asked, "Guifang, do you have any money on you?"
"What do you want to do?" Cao Guifang subconsciously covered the secret pocket of her clothes with one hand and looked at Huang Weihong vigilantly.
Cao Guifang had a lot of shopping to do today, so she brought all the money she and her husband had saved. Since Cao Guifang's family hadn't split up, and her parents-in-law were in charge, saving money wasn't easy for them.
Although Cao Guifang had a good relationship with Huang Weihong, she was afraid she would ask her for money. In this day and age, every household was short of money! Last year during Chinese New Year, her second daughter, seeing her older sisters and younger brothers had new clothes but she didn't, had been complaining all year.
"Didn't you say you wanted to buy some cloth?" Huang Weihong mumbled. If Zhou Yuanyuan hadn't had very sharp ears, she wouldn't have been able to hear what Huang Weihong said.
"Ah? That's great." Cao Guifang said happily, then she felt a little depressed: "Your mother's home is next to the reservoir, which is quite far from here. If we go now, I'm afraid we won't be able to make it back in time by night!"
Huang Weihong looked around and saw only two children playing about three meters away from them. Huang Weihong quickly said something to comfort Cao Guifang: "Who said to go to Xiushui Village? It's in this town. I'll take you there."
Huang Weihong heard from her mother that her younger brother had been living in town recently. Huang Weihong knew that her younger brother, Huang Weidong, was a shrewd person. Would he keep any of the two bolts of cloth he brought home? He would definitely exchange the cloth for money.
This Cao Guifang is the daughter-in-law of the village chief. It just so happens that she wants to buy some cloth. I can sell it to her out of respect, and I can make money at the same time. Why not do it?
"Ah? That's great. Mother Chunhua, thank you so much. My daughter Erni has quarreled with me many times for a new dress. You have really helped me a lot." When Cao Guifang heard that the cloth had been found, a smile spread across her oval face.
Cao Guifang thought to herself that Huang Weihong's family was not considered wealthy in their village, but seeing that she had so many connections now that she could even get cloth without coupons, she must not underestimate her in the future.
Zhou Yuanyuan and Zhou Jiasheng followed Huang Weihong and Cao Guifang, and after walking around several alleys, they arrived outside a dirt wall.
The wall is about 1.7 meters high, which can block the prying eyes of most people.
Zhou Yuanyuan and Zhou Jiasheng stood at the corner of the alley, not daring to follow too closely for fear of being discovered by Huang Weihong and the others.
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