Time flies once you enter the twelfth lunar month. There hasn't been any snow this year, and experienced elders say next year's harvest will definitely be poor.
No matter what next year brings, this year must be lived to the fullest. Before they knew it, it was the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. Early in the morning, Buling was fully armed.
He wore a thermal undershirt, then a turtleneck sweater, and over that, a thick floral cotton-padded coat. The bottom was the same, with two pairs of wool socks on his feet, plus suede snow boots. He then put on a military overcoat, a scarf around his neck, and a green Lei Feng hat on his head, bundled up tightly like a walking ball.
Although it wasn't very aesthetically pleasing, staying warm was the most important thing. At this point, most people would prioritize temperature. There was no other way; it was already below minus ten degrees Celsius. If she weren't already wearing a military overcoat, she could have worn several more layers.
Walking in so many layers is a bit difficult, especially since she planned to go to the market today. Yes, to the market. Aunt Tian said that every year around the Lunar New Year, each commune organizes the villages under its jurisdiction to bring their agricultural products to the commune to sell. Over time, this has become a tradition. Every year on the 19th, 24th, and 29th of the twelfth lunar month, there are rural markets to go to.
Although they only sell agricultural products, there are quite a few good ones.
Well, since Sister Yuanyuan and Sangshen are going with us anyway, if things get really bad, we can just drag her along. Finally, she slung her bag over her shoulder, and everything was packed.
She opened the door and saw Aunt Tian, Aunt Wu, and others waiting outside. All the women in the courtyard would be going today, including Aunt Shen, who had recently been ostracized.
It's not that I'm actively excluding her, I just don't like playing with her.
"Hey~ Little Bu, can you even walk around in all that thick clothing?" It was Aunt Lan again. That old lady is both incompetent and loves to stir up trouble.
"Aunt Lan, you should worry about yourself. Don't be a laughingstock; look at yourself!" She was dressed like a ball herself, and yet she mocked her.
Aunt Lan was speechless. She was just making a few sarcastic remarks out of habit; what could she do when this little girl kept provoking her?
"Alright, alright, let's hurry up, or we won't be able to get on the bus," Aunt Wu said, trying to smooth things over.
Aunt Tian and the others responded enthusiastically, and Sangshen squeezed next to Buling, walking alongside her.
Sangshen was dressed quite warmly today, but because of his tall stature, he didn't look bulky at all. On the contrary, he stood out even more among the group of balls. Buling glanced at his long legs with envy, silently comforting herself that she was still young and would grow taller.
Because they set off early and these middle-aged women were incredibly energetic, they successfully secured a spot on the bus, with everyone getting a seat.
Buling and Wu Yuanyuan sat together, listening to Wu Yuanyuan recount her past experiences going to the market, which could be summarized in one sentence.
There are a lot of people at the market, so be careful not to get separated from your companions. If you do get separated, don't look for them; just go home.
Bling didn't quite understand but felt impressed, and still kept it in mind.
The bus stopped at its final stop, the commune closest to the county seat. After getting off, Aunt Wu immediately headed north, and Bu Ling followed right behind.
After walking for about half an hour, they arrived at an open, unobstructed area. Looking up, Buling saw a lively scene unfolding in the open space before him.
The place was bustling with people setting up stalls, buying New Year's goods, and patrolling staff—a vast, seemingly endless scene. Since his transmigration, Buling had only ever seen such a sight at the black market next to the machinery factory.
However, this place is different from the black market. People who go to the black market are always on edge and dare not speak loudly. Here, the vendors all have smiles on their faces and are shouting their wares.
"Shall we go in?" Bling asked the three people beside him.
"Okay, okay!" Wu Yuanyuan responded enthusiastically, glancing at Tie He beside her. Tie He smiled indulgently, indicating that he would do as she said.
Sang Shen, naturally unwilling to admit defeat, said, "Let's go, don't get separated later."
The three of them nodded in unison and walked forward together, while the older women had long since disappeared into the crowd.
Bu Ling and Wu Yuanyuan held hands and looked at each stall with great interest.
"Bling, look, it's homespun cloth!"
"Really? Let's buy some, we'll definitely need them."
The woman selling homespun cloth was a young girl with thick eyebrows and big eyes, though her skin was slightly dark. Hearing their conversation, she immediately greeted them.
"Comrades, want to buy some cloth? It's cheap, only three cents a foot. I wove it myself, and it's super sturdy." As she spoke, the girl tugged at the cloth to show them how strong it was.
Bling looked around; there were no other colors, only black and gray. "Give me ten feet of one color," she said. "It's so cheap, not buying it would be a waste."
The girl's smile widened. "Okay, I'll measure it for you right away."
Seeing Bu Ling's extravagant spending, Wu Yuanyuan gritted her teeth and said, "I want five feet of each color."
The young woman thought to herself, "These are big customers!" and immediately became even more attentive. She not only cut fabric for the two of them but also gave them extra scraps, which would be excellent for making shoe soles. Someone with skillful hands could even piece them together to make a garment!
The two women were overjoyed, but after receiving the cloth, they were faced with a dilemma: they hadn't brought anything with them, only money in their hands. Where could they put the cloth now?
The girl was quick-witted. "My parents sell hand-woven baskets next door. If you don't have a place to put them, buy a basket to carry on your back. They're very cheap, the small ones are eight cents each, and the large ones are twelve cents each."
They had no other choice, so they said, "Let's buy two big ones, one for each of us."
The girl was overjoyed and immediately shouted, "Mom, Mom, someone's buying a big basket!"
"Here I am!"
A moment later, a slightly plump middle-aged woman came over carrying two baskets. Looking at Bu Ling and the other three, she smiled just like her daughter: "Are you the ones who want to buy baskets?"
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