"Brother Nanxun, I'm going to the commune to pick up a package today, so I won't be back for lunch."
After Lin Qing and Gu Nanxun finished breakfast in the morning, Lin Qing said to Gu Nanxun.
"Okay, then be careful on the road."
Hearing that Lin Qing was going to the commune to pick up a package, Gu Nanxun was not surprised at all. When the postman delivered the mail yesterday, Gu Nanxun knew that Lin Qing would definitely go to the post office today.
Lin Qing asked the brigade leader for leave and rode her bicycle toward the commune.
Behind the bicycle, Lin Qing was carrying a sack of things, which she had prepared for her family and two older brothers.
Yesterday, Lin Qing poured bottles of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and mushroom sauce into canning jars in her space. A two-pound canning jar can hold about four bottles of Lao Gan Ma. In order to make room for Lao Gan Ma, Lin Qing even poured out the fruit from the canning jars, filling a whole basin with canned fruit.
Lin Qing drank seven bottles of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and four bottles of mushroom sauce. She planned to mail three bottles of Lao Gan Ma and two bottles of mushroom sauce to her parents. Her two older brothers would each receive two bottles of Lao Gan Ma and one bottle of mushroom sauce.
Lin Qing originally wanted to make it herself, but she was worried that it wouldn't keep long enough, so she finally decided to use a ready-made one.
Besides Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and mushroom sauce, Lin Qing also unwrapped a lot of beef jerky, wrapped it in newspaper, and prepared three portions, each weighing a full 5 jin (2.5 catties).
It's a pity I haven't had a chance to go up the mountain recently. It would be even better if I could pick some ginseng, make ginseng pills, and mail some to my older brothers and parents. But it's okay, there's always next time! I can send some next time.
In addition, Lin Qing also gave her eldest and second brothers two extra pounds of White Rabbit milk candy each.
Lin Qing didn't plan to send too many things this time. Her time in the countryside was still too short, and it would be difficult to explain if she sent too many things. Her parents and older brothers would also worry about her. The reason she sent Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and mushroom sauce was because the environment in the Northwest and Tibet was relatively harsh. Lin Qing thought that if she had some Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and mushroom sauce, her older brothers could eat it with their meals, which would be a way to improve their diet.
Upon arriving at the commune, Lin Qing first visited the supply and marketing cooperative. She wanted to buy some fabric to make curtains, but most of the fabric in the space was not suitable for this era, so she had to buy some on the spot. Fortunately, she still had quite a few fabric coupons.
Lin Qing went to the fabric counter, carefully selected some items, and bought a few pieces of blue fabric, as well as some nails, wire, and the like.
Then Lin Qing bought some steamed cakes, cookies, and other snacks from that era. Although there weren't as many varieties of pastries as in later generations, the pastries of this era were all-natural, without any additives, and retained their original flavor. Therefore, even Lin Qing, who never liked pastries, bought some.
After walking around for a while, it was almost noon, so Lin Qing went to the state-run restaurant for lunch.
The state-run restaurant still served the same old dishes. Lin Qing ordered half a pound of rice and a plate of braised pork.
After this period of exercise, Lin Qing's appetite has greatly increased. She ate a whole half jin of rice and a large plate of braised pork, finishing everything.
After finishing her meal, Lin Qing patted her round belly, let out a satisfied burp, and then got up and left the state-run restaurant.
"Comrade, I've come to pick up my package!"
As soon as Lin Qing entered the post office, she spoke to the clerk at the counter.
"What's your name?"
Upon hearing Lin Qing's words, the clerk at the counter looked up and asked.
“My name is Lin Qing. Yesterday, the postman said there was a package for me to pick up.”
"Please wait a moment."
"Is that Lin Qing from the Chaoyang Brigade?"
The waiter looked up at Lin Qing and asked, "So this is Lin Qing with the giant package?"
"Yes, I am from the Chaoyang Brigade."
"Comrade Lin, you have three packages. Please wait a moment while I take them out for you."
Lin Qing waited for a short while, and soon saw the waiter and another young colleague walking over from a distance, dragging three large bundles, one large and two small, the large one as big as a small mountain. Lin Qing looked at the three bundles, and then turned to look at her bicycle.
"Excuse me, comrade, do you have a car to take you there?"
Lin Qing said to the waiter, feeling embarrassed, that she thought the bicycle could be towed back, but she didn't expect it to be three such big bags.
"No, if Comrade Lin needs one, we can help you find one."
"That's what the young comrade who was carrying the bags with me said."
"Thank you so much."
Upon hearing the young man offer to help find a car, Lin Qing quickly expressed her gratitude.
"You're welcome. It's for the people."
After saying that, the young comrade left.
While the younger comrade went to find a car, Lin Qing quickly mailed the things she had brought.
Soon, the young comrade came over from a distance with an uncle who drove an oxcart.
"Comrade, where are you going?"
The driver looked at Lin Qing's things and then asked a question.
"Uncle, I need to go to Chaoyang Brigade."
Hearing the question from the driver, Lin Qing quickly replied.
"It costs one yuan to get to Chaoyang Brigade."
"That's what the uncle said."
"Okay, sure."
"Young Lin, what's on your truck?"
Lin Qing rode her bicycle ahead, followed by the uncle who was driving the cart. As soon as they entered the village, they were surrounded by the aunties who were resting under the trees.
“These are things my parents and older brothers sent me. I don’t know what they are, but they’re probably some winter blankets and mattresses.”
Seeing the group of middle-aged women gathering around, Lin Qing explained that, fortunately, most people hadn't finished work yet.
"Wow! Such a big package! Xiaolin, do you know what your parents and brothers do? They're so good to you, such a big package, it must contain a lot of things."
Upon hearing Lin Qing's answer, the women continued to press for more information.
"My parents are factory workers, and my two older brothers are soldiers. Please make way! The uncle driving the cart needs to get back!"
Hearing Lin Qing's words, the older women finally made way for her.
"The family of this educated youth, Lin, is so good to her; look at all these bags and packages."
"Didn't you hear what that educated youth Xiao Lin said? His parents are both workers, and his older brothers are both soldiers. He's definitely not short of money."
"That's because they're willing to spend it. If I had the money, I wouldn't be willing to spend it either."
"That's right, only dual-income families can afford to raise a girl like Xiao Lin, the educated youth. It's just a pity that she fell for Xiao Gu!"
"If you ask me, Lin's parents are really stupid. This girl will get married sooner or later! What's the use of being so good to her?"
An older woman with triangular eyes said disapprovingly, "What's the point of feeding a little girl so well and using such nice things? In the end, she still has to get married. Instead of saving money for her son's wedding, what a waste."
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