The key to maintaining these interpersonal relationships lies in transparency.
The group of people were like little mice that had crawled into a granary.
I want this.
Yes, I want that.
That might come in handy too.
It was a very pleasant experience; the purchasing went much more smoothly than expected, and of course, we bought quite a lot more, making it a truly worthwhile purchase.
When Lin He casually asked where they bought mountain produce, she immediately thought of the basket they had been carefully placing aside earlier, and rolled her eyes at her.
"You're embarrassed about this? What's our relationship? What kind of place is this? What kind of place do we live in? You're already here and you still don't know?"
Jian Dan immediately tilted her head back and widened her eyes, her gaze filled with surprise and joy.
"Really, Sister Lin He? Don't you only accept wood ear mushrooms from Chengjiabao?"
Lin He stood by the counter, and being quite tall, it was easy to have to crane one's neck to meet her gaze. Lin He's voice softened considerably, and she couldn't help but reach out and rub the top of her head a few times.
"Of course, would I lie to you?"
He pointed back to the counter in the corner.
"Isn't that it? Who told you we were buying wood ear mushrooms?"
Lin He found it a little funny and added in a low voice,
"However, it is true that we have high requirements for mountain products. Many people who come here to buy mountain products are doing so as gifts, so we do not accept products of average quality."
There were several people weighing themselves over there. Li Yan and the others were envious, but since it was a simple relationship, they stayed put and waited for Jian Dan to speak.
"Sister, if it doesn't bother you, shall we go take a look? It would be even better if the quality is up to standard, but if it doesn't meet the requirements..."
I glanced back at the group; they had all brought out the best pieces, so there probably wasn't a problem.
"We'll take away anything that doesn't meet the standards, so as not to cause you any trouble, okay?"
Lin He was speechless. When other colleagues had relatives or friends visiting, they would help out, even if it meant mixing in all sorts of people. They complained that they were being treated like a junkyard.
Look at this girl, every word she says is understanding, she's just afraid of causing her trouble.
Although she wasn't afraid of trouble, there really wasn't any need for it.
If I went there myself, Old Li would definitely think I was trying to pull strings. Given his gossipy nature, the whole supply and marketing cooperative would probably know in no time, especially since there were men there.
It's unnecessary, really unnecessary.
"Alright, alright, hurry up and go over there. Just call him Uncle Chen. Don't be fooled by his smiling face, let me tell you, he's quite strict."
With just a few simple words, her little face tightened, and she nodded emphatically.
"Don't worry, sister, everything we brought is good."
The group turned around seriously and walked towards the corner counter. Jian Dan followed behind. She was just asking a question for them, at most scouting the area. She didn't intend to sell anything. She just wandered around the nearby counters and bought whatever she could find that she could use, even if it wasn't among the defective items from before.
Finally, she carried the basket back to Lin He's counter.
The supply and marketing cooperative in the county town was at least three times larger than that in the commune, but it was still basically the same building. I didn't go over there, and when I looked up, I saw several people unloading things from their baskets to remove the weight. Judging from their cheerful movements, they seemed satisfied.
Leaning against the counter behind her, Jian Dan, imitating the villagers, tucked her sleeves into her hands and whispered to Lin He.
"Sister, with the New Year approaching, shouldn't you all be busy too?"
Lin He answered without looking up as she tidied the counter.
"That's right! It's the complete opposite of you. You're busy only in spring and autumn, especially in winter, when it's so nice to be cozy and warm inside. We get busier as the year draws to a close."
After a year of hard work in the countryside, only in winter do people have time to go out and buy things after receiving their grain and money.
In the short time we were waiting, three or four groups of people came in to buy things. Judging from their clothes, they were all from the countryside. They were timid and hesitant when they came in, walking very carefully, as if they were afraid of damaging something and not being able to afford to pay for it.
She simply understood the hardships of rural life, but she wasn't a saint, lacking compassion and empathy. She could only watch as people anxiously argued over a few cents, being ridiculed and insulted by shopkeepers, frowning and laughing at others over a ticket, and mostly returning home hunched over in disappointment.
"What's wrong? Can't stand it anymore?"
Jian Dan suddenly snapped out of her reverie, her gaze falling indifferently on the flower-scattering girl, Lin He.
"Not really, it's just that when you look at it, you can tell that the countryside is really poor and the farmers are really having a hard time."
Lin He clicked her tongue.
"Look at what you're saying. Otherwise, why would everyone be scrambling to come to the city? There's a job in the city, a guaranteed job, with food rations, and a stable income regardless of drought or flood."
How much can you save after a year of hard work in the countryside? You're barely making ends meet, aren't you?
Some people, after working for a year, still owe the village money.
Her parents both had jobs, but her grandparents and relatives were all from the countryside and were familiar with rural life. She especially remembered the sorrow she felt every time they met.
The proverb "Even a hero can be brought down by a penny" perfectly illustrates this point.
I've heard a lot about the difficulties faced by people in rural areas, and just thinking about it makes me want to sigh.
"Don't judge others. Rural areas have their own difficulties, but at least they have mountains and rivers, so they can at least dig up some wild vegetables and plant a vegetable garden."
"Sigh, this city seems great everywhere, but around this time of year, the grain stations start rationing, especially vegetables. In the countryside, gardens are overflowing with cabbages, but here you can only buy one head at a time. And the radishes and scallions are in short supply. I wonder if we'll even have enough vegetables for this winter?"
Simple and incomprehensible.
"This year has been a good year, with favorable weather and abundant harvests."
The old man was grumbling quite a bit on the way.
"Yes, the weather is favorable, and it's a bumper year."
However, the grain and vegetables are supplied and allocated in a unified manner. They must first reach the important units and departments such as the provincial capital, government agencies, border troops, and garrison troops before they can reach our county.
"With so little stock, if the bulk of it is distributed, then the remaining stock has to be limited, right?"
"Oh, I see. What if there really is no vegetables? Your supply and marketing cooperative and the grain station should be in the same system, right? You should have more connections than others, right?"
Lin He waved her hand.
"You're kidding me. Things are valued for their scarcity. These days, vegetables, especially those meant to last through the winter, aren't just being eyed by people in our county. Countless eyes are watching them."
This was something she hadn't expected. She had been almost self-sufficient in the village that year, and it seemed she had become somewhat out of touch.
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