Zhang Hongmei didn't dare to look closely and instead opened another box. Inside were bronze artifacts, the little ornaments of which looked particularly cute.
Zhang Hongmei closed the box and looked at the boy seriously. "These things are all fine, but can you make the decision?"
"Yes, of course. These are what my grandfather told me to exchange for grain. Don't worry, there won't be any trouble."
"Alright, you check the grain, then we'll go our separate ways and pretend we don't know each other anymore. This is all just a rumor."
"Okay, I'll help you load the car."
"Can you load all that by yourself? Or should we carry it together? Don't you need to check the grain?"
"No need, I trust you."
The two pushed their carts away.
Zhang Hongmei walked around, stopping frequently, until she finally found a relatively safe place. She waved her hand and put the items into her spatial storage. She stayed in that place for another twenty minutes before leaving.
I'm so happy now, I feel like I'm walking on air.
Since you're happy, go shopping; that will make you even happier.
Zhang Hongmei went to the department store with a smile. She started a shopping spree on the first floor. She bought two six-yuan iron pots, two eight-yuan iron pots, and two small double-handled pots as well.
Twenty plates, thirty bowls. Two large ladles, two rice scoops, two spatulas, and five identical basins of five different sizes. This shopping spree used up all the industrial coupons I had and cost me another two hundred and three yuan.
These things could all be transported by the main road, so they decided to go back and ask Wang Xiaoshun to pick them up. Anyway, Zhang Xingguo also wanted to go to Liujiatun, and there was a car available.
"Sister, I bought a lot of things. I'll go get my brother to come over. Could you please watch them for me for a while?"
"Okay, go ahead. I'll keep an eye on things for you, but it can't be too late, I only have an hour left before I get off work."
"Okay, sister, I'll go right away and be back in a bit."
Zhang Hongmei ran all the way to the Armed Forces Department and found Wang Xiaoshun. "Brother Xiaoshun, hurry up and drive me to the building. I bought a lot of things and I need a car to transport them."
Wang Xiaoshun stumbled. How much is "so much"? He steadied himself and followed Zhang Hongmei in her car to the department store.
When they arrived at the building entrance and parked, it took the two of them five trips to finish loading.
"Hongmei, you bought too much. Are these all for the villagers?"
"No, it's just that I've come all this way, and I want to buy anything I see that I like. If someone wants it when I get back, I'll share it with them; if no one wants it, I'll keep it for myself."
Wang Xiaoshun clicked his tongue, thinking, "This is way too extravagant."
The two returned to the Armed Forces Department, and then Zhang Xingguo went to the Municipal Government to pick up Zhang Shouyi and the other three before going home.
Looking at the half-full truckload of stuff, Zhang Hongmei decided not to buy any more, otherwise what would she do if she couldn't fit it all?
Zhang Shouyi thought Zhang Hongmei was really bold for spending money on things.
Zhang Xingguo didn't care; he just bought it.
When they got home, Wang Xiaoshun and Zhang Shouyi unloaded the truck together, without using Zhang Hongmei at all. Zhang Xingguo said, "How can a girl do this kind of work?"
Zhang Hongmei decided to cook for herself. She placed the cutting board on the table in the yard and washed her hands to mix the filling.
Zhang Shouyi washed his hands and came over to help, saying, "Hongmei, although I don't know how to make dumplings, I know how to roll out the dough."
Wang Xiaoshun chimed in, "I can make dumplings, and they look really nice."
"Then the three of us together will be faster."
"I'll go light the fire and boil the water. By the time you've finished wrapping the food, the water will be boiling."
Cooking together as a family of four feels especially heartwarming.
"Hey girl, don't you think my dumplings look pretty?"
Wang Xiaoshun proudly presented Zhang Hongmei with the dumplings he had made.
"Brother Xiaoshun, you're so skillful! These dumplings look like gold ingots, they're so beautiful. Can you teach me how to make them?"
“Okay, I’ll make them for you to watch. I learned this from my grandma. Hers are even prettier.” Wang Xiaoshun opened the painting box and kept talking.
Zhang Shouyi felt annoyed just looking at him; he talked too much. Seeing the two of them laughing and joking made him uncomfortable; he couldn't quite explain why, just a sour, bittersweet feeling, and he didn't like being excluded from their conversation.
All the dumplings have been wrapped, a total of three hundred. The water has been boiling for a while now, and we're just waiting to put the dumplings in the pot.
The three of them ate until their bellies were round and full after dinner. "Hongmei, I want to live with you. After eating your cooking, I can't eat anything the other two cook."
“Dad, why don’t you really go to Liujiatun? I’ll take care of things outside.” Zhang Shouyi also believed that his father should live a peaceful life. In his previous life, even without his father, he had succeeded. Since his father was alive in this life, he should let him enjoy life.
Since he likes Zhang Hongmei, let's go to Liujiatun together. That will be the safest and most peaceful place in the future. As long as the good wife of the Sea-Suppressing Needle doesn't die, things won't get chaotic.
"You're working too hard."
"It's alright, these are all minor matters. You have to trust me, I won't have to worry about you living in Liujiatun."
Zhang Xingguo thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll go there then. If anything happens, have Xiaoshun come find me."
Zhang Hongmei: Don't you guys even ask for my opinion? Although I wouldn't refuse, it's still quite unpleasant to ignore my own feelings.
The topic was quite heavy, and no one wanted to continue, so they all silently washed up and went to sleep.
The next morning, Xiao Shun bought some fried dough sticks and tofu pudding. After eating, only Wang Xiao Shun drove Zhang Xingguo to work.
Zhang Shouyi was at home. Zhang Hongmei felt very uncomfortable and decided to go out for a walk. She hoped she could sell the wild boar.
"Brother Zhang, I'd like to ask where the black market is? I've heard of it and I'm quite curious."
"What are you going to the black market for? It's not safe there. Whatever you need, I'll get it for you."
"I don't lack anything, I just want to go and broaden my horizons."
"Then I'll have someone take you there?"
"No need, just tell me where it is. I don't plan to do anything, I'm just curious."
Unable to persuade Zhang Hongmei, Zhang Shouyi told her the location of the black market. Zhang Hongmei thought about it and realized that she had indeed been to that street before.
"Brother Zhang, I'm going out to have some fun now. You can take care of lunch yourself, don't wait for me."
"Okay, go ahead and have fun."
Zhang Hongmei wandered to the place Zhang Shouyi had mentioned, only to find an old woman sitting at the entrance of the alley. The old woman didn't say anything when she saw Zhang Hongmei arrive empty-handed.
Zhang Hongmei entered the black market without difficulty. Although it was called a black market, there wasn't much inside, especially grain, which was practically unavailable for sale. So, Zhang Hongmei quickly walked through the entire market. Finding nothing she liked, she prepared to leave disappointed.
"What does the little girl need? I have everything I need."
Zhang Hongmei thought for a moment, "Do you have wild boar meat? By the way, how much does it cost now?"
"No, that stuff isn't available. Domestic pork is two yuan a pound now. Wild boar is probably at least one yuan and eighty cents a pound."
"So expensive?"
"Expensive? Not at all. If someone were to sell them, I would buy them all and make a profit as soon as I resell them."
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