"I want to find a job. I fell and have had a headache ever since. I get dizzy after working for a while. I want to find an easy job that I can support myself, take care of my parents, grandparents, and you, my aunt." Actually, she didn't have a headache, it was just that the work was too tiring. Who would want to do hard labor if there was an easy job? Xia Liang thought to herself. Xia's aunt was startled and quickly grabbed Xia Liang, looking her up and down anxiously. She asked, "Was the fall serious? How are you now?" "I'm fine, it's just that I'm too tired and my head is dizzy and hurts," Xia Liang continued to lie. "Don't worry, as long as I'm not too tired, I'll be fine." Xia's aunt was relieved and said, "Actually, a neighbor in our front yard has a job for sale. She's a sewing machine operator in a sewing machine shop. She's a military dependent, and her husband meets the criteria for military dependents and is going to take her away. I heard it's until September." Xia Liang asked excitedly, "How much is it?" Xia's aunt held out her hand and waved it in front of Xia Liang and said, "Five hundred yuan." Xia Liang's heart sank. Where would she get five hundred yuan?
Xia Liang sat for a while and then told her aunt that she wanted to go for a walk. Her aunt told her to walk slowly and then left her to do housework. As Xia Liang walked on the streets of the 1960s, she felt particularly helpless and exhausted. She couldn't do farm work, couldn't find a job, and couldn't afford to buy anything.
After wandering around for a while, Xia Liang returned to her aunt's house. Her aunt, carrying a basket, was about to leave when she saw Xia Liang return and pulled her along, saying, "I wasn't planning on taking you, but I have a lot to buy today. Could you help me carry some?" Xia Liang followed her aunt down an alley lined with various agricultural products and household goods. Her aunt walked over to a dark-skinned middle-aged woman and asked, "Sister, how much is pork per pound?" The woman gestured with her fingers and said, "One yuan eighty cents." Xia Liang tried to bargain, "So expensive! Make it cheaper, I'll buy it!" "I can't lower the price. I don't need coupons. Take it or leave it," the woman said nonchalantly, as if she was certain Xia Liang would buy it.
Xia Liang stared in astonishment at the scene, realizing this was the legendary black market. A sudden inspiration struck her, and she walked over to the young man selling eggs and asked, "Young man, how much are your eggs?" The young man, probably never having been approached by such a young and beautiful girl before, instantly blushed and stammered, "Five... fifty cents each." Xia Liang was overjoyed; she had a job! Seeing that her aunt had indeed bought meat, she happily walked towards her and whispered, "This is the county's black market. Don't be fooled by the glamorous lives of city people; most of them don't even have enough rations and have to buy from the black market." Xia Liang nodded knowingly and went back with her aunt. After spending the night at her aunt's house, Xia Liang returned to her village, her heart pounding with excitement.
Xia Liang, realizing she didn't have much time left, went straight to Er Gouzi's house without even going home. She knocked on the door, and Er Gouzi's mother, Zhang Cuixiang, opened it. Seeing Xia Liang, Zhang Cuixiang smiled and said, "What a rare guest! Xia Liang, what brings you here?" Xia Liang quickly greeted her, "Aunt Zhang, I heard you have eggs, I'd like to trade some with you." Zhang Cuixiang's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked, "Did you hear that that day?" Xia Liang chuckled, "I didn't hear anything, I just came to try my luck and ask if you have any." Zhang Cuixiang laughed and scolded, "You little rascal, how many do you want?" Xia Liang: "I'll take as many as you have." Zhang Cuixiang was startled, "Why are you buying so many? Can you even finish them all?" Xia Liang smiled and said, "My aunt's in-laws are distant relatives..." "My relative is in postpartum confinement. She's not short of money, but the supply in the city is too limited, so she asked me to inquire." "Alright! I have 108 here. Take them all if you want. Four cents each, no less." Xia Liang fawned over Zhang Cuixiang, shaking her arm. "Aunt Zhang, my dear aunt, I bought so many for you, can you give me a discount? If I have any more relatives like this in the future, I'll come back to you and trade with you." Zhang Cuixiang softened at her swaying and said, "Alright, alright, two cents off each, I'll give you three cents and eight cents." Xia Liang thanked her quickly and arranged to meet Aunt Zhang at her house the next morning to exchange money and goods. Then Xia Liang went home.
Back home, Xia Liang gave the malted milk powder that her aunt had bought for Grandma Xia. Grandma Xia was overjoyed, her mouth agape. She examined the malted milk powder while praising her aunt, "My daughter is so capable, marrying into the city and enjoying a life of luxury!" She then took the malted milk powder to her room and locked it away. This was a valuable item, she had to hide it well. Xia Liang said to Grandma Xia, "Grandma, my aunt asked me to tell you that she misses the sweet potatoes from home and asked you to bring her some." Grandma Xia was about to frown when Xia Liang quickly said, "If your aunt brings you malted milk powder, your in-laws will be very unhappy. If you can't even spare a little sweet potato, there probably won't be any malted milk powder left." Grandma Xia, hearing this, knew that although sweet potatoes were a staple food, they weren't as expensive as malted milk powder, so she reluctantly said, "Alright, go to the cellar and fill a basket to take to your aunt." Xia Liang had been waiting for this, so she happily replied, "Okay, mission accomplished!" Grandma Xia rolled her eyes at her and left.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Xia Liang set off with a basket on her back. Reaching a secluded spot halfway down the road, she poured the sweet potatoes into a burlap sack she had prepared the night before, lined the basket with weeds, and headed to Aunt Zhang's house. As soon as she knocked, Aunt Zhang opened the door, clearly having been waiting for her. The two went inside, packed the eggs, and Xia Liang took out four yuan and twenty cents, which she had prepared beforehand, and handed it to Zhang Cuixiang. Zhang Cuixiang only took four yuan and ten cents, saying, "Then the four cents is fine. Don't forget your aunt if you need anything like this in the future." Xia Liang quickly replied, "Definitely, definitely."
This time, Xia Liang knew the city like the back of her hand. She headed straight for the black market, found a corner, squatted down, and brushed aside the weeds covering the eggs. Soon, an elderly woman in her forties or fifties approached and asked, "Young lady, how much are these eggs?" Xia Liang smiled and replied, "Auntie, five cents each." The woman feigned surprise and bargained, "That's expensive! Are you robbing me? I can't afford that!" Xia Liang wasn't angry and continued patiently, "Auntie, these are fresh eggs laid just two days ago." The woman was a regular at the black market and knew the market prices. She was only bargaining because Xia Liang was young and naive; she figured she could get a discount and make a profit. Before long, the woman bought thirty eggs and left. The remaining seventy-eight were bought by several other customers using the same bargaining tactics, which Xia Liang met with the same refusal. Just as Xia Liang was about to leave, an old man selling fabric next door stopped her: "Young lady, do you want some fabric?" Xia Liang was about to refuse when she remembered that fabric was also a scarce commodity.
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