Chapter 42 The Supply and Marketing Cooperative is packed with people.
At the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.
Zhuang Niang rubbed her fingers, which still ached intermittently, and the red marks on them were clearly visible.
She had been glaring fiercely at Xu Zhili, but now, as if burned by Xu Zhili's cold gaze, she abruptly withdrew her gaze, though the resentment in her eyes was almost overflowing, as if it could turn into knives.
She grabbed Zhuangzhuang, who was still sobbing, and practically dragged him along, slinking through the crowd and disappearing into the alley next to the supply and marketing cooperative, her back view disheveled and resentful.
The elderly women on the oxcart who had witnessed the whole thing looked at Xu Zhili with completely different eyes now.
It was no longer just simple curiosity or discussion, but a mixture of surprise, a hint of awe, and even a subtle admiration.
This educated youth from the city looks quiet, but when he gets serious, his ruthlessness and aura are more frightening than the most shrewish wife in the village.
They exchanged glances, silently conveying the same message: This new educated youth is really too crazy, a tough nut to crack, and not to be messed with!
Xu Zhili seemed oblivious to those complicated gazes.
The cold indifference that used to grace her face had vanished, leaving only a calm expression that seemed to indicate she didn't care about anything.
She bent down and carefully straightened Xu Zhian's rumpled clothes, then gently wiped away the tear stains and dust still on his little face with her fingertips.
Her movements were so light and gentle, completely unlike the decisive and efficient way she dealt with people just now; she seemed like a completely different person.
Xu Zhili speaks softly, but every word is very clear, which makes people feel at ease.
"Don't be afraid, An'an. It's all over now. Look, didn't I keep my promise to you? We didn't do anything wrong."
In the future, if you encounter unreasonable people again, don't be afraid. Even if the sky falls, your sister will be there to support you. Got it?
Xu Zhian tilted her little face up, her big eyes still glistening with tears from being frightened, looking all wronged.
However, when he saw his sister looking at him gently and confidently, his feeling of grievance gradually disappeared, and he slowly felt at ease.
He nodded emphatically, his little hands gripping Xu Zhili's clothes even tighter.
He wasn't stupid; he understood perfectly well.
Xu Zhili took An'an's little hand, straightened her back, and joined the surging crowd at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.
Her actions just now will, within half a day, make the stories of "that unruly girl from Hunan at the educated youth settlement" and "the shrew who stood up to Zhuangzhuang at the supply and marketing cooperative gate" the hottest topics of conversation among the older women under the big tree.
Xu Zhili became "famous" in this unfamiliar village in an unexpected way, and people privately called her a madwoman who criticized the educated youth.
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Inside the supply and marketing cooperative, the place was bustling with noise, and the smells of sweat, cheap soap, dust, and all sorts of other indescribable odors mingled together, making it so stuffy that it was hard to breathe.
The narrow counter was packed with people, arm in arm, back to back, each face showing anxiety and longing.
In this era when famine had just passed and resources were still scarce enough to make one's heart clench, every time the supply and marketing cooperative opened its doors, it was like a war without gunpowder. Fierce scrambles could erupt over a pound of salt, a foot of cloth, or even a bar of soap.
Xu Zhili blinked. "Lu Zhiqing, Bai Zhiqing, let's go, let's go! We need to get down to business! Didn't we come here to buy things? If we keep spacing out, all the good stuff will be snatched up!"
Bai Linlin was startled by her voice and shuddered. When she came to her senses, she looked at the dark mass of people in front of her, surging like a boiling pot of porridge. Her little face scrunched up and her voice was trembling with tears.
“Xu…Xu, you…you didn’t see? This…this isn’t shopping. This is a war! It’s…it’s terrifying! We…we can’t squeeze in!”
She shrank her neck, wishing she could hide behind Lu Yanchen.
Lu Yanchen nodded heavily, his deep voice filled with worry, "Bai Zhiqing is right, there are too many people, the order is chaotic, and it's easy to get hurt if you try to squeeze in."
His gaze swept over the shoving and shouting crowd around him, and his brows furrowed even more.
Xu Zhili followed their gaze and her brows furrowed slightly.
She wasn't afraid of being squeezed. She could even use her weak but practical mental abilities to sense the gaps and direction of the push in the crowd in advance, just like a fish in water senses the current. She could then apply a little bit of "guidance" to make those who were close to her subconsciously shift their center of gravity and give her a little space.
This allows her to move relatively easily through crowds.
But... she looked down at An'an, who was tightly clenching her fingers.
The little one looked up, his big eyes reflecting the chaotic figures around him. Although he wasn't crying, his face was filled with tension.
Xu Zhili's heart softened and tightened instantly.
What if someone bumps into or steps on An'an in the chaos while trying to squeeze in?
Her special ability could protect herself, but it couldn't completely protect such a small child.
She took a deep breath, squatted down, looked directly into An'an's eyes, and said softly, "An'an, be good. There are too many people inside. Squeezing in is like riding a rocking horse; it'll make you a little dizzy. You wait outside with Brother Yanchen and Sister Linlin for a while, okay? I'll go buy you some delicious candy and come out soon."
She gently pinched An'an's little cheek.
Then, she stood up, turned to Lu Yanchen and Bai Linlin, and spoke with a tone that was both pleading and barely perceptible.
"Lu Zhiqing, Bai Zhiqing, could you please look after An'an for me? Please wait for me in a less crowded spot near the entrance. I can go in by myself and be quicker."
She paused, then added, her tone confident but not overly boastful, "I'm pretty strong and agile, so I have experience squeezing into places like this."
Upon hearing this, Bai Linlin immediately panicked, grabbed Xu Zhili's arm, and raised her voice: "No, no! Xu Zhili, are you crazy! Look at those people!"
She pointed at an older woman in the crowd, whose hat was askew and who was cursing, "Look at your skinny arms and legs, you're so thin a gust of wind could blow you away. How can you possibly outpace them? What if... what if you get knocked over and stepped on? It's too dangerous!"
Her face showed genuine worry.
Xu Zhili gently pulled away from Bai Linlin's hand, a wild and cunning smile curving her lips, her eyes shining brightly.
"Ha! Bai Zhiqing, don't underestimate me! Today I'll show you what 'you can't judge a book by its cover' really means! Tell me, what do you want to buy? Give me a list, and I guarantee I'll complete the task!"
Seeing her resolute attitude, and then looking at An'an who was gazing at Xu Zhili with a look of dependence, the two exchanged a helpless glance.
Lu Yanchen said in a deep voice, "Alright, you must be careful."
Lu Yanchen listed out everything he needed.
Bai Linlin reluctantly listed several daily necessities, specifically emphasizing that they must be face cream.
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