Ruan Mengmeng didn't care. After all, everyone lived their own lives. If you had a good relationship with her, wouldn't she give you some money to spend?
Ruan Zilong is just a little kid and doesn't care. He only cares about his sister.
Ruan Mengmeng recalled that the route in the original owner's memory seemed to be not far from the supply and marketing cooperative.
The two of them walked and admired the scenery along the road. This era cannot be compared with later generations.
There were big-character posters, notices, and slogans everywhere, and apart from these, there were only simple houses and gray buildings.
Even the clothes worn by pedestrians on the street were gray in color, and those of poor families had their clothes patched over and over again.
More than 20 minutes later...
The two finally arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative and looked at the old dark brown building. On the wooden doorplate were three big words "Supply and Marketing Cooperative".
The brother and sister looked at each other and walked in.
It looks old from the outside, but once you get inside it's crowded with people and a long queue.
Ruan Mengmeng was completely confused. What were they buying? So many people?
The noise filled the brother and sister's ears. Ruan Mengmeng looked around. This was her first time at the supply and marketing cooperative.
The original owner’s previous visit didn’t count. Looking at the counter that was almost as high as his chest, there were several sales clerks of different ages standing inside.
Some of them are busy all the time, while some of them are idle and chatting.
The shelves at the back are filled with all kinds of items, from small items like needles and thread, hairpins, and hair ties to large items like sewing machines and bicycles...
There is also a counter next to it, which is filled with various sweets and pastries.
Ruan Mengmeng felt a little dizzy when she saw the crowds. She had to queue up to buy things here, and she also needed receipts.
She found the receipts she had collected earlier and prepared to buy some cakes, candies, cloth, and other daily necessities.
"Zilong, wait here for me. I'm going to queue up to buy some things. It will be over in a moment!"
Ruan Mengmeng looked at the dark crowd and said to Ruan Zilong;
"I'll go with my sister!"
Ruan Zilong was reluctant to let his sister queue alone.
"Alright......"
Seeing that he didn't want to wait here alone, Ruan Mengmeng didn't force him and took his hand and walked to the back of the line.
The two of them stood behind an old lady at the end of the line;
After just standing there for a short while, many more people came and continued to queue.
When there are too many people, either you bump into me or I step on you, and conflicts continue.
There was a chaotic chatter everywhere. The two had never experienced such a situation before, so they just stood there silently without saying a word.
I was just looking forward to my turn so that I could finish my shopping and leave early.
Time slips away quietly during the long wait.
Twenty minutes later, the two of them were getting impatient, their legs numb from standing...
The heavenly voice of the salesperson came;
"Next………."
Ruan Mengmeng didn't dare to delay and hurried to the counter, pointing to the things in the cabinet.
"Hello, comrade. I want two pounds of White Rabbit milk candy, two pounds of egg cake and mung bean cake, plus three pounds of fruit candy!"
After saying that, she reached into her bag.
The salesperson glanced at her and wanted to lose his temper.
Seeing the money and tickets she took out, he instantly shut up and changed his expression;
"Okay, comrade, wait a moment, it will be ready soon..."
After saying that, she turned around and went to weigh things for Ruan Mengmeng, as if she was not the one who was about to lose her temper.
Ruan Mengmeng sighed inwardly: What a master of acting. He was about to lose his temper just now, but when he saw the money and tickets, his expression changed immediately.
I used to read in novels that said that the sales clerks in the supply and marketing cooperatives of that era would treat customers differently based on their taste.
Some even dare to hit customers. She didn't believe it before, but after seeing this scene, she began to believe it.
After a moment, the salesperson handed over a few packages of things and said, "Comrade, take this, this is what you want!"
Ruan Mengmeng reached out to take it and handed her the money and ticket.
After buying things, Ruan Mengmeng saw that there were still many people waiting in line behind her, so she didn't hesitate and quickly took her younger brother Ruan Zilong's hand and left...
"Don't move! Don't leave! My money is lost... Whoever leaves will be the one who stole it..."
An older lady, who was a little older, shouted loudly;
As the voice fell, the team could no longer maintain its formation and fell into chaos.
Then, the voices of several other people were heard;
“Ahhh…..my money is gone!”
"Ah...my receipt is gone too.
“…Damn it, who is it? Who?”
Seeing someone lose money, others quickly reached into their pockets and breathed a sigh of relief when they found the money was still there.
The crowd no longer cared about buying things, but instead gathered around a few people who had lost money, pointing and talking.
"Why won't you let us move? I need to hurry and go home after shopping... I don't have time to waste with you!"
A woman in red at the front of the crowd glanced at the old lady and said unconvincedly;
"That's right! I've been waiting in line for so long, and my kids are still at home, waiting for me to go back..."
From the back, a plump woman in her thirties chimed in;
"Auntie! Think about it again, did you forget to bring it with you? Everyone is in a hurry to line up, so who has time to steal anything?"
A tall, thin woman next to the old lady consoled her;
"Impossible! I definitely wouldn't forget. I got up early this morning and packed eight yuan and two cloth coupons in this pocket. I waited in line for a while, and I just realized I lost them!"
As she said this, she was afraid that no one would believe her, so she simply pulled up her shirt pocket and turned it over to show everyone.
As expected, there was nothing inside, except for the loosened fabric at the bottom of the pocket...
"The thief must be in the crowd, so you can't leave!"
She stared at the crowd and said angrily;
"That's right! You can't leave. We lost our money, and the thief must still be among the crowd. What are we going to do if you leave?"
Nearby, two women who had also lost their money and tickets looked at the crowd around them and echoed;
"Even if we don't leave or move, are you still going to search us one by one?"
The tall and thin woman rolled her eyes at the three old ladies and said speechlessly;
This team has at least a hundred people. How long will it take to search them one by one?
Besides, even if the three old ladies are willing, not everyone in the crowd will necessarily cooperate!
After hearing this, the three of them fell into deep thought.
Indeed, even if we allow them to search, how can we do that with so many people? Will they be willing to cooperate?
However, thinking of the money and tickets she had worked so hard to save for half a year, the old lady was unwilling to give up, so she threw everything and said:
"I don't care, damn it, you stole my money and you can't leave until you find it for me..."
As she said that, she sat down on the ground and slapped her thighs with her hands, as if she would not get up until she could find the money!
Ruan Mengmeng watched the fun from the side, then pinched her eyebrows.
This is not a solution. The brother and sister can't always stay with the old lady and waste time here!
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