Chapter 22 Your husband is found!
Seeing Xiao Ai's confusion, Wang Aimin paused. Without explaining, he turned to his wife and said, "You tell her."
After saying that, he stood up and went into the house to wash his hands.
Seeing her husband like this, Liu Hongxiang was both angry and amused. She could only explain to Shi Xiaoai in person: "Your uncle wanted to ask if you have solved the coal problem. If not, he can help you think of a solution."
Aunt Liu and her husband's words really solved Shi Xiaoai's urgent problem!
Back then, coal tickets were still required. For a family of three like Shi Xiaoai's, a month's worth of coal tickets was 120 yuan for a small honeycomb of coal.
This coal is definitely enough for regular cooking, and even for burning in the winter if you're frugal. But it's definitely not enough to boil water and sell large bowls of tea all day long.
Based on the current usage rate, Shi Xiaoai calculated that the family’s inventory would run out in ten days.
She had thought of going to the coal yard to see if she could buy some high-priced coal. Unexpectedly, before she took any action, Uncle Wang took the initiative to help her solve the problem.
Uncle Wang’s method is actually very simple. To put it bluntly, there will definitely be relative losses when the coal yard produces and sells coal every day.
Within the range of loss, the workers in the coal yard will be more careful and sweep up the fallen coal dust... and by accumulating them together, they can produce a lot of new coal.
The coal yards will not recycle this coal. Usually they turn a blind eye and allow the workers to take it home for their own use or give it to friends and relatives, just as a welfare benefit for everyone.
Uncle Wang's share of coal certainly wasn't enough for Xiao Ai, but he could ask other people. It didn't matter who he sold it to, as long as they paid the set price.
Although this kind of coal is one cent more expensive per piece than buying it with a ticket, it is guaranteed to be delivered to your door.
One hundred pieces of coal are only worth one piece! What kind of crazy price is this?
If Shi Xiaoai didn't agree, she would be crazy.
After hearing this, she nodded hurriedly, took Aunt Liu's hand and expressed her gratitude, saying nice things without asking for anything in return. Aunt Liu was so happy with what she heard that she looked at Shi Xiao Ai with a more affectionate gaze than she would have looked at her own daughter.
The coal problem has been solved, so the only thing left is to buy teacups.
Because the village chief had given her a large bag of wild tea when she returned, Shi Xiaoai didn't have to worry about tea leaves for the time being. Although the tables and chairs at home were a bit heavy and bulky, they could be used as a makeshift tool when she had no other choice.
There's still time to buy a new one when she makes money.
But Xiao Ai still wants to buy some teacups.
She was from a later era, so she was still somewhat particular. Although in this era, it was no longer possible to require each person to have their own cup and not share cups, she still hoped that at least cleanliness and tidiness could be achieved.
If you run your own business, you can't keep a bunch of cups of different sizes with cracks and broken porcelain, right?
No matter whether others dislike her or not, she won't be able to get over it herself.
So even though you know it's definitely not a small amount of money, you still have to spend it.
Shi Xiaoai was thinking while walking home with her two children.
She had no intention of going to the state-owned store. With the pitiful two daily necessities coupons in her supply book, she probably couldn't even buy two teacups.
She decided to try her luck at a state-owned consignment store.
State-owned consignment stores are similar to pawnshops of the past, but they are government-run. They sell a wide variety of items, mostly half-new, that the sellers have entrusted to the store to sell on their behalf.
Because they are all second-hand goods, the things there are much cheaper than those outside, and of course the most important thing is that you don’t need a ticket.
Shi Xiaoai knew this because when she came back to buy some daily necessities, Aunt Liu mentioned that the place wasn't entirely old stuff; there were also some defective items sent from factories. If you picked carefully, you could find some good stuff.
She was very interested when she heard about it, but she had been busy recently and hadn't had time to go. But if the tea stall was confirmed, she would definitely go and see for herself.
The three of them reached the door of their house in a few steps. Just as Shi Xiaoai took out the key to open the door, Director Yu trotted towards them.
Seeing that she was quite far away, Director Yu started to shout, "Xiao Ai, Shi Xiao Ai, come here quickly!"
He waved vigorously while speaking.
Shi Xiaoai was very surprised to see the director so anxious. She opened the door, let the two children in first, and then ran towards the director.
"Director, what's the matter?"
Before she could finish her sentence, Director Yu grabbed her hand.
Director Yu pulled her towards the street office, saying as he ran, "The district chief is here, looking for you. Come with me!"
The district chief is looking for her?
Shi Xiaoai was a little confused for a moment.
Why did the district chief look for her?
Also, why does the district chief know her?
She wanted to ask, but after asking a few questions, Director Yu just shook his head and said he didn't know.
It turned out that Director Yu was also blocked halfway.
It was already after work, and the neighborhood office was empty. She had been delayed for a while because of some unfinished business, and before she even reached the intersection, she ran into the district chief, accompanied by his subordinates, who was looking for someone.
As soon as she heard that they were looking for Shi Xiaoai, she hurried over to inform them, without even having time to ask what the matter was!
The old lady was at least in her fifties or sixties, and she was already out of breath after running such a long street.
Shi Xiaoai didn't dare to ask any more questions.
Fortunately, the street office was not far from her residence, and the two of them arrived there in a short while.
Before she got close, Xiao Ai saw another familiar face.
Yang Ruihua, who had just left their home not long ago, was standing at the door of the office, looking over here anxiously.
When he saw the two of them, Yang Ruihua's face immediately showed a relieved expression. Then he excitedly waved at them and trotted towards them.
Shi Xiaoai was confused when Yang Ruihua held her hand.
"Comrade Xiao Ai, your husband has been found!" Yang Ruihua announced the bombshell news as soon as she opened her mouth.
Even though Shi Xiaoai knew that finding Cheng Yang was a matter of time, she never expected that she would find him so soon!
She looked at Yang Ruihua in shock and didn't respond for a long time.
Seeing her like this, Yang Ruihua smiled knowingly.
She said sympathetically, "Surprising, right? Yeah, no one could have imagined it would be such a coincidence. We just submitted your family search information to the armed forces, hoping they would assist in the search, and they received a notice from the army to assist in the search. Your husband, Cheng Yang, is also searching for you through the organization!"
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