Upon hearing this, Song Qing didn't hesitate. She quickly stuffed the tickets into her pocket, grabbed a steamed bun for An'an, locked the door, and rushed out with her.
The supply and marketing station was packed with people. Everyone who heard the news came to queue up. The canned goods were yak meat from Inner Mongolia. They cost 1.7 yuan each and didn't require a coupon. Each can weighed more than a pound.
These were originally welfare items provided by the supply and marketing station to the family compound. The price was naturally not very expensive, but the quantity was limited, so it was not publicized. Only those who knew the inside story came to line up early.
Each household can only buy one, and they must register after purchasing.
Fangjie had already bought all her food, but more and more people were crowding in, so she had her child take the canned food back and start queuing again.
"Hey, hey, come quick!"
Song Qing was already worried about how to squeeze in with a child in tow, as the place was packed with people. Fang Jie saw them from afar and quickly waved.
"Come here quickly."
Fang Jie gave up her seat to Song Qing, and what a coincidence that Zhou Lian was right behind Fang Jie.
Those who know the news today are mostly long-term family members who have been here for a few years. These newcomers have just arrived and many of them don't have any connections and have no idea that the supply and marketing cooperative has canned goods.
Zhou Lian was able to find out when her child discovered that her neighbor had hurriedly run out with a basket. She originally thought the vegetable market had received new vegetables, so she rushed over as well, only to find out that there were cheap canned meats.
"Why are you cutting in line? What are we supposed to do?"
It's true what they say, enemies meeting are bound to be furious; Zhou Lian had already come to regard Song Qing as her enemy.
She had so much wood in her yard, yet she refused to give them any; it wasn't theirs to begin with.
She later found out when she went to order furniture that Song Qing had even ordered three wardrobes. There were only three people in their family, how could they possibly need that many?
"What do you mean by cutting in line? I was just helping her get in line. If you're worried about being late, you can also have someone help you get in line."
Fangjie didn't know that Song Qing and Zhou Lian knew each other before, so she retorted to her and left.
She only started queuing again from the back after she finished buying her things. She didn't take her place. If you're so capable, why don't you ask someone to help you queue up?
Some adults couldn't make it, so the children came to line up first, and the parents came back later to pay.
Many people arrive early, and after buying their meat, they naturally queue up for those they are close to, because it's meat, something so rare these days.
Fang Jie sent the children to line up first before calling Song Qing.
Zhou Lian fell silent. She knew that Sister Fang must have been here a few years earlier, and she hadn't figured out her background yet, so she didn't want to argue with her.
But how come Song Qing is so lucky? Many people helped her that day, and today someone is queuing up for her again. She is clearly a difficult and stingy person, but she has fooled all these people.
The group moved quickly, and Song Qing, leading An'an, soon reached the front, while Zhou Lian stood behind, occasionally letting out a cold snort.
After the person in front of Song Qing left, she was about to step forward when the salesperson suddenly tore off the wooden board.
"We're out of stock, so the people behind us don't need to wait in line."
A collective sigh arose from the back of the line, with many people grumbling in dissatisfaction.
"Why does the supply and marketing station only order such a small amount of goods? It's not even enough to distribute."
"That's right, I came to queue up very early."
Zhou Lian couldn't believe they were sold out. She had clearly seen the salesperson pick up a few cans and put them under the counter, then shove Song Qing, who hadn't left yet, and squeeze to the front of the counter.
"What? You've sold out? You still secretly kept so many? Take them out right now, or I'll complain about you."
"Go away, once it's sold out, it's sold out. Come earlier next time if you want some."
These days, sales clerks everywhere have secure jobs and plenty of perks, so they're naturally arrogant and look down on people.
"Do you think I'm blind? Take what's under the cabinet."
Song Qing wasn't unaware of the sales clerk's actions. These days, sales clerks would leave things for acquaintances, and as long as the person insisted that they bought it, what could you do?
The sales clerk this time was a round-faced young girl who had only been working for a short time and wasn't thick-skinned enough yet, but that didn't stop her from dealing with Zhou Lian in the same way as her colleagues.
"If we don't have it, we don't have it. No matter how loudly you shout, there's no stock left."
"It would be one thing if you hid one, but you hid several. Now each household can only buy one, so hurry up and take out the rest, or I'll go to the leaders to complain about you. Serving the people, you expect the people to serve you, and the things inside belong to the people."
It has to be said that Zhou Lian's ability to sense people's emotions is amazing. If the salesperson were an experienced one, she might have complained a few times and left.
But I could tell she was a young girl. Although she pretended to be very serious, she didn't seem to have the confidence that comes from years of working in a professional environment.
She thought that if she pressed her a little, the girl might be too shy and give her one or two.
"You you you"
"What do you mean, 'you'? Society has nurtured you for so many years, hoping you would contribute to the people at the bottom. I never expected you to start sucking the blood of society and the people at the bottom."
The more Zhou Lian cursed, the more confident she felt. Why should their insiders get so much?
Song Qing didn't want to get involved. She didn't want to join Zhou Lian in cursing, nor would she speak up for the little girl. After all, even if she didn't put it away, she could still buy it.
The little girl was a bit shy, and her eyes turned red when she was talked to. At that moment, other sales clerks finally came over.
"Who's sucking our blood? How can you spew such filth? You're attacking anyone you can get your hands on. Public property is all accounted for. You're arbitrarily accusing us of taking advantage. Do you even know that we have to reconcile accounts every time?"
These sales clerks often encounter dissatisfied customers, but sometimes they just complain a few times and leave, unlike Zhou Lian who actually pointed at the sales clerk's nose and cursed.
"The number we've reserved is for our internal staff. Does that mean we staff members can't buy anything?"
"Who made that rule? Let me tell you, you're slandering and framing us. Don't think you're the only one who knows how to go to the leaders; we do too."
As more and more people gathered, the saleswoman who came later patted the little girl from before and asked her to go inside.
She glanced at Zhou Lian and snorted coldly. These days, everyone knows not to offend a salesperson, otherwise, what will you do if the supply and marketing station doesn't display the goods when you come in?
"Lady in front, could you wait a moment? Yes, you are. Weren't you the last customer?"
We counted and there was one extra can. Since that's the case, you can have this one.
How could it possibly be a lot? But she just wanted to annoy Zhou Lian, so Song Qing, who was ahead of Zhou Lian in line, unexpectedly received a can of yak meat.
How could she possibly refuse such a windfall? She immediately took out her money, signed the papers, and took the canned food.
Zhou Lian stared in disbelief, her face turning red with anger.
"You're lucky you're the last one; we miscounted."
When the saleswoman said she was lucky, she emphasized her words and gave Zhou Lian a smug look.
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