The two women who were arguing yesterday were named Yang Jihong, who lived in the building next to Zhou Lian, and He Juan, who lived a little further away, but both were new houses in the new district.
They arrived around the same time as Zhou Lian, about half a month earlier than Song Qing.
The vegetable market has limited fresh produce, and what it does offer is often transported from the south at high prices. People would rather spend that money on meat. In the fall, people store vegetables or make pickles and sauerkraut to improve their meals when supplies are scarce in winter.
But they didn't know that they hadn't prepared anything when they came, and that it would be another half a month before wild vegetables could grow on the mountain. Their families were hoping to have a change of meals.
So even though they knew it was impossible, they still went to the vegetable market early every day to wait and see if other vegetables would be delivered.
When they heard Zhou Lian say that they were going to the neighboring village to exchange things, they were naturally very happy, but they were also a little worried. Would anyone care about this? What if someone reported them?
Moreover, they don't know anyone in the village, and not everyone will come to trade with them.
Zhou Lian didn't care. "No one is watching us. As long as neither side says anything, who knows if we're buying or selling or exchanging things with them?"
Life is tough for everyone these days. We have money but can't buy food, while people in rural areas have food but no money. They'll definitely try to find something to eat.
Zhou Lian arrived at Yanghe Village with great confidence. The weather was gradually warming up and people were starting to move around outdoors. Zhou Lian saw an aunt standing by the roadside and immediately went over to her.
"Big sister, do you have any food? We'll trade with you."
The woman looked at the three of them with suspicion. "You've come here as refugees? You don't look like it."
Yang Jihong was stunned. Fleeing famine? Did they look like they were fleeing famine? How could this old lady talk like that?
"We've come here to trade with you; we have money."
The woman frowned and stared at them for a long time, then waved her hands repeatedly. "No, no, there's nothing to exchange. Go on your way."
After saying that, he went home immediately and slammed the gate shut.
The three were completely bewildered and puzzled.
He Juan grumbled in dissatisfaction, "What kind of people are they? They say we're here to escape famine, and they won't even exchange our belongings."
"Exactly, we're not going to withhold our money."
The aunt inside was also puzzled. She had never seen such a person before. Their Yanghe Village was not far from the camp, and they often sold things from the village to the families in the family compound. But no one had ever come in during the day and asked if they had anything to exchange for them.
Who knows if they are family members? What if some leader knows they often exchange family members and came specifically to investigate?
Everyone has connections; there's no need to jeopardize future income streams for a stranger.
Who wouldn't try to get on your good side and ask questions subtly the first time they come over? I've never seen anyone like this before. Could it be that they're really on a secret visit?
The aunt thought about it and realized it was unlikely; the village only sold eggs and other similar items, so it couldn't be that bad.
Zhou Lian made a big promise when she came, so how could she back down because of this?
"With so many people in the whole village, I don't believe we can't find someone willing to sell us something."
They wandered around the village again, and after being turned away several times, they finally realized the problem and slowly began to learn how to make small talk, first exchanging a few pleasantries before getting to the point.
Finally, they found a family. After chatting for a while and seeing that they were somewhat receptive, Zhou Lian pressed on.
She suddenly remembered overhearing people chatting in the family compound that Song Qing actually had relatives in Yanghe Village.
“Although we haven’t been here long, we have heard about the situation in the village. Song Qing mentioned it when she went back and chatted with us.”
The family they were looking for was Lao Gen's house. There were people sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) chatting with them. They had just been discussing how Tian Cuihua had met her distant niece.
"You know Xiao Song? What's your relationship with him?"
Although Yang Jihong and Zhou Lian had never met Song Qing, they had heard about her from Zhou Lian. In their minds, Song Qing was a petty and calculating woman, and they had a very bad impression of her.
Of course, they weren't stupid and could tell that these people had a good relationship with Song Qing, and that their attitude had softened because of her.
They chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond, while Zhou Lian acted very warmly.
"We all live in the same residential compound and arrived around the same time, so we often visit each other. We've all left our hometowns to come here, so naturally we should take good care of each other."
To be honest, my husband and Song Qing's husband have been best friends for many years.
“What a coincidence! Aunt Song is from our village, and her home is nearby. You’ve stumbled upon the right place by accident.”
Zhou Lian also looked very surprised. "I heard Song Qing mention that her third aunt is here. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence."
The aunties on the kang pulled the three of them to sit down. Yang Jihong and the other woman felt a little awkward. Didn't Zhou Lian say that Song Qing wasn't a good person?
How come she describes the two of them as close friends?
"We all came from the south. The journey was long and we couldn't bring much food. The vegetable market supplied radishes and potatoes every day, and people ate them until they grew mold."
"Sigh, that's the downside of Northeast China. When it snows for several months, we can't grow vegetables and can only eat the vegetables we stored in the fall."
“Especially you newly arrived young wives, it will take you a long time to adjust.”
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Zhou Lian was about to continue playing the victim, asking if they had any extra pickled vegetables or dried mountain produce, which she was willing to spend more money to buy.
"By the way, it seems that Xiao Song is still making soybean paste at Tian Cuihua's house today. Why don't you go and take a look?"
"Yes, yes, Xiao Song is still here."
Several enthusiastic aunties pulled Zhou Lian and her two friends to Aunt Tian's house. Aunt Tian was a friend of Tian Cuihua's niece, so they had to invite her over for tea.
They started shouting loudly even before they arrived.
"Tian Cuihua, hurry up and make some tea, we have guests at your house."
They pulled Zhou Lian and the other two directly into Aunt Tian's courtyard, and even invited them to come inside and sit on the kang (a heated brick bed) to drink tea.
Song Qing was still standing on the corn granary, wondering what was going on. When she saw Zhou Lian come in, she couldn't help but laugh. It seemed that she and Zhou Lian were really incompatible, and they could bump into each other everywhere.
"You're all friends of Song Qing from our family! Come on in and sit down." Aunt Tian was very hospitable and even thought about making some sweet tea.
"Third Aunt, this isn't my friend." This person really isn't satisfied with just taking advantage of others; now they want to use her relationship with Aunt Tian to fleece her even more.
"We had some misunderstandings, but Song Qing and I are destined to meet. Let's not hold grudges over those little things. We are good sisters who should help each other."
Will my best friend steal my house?
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