"My children and grandchildren are no different."
"well"
"Uncle Liu, can you calculate how much these will cost?"
"Okay, that's it. Take out each item and calculate it against the list. When you're done, tell me the total is 58.79."
"Okay, Grandpa, here's 60 yuan."
"Here'll give you 1.21 yuan back, okay?"
"right"
"Uncle Liu, you're busy then."
"Xiao Li, you can go ahead with your work."
"good"
Seeing that it was almost time to leave work, Li Guifang said, "Mianmian, wait another half hour, then I'll go home for dinner."
"No need, Auntie."
"Why don't you just let me treat you to a meal since you've come all this way to the county town?"
"Auntie, this isn't the right day. You can see all this stuff. Everyone'll be off work soon, and it wouldn't look good if they saw us carrying this on the street. I'd better hurry and leave before they all get off work."
Li Guifang looked at the two bags in front of her, thought for a moment, and said, "You're right. Okay, next time we come, we can arrange to eat at your aunt's house."
"Don't worry, I will definitely bother you and Uncle Zhou."
"You silly child"
"Then let's go."
"Wait a minute, shall I go find a basket?"
"No need, Auntie. You can leave the basket here for now. You can take it back next time you come."
"That's okay"
"Goodbye, Auntie, you're busy now."
Goodbye, take care on your journey.
"Okay, Auntie."
After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, I quickly went to the public restroom not far away and put all my things into my storage space. I turned around and went out. It was almost 12 o'clock. I had to go to the state-run restaurant to eat first. Nothing was more important than eating.
At the state-run shop, I first ordered a bowl of noodles, two steamed buns, and a serving of braised pork. Then I asked for 20 large meat buns. Looking at the remaining 1 jin (500g) of pork coupons, I asked if I could have another serving of braised pork.
In principle, it shouldn't be allowed, but the saleswoman gave me her share, which means that she not only didn't have to spend money or pay for a ticket to buy a braised pork, but also made 0.8 yuan.
I really don't plan to buy pork in the county town. Not only is it late when I arrive, but even if the meat stalls still have some, there's not much left—mostly scraps or offal, and sometimes not even offal. It's better to just buy from a state-run restaurant, store it in my space, it won't spoil, and I can take it out whenever I want. The meat aroma is also less intense, so the kids in the village won't be crying from craving it. But I don't want to deprive myself. Every month or two, when I come to the city, I'll take a pound of meat from my space, put it in a basket, go home, lock the door, and cook it myself. Who cares if they're suffering? They're not my children. Besides, it's my own share, not stolen or robbed, so why should I be afraid? Isn't that contradictory? Humans are inherently contradictory.
After dinner, I had nothing to do, it was still early, and I had nowhere to go, but I could go to the junkyard to take a look. Don't they say there are treasures in junkyards? I just don't know if I'll be lucky or have good fortune.
It was very hot, but I still took a stroll. When I got to the recycling station, I saw the old man guarding it dozing off, so I went up to him and asked, "Uncle, hello, I'm Li Mianmian from Gujiawaizi Brigade of Dayingmin Commune. I'd like to come here to find some scrap newspapers to use for wallpapering the walls, is that alright?"
The old man slowly raised his head, glanced at me, and said, "Go in, but don't take anything you shouldn't, understand?"
"Know"
The scrap yard wasn't big. There were some things in the yard, and the rest were inside the building, but it wasn't locked, so I just went in. The inside was quite tidy, but there was a lot of dust on it.
Seeing a complete, thread-bound book, I glanced outside and, finding no one there, immediately put it into my spatial storage. I also put in pretty vases and ceramic jars, not daring to linger. After a quick look around, collecting some items not readily visible, I went to the area where the books were kept, which occupied a third of the room. I started searching for books, taking any complete ones, regardless of type, and storing them in my space. Feeling it was about time, I grabbed a bundle of newspapers lying nearby, rummaged through them, packed them up, and took them out. Seeing a fairly intact wooden box in the corner of the yard, I picked it up, then put the newspapers in my storage. I didn't pay attention to anything else. Seeing the old man, I said, "Sir, could you weigh this for me? I'll pay you."
"Okay, just a moment."
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the old man said, "Books and newspapers are two cents a pound, so it's eleven and a half pounds in total. I'll just charge you for eleven pounds, that'll be twenty-two cents in total."
"Okay, sir."
After paying, I came out and walked to the corner. Seeing that no one was around, I took out a basket from my spatial storage. Inside were the grains I had exchanged with the grain coupons I received during my trip to the city, as well as a nylon bag containing the things my aunt had bought for me at the counter and a two-pound piece of pork.
The backpack contained two large meat buns wrapped in cloth; these were for Grandpa Huang.
Grandpa Huang has been helping me a lot lately. Ever since I arrived, whenever I need to go into the city, I always ask Grandpa Huang to help me carry or send packages.
When my third brother and his family visited Uncle Ma in town last time, they had already made arrangements. Since they had quite a few packages, both sent to me and sent out, they were worried about attracting attention. They instructed the postman not to deliver them all at once to the brigade, but rather to give one to Grandpa Huang every few days, so he could help carry it back. He was busy herding cattle and driving carts every day, going to the commune or the county town. In the evening, his grandson would notify him to pick it up. I would then return the favor by giving a gift to the recipient based on the address on the package, and similarly, I would go to Grandpa Huang's house in the evening with a basket on my back and ask him to help mail it.
I got to know them better because of this. Their two children weren't in good health and were a bit weak. In addition, Grandpa Wang told the two children to exercise more at home.
Grandpa Huang knew that he had some martial arts skills, so he asked me to teach the two children. After thinking about it, I also told them that if they practiced this, the two children would have a bigger appetite than the average person.
Grandpa Huang said, "It's better than watching them eat like cats. If they can eat, it means they're growing strong and healthy. Besides, they both get a monthly allowance, and my husband and their grandmother are still able to work. As long as they're doing well, I'm not worried about their food."
"That's good"
For the past few days, Grandpa Huang's two children have been running with me every day. I haven't let them run for too long, but I discussed it with Grandpa Wang and finally came up with a plan.
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