Chapter 32: The Supply Cooperative — It’s Wedding Candy

This shuttle bus was actually a city public transport vehicle, specially arranged through negotiation between the military and the city government to provide transportation for military wives.

Once the scheduled time arrived and the bus was full, it would depart.

Just as the driver started the engine, Wang Xiulan suddenly jumped out and shouted,
“Comrade driver, wait a minute, please wait — someone hasn’t arrived yet!”

The driver grumbled,
“It’s already departure time. I can’t wait any longer.”

But Wang Xiulan’s voice was even louder than his, and she showed no hint of guilt.

“Five minutes — just five minutes! It’s not like we’re rushing to reincarnate. What’s the big deal? …Here she comes! She’s here! Everyone standing by the door, move aside — make room so she can get on.”

The bus was already overcrowded, with no seats left, and everyone was already in a foul mood. Hearing Wang Xiulan boss people around like that just made things worse.

“Wang Xiulan, you scrambled up first and got a seat, so now you’re sitting pretty while barking orders. The bus is packed! Where do you think we’re supposed to—”

Halfway through the sentence, it abruptly stopped.

“Ahem, ahem…” Someone cleared their throat and chuckled awkwardly.
“Oh, it’s Comrade He! Make way, make way — come on in, quick, the bus is about to leave!”

Just like that.

The crowd, tightly packed like sardines, somehow squeezed themselves to open a path for He Meijiao to board.

Even though everyone was squished beyond comfort, not a single person dared complain.

Chu Yue watched this scene unfold, and beside her, Chen Fengying muttered under her breath,
“Hmph, it’s all because her grandfather is a high-ranking official in the capital. Everyone’s afraid of her.”

Ah, so that’s what it was…

Chu Yue finally understood He Meijiao’s background.

A powerful grandfather in the capital — no wonder He Meijiao could act like a tyrant in the military compound. All the wives were wary of her, even afraid.

Today, He Meijiao wasn’t wearing her military uniform. She had on her signature sheer pink stockings, a plush long skirt, two thick black braids tied with red bows, and a fluffy white scarf.

If she didn’t always look down her nose at people, she’d actually be quite pretty.

The bus slowly rumbled to life, but the atmosphere inside remained tense.

He Meijiao stood and scanned the bus, her eyes landing on Chu Yue, who was comfortably seated at the back.

Tch! What rotten luck — running into her again!

A country bumpkin like her gets a seat, and she had to stand?

He Meijiao’s face turned dark, her expression frosty.

Wang Xiulan, ever the bootlicker, quickly scooted over and tried to squeeze out a tiny space beside her.
“Comrade He, there’s room here — you can sit.”

He Meijiao glanced at it disdainfully.
“That tiny bit of space? How am I supposed to sit? Don’t ruin my new skirt! You invited me to shop and didn’t mention the bus would be this crowded! Stop the bus! I’m not going! I want to get off!”

Amid her loud complaints, Wang Xiulan looked around in embarrassment. So many eyes were watching, so many ears listening. She had cozied up to He Meijiao to curry favor, but now the young miss was throwing a tantrum, and all she could do was continue sucking up and smiling obsequiously.

“This bus can’t stop now. Comrade He, you can have my seat. Sitting alone will be more comfortable for you!”

Left with no choice, Wang Xiulan stood up and gave up her seat, finally putting an end to the drama.

He Meijiao shot Chu Yue a smug glare, as if she’d just won some great battle, before slowly sitting down.

Chu Yue rolled her eyes from her own seat.
Competing over a seat? This spoiled young miss sure has nothing better to do.

…

The shuttle rocked back and forth for a full hour before finally reaching the city.

Chu Yue began to see an entirely different scene. She had thought a remote southwestern town would be barren and bleak, but the reality was far from her expectations.

Cars came and went, and the streets bustled with people.

When they arrived near the supply and marketing cooperative, the area was even more crowded.

Chen Fengying gave Chu Yue some reminders,
“Sister Chu, the supply cooperative gets swamped with people. In-demand goods sell out super fast. The wet market can wait till the afternoon — that’s when some vendors are eager to head home and will sell at lower prices. So, we’ll hit the cooperative this morning and go to the wet market later. When we get off, stick close to me and let’s hurry to get in line.”

“Got it!”

Every world has its own rules — whether in the apocalypse or in the 1970s, the goal is always the same: survive better.

Chu Yue followed Chen Fengying’s lead. As soon as the vehicle came to a full stop, they got off and headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative at the fastest speed.

By then, a long line had already formed — it stretched all the way outside the door.

Luckily, the two of them managed to secure a pretty good spot in line. They looked at each other and laughed.

Chu Yue glanced back but didn’t see He Meijiao. She figured the pampered young lady probably didn’t like places like the supply co-op and had gone to browse the department store instead.

Without He Meijiao around, Chu Yue felt even more at ease.

The staff at the co-op were well-trained and efficient, so the line moved quickly. Before long, it was Chu Yue and Chen Fengying’s turn.

Chen Fengying needed a bottle of soy sauce, a pound of brown sugar, and a few pounds of flour. She had her ration coupons and money ready, and bought exactly what she needed.

Chu Yue, on the other hand, was in a very different situation — her home with Lu Zhanlin was completely empty, with nothing in it.

She didn’t make a list. Instead, she scanned the shelves and ordered whatever they had that she might need.

“Comrade, I’ll take two bottles of cooking oil, one bottle of soy sauce, one of dark soy, one of white vinegar… ten pounds of flour, five pounds of sorghum, five pounds of cornmeal… Do you have white sugar, brown sugar, and rock sugar? I’ll take two pounds of each… Oh, and those enamel basins with the yellow flower pattern — I need two of those… and also, one can of powdered milk and one can of malted milk.”

Chu Yue rattled off her list without even pausing for breath.

At first it was all basic household items — but once she asked for powdered milk and malted milk, the people nearby started whispering. Those were expensive luxury goods that cost a fair bit of money.

Chen Fengying was dumbfounded just listening to her.

Behind Chu Yue, many of the other military wives who had gotten off the same vehicle stared in shock.

As for the co-op’s shop assistant, he gave Chu Yue a quick up-and-down glance and said with some suspicion,
“Little girl, here you need both money and ration coupons to buy things. Don’t mess with me. Who shops like that? Move aside, move aside — let the next person through.”

Hearing this, Chen Fengying immediately bristled.

“Comrade, what kind of attitude is that? You think she can’t afford it or something?”

Chu Yue tugged gently on Chen Fengying’s sleeve, signaling her not to get upset. “I’ve got all the coupons and money right here. Just give me what I asked for first — I still have more to buy.”

The shop assistant took the thick stack of coupons and cash from Chu Yue’s hand — and it turned out she really had everything. That pile of tickets could probably cover a month’s supply for a family of two.

He hadn’t expected such a delicate-looking young woman to be so well-prepared.

He immediately dropped his attitude. “Comrade, I apologize. I was just worried about holding up the line. I’ll get your items ready right away.”

Once Chu Yue finished collecting the first batch of goods, she noticed a wooden display behind the counter, filled with colorful candies in different compartments.

They were all fruit candies wrapped in shiny wrappers — very pretty. Unfortunately, there were no White Rabbit milk candies, which she rather missed.

“Comrade, just mix them up. I want some of each kind — but the red ones, give me the most. I’ll take five pounds total. Here’s the money.”

“Got it — five pounds of bulk candy!”

Amidst the stunned stares of the crowd, Chu Yue walked out of the supply co-op, hands full of all kinds of goods.

She couldn’t carry everything by herself, so Chen Fengying helped by putting a lot into her bamboo backpack.

“Thanks again, Sister Chen,” Chu Yue said gratefully.

“It’s nothing…” Chen Fengying was still a bit shaken by how lavishly Chu Yue had just shopped. She hesitated, then asked worriedly, “Chu girl, are you sure it’s okay to spend like that? Won’t Commander Lu be upset?”

“It’s fine. Lu Zhanlin won’t mind.”

He had even given her his gleaming First-Class Merit medal — there was no way he’d fuss over a few bags of groceries.

“Sister Chen, there’s nothing in the house right now. That’s why I’m buying so much this time. Once the basics are stocked up, I won’t need to buy so much again. Think about it — isn’t everything I bought something every household needs?”

Although Chu Yue had purchased a lot, it was all practical, daily-use items. She hadn’t splurged on unnecessary things like fancy clothes or cosmetics.

When Chen Fengying thought about it, she had to admit it made sense.

The only thing that seemed a bit over the top was probably the five pounds of candy.

Just as she was thinking this, Chu Yue opened one of the wax paper bags of candy, pulled out a handful of colorful sweets, and stuffed them into Chen Fengying’s hands.

With a bright smile and a warm glint in her eyes, she said:

“Sister Chen, have some candy. This is the wedding candy from me and Lu Zhanlin. You have to take it.”