Song Wei took Heidan to buy supplies. In this small town, ready-made children’s clothing wasn’t available, so she planned to buy some fabric and have someone make clothes for him. Children’s shoes were only sold at the supply and marketing cooperative, so that was also on her list, along with other daily essentials.

The town’s supply and marketing cooperative had limited goods, but plenty of people came to shop. While it wasn’t as crowded as before, it still took effort to get inside. Song Wei told Heidan to wait outside, then rolled up her sleeves and prepared to dive into the crowd.

She thought her strength would make it easy to push through, but she underestimated the fierce competition among the village aunties.

“Watch it! Can’t you see there’s an old lady here?”

“Ow! Who stepped on my shoe?”

“Please make way. My old bones can’t stand your squeezing.”

Everyone used whatever tactics they could think of to get ahead. Song Wei barely got a few steps in before the crowd pushed her right back out. Stunned, she couldn’t believe it—she’d been overpowered! Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and went in again.

This time, she held her ground, pushing firmly through the crowd without letting herself be carried backward. Determined, she kept her head down and pushed forward, ignoring the scolding and complaints from others.

Finally, she reached the front, her hair and clothes a bit disheveled. But she held her place, gripping the counter tightly with one hand and clutching her money and tickets in the other.

“Excuse me, I need children’s shoes, size 23!” she shouted over the noise.

“And a hot water kettle, please!”

“How much is that blue fabric?” she asked, pointing behind the counter.

“That one’s fifty cents per foot,” replied the clerk.

“Alright, I’ll take seven feet, please,” she said, handing over a fabric ticket she’d gotten from the factory director.

Ignoring the shoving from the side, Song Wei held her position, impressing even the clerk, who glanced at her with a mix of surprise and amusement.

Once she had her items, she took a deep breath and fought her way back through the crowd, emerging with her hair looking like a bird’s nest. Heidan ran over, carrying his small basket.

“Sister Song, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied, stuffing everything into her basket. She combed her hair with her fingers and straightened her clothes before leading Heidan to the grocery store to buy food.

Using her ration tickets, she bought fifty pounds of flour and twenty pounds of rice. Cornmeal could be traded for locally, so no tickets were needed for that. She also bought sugar, biscuits, and other snacks, using up nearly all her tickets.

With both their baskets filled, they left the store. Heidan was thrilled, his eyes shining as he walked in his new shoes. Every few steps, he’d look down to admire them, as if afraid they’d disappear.

It was Heidan’s first pair of his very own shoes, and they were new! Song Wei understood his excitement but saw he was slowing them down by walking so carefully.

“Shoes are made for walking,” she encouraged him, “no need to be so cautious.”

Heidan nodded, still feeling like he was dreaming. “Sister Song.”

“Yes?”

“My new shoes look so nice.”

Song Wei glanced down, amused by his excitement. She didn’t think they looked that special but smiled and nodded.

“Yes, they look nice.”

“I even have a second pair! I used to have no shoes at all, and now I have two pairs.”

His happiness was obvious from his voice.

“Sister Song.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re so good to me. When I grow up, I’ll be even better to you.”

“Alright, then eat well and grow up fast.”

Song Wei still wanted to visit the black market, but carrying all these things made it tricky. As they passed the state-run restaurant, the smell of food stopped them in their tracks.

Both of them swallowed, drawn to the delicious aroma coming from the restaurant.

“Let’s go in and have a nice meal,” Song Wei decided. She still had plenty of money on hand.

There weren’t many people eating in the restaurant, likely because meat dishes were scarce and pricey. Today, the only meat dish available was braised pork, but it was a treat in itself. Song Wei flashed a bright smile at the server.

“I’ll take two orders of the braised pork. Do you have any steamed buns or bread?”

The server, a young woman with a rather aloof attitude, glanced at her. Jobs were highly valued, so even a restaurant server had a certain pride.

“There’s only one order of braised pork left,” she replied. “And we’re out of meat buns—just veggie buns and plain steamed buns are available. Do you want those?”

Song Wei sighed over the limited options but took what she could get, snapping up the last serving of pork.

Behind her, another customer looked disappointed.

She ordered ten veggie buns and plain steamed buns, two vegetable dishes, and the single order of braised pork, spending a total of three yuan and sixty cents. Expensive, but the portions were large.

She and Heidan found a table, and she handed him a big, fluffy steamed bun before taking one herself. Heidan’s eyes widened, and he held the bun as if it were something precious.

“Go on, eat up,” she said, tearing the bun open and stuffing some braised pork inside.

The pork with steamed bun was heavenly. Song Wei’s cheeks puffed out as she ate, savoring each bite.

Heidan hesitated only a moment before taking a big bite, completely enchanted by the rich flavors. He’d never tasted anything so delicious.

While they enjoyed their meal, an old woman at a nearby table and her grandson stared longingly at their food. The little boy, about four years old and clearly well-fed, began whining.

“Grandma, I want meat, too! Buy me some braised pork!”

In this day and age, if a child can be raised to be this fat, he or she must either be from a wealthy family or be spoiled by the whole family.

This family is clearly the latter.

But the shortcomings of such a child are obvious. He is a completely carefree and naughty child.

For example, at this moment the little boy is rolling on the ground and crying in order to eat meat.

His grandmother tried to calm him, calling him her “precious darling.” But the child was relentless, his eyes fixed on Song Wei’s plate of meat.