Chapter 17 A Fat Figure Runs

Huang Shuying said that Doctor Zhang (medical staff) had written a self-criticism, which was posted on the unit’s bulletin board, and she also attended a study class for three months.

She had already left; she had seen it.

This study class wasn’t as simple as it seemed; it was a form of punishment for soldiers who had made mistakes. In the study class, they not only had to attend ideological classes but also had to do hard labor every day, a kind of labor reform.

Wen Yanyan nodded. That was appropriate; that guy should suffer a bit.

Three months, quite a long time.

“Thank you, Sister Shuying, for your concern. I’m so ashamed.”

She still wanted to express her excitement and regret.

“It’s okay. You’re only eighteen, inexperienced, easily swayed, and did something foolish. It’s understandable. Just don’t do it again. That kind of medicine is harmful to men’s bodies. Understand?”

Huang Shuying spoke earnestly.

“I understand, Sister Shuying.”

Wen Yanyan accepted it humbly on behalf of the original owner.

She had also specifically checked Zhang Meimei’s self-criticism. Although it lacked sincerity, the facts were clear.

And as expected, the motivation Zhang Meimei wrote in her self-criticism was indeed for the harmony of the Nan Tuan’s family, which led to her making a mistake in a moment of folly.

The rest were just clichés like feeling guilty towards the Party and the country’s education and training, and being sorry to the unit leaders who had always cared for and protected her.

She heard whispers.

“I never imagined that Doctor Zhang, who looks so quiet and gentle, could make such a mistake. It’s disgusting. Truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“Right? You have to be careful when making friends in the future.”

Wen Yanyan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed public opinion was turning in a good direction.

Fine. She wasn’t someone who would relentlessly pursue the matter.

As long as Zhang Meimei returned after three months and stopped coveting Nan Jue, she would be happy for them to live their own lives peacefully.

Let bygones be bygones.

However, as soon as she left, the whispers started again.

“Oh, that woman isn’t a good person either. Her reputation in the family compound is terrible. Those two are a perfect match.”

Huh?

Wen Yanyan felt as if she had swallowed two green bottle flies. She thought the situation was improving, but she had thought wrong.

Forget it, time to make money.

…

After returning from the army, she found a clean old sheet, sewed a large bag, and went up the mountain to pick mushrooms.

She had inquired at the black market last time.

Fresh mushrooms were more valuable than wild vegetables; one jin could sell for three cents, and ten jin for three yuan.

Dried mushrooms were even more valuable, three yuan per jin.

However, doing business was forbidden in this era; it was considered speculation and profiteering, and one could be arrested and sent to prison. It had to be done secretly.

But Wen Yanyan also knew that it was 1977, and in another year, the country would gradually open up its economic policies, and doing business would be legalized.

At that time, individual businesses would spring up like mushrooms after a rain.

But for now, it wasn’t allowed.

Wen Yanyan went up the mountain to pick mushrooms. This time, she was lucky. She not only picked a large amount of mushrooms but also found several lion’s mane mushrooms.

After going down the mountain, she carried a large bag of mushrooms and hitched a ride with an army wife to town.

She estimated there were about thirty kilograms. On the bus, an army wife asked her,

“Nan Tuan’s wife, what’s in this big bag?”

“Oh, it’s mushrooms. I picked them up in the mountains. I have a friend in town who loves to eat them, so I’m sending her some.”

Wen Yanyan lied effortlessly.

“Oh, I see. Then Nan Tuan’s wife…” The army wife wanted to ask something else.

“Sister, my name is Wen Yanyan.”

Wen Yanyan interrupted her and introduced herself.

“Oh, okay, your name is Wen Yanyan.”

For some reason, the army wife didn’t say anything else.

Wen Yanyan was relieved. She had her own name and didn’t want to always be called Nan Tuan’s wife.

She didn’t want to be associated with Nan Jue’s name because she didn’t want to bring shame to him.

Because she was engaging in speculation and profiteering, this made her feel guilty.

Nan Jue was a soldier.

If she was caught, it would affect his future, which she didn’t want to see.

She was desperate to make money, which is why she took such a risk. If she had money, she would find something safer to do.

Selling mushrooms wasn’t a long-term solution.

The bus was fast; it reached its destination in less than half an hour. The Liberation truck stopped.

Wen Yanyan got off.

Although she was fat, she was also strong. She carried the large bag of mushrooms on her shoulder and, after saying goodbye to the army wife, walked briskly, as if she were walking on flat ground.

To be safe, she didn’t dare go to the black market but found a state-run restaurant.

She went to the kitchen, explained her intentions, and sold them at five cents below the market price.

Thirty kilograms of mushrooms at two yuan and five cents per pound, and the lion’s mane mushrooms, five for two yuan, added up to nine yuan and five cents.

No capital, all pure profit.

…

After leaving the restaurant, Wen Yanyan wiped the sweat from her face and sighed that making money was not easy.

After working hard for half a day, she earned nine yuan and five cents, which wasn’t bad. That much money could buy a lot of things these days.

She suddenly remembered that she hadn’t eaten anything all morning, so she went back to the restaurant and bought three buns.

After eating the buns by the roadside, Wen Yanyan found her direction and headed straight for the black market.

She thought that next month, she must save some of Nan Jue’s various tickets, otherwise, buying things would feel like stealing.

Wen Yanyan went to the black market and returned with a full load.

She bought some vegetable seeds, half a pound of white sugar, a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), and a large piece of floral cloth.

She used the Erguotou to stir-fry meat dishes.

She counted her money; she had seven yuan and fifty cents left. She was satisfied. Yes, under her continuous hard work, she finally had savings in the 1970s.

Hee hee.

She was indeed a genius; she could make money without doing surgery.

Wen Yanyan left the black market and decided to run home. She wasn’t afraid of being tired; she could lose weight faster.

Thus, on a winding mountain road, a fat figure was running.