Chapter 47: Trading Supplies

Song Yuan had to cook for herself at the school, borrowing the kitchen from a nearby villager. Because she was a teacher, people in the production team respected her, and many even offered her their kitchens for free, competing to provide her with firewood. However, she chose to use the Qin family’s kitchen because they had a simple household and fewer issues this was before she had any romantic feelings for Qin Bei.

Whenever Song Yuan cooked at the Qin house, Qin Bei was usually out working, so they rarely interacted. People in the village didn’t gossip much about her kindness, with some seeing it as her way of helping out the Qin family. After all, she had once tried to help young Qin Tian go to school.

People also knew that Song Yuan had influential connections, so they were hesitant to offend her, thinking she wouldn’t look twice at someone like Qin Bei. Even the local girls weren’t interested in him, so no one thought Song Yuan would be either. Thus, after two years of teaching in the village, no one had used this situation against her.

Under Song Yuan’s bed, she had some grains stored. She scooped out a small basin of rice and grabbed two potatoes.

“The rice was from my mom last time. She said it’s too much trouble for me to make bread alone, so I’ll cook potato rice instead it only needs a few drops of oil and tastes better than stir-fry. Plus, it saves oil,” she said.

Xiao Qingru laughed, “I have to try this, is it really that good?”

At home, her family mostly ate bread, and they used rice for porridge. She’d never had anything like potato rice.

Song Yuan almost patted her chest in reassurance. “It’s delicious! Add some cured meat, and you won’t even need oil.”

In those days, everything was rationed, including oil. City dwellers received about 250 grams per month, while rural areas got about 100 grams. To save oil, people often dipped a cloth in oil and wiped it around the bottom of the pot to keep food from sticking and to get a hint of flavor.

When Song Yuan mentioned saving oil, Xiao Qingru realized how hard it must be for her. She linked arms with Song Yuan, “Alright, I’ll shamelessly stay for lunch!”

“You brought these, didn’t you?” Song Yuan grinned, lifting the bag of meat buns.

After gathering the essentials, they left for the Qin family’s home. It wasn’t far from the school just a short turn to the right.

This was Xiao Qingru’s first visit to the Qin home, and it was clear they were poor. The home had only two rooms made of mud bricks, but it was tidy, showing they hadn’t given up hope.

The little boy from the school, who was playing with a worm, looked at them and shyly greeted them, “Sisters.”

“Little Tian, have you eaten yet?”

“I have.” He looked nervously at Xiao Qingru and then dashed into the backyard.

Song Yuan explained, “He’s a bit shy, don’t mind him.”

“Why would I?” Xiao Qingru said. “Everyone has different personalities, and being shy is hardly a flaw. Plus, it keeps kids safer.”

“You’ve got a point,” Song Yuan nodded.

Just then, a tall man emerged from the kitchen, his cool gaze scanning over Xiao Qingru before landing on Song Yuan. “The fire is going,” he said curtly.

“Thank you.”

He grunted a reply and went back to chopping wood.

“Brr, he’s cold,” Xiao Qingru whispered, hugging herself.

They went back into the kitchen where Song Yuan quickly prepared the rice. “Twenty minutes, and we’ll be ready.”

“I’m not that hungry yet.”

Song Yuan then asked, “What are you hoping to trade for? I can help you figure out who to ask.”

“I’m hoping to get some dried persimmons and sweet potatoes.”

She pointed to the courtyard. “See that tree? That’s a persimmon tree. The sweet potatoes, though, will have to come from another family. The Qin family only has one person working, so they probably don’t have enough to spare.”

Xiao Qingru nodded. “Then, can you help me ask Qin about the persimmons? I’ll use ration tickets so they don’t lose out.”

Song Yuan went outside to talk to Qin Bei, who was splitting wood. She tried to hide her unease as she approached him. “Qin, my friend wants to trade some rice rations for five pounds of persimmons. I remember you have some.”

Making dried persimmons was simple, just time consuming, and Qin Bei could use the ration ticket to buy grain for Xiao Tian. He wasn’t eager to risk the black market, but this trade seemed fair.

“Fine,” he said.

When he returned with the persimmons, he dropped them off in the kitchen and quickly left without a word.

“Is he always like this?” Xiao Qingru asked.

Song Yuan sighed. “Our situation is complicated. Maybe he thinks it’s better if we interact less.”

There wasn’t much Xiao Qingru could do. She would be there for her friend when she needed help, and that was all.

The rice was ready. Seeing little Qin Tian pass by the kitchen, Song Yuan called him in and handed him a meat bun.

“I already ate,” he murmured, hiding his hands behind his back and trying not to look at the bun, though the scent made his mouth water.

Song Yuan noticed it wasn’t too hot and pushed it into his hands. “Your brother helped me start the fire. This is a thank you.”

Little Qin hesitated but finally took the bun with a small smile. “Thank you, sister.”

“Go on, you’re welcome.”

Happy, Qin Tian left, looking for his brother to share the bun since there was only one.