Chapter 19

Usually, it’s when a man is about to get married that he comes to buy things, or it’s middle-aged men.

Nobody would joke around about it, right? The salesperson replied somewhat coldly, “Yes, we have them, but it costs 30 yuan, and you also need an industrial coupon.”

Xu Nian Nian nodded immediately: “I’ll take it, also give me a spatula and a set of bowls.”

Seeing the confusion in the salesperson’s eyes, she quickly explained: “I’m about to get married. My husband is a soldier, and he doesn’t have time to prepare these things, so I’m here to buy them instead.”

After hearing this, the salesperson’s attitude became much warmer. She felt embarrassed. How could she have treated this person like that when her husband is serving the country?

The salesperson immediately took the last large iron pot and enthusiastically said: “We also have essential items for newlyweds, like warm water kettles and washbasins, great quality! You’re really lucky, if you came a day or two later, you’d have to wait until next week.”

Xu Nian Nian looked at the items; they were practical, though not very attractive. The warm water kettles and washbasins had large “double happiness” characters on them, along with pictures of two little fish.

She looked at the money in her pocket, gritted her teeth, and decided to buy everything.

She also bought some canned meat and a set of porcelain dishes that are typically kept for weddings.

This drained half of her pocket money and included a bunch of coupons as well.

She couldn’t help it; things were expensive during this time.

The salesperson, seeing her as a woman with no way to carry it all, gave her a rope.

Xu Nian Nian immediately thanked her: “Thank you, comrade.”

Unfortunately, she didn’t have a single candy in her pocket, so she couldn’t offer a meat bun.

She felt helpless and small.

Then, she quietly asked: “Do you have any White Rabbit milk candies?”

The salesperson pulled out a package from under the counter: “You’re really lucky. This is the first batch we’ve had in a month, and you’ve just caught it. But most people buy fruit-flavored hard candies for wedding treats, they’re cheap, taste good, and you don’t feel bad about sharing them.”

No one would use White Rabbit milk candies for wedding treats; they’re too extravagant for regular folk.

Xu Nian Nian ordered a pack of fruit-flavored candies and a bottle of Maotai liquor.

When she was leaving, the salesperson handed her two White Rabbit milk candies.

She said it was a gift as wedding treats, and the salesperson was surprised: “Can you really afford such expensive candy for wedding treats?”

In fact, Xu Nian Nian just saw them and wanted to buy them. After all, they’d be valuable in the future, and once the ginseng in her space grew, she could use it to make medicinal wine.

She knew that sometimes the salesperson would secretly stash items, and if she had come on a different day, she might not have been able to buy everything.

The salesperson, holding the two White Rabbit milk candies, felt even more that the military and civilians were like one big family. A military wife was really generous.

She didn’t want all these things, but since Xu Nian Nian had left already, she had no choice but to reluctantly accept.

She popped one in her mouth. It was really sweet.

Xu Nian Nian found a quiet spot, placed the items into her space, and changed into her old clothes.

She noticed her money was running low, so she decided to go test the black market and sell some things.

Once she followed the army, it would be difficult to go to the black market, as the area was full of soldiers with sharp eyes. She didn’t want to get caught.

Having some money in her pocket gave her the confidence she needed.

It wasn’t money given by others; it was money she had earned herself.

After changing her clothes and fixing her makeup, she headed for the black market, picking up a few large stones and a wooden stick along the way and throwing them into her space.

As she entered the black market with her basket, she hadn’t walked far when someone grabbed her from behind.

“Oh no, how unlucky, caught right after entering?”

She was about to use her quick reflexes when she heard a familiar low voice behind her:

“Little sister, I finally found you.”

Immediately, her heart relaxed. It was Aunt Wang’s voice.

Aunt Wang pulled her sneakily into a corner and, ensuring no one could see them, said:

“Your rice is really delicious. My daughter has been breastfeeding, and the baby is growing plump and healthy.”

Even the millet is easy to cook, it becomes thick and fragrant, with a layer of rice oil on top. Drinking it feels very soothing to the stomach.

Even her stomach problems have improved a lot.

The elderly people in her family have also been walking more steadily. They suspect the food is highly nutritious.

It’s a bit embarrassing, but her generation had four or five brothers in each family, and it was rare for them to have enough food.

She had shared some of the rice with her parents and in-laws, who are all civil servants.

Now, when they eat this delicious rice, they all come looking for more, of course, they pay for it.

Even her daughter-in-law now treats her kindly, wanting to get more of this rice. After meals, she doesn’t have to wash the dishes anymore; her daughter-in-law does it instead.

All this good fortune started because her daughter-in-law’s family wanted to get some of this rice.

Recently, she had been enjoying royal treatment.

Even though she had bought quite a lot before, it wasn’t enough to share with everyone, and they were all eager to get more.

Today, she had finally found Xu Nian Nian.

“Little sister, you see, we’re old friends. Why don’t you just come back with me? I’ll buy everything in your basket.”

She had already seen what was in the basket, and it looked like the amount was similar to the last two times.

Aunt Wang’s sudden enthusiasm almost overwhelmed Xu Nian Nian, and she had no choice but to follow her to the family compound.

Once they arrived at the door, Aunt Wang helped Xu Nian Nian put down the basket.

“Wait here, I’ll go get the scale.”

She hurriedly ran to the kitchen, and Xu Nian Nian, seeing the sweat on her forehead, felt a bit embarrassed.

“It’s fine, I’m not in a hurry.”

Aunt Wang wiped the sweat off her forehead.

“I’m in a hurry! You don’t know, my family is pressuring me.”

Xu Nian Nian took the scale and quickly measured the items: “10 jin of millet, 50 jin of flour, and 32 jin of rice.”

Aunt Wang immediately took out 16.6 yuan from her pocket and handed it to Xu Nian Nian.

“Remember to come back next time if you have more.”

Xu Nian Nian’s eyes flickered: “Aunt Wang, I might be leaving here for a while.”

Aunt Wang, hearing this, felt like she had fallen into an abyss. She quickly grabbed Xu Nian Nian’s hand: “Girl, is there anything I can do to help you?”

Xu Nian Nian smiled: “It’s fine. I’ll just prepare more for you next time.”

Aunt Wang thought for a moment: “Can you get us 200 jin of flour and some more rice?”

Xu Nian Nian thought it was doable, though the amount was large: “The quantity is no problem. We can meet tomorrow night at 9 at the abandoned security booth in your neighborhood. The timing must be exact—neither too early nor too late. I’ll label everything with its weight. When you get it, just leave the money and leave immediately.”

Aunt Wang was startled. It sounded a bit scary, but she realized that anyone who could get such white flour and delicious rice must be a special person.

The more you ask, the quicker you’ll get in trouble.

She realized this might be her last chance, so she immediately agreed, not wanting to miss it.