Chapter 18 : Shopping

Lu Changzheng and Su Mo were unaware of what was happening in Hongqi Commune.

After arriving in the county town, the two went straight to the post office. Su Mo went to mail a letter, and Lu Changzheng went to make a phone call.

“Are you sending a letter home?” Lu Changzheng asked.

“Yes, to my uncle. My uncle is in the army in Guangxi Province.”

Since they were about to get married, Su Mo wasn’t going to hide the situation of Lu Changzheng’s family, but she wouldn’t tell him everything. After all, she had only known this man for two days.

“Shall I send a telegram home to tell them we’re getting married?”

“No need, my parents have cut off ties with me.” Su Mo didn’t say much, but she still revealed the information that needed to be revealed.

It didn’t matter if the man wanted to regret it.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Lu Changzheng secretly held Su Mo’s hand to comfort her.

Although he had guessed it a long time ago, it was another matter to actually confirm it. Lu Changzheng couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Su Mo’s experience.

Just at that moment, people from the County Revolutionary Committee drove past the post office in a car with two people tied up with signs on their chests in the car.

Lu Changzheng felt even more distressed. He didn’t know what had happened to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, but he could imagine how difficult it had been for his wife during that time. A person who had been treated like a jewel since childhood, and suddenly, her whole family was broken up overnight, forcing her to go to a distant place to work as an educated youth in the countryside.

How sad it must have been!

“Don’t worry, I will let you live a good life. After the storm has passed, I will help you find out the situation.” Lu Changzheng promised in a low voice.

Su Mo didn’t expect that Lu Changzheng not only didn’t mind, but also wanted to help her find out about her parents’ situation. She couldn’t help but smile at him gratefully.

“Thank you, Comrade Lu.”

“You are my wife, and your business is my business.” Lu Changzheng said firmly.

In this era, mailing a letter cost 4 cents to send to the local city and 8 cents to send to other cities. If the distance was far, one or two more 8-cent stamps were needed. To send a letter from Heijiang Province to Haishi, two 8-cent stamps were required; to send a letter from Heijiang Province to Gui Province, three 8-cent stamps were needed.

Since she was going to contribute to various newspapers, Su Mo bought 50 stamps at 8 cents each, which cost her 4 yuan. Then she bought 50 envelopes (2 cents each), 10 notebooks (10 cents each), and 2 bottles of ink (0.24 yuan each) at the post office, which cost her another 2.48 yuan. In total, she spent 6.48 yuan.

After Lu Changzheng finished his call, he came out and saw that Su Mo had bought so many envelopes and stationery. He was a little surprised, but didn’t ask much. Instead, he reached out and took them, keeping them for himself.

The county supply and marketing cooperative was not far from the post office. After Lu Changzheng hung the things on the handlebars of the cart, the two of them pushed the cart directly over there.

“I want to buy some cotton, but I don’t have enough tickets. Do you know where there’s a free market?” Su Mo asked quietly. “I’ll try it out this time, and I’ll know the way next time.”

Lu Changzheng’s mouth twitched slightly. It seemed that his wife wasn’t a very sensible person. She seemed familiar with the place and probably went to the black market a lot in Haishi. However, it was too unsafe for his wife to go to the black market with her appearance.

“I’m wearing a military uniform today, so it’s not convenient for me to go there. How much cotton do you need?”

Lu Changzheng was not a man who stuck to conventions and didn’t reject the free market. If the supply and marketing cooperative had nothing to sell and he needed something, he would have to go there.

Su Mo calculated and reported a number: “About 30 kilograms!”

Lu Changzheng was shocked. What was his wife doing? Did she know how much 30 kilograms of cotton was? He was riding a bicycle today, not a tractor.

“Wife, what are you doing?”

“Well… well, marriage requires a dowry, so I want to make two quilts.” Su Mo felt a little embarrassed.

Lu Changzheng felt instantly happy, with the corners of his mouth curled up. It seemed that he was not the only one enthusiastic about this marriage, as his wife had already started preparing her dowry.

“You can just go to the commune and order it. Our commune has its own collective workshop. You can order there. You don’t need a ticket for the cotton you use, just pay according to the market price.”

Hongqi Commune did grow cotton. Every year, the harvested cotton was first kept for use in the commune’s collective workshops, and the excess was sold to the purchasing station.

“So good?” Su Mo’s eyes lit up. “Then do you make those cotton-padded jackets?”

“I don’t know about that. Let’s go ask later,” said Lu Changzheng.

The new secretary, who had arrived a few years ago, was indeed quite capable. Since his arrival, the economy of Hongqi Commune had improved a lot, and the lives of its members had become much better. Since then, there had been no famine in the brigade of Hongqi Commune.

The two chatted until they arrived at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative. Since it was fall and the communes were still harvesting, there weren’t many people at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Because it was a small county town, the supply and marketing cooperative wasn’t divided into different types like those in Haishi. Instead, there was just one cooperative with different counters for various goods.

Su Mo first went to the counter selling daily necessities and said to the saleswoman, “Hello, comrade. Please give me two enamel washbasins, two enamel pots, two iron thermos bottles, two toothbrushes, a tube of toothpaste, a bar of soap, and a roll of toilet paper.”

The saleswoman was stunned for a moment when she saw Su Mo listing a series of items, then smiled and said, “Comrade, are you getting married and here to buy a dowry?”

Su Mo smiled and nodded.

She had taken advantage of someone else moving things this time and bought everything at once, so she wouldn’t have to buy it and move it herself next time.

Although she had a space, she had been the center of attention of all the aunts recently. It was better not to use the space if she could avoid it. Additionally, the original owner was seen as delicate and weak. If she suddenly became a strong woman and moved a lot of things, it would certainly make everyone uncomfortable.

“This soldier comrade is your partner, right? You two are such a handsome pair, a perfect match.” The eldest sister praised with a smile.

She liked this kind of dowry because it involved buying a lot of things. Although she had a stable job, she also had monthly tasks to complete. If she didn’t complete them well, the director would criticize her.

“As for the enamel washbasin, enamel pot, and thermos, I’ll get you the ones with peony flowers and the word ‘happiness.’ The colors are bright and festive, and most people buy this model,” the elder sister recommended with a smile.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you, big sister.” Things were all the same these days, and Su Mo didn’t have any special requirements.

The eldest sister quickly ordered the items Su Mo wanted, filled up the counter with them, and then started quoting prices.

“Enamel washbasins are 2.53 yuan each, so two are 5.06 yuan; enamel pots are 0.98 yuan each, so two are 1.96 yuan; iron-shell thermos bottles are 5.4 yuan each, so two are 10.8 yuan; toothbrushes are 0.34 yuan each, so two are 0.68 yuan; toothpaste is 0.36 yuan per tube; soap is 0.5 yuan per piece, and soap is 0.38 per piece; toilet paper is 0.23 yuan per roll.”

“A total of 19.97 yuan, and 4 industrial coupons,” the elder sister said with a smile.

[Popular Science: Industrial coupons were issued at the end of 1961 and could be used to purchase various items, including towels, blankets, wool, handkerchiefs, batteries, iron pots, aluminum basins, enamel washbasins, thermoses, shoes, radios, clocks, and more. They were allocated in proportion to wage income, with one coupon per 20 yuan of wages. For purchases of industrial products, one coupon was required for every 5 yuan.]

Su Mo promptly gave the money and tickets. The elder sister happily packed all the items into a net bag for Su Mo, leaving the two fragile thermoses separate.

After packing, the elder sister handed the items directly to Lu Changzheng and continued with a smile, “Comrade, there are also new sheets and quilt covers. Would you like me to show them to you as well?”

“Okay!” Su Mo nodded.

In the novels Su Mo had read before, it was said that salespeople in supply and marketing cooperatives had very bad attitudes. But this lady was a breath of fresh air among the salespeople. Su Mo was so satisfied that if there were a rating, she would definitely give her a perfect score.