Chapter 14: Starving

After leaving the post office, Wen Nuan went to a state-run restaurant. Wanting some peace and quiet, she decided not to return home for lunch.

It wasn’t lunchtime yet, and the restaurant was empty except for the waiter. The kitchen was buzzing loudly, likely with the head chef preparing for lunch.

“Hello, comrade. My family is hosting some guests today, and I’d like to order more food to take home. Is that possible?”

In these times, with ration tickets and money, you couldn’t just buy as much as you wanted.

“Ah, I see. Since it’s a family celebration, I’ll accommodate you. But how much food do you need? Let me calculate first.”

Feeling a bit uncertain, Wen Nuan quickly gave the amount she had planned.

“Comrade, I need fifty steamed buns, twenty meat buns, twenty vegetarian buns, five portions of braised pork, five portions of sweet and sour fish, five portions of chicken stewed with mushrooms, five portions of stir-fried dishes, and two pounds of dumplings!”

“So much? The buns and meat buns are no problem, but we only have two fish today. We only have one portion of chicken stewed with mushrooms, no stir-fried dishes, and I can give you two portions of braised pork. We don’t have any dumplings today.”

Hearing the waitress, Wen Nuan wasn’t disappointed; this was already much better than she had expected. Besides, the entire city didn’t just have this one state-run restaurant, and the other places were just a bit further away.

“That works. If there’s not enough, I’ll have my Mother think of something else. Thank you, I’m in a bit of a hurry!”

“No problem. The buns and steamed buns are ready, but the sweet and sour fish will take a little more effort. You’ve already paid, so just wait over there. By the way, did you bring a lunch box?”

“I brought it, I brought it!”

Before entering the restaurant, Wen Nuan had already taken out the lunch box she had bought earlier.

“Excuse me, before you fill the dishes, could you help me heat them with some hot water? These are new lunch boxes, specifically bought for my brother’s wedding!”

“Sure, since you’re such a nice girl, I’ll do this favor for you!”

“Thank you so much, you’re really kind!”

“You sweet-talking girl, my grandson is already running around, and you’re still calling me ‘sister’!”

“Really? You already have a grandson? You don’t look it at all, haha…”

While traveling, saying a few nice words can make things a lot easier, and Wen Nuan was naturally not stingy with a few compliments.

In her past life, she had suffered because she didn’t know how to speak up, especially when she was in the countryside. She had often been taken advantage of, and now, thinking back, Wen Nuan couldn’t help but feel a deep resentment.

After paying, Wen Nuan sat down and waited. She wasn’t planning to have lunch here, as she was preparing to head to the department store later. There was another state-run restaurant nearby that she wanted to check out.

From here to the department store, it would take nearly an hour by bus, but at the moment, she didn’t have much else to do.

The report letter was already sent, and later, Liu and Li Haiyang would take care of the rest. All that was left was to prepare for her trip to the countryside and look for an opportunity to clear out Wen’s house.

Around forty minutes later, the server brought out the packed food.

I have to say, the chef at the state-run restaurant was indeed skilled. The rich aroma of the meat filled the room, making Wen Nuan unconsciously salivate.

“Here’s everything, you can check it.”

“You’re such a kind sister, I know you wouldn’t trick me. No need to check, my mom’s impatient, I’ll just go ahead. Goodbye, sister!”

“Okay, goodbye, take care, young lady!”

Wen Nuan grabbed the heavy bags, with a string of lunchboxes and two large net bags, then turned into a side alley.

As before, she found a secluded spot, placed the food into the space’s bamboo house, and then exited from another exit, heading straight to the bus station.

For just a few cents, she rode the bus to the department store, got off, and walked five minutes to the entrance of the building.

In her past life, she never had the chance to come here to buy anything, but this time, she could finally enjoy a good shopping spree. She felt like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden, everything seemed so fresh and new to her.

The televisions, radios, sewing machines, washing machines, and refrigerators displayed in the counter on the first floor were things she had never even seen before.

There were also bicycles—shiny, polished two-eight-bar handlebars from brands like Flying Pigeon, Phoenix, and Forever…

After finishing with the first floor, Wen Nuan went up to the second. While she couldn’t afford the larger items, buying some snacks was still within her reach.

With her ration tickets and cash, she bought some peach crisps, two pounds of biscuits, and even two pounds of fruit candy.

Wen Nuan had originally wanted to buy the famous White Rabbit milk candies, but she only had two pounds of sugar tickets, and there wasn’t enough to spare for a bit more.

The White Rabbit candies weren’t as durable as the fruit candies, nor were they as cost-effective, especially in the countryside. Two pieces of fruit candy could be exchanged for a bundle of firewood by a child.

After some thought, Wen Nuan ultimately decided to stick with the fruit candy.

On the second floor, there were stylish clothes and shoes for sale, with colorful crystal sandals and flowery, patterned blouses.

Wen Nuan felt drawn to these items, and after a moment of hesitation, she couldn’t resist the temptation. She bought two skirts, a pair of sandals, and even a pair of leather shoes.

Loving beauty is a woman’s nature—who could resist those pretty skirts?

Especially Wen Nuan, who, looking back, was quite pitiful. In her previous life, she had lived in poverty and never once wore a fashionable blouse.

This time, she bought two, which could be seen as a way to make up for the regret she had carried all her life.

After strolling around the department store, the sun was already high in the sky. Without even needing to check the time, Wen Nuan knew it had to be at least past one.

She had considered buying a watch, but unfortunately, she didn’t have the watch tickets.

Moreover, sticking to her principle of not wasting, she had a more pressing plan—she still intended to get something from Wen Changming and Tan Xiulian!

These two scoundrels each had a Shanghai-brand watch, hanging on their wrists like it was wasted. When the time came to clear out the Wen household, she’d make sure to take those watches for herself.

Rubbing her stomach, Wen Nuan was really hungry now. After leaving the department store, she headed back to the alley to drop off her things before heading straight to the state-run restaurant with her meal boxes.

It seemed like a lot of people were eating now, and the remaining items on the blackboard were limited. Wen Nuan quickly ordered a bowl of shredded pork noodles, two pounds of dumplings, and a portion of braised pork.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to order more, but there just wasn’t much left.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. After paying, she found a slightly quieter spot to sit down.

“Braised pork, dumplings, shredded pork noodles, ready!”

The server shouted loudly, and Wen Nuan immediately jolted upright before quickly heading over to pick up her meal.

Serving herself her own meal, it was a fitting reminder of the saying, “If you want to enjoy a good life, you have to work for it yourself!”

Returning to her seat, Wen Nuan began to indulge in her meal.

She first picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth. It melted instantly, the rich soy sauce flavor penetrating deep into the tender meat.

“Indeed, the chefs at state-run restaurants really know their craft!”

Wen Nuan was starving, eagerly devouring the food. Before long, the entire bowl of shredded pork noodles was gone, and only half of the braised pork remained.