Chapter 9: Transaction

The manager led Xia Ning’an to a corner of the yard where there was a table and two chairs.

It seemed to be a place for negotiations.

The manager was a man who looked to be about 30 years old, tall and strong, typical of a northerner.

“I heard you have iron pots and water bottles?”

“Yes, and I also have 100 pounds of brown sugar.”

“What price are you planning to sell them for, little sister?”

“It depends on what price you can offer. I can sell these things individually at the black market without much effort.”

“Can you supply them long-term?”

“Can you consume that many pots at this black market?”

“We have more than just this black market. As long as you can supply them, we’ll take them.”

“You know that the purchasing power of our small county is limited. If too many pots are put on the market at once, it might be too conspicuous.”

“Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing.”

“Alright, every half month, 100 of each of these three things. Do you want them all?”

“Of course. The pots will be 28 yuan each, the army water bottles 16 yuan each, and the brown sugar will be one yuan per pound. What do you think of this price?”

“Deal. In half an hour, we’ll exchange the goods at the second alleyway over there, where there’s no one around.”

“Okay, see you in half an hour.”

“By the way, can you exchange some tickets for me? Any kind of tickets.”

Although the space could basically meet her current needs, she still had to show off a little at home. She had some money and tickets. Now, she was worried about how to make some money openly.

Half an hour later, she exchanged the goods in the alley and received 1000 yuan in cash, some cloth tickets, grain tickets, industrial coupons, coal tickets, a bicycle ticket, a radio ticket, and some other tickets.

After leaving the black market, she saw that it was still early, so she decided to go to the state-owned restaurant and see what it was like.

She arrived outside the state-owned restaurant. It had gray walls and a red sign in the middle that read “State-Owned Restaurant.” On one side of the wall was a slogan that read “Serve the People.”

She went inside and found that it was a bit like the cafeteria at a university. There was a row of glass windows with some cold dishes and what looked like braised pork on display, as well as a roast chicken.

In the corner of the glass windows was a window for ordering food. There was a small blackboard above the window with the dishes and prices available today. There weren’t many dishes, four meat and eight vegetables. The main foods were steamed buns, cornbread, flower rolls, vegetable buns, meat buns, cabbage and pork dumplings, leek and egg dumplings, wontons, fried cakes, and rice. It was quite a variety.

She ordered a dish that was always featured in time-travel novels, the legendary braised pork, three portions of leek and egg dumplings, 10 buns, 10 fried cakes. She paid 2.5 yuan and six pounds and four ounces of grain tickets, and one pound of meat ticket.

She took the tickets and found an empty seat to sit down. It was still early, so there weren’t many people eating. After she ordered, the waitress sat down and started cracking sunflower seeds. She looked at Xia Ning’an secretly and then rolled her eyes in disdain.

Xia Ning’an didn’t bother with her. Waitresses had iron rice bowls in this era and felt superior. Their service wasn’t rude, but it wasn’t good either. Thankfully, because there were few people today, the food came quickly.

The braised pork arrived, and it really shocked her. This dish was really generous. It was more than three dishes in her time.

She ate a fried cake, five dumplings, a bun, and two pieces of lean braised pork. She packed the rest to take home for her family to have a feast.

The weather in northern China in October was cool. She didn’t put the packed food into the space, but held it in her hands.

When she went out, she found a secluded spot and took out the things Bond had packed for her from the space.

There were two cans of high-calcium milk powder, one for her parents and one for Lu Zecheng, a new radio to entertain Lu Zecheng, a small towel blanket, probably for a child from a tourist, perfect for Lu Zecheng to cover his legs. The weather was getting colder, and it was a bit chilly for him to sit in a wheelchair with the wind blowing on his injured leg. There was also an enamel basin, a chamber pot, and an enamel mug, all for Lu Zecheng.

There were eight towels of different styles and colors, one for each person in the family to use for washing their face and feet. Now, they only had one towel for the whole family, and everyone used it together. This was unacceptable. They had to be separated immediately. There were five toothbrushes, two tubes of toothpaste, a thermos, and they only had one at home. It was getting cold, so they needed another one. There was also a bag of brown sugar, two pounds of soybean oil, four pig trotters, two knuckle bones, and eggs and grain. She would take them out when she got home. There was no one else at home besides Lu Zecheng. She would take out more food when she got home.

After meeting up with Old Niu, two aunties were still missing. She got on the cart and waited with everyone else.

She happened to be sitting behind Old Niu. She heard his stomach rumbling. He must have been reluctant to eat lunch and was still hungry.

She took a steamed bun from her basket and gave it to Old Niu.

“Old Niu, you must have been so busy waiting for us that you haven’t had time to eat. I bought some for lunch, and I haven’t finished it. It’s still warm. Have some to fill your stomach.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t do that. White flour steamed buns are so expensive. You keep them for yourself.” Old Niu quickly waved his hands in refusal.

“Old Niu, eat it quickly. It’ll get cold and hard if you keep refusing. If you drop it on the ground, you’ll be wasting food.”

“Alright, alright. You’re a good kid.” He said this and took the steamed bun. He carefully broke it in half, wrapped half in an oil paper bag and put it in his pocket, and ate the other half himself.

He saw Xia Ning’an looking at him and smiled awkwardly.

“My grandson hasn’t eaten white flour steamed buns before. I’ll take it home for him to try.”

“He’s so lucky to have a grandfather who loves him so much.”

Old Niu lovingly told Xia Ning’an about his grandson’s mischievous antics. Soon, the two aunties arrived.

They swayed for half an hour, and Xia Ning’an dozed off for half an hour on the ox cart. When they reached the village entrance, everyone got off. Old Niu saw her things and said he would take her to her doorstep.

When they reached her doorstep, she got off the cart and took out 50 eggs and five pounds of oranges from the space.

She saw that the gate to the courtyard was open. There must be someone else at home besides Lu Zecheng.

Sure enough, she saw her second brother chopping firewood, and Lu Zecheng was sitting in a wheelchair, chatting with her second brother.

“Second Brother, come and help me. I’m exhausted,” Xia Ning’an shouted at the top of her lungs.

Xia Ninghao heard his sister’s voice and immediately dropped the axe and ran out. She suspected that he had a conditioned reflex when he heard his sister’s voice.

Xia Ning’an guessed right. The four of them in the family couldn’t bear to hear Xia Ning’an say she was tired. As soon as she said she was tired, they would even help her walk and feed her food.

Xia Ninghao saw her come back with so many bags and bundles. “You’ve struck it rich. You bought so many things.”

“I made a little money. I’m buying you a gift.”

“Really? You bought me a gift?”

“Uh…” She had actually forgotten. She couldn’t use a towel as a gift.

Xia Ninghao saw her expression and knew she was just teasing him. He said with a pout, “You didn’t buy me a gift, and you’re still teasing me. Hmph, I’m angry, the kind that can’t be appeased.”