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Mother and daughter headed east, and to the east of the production team was another village, with the supply and marketing cooperative located in the middle.
It was Wang Qian’s first time seeing what the supply and marketing cooperative looked like. It was a row of fairly large buildings, and once inside, they didn’t see many people shopping.
“Zhang Lan, you’re here,” a middle-aged woman behind the counter greeted them warmly, looking about the same age as Zhang Lan.
“Xiao Ji, I’m here to buy a few pairs of cotton shoes for the children. Can you show me which ones are good?” Zhang Lan asked.
Approaching the counter, they saw a variety of shoes displayed, but the styles were quite simple. However, from a modern perspective, Wang Qian was drawn to a beautiful pair of suede shoes. However, after seeing the price, she dismissed the idea. They were too expensive, and her family couldn’t afford to buy several pairs at that price.
“Zhang Lan, I think you should just buy those corduroy cotton shoes. They’re cheap and quite warm, but the only downside is that the soles can get wet easily when it snows,” Xiao Ji, who was familiar with Zhang Lan, offered a comprehensive recommendation.
Wang Qian checked the price of the shoes and found them to be very affordable. Even if they bought several pairs, it wouldn’t be a problem for their family. They were only 1.2 yuan per pair, which was very suitable.
After carefully examining the shoes, Zhang Lan was about to pay when Wang Qian quietly tugged at her sleeve and said, “Mom, don’t buy for me. I can just use the ones my sister discarded. I don’t go to school, so I don’t need new cotton shoes. You should buy a pair for yourself. I’ll be fine with something a bit worn out.”
Actually, Wang Qian was reluctant to spend money. Their family was facing some difficulties, and she didn’t really need to dress well at home. However, her mother was different. Women of her age loved to dress up, and there was a sense of comparison among women. Even in the countryside, wherever there were women, this kind of situation would occur. As the saying goes, “If you have no shoes, you have no light on your face.”
Zhang Lan hesitated. Her daughter was just too considerate. She felt that it was unfair to her child. “Qian Qian, how about buying a pair to wear for the New Year?” Zhang Lan often sought her daughter’s opinion on certain matters. Despite her young age, her daughter was quite opinionated. As a mother, Zhang Lan sometimes couldn’t help but feel that having such a considerate child wasn’t always a good thing, as it took away much of the joy of being a mother.
Wang Qian still shook her head. “Mom, let’s talk about the pair for the New Year later. Your shoes are not in good condition.”
To be honest, the shoes Zhang Lan was wearing were in a state that warranted being thrown away, but her mother had been wearing them all this time. “Mom, you go ahead and buy. We’ll definitely earn money the next time we go to the city. Don’t be reluctant. When we have more money, we can buy some for the Grandpas.”
It wasn’t that Wang Qian had a lot of money, but these elderly people had put in a lot of effort in educating them. Their situation was also unique, and their family had distanced themselves from them. She really couldn’t bear to see the elderly people living in such desolation.
Unable to resist her daughter’s persuasion, Zhang Lan reluctantly bought a pair of corduroy cotton shoes for herself. After purchasing the five pairs of cotton shoes, Zhang Lan and Wang Qian took a stroll around the supply and marketing cooperative. The items were good, but their family didn’t have much money. Mother and daughter could only satisfy their eyes. When they saw the daily necessities section, Wang Qian deliberately took a look. Although the variety wasn’t as diverse as in modern times, the quality was unquestionable.
Wang Qian noticed a large glass bottle on the counter, which seemed to contain loose face cream. “Mom, why don’t you buy some face cream? It’s windy in the winter, and your skin needs proper care. Let’s not buy the boxed one; the loose one will do.”
In her opinion, even the loose one was of good quality, much better than the expensive cosmetics in modern times. Besides, using some cream was better than her mother going bare-faced.
“Auntie, how much is this loose face cream?” Before Zhang Lan could react, Wang Qian had already asked. The young lady at the counter, while not particularly striking in appearance, had a very friendly demeanor.
“Little lady, the loose face cream is one yuan and five cents per ounce. If you buy two yuan’s worth, you can get a large bottle. Shall I find a container for you to put it in?” the saleswoman offered.
Wang Qian found the price reasonable and very cost-effective. “Auntie, let us buy two yuan’s worth. Please find something to put it in for us.”
Zhang Lan was about to object, but her daughter stopped her. “Mom, don’t worry about the money. We’ll earn it back in the future. You’ve suffered enough in the past. It’s time for us to enjoy a bit. When I have money in the future, I’ll buy you expensive cream. For now, let’s make do with this.”
Looking at her daughter’s pleading eyes and hearing her words, Zhang Lan’s heart melted. After enduring so much suffering over the years, it was her youngest child who truly understood her.
“Silly girl, Mom will listen to you. Let’s buy it. Your taste will guide my dressing from now on,” Zhang Lan said, moved not by the jar of face cream, but by her child’s keen observation and silent understanding. Despite the hardships she had endured over the years, she felt content at this moment. Her daughter truly understood her heart.
After purchasing the face cream, Wang Qian insisted on checking out the scrap collection in their area. She hoped to collect some scrap items in exchange for some pocket money.
The scrap collector was from their village, and he was Liu Bing, the son of Teacher Liu. According to their seniority, Wang Qian should address him as “uncle.”
He appeared to be in his early twenties and had a kind and honest demeanor. When he saw the mother and daughter approaching, he warmly greeted them, “Sister-in-law, how come you’re here today? Do you want to buy something?”
Zhang Lan smiled and said, “Oh, nowhere special. My daughter insisted on coming to see. I was dragged here by her.”
For some reason, her daughter was particularly interested in these things today. Wang Qian raised her little neck and gave him a friendly smile. “Uncle Bing, what kind of items do you collect here? I’d like to know the prices. If I have the chance, I’d like to come and sell some things here.”
The articulate words of the young child surprised the young man in his twenties. He had dealt with many people in his work at the supply and marketing cooperative, but he had never encountered such a well-spoken child.
Liu Bing happily explained the items they collected and their prices. Wang Qian remembered everything he said. When she learned that the cooperative also collected glass shards, she couldn’t help but feel delighted. In the future, she could go to the roadside to pick some up when she had free time.
After learning what she wanted to know, the mother and daughter headed back. As they walked, Wang Qian kept an eye on the roadside ditches to see what was there. There were dry leaves, glass bottles, and glass shards. This was good; it could be a profitable venture in the future.
“Mom, I’ll go to Grandma’s house in a few days and bring back some things to sell. It’s winter, and we need to buy some things for the house. We can’t be without money. Also, starting today, you and the grandpas should eat sea cucumbers. Last time, Uncle brought a lot over, and it’s enough for all of you to have some,” Wang Qian suggested.
Wang Qian chattered about her plans as she walked, while Zhang Lan looked at her child with a gentle expression. This was the precious gift given to her by heaven, and her lips couldn’t help but curl into a smile.
After bringing back the new shoes, Zhang Lan asked Mingyuan and Zuo He to try them on. This time, she bought them a size larger. Boys’ feet grow quickly, so buying a bit larger would allow them to wear the shoes for a longer period.
Zuo He extended his foot for Zhang Lan to help him put on the shoes, then took a few steps on the kang. “Auntie, they’re very warm, just a bit big. But if I fasten the straps, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Mingyuan also tried on the new shoes and felt the same as Zuo He. “It’s okay if they’re a bit big. You kids grow fast. Maybe in a few days, your feet will grow again,” the elderly lady explained.
Zhang Lan quickly brought back a bunch of corn husks from outside and used an iron brush to quickly brush them into strips. Then, she softened and molded them with her hands. “It’s okay. I’ll make you some warm insoles. These corn husks will keep you warm and absorb sweat. The shoes won’t be too big. Let me stuff them in for you.”
After stuffing the soft corn husks into the shoes for the two children, Zuo He and Mingyuan tried them on again and found them to be a perfect fit, and both of them felt very comfortable.
As it was almost noon, the two boys decided not to go to school and stayed at home to help the elderly lady with her shoemaking, while Wang Qian and Zhang Lan busied themselves with cooking. They were also expecting guests for lunch. After slaughtering the wild chicken they had brought back, the mother and daughter began to prepare the meal.
At noon, Old Wu brought Guo Xing and Zhang Qiang over. They were quite familiar with the Wang family, so this time, everyone was more relaxed. Since the last conversation with Old Wu, their relationship had improved. However, they still maintained the proper formalities, as instructed by Old Wu.