Chapter 3: A Huge Sum—Six Yuan and Fifty Cents

She had read about ration tickets in books—various kinds, unique to this period of history.

Luo Yaqing curiously picked one up to inspect it.

In an era of material scarcity, most supplies were distributed in fixed quantities.

“Where’s the grain ration book?”

According to what she had read, one could redeem rice and flour at designated grain stores using a food supply certificate.

Han Zhixu frowned.

Luo Yaqing quickly added, “I want to get some rice and flour.”

He was guarded against her—or more accurately, against the original host. The previous Luo Yaqing had nearly ruined the grain ration book.

Meeting his dark eyes, Luo Yaqing looked clear and sincere. “If there’s rice and flour at home, I can cook. That way, you won’t have to work so hard.”

Their gazes locked. After a while, Han Zhixu finally opened his mouth. “No rush. Let’s wait until you’ve recovered.”

“…Okay.”

Luo Yaqing nodded slowly, a little disappointed. His vigilance and lack of trust had cost her the chance to show her good intentions.

After the meal, Han Zhixu cleared the table and left with the lunchbox.

Luo Yaqing looked at the hefty sum of six yuan and fifty cents in her hand and thought about using it to buy some things for the household.

Carefully pocketing the cash and the ration tickets, she went to her room to change.

The original host had two camphor wood chests. One was locked, and Luo Yaqing couldn’t find the key or the answer to its contents from the host’s memory.

The other chest was filled with seasonal clothes—plain fabrics and simple designs.

She put on a light blue cotton jacket with a floral pattern, tied her hair in a low ponytail, wrapped a red scarf around her neck, and stepped out.

The supply store wasn’t far—just a ten-minute walk.

It was likely lunchtime, so there were few people on the road. The store was located at a four-way intersection. It was small, around 20 square meters, with a white-and-gray facade and a red slogan above the door: “Serve the People.”

“You little brats shattered my thermos bottle!”

“You’re getting senile, old man—why are you cursing yourself too?”

As Luo Yaqing walked in, she saw the clerk handing a replacement thermos insert to an elderly man.

The old man grumbled about his three mischievous grandsons always causing trouble. If it weren’t for his sick wife who needed hot water in winter, he wouldn’t bother replacing the bottle. He’d just wasted half a month’s work points.

The clerk shook her head with a smile.

When she noticed Luo Yaqing, she greeted her warmly, “Miss, what do you need?”

“I’m just looking around.”

“Sure, take your time.”

The clerk smiled and turned back to organizing the shelves.

Though it was just a small supply store, it had all the basic daily necessities: toothpaste, soap, facial soap, basins, matches, cooking oil, salt, and more. On the long cement counter were fruit candies, sunflower seeds, and a few kinds of pastries.

Luo Yaqing looked around and said, “I’d like a bar of soap—and that…”

She pointed to a round pastry coated in sesame seeds.

The clerk gave her the price: “Peach crisps. Forty-two cents per pound.”

“I’ll take half a jin.” Luo Yaqing couldn’t help but marvel at the cost of things in this era.

The clerk used a balance scale to weigh the pastries, wrapped them tightly in brown paper, and secured them with twine.

“Which kind of soap?”

“Uh…” Luo Yaqing hesitated. “Lemon verbena?”

The clerk looked confused.

Seeing that, Luo Yaqing quickly changed course, “No? Then Osmanthus will do.”

The clerk seemed to understand and handed her a bar. “Osmanthus-scented soap. Sixty cents.”

When it came time to pay, Luo Yaqing ran into a problem. Han Zhixu had only given her ration coupons for groceries—but soap required a separate soap coupon.

“Can you make an exception, just this once?”

“No way, no way,” the clerk shook her head vigorously.

Everything had to be purchased with the correct coupons—it was government policy. She couldn’t bend the rules on her own.

“Elder sister, what if I owe you for now and bring the soap ticket tomorrow?”

The clerk tapped the abacus beads. “That’s not how it works.”

“I live in the military family compound. I wouldn’t lie…”

“You’re a soldier’s wife?”

Before she could finish, the clerk cut her off, asked a few quick questions, and then—surprisingly—changed her mind.

“Go ahead and take it!”

“Thank you so much, big sister!” Luo Yaqing said, truly grateful.

The clerk waved her off. “Only our store would make an exception like this. The supply cooperative wouldn’t allow it at all.”

“You’re such a kind person,” Luo Yaqing praised sincerely.

The clerk smiled brightly.

“I’ll bring the ticket first thing tomorrow,” Luo Yaqing promised as she left.

The clerk had used her own coupon to help—this trust could not be betrayed.

And she definitely couldn’t embarrass the military wives!

As soon as she entered the family compound, Luo Yaqing could feel the eyes on her.

Contemptuous. Curious.

These women had nothing to do all day except gossip after meals.

“Isn’t that Luo Yaqing? Didn’t she slit her wrists? How is she up and walking again?”

“Guess she failed to die.”

A round-faced woman snorted, “Her? She wouldn’t really kill herself. Her man treats her like royalty. Spoiled little princess.”

She glanced at what Luo Yaqing was carrying. “That trip probably cost her three or four yuan. Such a spendthrift!”

“Xiaolian, you’re her neighbor. Ask what she bought.”

“Ask her?” The round-faced woman snorted.

“What, she ignores you too?”

“Totally.” Ma Xiaolian raised her voice, “She’s so precious she doesn’t even let her own husband on the bed. Like she’d talk to us?”

“Shh, keep it down.”

“Why should I? I’m not making anything up. Their bed in the outer room has been sitting unused for half a year.”

Ma Xiaolian couldn’t stand Luo Yaqing’s arrogant attitude.

She was about to continue when suddenly a voice startled her.

“Sister Xiaolian, do you like digging holes in walls at night?”

Luo Yaqing had already walked past but turned around.

The women were too caught up in gossip to notice her return.

The scene turned awkward in an instant.

“What do you mean by that?” Ma Xiaolian tried to stay calm.

Luo Yaqing smiled sweetly. “Our houses share a wall, but you’ve never once visited mine.”

“Then how…”

Luo Yaqing deliberately paused and looked Ma Xiaolian up and down. “How do you know so much about what goes on in my home? Unless, of course, you’ve been spying through a hole you dug in the wall?”

“You—what nonsense are you spouting!” Ma Xiaolian shot up from her little stool, furious.

Seeing her overreaction, Luo Yaqing chuckled. “Then how would you know?”

Ma Xiaolian froze.

Luo Yaqing gave her a long look, then turned and said, “This isn’t over.”

As she walked away, the other women began whispering.

“What she said makes sense.”

“Yeah, Xiaolian, how do you know about their marriage?”

“You didn’t really dig a hole in the wall, did you?”

“That’s illegal. If Luo Yaqing reports it, you’re done for.”

Ma Xiaolian fumed. “How could I do something so shameless? I only heard it from someone else.”

“Who?”

“I… forgot!”

Ma Xiaolian bent down, adjusted her stool, and angrily jabbed the sole of her shoe with a needle, as if it had wronged her.

The women fell silent.

What was there left to misunderstand?

Everything Ma Xiaolian said was clearly made up.

Who would’ve thought someone who looked so proper would spread such baseless gossip?

She had gone too far.

At that moment, Ma Xiaolian was furious with herself.

She’d wanted to mock Luo Yaqing, but ended up being the one humiliated instead.