Chapter 23: Shopping at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative

After ordering, Xu Muzhou and Xiao Qingru returned to the table. Naturally, he sat across from Xiao Qingru. “Did you enjoy the movie?”

Xiao Qingru nodded like an obedient student, “Yes, thank you for the movie tickets.”

“They were from my workplace. I don’t watch movies often, so they’d just go to waste if I kept them.”

Suddenly, Xiao Qingru asked, “What happened to my brother’s ticket?”

Xu Muzhou hesitated, and Song Yuan chimed in, “He probably gave it away, too. Tickets are often exchanged around here.”

She looked over at Xu Muzhou. “Comrade Xu, any extras in the future should go to Qingru. We’ll help you use them up!”

Xu Muzhou played along, “Good idea. Wastefulness is shameful, after all.”

Seeing how well he responded, Song Yuan sensed his interest in her friend. If he wasn’t interested, he’d be keeping a polite distance, especially considering the social rules between men and women. Thinking of how Jiang Chuan might react if Xiao Qingru ended up with someone else made her chuckle. Serves him right for mistreating her friend!

Just then, the server called out, “Three bowls of beef noodles are ready, and the braised pork too!”

“I’ll get it,” said Xiao Qingru, standing up.

“I’ll help,” added Xu Muzhou.

Song Yuan stayed behind, “I’ll hold the table.”

Xu Muzhou ended up making two trips to bring the beef noodles, while Xiao Qingru handled the braised pork, which she packed away in her bag.

Noticing Xu Muzhou’s large bowl of noodles might not be enough, Xiao Qingru bought him two steamed buns. “You treated us to a movie, so it’s our turn to treat you to a meal.”

Xu Muzhou’s heart sank a bit did this mean the meal they’d planned at the canteen was off? He sighed inwardly, regretting coming to the restaurant in the first place. But Xiao Qingru reassured him, “Let’s just eat casually today. I’ll treat you to fish in the canteen next time.”

Xu Muzhou felt relieved it seemed their next “date” was still on. “Do you like fish?”

“She loves it, all kinds of fish dishes,” Song Yuan replied.

Considering a nearby lake, Xu Muzhou thought of inviting her brother, Xiao Huaishu, to go fishing sometime. “I have a fish coupon. Why don’t I get you a fish to take home for your mom?”

Feeling shy, Xiao Qingru tried to refuse. “I can’t keep making you spend on me.”

“It’s all the same. You’re treating me to fish soon, right?”

Touching her forehead, Xiao Qingru couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow racking up a debt to Xu Muzhou. She figured she’d just have to treat him to another meal later.

Song Yuan nearly laughed out loud. Though Qingru had been in a relationship before, she was still a bit naïve. Xu Muzhou, on the other hand, was smoothly working his way into her life. She wondered if Qingru’s brother realized he’d introduced a “wolf” into his sister’s life. Judging by Qingru’s reactions, she didn’t seem to dislike him, so there was potential here.

“What are you laughing at?” asked Xiao Qingru.

“Oh, I just think Comrade Xu is a good guy. He’s so thoughtful. Whoever marries him will be lucky.”

Suspicious, Xiao Qingru shot her friend a look. Was Song Yuan falling for Xu Muzhou?

They knew each other too well one look was enough for Song Yuan to catch on to her friend’s thoughts. “I’m not interested,” she replied firmly.

With an unexpected sense of relief, Xiao Qingru concluded that it wouldn’t be right to accept his kindness if her friend liked him. Friends respected each other’s feelings in matters like these.

“Let’s finish eating. Afterward, come with me to the supply and marketing cooperative. I haven’t bought new clothes in years, and I finally saved enough ration coupons.”

Xiao Qingru laughed, “Does keeping them in your bag make you uncomfortable?”

“Exactly! If I don’t spend them, I’m afraid I’ll lose them!”

After eating, Xu Muzhou said, “I’m done with my errands. Shall we head back together later?”

Uncomfortable with the idea of a man accompanying them to the cooperative, they politely declined, and Xu Muzhou took his cue, giving Xiao Qingru the fish coupon before saying goodbye at the restaurant.

“He’s so gentlemanly. We asked him not to follow, and he really didn’t,” noted Song Yuan.

“Well, not everyone’s that thick skinned,” replied Xiao Qingru.

Song Yuan laughed, “True.”

If it had been Jiang Chuan, he’d have stuck to them no matter what. Some people had no sense that girls preferred to shop alone. When choosing a partner, a bit of tact really went a long way.

Since they rarely came to the city, Xiao Qingru also wanted to buy some things for her family. Besides the fish, she picked up a pound of brown sugar, a pound of dried kelp, and some dried mushrooms. She considered buying eggs but decided against it since they’d be hard to carry on her bike. She also bought two jars of Snow Cream one for herself and one for her mother, essential to avoid chapped skin in winter.

Song Yuan bought a shirt.

“Weren’t you planning to wear it for New Year’s? This one’s so thin aren’t you afraid of freezing?”

“I’ll layer it with a military coat. It’ll be fine.”

“Well, no one will notice your new clothes under that coat!”

Song Yuan paused, realizing her friend had a point. “No worries. I’ll still get to wear it in the spring.”

With ration coupons, the shirt only cost 10 yuan. If she’d bought fabric and made it herself, it would’ve been even cheaper.

After buying everything, they left the store, and Xiao Qingru checked her watch it was already 3 p.m.

“Shall we head back?”

“Let’s go.”