Chapter 148: Back to the City

Just as Chen Mingchuan came out of the bathroom, the noodles he was cooking started to boil over.

He was wearing an old shirt as an apron, looking quite at ease.

“It’s ready to eat.”

“Okay.”

Chen Mingchuan scooped the noodles into a bowl, then helped her carry it out. “Grab some chopsticks, I’ve already put the minced meat on the table outside.”

“Okay.”

Li Xinyue took a pair of chopsticks and followed him out of the kitchen. Chen Mingchuan put down the noodles, turned around, and…

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Chen Mingchuan’s eyes darted away. “Nothing, nothing. I just think you’ve gotten whiter.”

Really?

Li Xinyue glanced at Chen Mingchuan, feeling a bit strange. “Haven’t I always been this white? I’ve actually gotten darker compared to five years ago.”

Well, she had been working like a slave for the Chen family for five years.

Chen Mingchuan felt a pang of guilt.

Such a petite woman, toiling away for the Chen family, it was his fault!

“Don’t worry, you’ll get better with time. Don’t work under the sun anymore, you’ll be even whiter and more delicate than you were five years ago.”

Of course!

Li Xinyue was confident about that!

She’s too thin now, once she gains some weight, her skin will naturally become white and smooth again!

Women love beauty, it’s in their nature.

Beauty isn’t just for showing off to others, it’s also about pleasing yourself.

Her stomach was rumbling, and Li Xinyue immediately sat down to eat the noodles.

She knew Chen Mingchuan could make fish soup, but she didn’t expect his noodles to be so delicious.

She had only mentioned once: “Don’t put too much MSG, it’s not good for you if you eat too much.”

He remembered, and seemed to have only put a tiny bit, showing that he was a thoughtful person.

MSG enhances flavor, but it has a lot of additives.

If she used chicken essence without additives, she could probably add more…

In the past, Li Xinyue had made her own chicken essence.

Because she was a foodie.

And the reason why the dishes in big restaurants were so delicious was because of the various flavoring agents they used.

For health reasons, she made her own.

Now, she should be able to make some again.

This meal gave Li Xinyue a new idea, but she didn’t sleep well that night, her appetite wasn’t very good, and she only ate half a bowl of noodles.

“Save the rest for lunch.”

But as soon as she finished speaking, Chen Mingchuan reached out, and the half bowl of noodles was already in his hands.

Li Xinyue looked at him with a bewildered expression. “You haven’t eaten yet?”

“I did, but I’m a little hungry.”

Okay, she had gotten up a bit late, after all, soldiers were used to waking up early.

After finishing their meal, they quickly went out.

Xiao Nan’s jeep was parked at the door, Chen Mingchuan waited for Li Xinyue to get in before starting the car.

As soon as the car moved, a cool breeze blew in.

It was really hot on a September day, under the sun.

“Wow, it’s so nice to have a car!”

“Chen Mingchuan, how much did Xiao Nan’s car cost?”

“It didn’t cost much. He modified it himself using a few scrap cars, and the license plate was given to him by his grandfather.”

Well, they had connections, so her question was pointless.

“Do they sell these cars in the city?”

“No. The country only produces cars based on needs, not randomly.”

Sigh!

Li Xinyue sighed inwardly: Even if they did, she couldn’t afford it now!

The price of cars in this era was probably comparable to airplanes in the future!

Make money, make money, make money!

Li Xinyue had only one wish, and that was to make money!

In a few years, the country would open up.

Once the call for reform and opening up sounded, the planned economy would shift to a market economy, and as long as you had money, you could buy anything.

Along the way, they didn’t talk much.

It only took about twenty minutes, and the car quickly stopped at the entrance of the City Hospital.

With an introduction letter, buying medicine was very smooth, and all the medicine they needed was available.

Walking out of the hospital gate, Chen Mingchuan asked Li Xinyue, “Where do you want to go next?”

She thought for a moment. Big things were about to happen, and it wouldn’t be convenient to go out.

“Let’s go to the Provincial Supply and Marketing Cooperative. I want to buy some plates and cups.”

This woman, she’s quite particular!

Chen Mingchuan didn’t say a word, he drove the car to the door of the Provincial Supply and Marketing Cooperative…

The provincial capital really was the provincial capital, the plates and cups were all very beautiful.

These items didn’t require coupons, so Li Xinyue didn’t hold back.

She picked out four large plates, eight small plates, two long plates, and ten plain white rice bowls.

Then, she also chose three beautiful white porcelain cups.

“Beautiful! Tea will taste even better when brewed in these.”

I wonder if they have coffee?

Li Xinyue’s eyes twinkled, “Let’s go take a look at the food counter, shall we?”

There was no reason not to.

Chen Mingchuan carried a basket of plates, bowls, and cups, and without a word, they went to the food counter. “What do you want to buy?”

Li Xinyue looked left and right, but didn’t buy anything. Chen Mingchuan couldn’t help but ask her.

It’s a pity that what she wanted wasn’t available!

Coffee, which is readily available in rural supermarkets nowadays, couldn’t be found in the provincial supply and marketing cooperative!

She didn’t dare to ask.

“Let’s buy two pounds of rock sugar. We’ll need it for making delicious things.”

Chen Mingchuan thought his wife’s cooking skills were great: “Okay, do you have enough sugar coupons?”

“Yes.”

They bought rock sugar and then some spices.

Then Li Xinyue also browsed the hardware counter, but didn’t find what she wanted, so she prepared to leave.

“Next time if we have industrial coupons, we’ll go to the department store to see if they have a washing machine.”

“They don’t have it in the provincial capital, only in the capital.”

Li Xinyue: “…” Novel Book

What should I do if I want to live in the capital?

After they went outside, Li Xinyue suggested going to the Xinhua Bookstore…

“Bookstore?”

Facing Chen Mingchuan’s surprise, Li Xinyue nodded, “Yes.”

“You want to buy books?”

“Yes.”

Chen Mingchuan was even more confused: “What kind of books? Right now, besides political books, the Xinhua Bookstore doesn’t have many other books.”

“Junior high or high school textbooks or review materials?”

Now Chen Mingchuan understood: “You really want to go back to school?”

Li Xinyue was unsure if what Chief Xiao said could be realized.

What if the leader just said it casually, and she’d be left waiting in vain!

The college entrance exam would be restored next year, and she had to participate.

However, a junior high school student taking the college entrance exam and being able to get into G University to study medicine would definitely make people suspicious.

To avoid suspicion, she had to prepare in advance.

Li Xinyue nodded, “Of course I want to go to school, but I’m a mother with a child, where would I go to school?”

“I want to learn some culture, read some high school textbooks.”

“I believe that our country won’t be in turmoil forever.”

“If one day the college entrance exam is restored, maybe I can try. Opportunities are always given to those who are prepared.”

“Without culture, without a diploma, I can only work in a cardboard factory or a kindergarten.”

“I don’t like those jobs!”

Chen Mingchuan: “…”

Is it really going to be like that?

The situation in the capital is very chaotic right now, will anyone really be able to come out and stabilize the situation?

If that’s the case, then it would be great!

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think it’s impossible?”

Chen Mingchuan shook his head: “No. It’s just that I feel… I feel…”

Seeing him hesitate, Li Xinyue smiled lightly: “Feel what?”

“It’s like you… you’re so unfamiliar to me, or like you’ve changed!”

“But, did you really know me before?”

“Chen Mingchuan, let me tell you, I was the only junior high school student in our production brigade.”

“And I’m both smart and beautiful. You didn’t lose out by marrying me!”

Chen Mingchuan: “…”