Chapter 20: First Time Bartering Goods

Walking onto the small bridge, Xiaomei stopped to think. She had sold vegetables and softshell turtles today. Although she bought quite a few things, she still had a good amount of money left in her pocket.

But that was modern money, which wasn’t convenient to use at home. On the other hand, her grandmother didn’t have much money to begin with. In the past few days, she had bought chickens, softshell turtles, and vegetables from the navy family—her money was probably running low.

They had originally planned to go to the wholesale market to buy some cured meat and salted fish, but there wasn’t time today. So should she bring something back now? When the navy auntie came over later with chickens and eggs, maybe she could sell something to her—or trade?

With this in mind, Xiaomei turned back, went into the market, and bought some tofu. Then she went to the supermarket and picked up some salt, brown sugar, soy sauce, and a pound of the cheapest biscuits. Only then did she hurriedly head home.

As usual, Grandma was guarding the backyard. Seeing her granddaughter appear out of thin air, Grandma Wang was no longer afraid—just quietly relieved.

Once inside, Xiaomei showed her grandma the items one by one, especially highlighting the four vegetable seed varieties and the goods she planned to sell or trade with the navy auntie.

Grandma Wang’s heart ached. This child thought of everyone but herself. Didn’t she realize she was still just a child?

Grandma Wang gently stroked her granddaughter’s small hand. “Tired? Have some water first.” Then she pulled out a sponge cake. “Eat this right now. Your cousins can have the bread. Bring a few more over to your grandmother, but the rest is yours.”

Xiaomei’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Grandma, I’ve eaten already. Grandpa Zhou gave me a meat bun today. I ate it right away—it had meat inside!”

Though she hadn’t had time to savor the flavor while manning her stall, the feeling of satisfaction from eating still lingered.

“That’s not the same. Eat this one too,” Grandma Wang insisted, holding out the cake.

Xiaomei thought for a moment and then took the cake, breaking it in half. “Let’s eat it together, Grandma. If you don’t eat, I won’t either.” She held it up to her grandma’s mouth.

Grandma Wang laughed through tears, took a bite from her granddaughter’s hand, and said, “So good! Okay, Grandma’s had some—now you eat the rest. I’ll go pack up what we’re giving your other grandma.”

She walked away to organize what Xiaomei brought. She packed items for her daughter-in-law, nephews, and nieces into a cloth bag, then placed the goods to be sold into a basket, removing all their packaging.

She had originally thought of selling the shoes, but reconsidered after thinking about Xiaomei’s filial intentions. Besides, if they planned to travel for trade later, a light and durable pair of shoes would be necessary.

The soles weren’t the usual cloth type but made from a different material, making them light and comfortable to walk in.

Grandma Wang wasn’t too interested in the vegetable seeds, but upon hearing they would fetch a high price later, she decided to give them to her daughter-in-law to plant.

After dinner, Xiaomei’s mom, Gu Hua’e, went to visit the other grandmother. When it got dark, the navy auntie came by with two hens and 20 eggs.

The hens were mature and laying daily, each weighing about 900 grams.

The eggs were five cents each—₱1 total; the hens were ₱2.80 each—₱5.60 total; add the morning’s softshell turtle at ₱6, the total was ₱12.60.

Grandma Wang asked her to wait, then brought out a basket. “My goddaughter is so filial. Gave me two hens and all these things! The shoes are size 39, bought in Beijing. She told me to snack on these biscuits, but I’m saving them to give to someone visiting a new mother or a sick patient—they’re quite fancy.”

She picked up the salt bag and continued, “And this salt—have you ever seen salt this white and fine? My goddaughter said the salt we eat is full of impurities. This one’s healthier!”

“And the sugar, soy sauce… oh, she spent so much money!”

The navy auntie was stunned, finally gulping. “Auntie, your goddaughter is more filial than a real one!”

Though the urban youth were polite to everyone in the village, they were particularly close with Peigen’s family. Wang Yanqin had even called her “godmother.” Now even after returning to the city, they still visited often.

She was genuinely envious.

She liked everything in that basket and wanted it all.

“Auntie, could you spare some biscuits and brown sugar? My niece is about to give birth—I want to bring her something.”

The supply co-op in town sold those, but required ration coupons. Even with coupons, they were often out of stock. Here, if you said the right words, you might not need one.

That was exactly what Grandma Wang was waiting for, but she pretended to hesitate. “These are gifts from my goddaughter…”

“Grandma, Auntie Navy isn’t buying—they’re just trading chickens and eggs with us. Then we can give the food to our auntie,” Xiaomei piped in sweetly, fully understanding her grandma’s strategy.

Both women smiled in realization, and the navy aunt praised Xiaomei’s cleverness.

That kicked off a smooth bartering exchange.

Half a pound of biscuits, pricier than at the co-op, was set at 30 cents—enough to trade for six eggs. The navy aunt gave 30 cents.

Half a pound of brown sugar normally cost 75 cents—Grandma Wang set it at 80, and she gladly paid.

In the end, the navy aunt left cheerfully with ₱11.50 worth of goods, plus half a pound each of biscuits and sugar, saying she’d come again tomorrow for soy sauce.

Xiaomei was a little disappointed they only made ₱1.10, but Grandma Wang was quite happy. “That’s a great start! Just watch—once word gets around, more villagers will come to trade.”

That good beginning put Grandma Wang in a great mood.

“Grandma, I’ll sell today’s leftover veggies tomorrow morning and bring Auntie Zhou the chickens and eggs. Then I’ll go to the wholesale market to see what else to buy.” Xiaomei shared her plan before bed.

She decided she would travel to the modern world twice tomorrow—morning and evening.

“Just stay safe, okay? People are more important than things. If something goes wrong, drop everything and run where there are people,” Grandma Wang reminded her.

“Got it,” Xiaomei nodded obediently. “Grandma, what do you think I should buy to resell easily?”

“Most families finished their cured meats over the New Year. See if you can get some,” Grandma Wang advised.

In rural areas at that time, nearly every household cured meat before New Year, slicing it bit by bit to cook with rice. Salty and tasty—it went well with meals.

Back then, no one worried about whether preserved foods caused cancer.

Xiaomei loved salted meat too. Salty and fragrant, it made her eat more rice.

All settled—she would buy some tomorrow.

Just as they were discussing, Xiaomei’s second uncle, Tian Shuiguan, came with his second daughter, Xiahua.

That uncle had four daughters: Chunhua, Xiahua, Qiuhua, and Xiaohua.

It turned out Xiahua brought so much money home it scared her parents. They thought she might’ve stolen it from her grandmother.

So they came to clarify. The clever third daughter had already slipped away, so the second one was dragged over.

Grandma Wang gave Xiahua a small cake. “She didn’t lie—it’s that much money. Go early tomorrow to pick more.”

Uncle was reassured. “Mom, if this is meant for the educated youths, just let them choose what they want. Don’t give them any more money.”

While talking, Grandma Wang kept busy. She fetched a piece of paper, poured some salt from their jar, and wrapped it up. “I heard from Xiaohua that you’re out of salt—take this for now.”

Her uncle had no sons, only daughters, so he especially doted on Xiaohua, who often played at their home.

The other day, he had told Xiaohua he wanted to make egg soup for him, but found they had no salt.

Still, he optimistically scooped water into the salt jar, shook it, and poured it into the pot. “Use everything up, stay healthy!”

In the end, Xiaohua still got his egg soup.

“Xiaohua’s our treasure. Even Xiaomei saves her treats for him. Make sure anything leftover goes to him. The younger girls can wait,” Grandma Wang told her son-in-law.

He laughed, “It was just that once. We just ran out of salt.”

Grandma Wang glared at him, “You all spoil him too much—he’s running wild outside all day.”

Then she added, seriously, “The educated youths want to buy chickens and eggs. You only have five. Keep three to lay eggs, and sell the other two. Then take the eggs and trade with the navy aunt for chicks. Those are about ready to lay eggs too. Just make sure your house always has five chickens. You can also ask relatives if anyone is selling chickens. If they are, buy—I’ll take as many as you can get.”

She laid out the prices: eggs at 5 cents each, chicks for two eggs or 10 cents; bigger ones not yet laying, ₱1 each; hens that lay eggs at ₱2.80 each and must weigh at least 900g.

“You go buy at those prices—cheaper is better. I’ll pay ₱3 per adult hen.”

“Is that okay? Will this attract official attention?” Uncle asked.

Grandma Wang rolled her eyes. “I’m buying for personal consumption—who’s going to care?”

“Alright then, I’ll bring the eggs over first thing tomorrow and ask around in the evening,” he said and left with his daughter.

“Don’t make a fuss—just tell relatives it’s for gifting to city folks,” she reminded him.

“I know, I know,” he called back as they rushed home.