Jiang Lin sighed, “There are several old grandmas in our village who are going through tough times due to various reasons, struggling to have enough to eat and wear warm clothes. I’ve noticed their situation…” She started playing the sympathy card, knowing that women are more likely to feel sympathy for strangers in poverty, to avoid heavy bargaining.

Sure enough, Li Yuegui’s face showed a pained expression. “That’s really tough.”

Without needing to be told, she understood the situation.

If someone didn’t have good social standing, their children might distance themselves, leaving them to face old age alone.

It was truly pitiful.

Except for the active members who focused solely on advancing through the movement, ordinary folks tended to feel sympathy.

Seeing Li Yuegui’s expression, Jiang Lin took out several embroidered items: handkerchiefs, small purses with patterns like lotus flowers, plum blossoms, and orchids.

Yan Runzhi’s embroidery was done with care and creativity; even items not meant for official tasks were meticulously crafted.

Jiang Lin’s display immediately caught the attention of several people, including the head chef who came out to take a look.

Li Yuegui eagerly grabbed the items, admiring each one. “Big sister, how much for each?”

Jiang Lin priced them according to the cooperative’s rates.

Yan Runzhi had earned quite a bit for the commune with her embroidery for the cooperative.

“The handkerchiefs are seventy cents each, and the purses are eighty cents. I had to run some errands and take a ride here, so I’m making a small fee for transportation.

Handkerchiefs are eighty cents, and purses are ninety cents. But for you, Li Jiejie, I’ll consider it a favor and won’t charge extra.”

The prices weren’t cheap, but she had limited stock and every sale meant earning a profit.

Besides, embroidery strained the eyes, so a higher price was justified.

Currently, even thin, small printed handkerchiefs in the city were ugly but still cost over three cents each.

Worried that Li Yuegui might find the prices too high, Jiang Lin shifted the conversation away from money.

She picked up a light blue handkerchief embroidered with small scattered flowers and tied it around her hair. “Li Jiejie, doesn’t this look nice? It’s light and cool.”

Her hair reached her shoulders, unbraided, and tied up with a handkerchief, making her look particularly charming.

Even the head chef was tempted to buy one for his own wife.

Little Xiaobao clapped his hands, “Mom, you look so pretty!”

Dabao couldn’t stop staring either.

Li Yuegui smiled, “It looks really good on you. We, on the other hand, can’t pull it off with our coarse, yellowish hair.” She glanced at the head chef as she spoke.

The head chef immediately thought of his own wife’s thinning hair.

Li Yuegui found the prices a bit high, but Jiang Lin’s offer not to profit from her was tempting.

Now seeing Jiang Lin wearing one and looking so attractive made her even more inclined to buy.

She imagined herself wearing one of these handkerchiefs—it would definitely stand out at the restaurant.

It would surely draw envy from the girls.

She said, “I’ll buy one handkerchief and one purse.”

The head chef also bought a handkerchief and specifically told Li Yuegui, “I won’t tie my hair, just use it to wipe my face, okay?”

The handkerchief fabric was slightly thinner, good for wiping sweat, while the purse fabric was thicker and durable.

The purse was simply sewn into a cylinder shape, with a string threaded through the ends for easy closure.

Jiang Lin took the money and bought buns for Dabao and Xiaobao.

Li Yuegui asked her, “Do you have a place to go?”

Jiang Lin replied, “I want to try the train station. Li Jiejie, do you have any other suggestions?”

Li Yuegui immediately smiled, “You don’t know this yet. The train station is always bustling, no time for things like this.

You should try the hospital, the school gates at Middle School, and near those factories. You can check those places out too.”

Jiang Lin quickly thanked her.

Seeing Jiang Lin’s sincerity and her eagerness to learn, Li Yuegui became even more willing to share, “When you see the market management officers in blue uniforms with red armbands, don’t be afraid.

Things aren’t as strict in the city right now.

Many of them are just scaring people from the countryside who come to exchange food coupons.

Once they scare them, they confiscate their things and pocket them for themselves.

Just be firm with them; they won’t dare mess with you if you look like a city person.”

Those people like to bully uneducated and inexperienced elderly farmers from the countryside, but they tend to be polite to city folks.

Jiang Lin thanked Li Yuegui again and bid her farewell.

Dabao and Xiaobao waved their hands at Li Yuegui and said together, “Thank you, Auntie Li.”

“Oh my, you two are such good kids,” Li Yuegui’s heart melted.

When Jiang Lin led the boys away, out of earshot, she raised her thumb at them. “Dabao, Xiaobao, that was polite!”

Xiaobao grinned happily, while Dabao, though his mouth didn’t curl up, had a smile in his eyes.

Jiang Lin said, “Let’s eat the buns first, and then we’ll go check out the government compound over there.”

Compared to factories, Jiang Lin preferred to try her luck at the government compound.

At this time, although workers had money, it was the intellectuals who were quicker to accept refined items.

Many people in the Revolutionary Committee compound had received higher education.

Aside from a few active members with a puritanical style, most of them appreciated beauty.

Especially now, in the late stages of the Cultural Revolution, there was more freedom in the localities, and more and more young women were queuing up for introductions, getting their hair done, and wearing skirts, dressing up.

She let Dabao and Xiaobao eat their buns while she had a piece of bread she brought.

At this time, her stomach had no oil and water, and young metabolism was fast.

She was hungry before noon.

Xiaobao let her eat her own buns, and Dabao actively offered his buns too.

Jiang Lin smiled and said, “You two eat up. Once we make some big money selling these, we won’t have to worry about food.”

She admired the two boys more and more; Yan Runzhi had indeed raised them well.

Despite caring deeply for them, she never spoiled them.

It was impressive that they understood manners and didn’t throw tantrums at such a young age.

After finishing their meal, Jiang Lin led her two sons towards the government compound.

Along the way, whether men or women saw them, their eyes were drawn to the trio, with a high rate of turning back for a longer look.

However, everyone seemed to appreciate their appearance rather than inquire about the embroidered handkerchiefs, which left Jiang Lin somewhat disappointed.

She also encountered a rural woman exchanging eggs for ration coupons.

The woman mistook Jiang Lin and her sons for wealthy city dwellers and tried to exchange eggs with them for coupons.

Jiang Lin was about to inquire about the exchange process when two officials in blue uniforms with red armbands appeared.

The woman swiftly slung her basket and dashed away, her stride showing she was quite skilled at evading.

Jiang Lin: “…Will this not break the eggs?”

The official with the red armband glanced at her and the two boys.

They didn’t seem like profiteers, so they left without asking any questions.

Emboldened by this, Jiang Lin led her sons to stroll along the main street in front of the government building.

As they walked, a stylish young woman with an oil-paper umbrella approached from the opposite direction.

She wore a floral dress and had fluffy, permed hair.

When she saw Jiang Lin and the boys, she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks. “Um… Comrade.”

Jiang Lin looked at her. “Do you need something?”

“What’s on your head?”

“This?” Jiang Lin took out a new one from her bag. “It’s a headband.”

The stylish young woman took it and exclaimed in surprise, “Why haven’t I seen this before?”

She then looked at the handkerchiefs around the twins’ necks, marveling, “The embroidery is exquisite, and the boys are adorable!”

Dabao felt a bit embarrassed, but Xiaobao was delighted, standing on tiptoes proudly, inviting her to take a closer look and consider buying a few more items.

Seeing his younger brother’s enthusiasm, as if he’s asking her if she’d buy them for ten thousand yuan.

Cheng Dabao quickly nudging Xiaobao with his small hand to restrain him.

Jiang Lin added, “These are from my hometown in the provincial capital, made by art professors from the university…” She didn’t need to say more; the other person could fill in the blanks.

Sure enough, the young woman was very interested. “Do you have more? Can you sell them to me?”

She gestured for Jiang Lin to chat with her in the small park next to the government building.

As they walked, they introduced themselves.

The young woman’s name was Zeng Hongjie, a sent-down youth from the city working in the county cultural center, responsible for art-related work.

Jiang Lin knew she had connections; not needing to work in the fields when sent down but directly assigned to work at the county cultural center meant this could be a big deal.

Even during the most austere times, the young female workers in the big city still managed to dress youthfully and beautifully, which was their privilege.

That’s why Zeng Hongjie was more fashionable than most, though it wasn’t hard to understand why.

Jiang Lin took out embroidered patches from her bag for Zeng Hongjie to choose from.

Zeng Hongjie picked her favorites and compared them on Jiang Lin’s head or on her children, setting aside the ones she liked.

As they compared, she curiously asked, “Jiang Zhiqing, are these two kids yours?”

The two children were indeed quite adorable.

The older brother tried hard to act grown-up despite being just a little kid, while the younger brother smiled innocently, melting hearts.

Jiang Lin nodded, and Cheng Xiaobao chimed in eagerly, “They’re my own son!”

Cheng Dabao muttered, “…”

Zeng Hongjie chuckled, covering her mouth. “They’re really cute little brothers.”

She reached out to touch Cheng Dabao’s head, but he immediately frowned and hid his face, while Cheng Xiaobao willingly offered himself for a pat.

Zeng Hongjie couldn’t stop smiling. “Why are they so adorable?”

Cheng Dabao glanced at his little brother and muttered, “Dummy!”

He picked up a wallet embroidered with peonies that Zeng Hongjie had set aside. “This one looks nice.”

Zeng Hongjie smiled, “They’re all beautifully embroidered, but I prefer smaller flowers. I’m not a fan of these big ones.” She pointed at the headscarf on Jiang Lin’s head. “See, wouldn’t it look better with a small flower instead of a big one?”