Chapter 8: Take Whatever You Like, State-run Restaurant Takeout

Ye Qiu touched her own face. How did she usually take care of her skin? Early to bed, early to rise, and eating well? The original owner had only ever used snow cream, and that was bought after marriage.

“I don’t really have any special methods. I just make sure to avoid the sun, and when I have nothing to do, I massage my face more…”

The short-haired woman sighed in disappointment, her gaze filled with envy as she studied Ye Qiu’s face and figure, clicking her tongue in admiration. But everyone was different — maybe Ye Qiu’s whole family had fair skin, something she could never envy into existence.

As the crowd gradually thinned, the short-haired woman had more time to chat with Ye Qiu. Talking with her felt like they had known each other for years. She was straightforward as well.
“Sister, my name is Du Chunyu. In the future, if you want to buy anything, just come to me.”

She lowered her voice.
“I’ll give you the internal price.”

Usually, eggs at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative were 1.2 jiao per jin, and apples were as high as 0.7 yuan per jin. But the internal price was much cheaper — eggs were only 0.9 jiao per jin, and apples that were about to spoil could be bought for just 0.2 yuan.

Food discounts were one thing, but with cloth, the profit margin was even greater. Sometimes, they could even take it for free. Some unsellable or spoiled goods weren’t allowed to stay in the shop, so the manager would let the sales clerks buy them at a low price — everyone welcomed this arrangement.

After all, getting the chance to buy them wasn’t easy. For example, a pair of flawed insoles could be taken home, patched up, and become as good as new. If the Supply and Marketing Cooperative wasn’t a job with good pay, light work, and internal discounts, Du Chunyu’s family wouldn’t have gone through connections to get her in.

“All right, Chunyu. Just call me Ye Qiu. I’ll trouble you from now on.” Ye Qiu said. She also knew Du Chunyu wanted to be on good terms with her. From her pocket, she grabbed a handful of Shanghai White Rabbit milk candies and put them into her hand.

Du Chunyu felt embarrassed to take them and tried to refuse.
“I can’t take these, they’re too expensive.”

Their Supply and Marketing Cooperative didn’t even have Shanghai milk candies, and Ye Qiu had just given her a whole handful without hesitation.

“Take them. They’re nothing valuable.” Ye Qiu said casually. This made Du Chunyu even more determined to be friends with her. Friendship required mutual effort. Du Chunyu didn’t fuss about it anymore and bent down to pull out a drawer from under the counter. With a wave of her hand, she told Ye Qiu to take whatever she liked.

She was a little embarrassed.
“These are all leftovers from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. They can’t be sold. If you like them, Sister Ye Qiu, just take them.”

Ye Qiu didn’t mind at all. Even leftovers from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative were top-quality. Scraps of cloth left over from making clothes could be taken home to sew gloves, which would be useful when it got cold.

As for the crooked and misshapen insoles, once they were in shoes no one would see them anyway — so she took a few pairs as well.

When Widow Zhao came in with her daughter, she saw Ye Qiu chatting and laughing with the sales clerk. Her eyes rolled, and she immediately walked up to greet Ye Qiu warmly.
“Chuanzi’s wife, you’re here too.”

Ye Qiu didn’t understand why Widow Zhao’s attitude had suddenly changed so much, but out of politeness she nodded in return. Anyone with sense knew that after greeting, they should move on — but Widow Zhao clung to Ye Qiu’s arm, grinning ingratiatingly.

“I see you have so much fabric in your hands. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative gave it to you, right?”

“Auntie, do you need something?” Ye Qiu frowned slightly. “I still have to buy other things. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“How can there be nothing? Chuanzi’s wife, help me get a few pieces of fabric too — those bright red ones. Then when my Xiaohuan gets married, she can have a dress made.”

Following Widow Zhao’s finger, Ye Qiu almost laughed in disbelief. Did she really think she could get whatever she wanted from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in broad daylight? Ye Qiu refused outright.

“This is the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. You have to pay to buy things. You can’t just ask and get them.”

Ye Qiu left with her purchases, leaving Widow Zhao standing there with a dark face, muttering curses under her breath.
“What’s she so proud about? If she hadn’t married a good man, she would’ve ruined her family long ago.”

Du Chunyu overheard Widow Zhao’s words and her expression soured. When Widow Zhao came to the counter, her eyes widened. She gestured for her daughter to come quickly.
“Xiaohuan, see if there’s anything you like.”

Lu Xiaohuan was still thinking about the fabric Ye Qiu had. She looked around the Supply and Marketing Cooperative but didn’t like anything she saw. In the end, she couldn’t help but ask,
“Comrade, do you have fabric like the one Ye Qiu was wearing just now?”

“No.” Du Chunyu shook her head.

“How much for two chi of this?” Widow Zhao pointed to a piece of red fabric. When she heard Du Chunyu’s quoted price, she winced in pain.
“Why’s it so expensive?”

“This is new fabric from Beijing. It just arrived in the past two days. Lots of people are buying it.”

Mother and daughter browsed the shop but in the end, Widow Zhao was too reluctant to spend money. After looking around for a long time, they left empty-handed.

Lu Xiaohuan was, of course, unwilling, but the arm could not twist the thigh. She walked back with a long face, not saying a word. Widow Zhao couldn’t stand seeing her daughter so downcast, so she patted her chest and promised,
“All right, I’ll think of something.”

“That piece of fabric costs a fortune. With that money, it’s better to buy some food. Worst case, I’ll swallow my pride and go to Ye Qiu to borrow it.”

Most of the grooms in the village wore nice clothes borrowed from others. Sometimes one set of clothes was worn by ten people. Looking good on the day was all that mattered.

Everyone was from the same village — Widow Zhao didn’t believe for a second that if she went to the Lu family and spoke to Zhao Menglan, Ye Qiu as a daughter-in-law wouldn’t listen to her mother-in-law.

Meanwhile, Ye Qiu also stopped by the State-run restaurant and had a bowl of egg noodles. It only cost 0.5 yuan. After eating, she didn’t forget the two children at home. She used an aluminum lunchbox to pack some braised pork for them.

By the time she returned, it was already dark. The ox cart had just arrived at the village entrance when the old driver grinned,
“Lu family’s, your two kids have been waiting for you here.”

Lu Zhinan was holding Lu Zhibei’s hand. No one knew how long they had been standing there. As soon as Ye Qiu got off the cart, Lu Zhibei ran up and hugged her leg.
“Mom, you’re finally back.”

Ye Qiu smiled, first taking a few candies from her pocket and handing them to the old man.
“Uncle, take your time. I’ll be heading off.”

Riding the ox cart required payment — it was an unspoken rule. You either gave two fen or something in exchange. But there were also people who tried to freeload — Widow Zhao was one of those.

When going to the county, she was energetic and full of life. But when they reached the village entrance, she suddenly complained of aching arms and legs and needing to lie down. She pulled her daughter along and whoosh — they were gone, disappearing in a flash.

Ye Qiu picked up Lu Zhibei.
“How long have you been waiting?”

“Not long. Mom, did you bring anything tasty?” Lu Zhibei sniffed the air, wrapped his arms around her neck, and even planted a sticky kiss on her cheek.

“Lu Zhibei, wipe that drool.” Ye Qiu said with laughter in her voice. She lowered her head and saw her elder son, An An, quietly following beside her. Even when he saw her holding Lu Zhibei, he only cast a longing glance.

Children should be treated equally. Still holding Lu Zhibei in one arm, Ye Qiu stretched out her other arm.
“Zhinan, Mom wants to hold you too.”