Chapter 11: Free Grain Coupons

Chapter 11: Free Grain Coupons

Aunt Guo was afraid of spilling the sugar and hesitated to take it, “This is really… I can’t accept it, please keep it.”

Su Zhaozhao smiled, “Sister-in-law, take it. It’s not much, but we’ve been so grateful for your help over the years, especially these past few days when you’ve been busy helping us find the children’s father. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“What’s there to thank? We’re from the same village and even related. Helping out is nothing much.”

“That’s true, but over the years, no one else has helped us as much as you have. Zhaodi remembers all the kindness. We still have a lot of things to trouble you with after we leave. If you refuse, I’d feel bad asking for your help.”

Aunt Guo held the sugar, troubled, “What you say… Sigh! I’ll accept it then, but no more of this in the future.”

Su Zhaozhao nodded with a smile and took out the house key from her pocket, handing it to Aunt Guo, “Thank you for the trouble.”

Aunt Guo accepted it, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything is safe at your home, not a grain of food will be lost.”

Before leaving, there was one more thing to do—sell the cicada nymphs that Gu Xiang had collected over the past few days at the health clinic.

The health clinic wasn’t far; it only took two minutes to walk there. A large bag of cicada nymphs sold for sixty-seven cents, enough for half a pound of fruit candy.

Gu Xiang handed the money to Su Zhaozhao, who told him to keep it himself, “Put it in your pocket.”

Aunt Guo agreed, “Yes, carry some money. If you get separated outside, you can use it to catch a ride.”

Gu Xiang thought for a moment and gave thirty-four cents to Gu Nian to keep.

Aunt Guo praised him, “That’s what a good older brother should do!”

Next to the health clinic was the township office. As Aunt Guo passed by, she glanced at the entrance, “After you leave, I need to go in and inform them so they can call the army.”

Su Zhaozhao’s expression changed, “The township officials don’t know we’re leaving today, right?”

“No, you left too suddenly.”

Su Zhaozhao smiled, “Since we’re here, why don’t I go in and thank them?”

Aunt Guo’s eyes lit up, “Of course you can!”

With that, she called Su Zhaozhao and her children toward the township office gate.

Aunt Guo was well-known in Sujiagou Village, though she didn’t hold an official position, she was a respected women’s representative and had influence in the village. She wasn’t intimidated by the township office and confidently led Su Zhaozhao and her children inside.

“Xiao Wang, the clerk.”

Clerk Xiao Wang was sitting in the office closest to the entrance. Hearing someone call, he looked up, “It’s you, Sister Guo. What brings you here?”

Aunt Guo smiled and pulled Su Zhaozhao from behind the door, “It’s like this…”

She briefly introduced Su Zhaozhao and explained the reason for their visit.

Clerk Xiao Wang was curious about Su Zhaozhao and looked at her several times, “So urgent? Unfortunately, the mayor and other officials went to the county early this morning for a meeting. If you had arrived earlier, you could have hitched a ride on the tractor to the county.”

Aunt Guo looked disappointed, “If we had known, we would have left earlier.”

Su Zhaozhao also felt regretful. The town was small, and there were no buses to the county. For those without bicycles, the only way to get to the county was by walking or paying for a ride on a mule cart.

A tractor was much faster than a mule cart.

“We’ll be heading to the county now.”

“Wait a moment,” Clerk Xiao Wang called out, stopping them. “I was wondering when to send these to Sujia Village. Since you’re here, I’ll give them to you.”

As he spoke, he opened a drawer and took out two one-jin national grain coupons, handing them to Su Zhaozhao, “These are specially approved for you by the township. The mayor said that things are different outside the village, and you need grain coupons for oil and grain. There aren’t many, but take them just in case.”

What a pleasant surprise!

The township officials were so thoughtful!

They were truly kind!

Su Zhaozhao quickly accepted them, “Thank you, Clerk Xiao Wang. Please thank the mayor and the township officials for me.”

Clerk Xiao Wang nodded, “Alright, don’t delay any longer. You should set off now.”

The group left happily. Aunt Guo said, “It’s a good thing we came in. If we had left directly, you wouldn’t have received these grain coupons.”

Su Zhaozhao put the grain coupons in her pocket and switched hands to carry the wicker box, “The township officials are really nice.”

“Of course! This is the new society, not like the old days when officials didn’t care about the people.” Aunt Guo looked toward the town entrance and hurriedly called out, “Hurry! Old Li’s mule cart seems to be leaving.”

While running, she waved and shouted to the driver, Old Li, “Driver, wait a moment! We have more passengers!”

Su Zhaozhao and her two children followed behind.

Old Li, the driver, was probably in his sixties, wearing an old-style buttoned jacket and a waistband, with a tobacco pipe tucked into his belt.

“I won’t leave until everyone is on board,” Old Li chuckled. He lived alone and made a decent living from driving the cart, enjoying a life better than many officials.

The cart had only a wooden board for seating, with no benches. Two people, one adult and one child, were already on board. Su Zhaozhao let the two children climb on first, then climbed up herself.

She wanted to sit on her luggage, but they only had a wicker box and a cloth bag. The cloth bag contained dry food for the journey, while the wicker box held clothes. She was afraid that sitting on it might break it.

So she sat on the ground, “Sister-in-law, you can go back now. We’re leaving.”

Old Li started to drive the cart.

Aunt Guo walked a few steps forward, “Be careful on the road! Xiao Xiang and Xiao Nian, stay close to your mother, don’t get lost.”

"Got it, Aunt Guo, goodbye!"

"Time to write the letter..."

Only after the mule cart turned the corner and they could no longer see anyone did the three of them lower their waving hands.

Su Zhaozhao took a deep breath, "We're off now, are you scared?"

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian both shook their heads. They weren't afraid, just anxious—would Dad... like them?

The mule cart swayed as it made its way to the county town. Halfway through, they saw someone on a bicycle zoom past them and quickly disappear into the distance. Su Zhaozhao envied them; her head was almost shaking like a blender.

By the time they reached the county town, it was already past one in the afternoon. The other two passengers got off at the town, and Su Zhaozhao asked the mule cart to take them to the train station.

When they arrived, she asked, "How much?"

"Fifty cents, twenty for adults, ten for children."

Su Zhaozhao's hand paused as she reached for her money, "Shouldn't it be forty cents?"

Old Li glanced at her, "We went a bit further, so it's an extra ten cents."

This was really... Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Alright, fifty cents it is."

She had exactly fifty cents in her bag and handed it over.

Old Li took the money but didn't leave. He pulled out his pipe and called out, "Anyone going to the county? Phoenix Town is about to depart..."