Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Feng Xia went home to get money, tucked the little black snake into her pocket, and dragged Zhang Ying and rushed to town.

Jiang Long had a few close comrades in the Field Army base, so he went to catch up with them, and Feng Xia didn't ask him to come.

The road to the town had widened considerably, and Zhang Ying drove steadily. It took them about half an hour from the base to the town, much easier than before.

Now, close to the New Year, no one dared to do private business on the streets. The supply cooperative and state-run restaurants became the only two places people could openly spend money. Especially the cooperative—the crowd was as dense as the zombie horde Feng Xia had seen in her previous life, giving her the creeps.

What could be done? It was the New Year; which family wouldn't buy New Year's supplies?

This time, Zhang Ying took the lead while Feng Xia followed. They barely squeezed a path through a crowd of old ladies, drenched in sweat, until they reached the glass counter. Seeing that Feng Xia was young, a few old ladies kindly made a little room for them to stand more steadily.

Feng Xia felt like dying inside. The little black snake in her pocket was almost crushed and was scared by the surging crowd, so it coiled around Feng Xia's wrist, refusing to move, looking like a delicate ink-black jade bracelet. Fortunately, her clothes covered it, making it hardly visible and not attracting attention.

The salesclerks in the cooperative were all women in their twenties or thirties. The one in front of Feng Xia had short hair to her ears, with an indifferent attitude, and was even impatient with old ladies buying small items like needles and thread. Their service couldn't compare with the capital's. In the county, you could only buy things at the cooperative, and currently there was only one cooperative, so supply fell short of demand. But in the capital, supply exceeded demand, so the service attitude was reversed.

Feng Xia couldn't be bothered with that. Seeing freshly made Jiangmi strips and Gorgon fruit cake, she pointed at them and asked the price.

The salesclerk said in a low voice: "Jiangmi strips are 1 yuan per jin, requires one sugar coupon. Gorgon fruit cake is 1.2 yuan per jin, also requires one sugar coupon."

Feng Xia directly took out five yuan, pointed at the gorgon fruit cake and Jiangmi strips, and said, "Please give me two jin of each." Then she also took out two sugar coupons.

These sugar coupons were rare for others, but Feng Xia had plenty of coupons of all kinds, including two bicycle coupons, all prepared for her by the higher-ups—she was fully stocked.

Seeing such a young girl casually produce five yuan and two sugar coupons, the salesclerk's expression changed. This family was really well-off. Nowadays, who would dare to spend money like this? The salesclerk shed her impatient attitude, smiled warmly, packed the Jiangmi strips and gorgon fruit cake for Feng Xia, handed back the change, and was extremely amiable.

Not only did the salesclerk change her attitude, even the surrounding old ladies looked astonished. They themselves hadn't spent so generously on New Year's supplies as this little girl. Truly, young people were loose with their money and spent lavishly!

The two jin of Jiangmi strips and two jin of Gorgon fruit cake were tightly wrapped, and looked even prettier with a red string knot. Feng Xia handed them to Zhang Ying beside her and moved to the next counter, which sold candy. There were fruit candies and lard candies, as well as expensive White Rabbit Candy. Without blinking, Feng Xia asked for two jin of each. In a flash, another seven or eight yuan plus several sugar coupons were spent, leaving the onlookers clicking their tongues in amazement, involuntarily moving away from the two of them.

They felt this was no ordinary little girl you could just get cozy with.

After buying candy, they moved to a liquor counter. Feng Xia remembered that Daniel's mentor seemed to enjoy a drink, so she bought two bottles. Finally, she also bought two air-dried chickens and ducks. These were not as expensive; probably because everyone in the village raised livestock, this counter was basically ignored.

They had bought nearly twenty jin of goods and only spent forty or fifty yuan. Feng Xia wanted to add more, as she really appreciated Daniel, her former assistant, and didn't want him to be completely consumed by poverty's darkness.

Feng Xia thought she hadn't spent much, but in others' eyes, this was a rich young lady out shopping! In less than an hour, she spent forty or fifty yuan, which the onlookers secretly calculated.

It was truly frightening.

Forty or fifty yuan!

Nowadays, the bride price for ordinary families was this amount. An average urban worker earned only thirty yuan a month, but she casually spent forty or fifty. This wasn't just loose with money; it was spending like water! Who knew from which family she came?

The people around were ordinary folks and dared not ask. They only dared to watch secretly. With no other entertainment, watching a lady shop was a kind of amusement, wasn't it?

Until a gentle female voice rang out: "Today's brown sugar has arrived. Those who want to buy can start queuing. One person can only buy two jin, 1.8 yuan per jin, no coupon needed."

Hearing this, what was there to hesitate about? Buy it! Feng Xia pulled Zhang Ying to queue. They ran fast and were among the first few. Feng Xia looked at the salesclerk selling brown sugar and raised an eyebrow. Oh, she didn't expect to meet her.

When it was Feng Xia's turn, the salesclerk said without looking up: "How many jin of brown sugar?"

Feng Xia: "As much as I'm allowed."

The salesclerk was quick, packed two jin of brown sugar, and then said: "Comrade, one person can only buy two jin." As she finished, she looked up and handed over the packed brown sugar, one hand ready to take the money, but then she saw the person before her and changed expression: "Feng, Feng Xia!"

Feng Xia took the brown sugar handed to her by Feng Chun, nodded, gave her the money, and then made way for the person behind.

Feng Chun looked at the increasingly radiant person, a flash of jealousy in her eyes, which then turned into disdain. She seemed convinced that Feng Xia wasn't living as well as her, or wouldn't in the future. The jealousy and resentment that had always surrounded Feng Xia dissipated somewhat. She smiled sweetly and greeted Feng Xia: "Little sister came shopping and didn't tell me. You're more distant with me than before. Would you like to come sit at my place?"

Feng Xia couldn't be bothered with this hypocritical person. She pulled Zhang Ying, bought the brown sugar, then looked around the store. Seeing that she had bought everything needed, she went out. Next was to find the post office to send things to Daniel.

A salesclerk came up to Feng Chun, the one who sold candy. Her face was a bit red, and she leaned in to ask: "Is that your sister? She's so generous. She just bought two jin each of White Rabbit and lard candy. We secretly calculated; she spent about fifty-something on those items just now. Your parents are really good to your sister." The speaker was full of envy.

Feng Chun rolled her eyes inwardly. This had nothing to do with her parents. She answered softly and sweetly: "Oh, my sister works in the military region. She was recruited under special status there, and she spends her own money."

The colleague became even more envious upon hearing this: "Wow, that's really impressive. Feng Chun, so your family has connections with the military region!" Feng Chun quickly told her to keep her voice down and not say that kind of thing. The salesclerk gave an "I understand" expression and, satisfied with her curiosity, returned to her post to continue selling.

Feng Chun packed the brown sugar, thinking of the young and handsome section chief she had met. Her face turned red. If she could connect herself with the military region, that person's family would have no objections, right?