As Granny Zhang came out with a cloth parcel containing cotton wadding, the hesitation on Second Sister-in-law Xu’s face vanished.
She grabbed Eldest Sister-in-law Xu’s arm, her heart filled with excitement.
The cotton purchasing station – one might queue from morning till afternoon and still not be able to buy any. The village issued cotton coupons based on headcount, only half a jin per person per year. It was truly not easy to save enough for a 6-jin quilt!
Lin Hui’s two 5-jin quilts were bought only after the whole family saved their cotton coupons for several years and borrowed from relatives and friends. As a dowry, it no doubt brought her great prestige…
Granny Zhang’s small bag of cotton wadding was about one jin and two liang, which was quite a lot. It was slightly yellow, not snow-white, but this was the most common kind nowadays.
“I’ll take it all. Granny Zhang, can you give me a bit of a discount?”
“Fabric three yuan and sixty cents, wadding five yuan and fifty cents.”
This was the price without coupons. Lin Hui took money from her pocket. “Okay.”
There was no haggling. Granny Zhang seemed a bit surprised but was relieved that the buyer was generous. She dreaded customers who haggled over every cent, fearing they might report her if the deal fell through or they felt they paid too much.
Lin Hui emptied the basket, folded the cloth, and tucked it underneath.
She borrowed two baskets from her sisters-in-law; divided among the three of them, it wasn’t much. She then placed the soap, vegetable seeds, and other items they had bought on top to conceal it, making it less conspicuous.
After buying their things, the three women left. Such matters required quick hands and sharp eyes.
As soon as the wooden door closed, Lin Hui whispered, “I’ll split some of it with you when we get back.”
The two sisters-in-law nodded, a mix of nervousness and excitement.
“Ah Hui, how did you know about this place? We didn’t even know it existed!”
“That old lady looks like she knows what she’s doing. Where does her family get so many good things?”
Lin Hui chose to bypass the previous questions. “The old lady’s daughter works as a female laborer at the state-run textile factory, and she has a nephew who’s a truck driver for the town’s transport team. With such good conditions, it would be a waste not to use them.”
She didn’t mention the occasional arrival of more expensive items like leather shoes, ready-made clothes, and watches, besides the flawed and discarded fabrics. The two sisters-in-law were timid; there was no need for them to know too much.
Second Sister-in-law Xu sighed, "Those are such sought-after jobs! All good opportunities.”
“Yeah…”
The three women walked on, discussing in low voices.
Halfway down the alley, a side door suddenly opened, and the sounds of lively card playing, accompanied by the smell of smoke, alcohol, and sweat, wafted out. The women wrinkled their noses and quickened their pace.
Suddenly, a few young men came out, arm in arm, and ran right into them.
Lin Hui could feel their lewd gazes. One of them, a skinny fellow, even whistled at them. The women’s expressions changed, and they sped up.
Just then, a hoarse voice called out from behind them, “Wait up.”
Lin Hui’s heart skipped a beat. Being robbed of their belongings or money would be minor; if they were dragged inside, their situation would be dire, with no one to call for help.
Lin Hui didn’t stop. She could feel someone clearly approaching from behind.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, “Ah Hui.”
Xú Dōngshēng walked up, placed a hand on her tense shoulder, and asked with a smile, “Why didn’t you call me when you came to town?”
Lin Hui turned with his gentle push, looking up at the tall man.
“Ah Hui, this is Brother Zhen.”
Lin Hui calmed down. She didn’t dare to stare at him and called out softly, “Brother Zhen.”
The man called Brother Zhen squinted. “Dongzi, is this your wife?”
“Yes, this is my wife and my sisters-in-law. Brother Zhen, we have some family matters to attend to, so we’ll be going now. You all enjoy yourselves.”
Lin Hui was guided away by Xú Dōngshēng, who had his arm around her shoulder. She heard him say softly, “It’s alright, don’t be scared.”
Only then did she realize her fingers gripping the basket had turned white.
Gǒuzi followed behind them silently.
The group quickly left the alley. Lin Hui clearly heard the two sisters-in-law let out heavy sighs of relief, and her own tense heart finally relaxed.
Xú Dōngshēng removed his arm and said carelessly, “What did you all buy today?”
Lin Hui handed him the basket. “Whatever we needed.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Xu’s heart was still pounding. “Dongzi, is that your friend? He looks so scary.”
“Not a friend,” Xú Dōngshēng said, slinging the basket over his arm and speaking slowly, but he didn’t explain much to them.
Not a friend, but someone he spent time with.
“Ah Hui, let’s not go there again in the future. It was too scary…”
Lin Hui didn’t answer. Ration coupons and tickets wouldn’t be abolished for several more years. If they couldn’t compete for goods at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, they would have to go, but they would need to bring a man with them next time.
The two sisters-in-law muttered behind them, their thoughts aligning: This couple is too bold. It’s too dangerous; something will happen to them sooner or later. It’s best to stay away from them…
They had left early that morning and returned after noon. All of them were starving. No one could afford to eat at the state-run restaurant.
Xú Guóhuá, with a group of children, blocked the doorway, rushing to grab his mother’s basket.
“Mom, Grandma said you went to town to buy things! What did you buy? Is there any food?”
Nowadays, people’s palates were plain, and the children thought only of food all day long.
Xú Guóqiáng also clung to his mother. “Mom, is there any candy?”
As expected, each child received a flick on the forehead.
Second Sister-in-law Xu had been terrified all day and wasn’t in the mood to coax children. She impatiently shooed them away.
“Go, go, don’t block the way! I don’t have money to buy candy! You only think about eating, eating, eating, and you don’t even study properly!”
Upon hearing there was no food, the children ran off to play.
Mother Xu took off her apron, wiped her hands on her clothes, and came out.
“There’s still porridge in the pot; you can have some,” Mother Xu glanced into their baskets, which looked quite full. “Did you buy everything you needed?”
“Mostly.”
The dining table in the main hall had just been cleared. They eagerly took out the things from their baskets. They first set aside their own items and then revealed the cloth and cotton from the bottom.
Mother Xu’s eyes widened.Did you go buy for cloth?
Why do you have such odd amounts and even old pieces?”
“We bartered for the cloth privately. The scraps and that old piece were to make up the quantity.”
Second Sister-in-law Xu had recovered from her fright and now felt fine again, eager to share the “thrilling event” of the day.
“Mom, let me tell you, Ah Hui took us to an alley today, and that old lady sold us this cloth and cotton wadding…”
Lin Hui poured her a bowl of water. After taking a sip, she continued to recount the incident of encountering “Dongzi’s hoodlum friends” on the way back.
Xú Dōngshēng raised an eyelid, glancing at his sister-in-law who was chattering away. Tsk, truly beyond reasoning.
Mother Xu, at her age, had seen it all. She hadn’t reacted much to the first part of the story, but when it came to her third son, she gritted her teeth.
“Third son, you are forbidden to go to town from now on! Stay away from your scoundrel friends! Is there nothing to do after finishing the grain collection? Go oversee the new house when you have time, and finish building the surrounding wall quickly so you can move in. Who will take care of your own house if you don’t? How long do you expect your father to help you? You only know how to boast; with your attitude, how can you provide for your parents in their old age…”
After his mother’s lengthy scolding, Xú Dōngshēng felt even hungrier.
Lin Hui quickly asked Eldest Sister-in-law Xu and Second Sister-in-law Xu to choose their cloth.
Granny Zhang had been shrewd today, not showing her best items. Lin Hui wasn’t entirely satisfied and knew she would have to return in a while.
Eldest Sister-in-law Xu happily chose two pieces of gray cloth, which could be sewn together to make a bedsheet. The largest piece didn’t need cutting, but she was reluctant to use such good cloth for a bedsheet; she’d rather make clothes.
Second Sister-in-law Xu was a bit conflicted but finally took a few scraps to make shoe uppers and three liang of cotton wadding.
Lin Hui roughly calculated the prices. Eldest Sister-in-law Xu paid 1 yuan, and Second Sister-in-law Xu paid 1 yuan and 5 jiao.
“What? What? The rest was all bought by Ah Hui?”
Mother Xu thought the pile of goods was divided equally among the three households and found it reasonable. She hadn’t expected the largest portion to go to the third family’s household.
“Oh my, why didn’t you stop her? You just separated the family, and your hands are so loose! How will you raise the children if you don’t save money?”
Eldest Sister-in-law Xu and Second Sister-in-law Xu gave awkward smiles. They had been surprised when they heard the third family said they would take it all, but what could they do to stop her? She was paying with her own money, not theirs.
“Mom, Brother Dong’s clothes are worn out, and the cotton inside is black. It won’t be good once the weather turns cold. This cloth and cotton are just enough to make him two sets of clothes; it’s not much.”
As she spoke, Lin Hui placed the remaining bundle of scraps into Mother Xu’s hand. “Mom, your and Dad’s shoe uppers are also worn out. These scraps are as big as your palm; you can use them to mend shoes or clothes.”
“Even so, you don’t need so much. Which family doesn’t mend and patch to wear something for three years, and then for another three? What’s wrong with black cotton wadding? It won’t freeze you to death. Don’t spoil him like this!”
Looking at Lin Hui, and then at her third son slumped in the chair, Mother Xu suddenly felt something was slightly off. Hadn’t this third daughter-in-law been led astray by her third son?
Xú Dōngshēng looked innocent. What did it have to do with him? Then he smiled gleefully.
As expected, his wife loved him so much! She bought things for him while out shopping!
Eldest Sister-in-law Xu and Second Sister-in-law Xu, holding their items, felt a bit sour. What was the meaning of this? The third family even bought things for the elders?
This third daughter-in-law is so calculating! Trying so hard to please her in-laws! Isn’t this putting them two families at a disadvantage?
Too insidious!