After Xu Qinghuan saw Lin Xialan back to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, she realized she needed to buy some things herself, so she decided to just get them right there. She picked up an aluminum lunchbox, a thermos, two tins of vanishing cream, two tins of clam oil, and three pairs of socks each for winter and spring.
She also wanted to purchase some bedding, such as quilts and padded jackets, but Lin Xialan stopped her. Squeezing her hand, Lin Xialan whispered, "We have some slightly defective fabric in the warehouse out back. I can give it to you at the discounted price without requiring ration coupons."
Xu Qinghuan was delighted. "I also need cotton."
"We have cotton, too, though not much and the quality isn't great, but it will do just fine." After saying this, Lin Xialan called out to her colleague, "Sister Yuan, could you please keep an eye on things? My friend and I are going out for a moment."
Everyone knew what was going on. Taking friends and family to the warehouse to buy defective goods was common practice; people looked out for one another.
"Go on, go on!" Sister Yuan had heard that this young girl was heading down to the countryside. She looked as pretty as a fairy—surely she would suffer hardships out there—so she was happy to help her where she could.
There was quite a bit of stock in the warehouse, but Xu Qinghuan knew that these so-called defective items were usually earmarked for the employees of the cooperative themselves, so she didn't want to take too much.
"It's fine. I'll talk to Sister Yuan and the others. They can let me have their share this month, and I'll give them mine next month."
Lin Xialan measured out ten feet of plain cotton and ten feet of twill for Xu Qinghuan. Normally, a foot of plain cotton required a coupon and cost twenty-eight cents, but Xu Qinghuan got it for twenty-five. Twill usually cost forty-two cents a foot with a coupon, but she got it for forty.
A foot of khaki cost forty-nine cents; it was the most luxurious fabric of the era, perfect for making trousers that were crisp, durable, and easy to wash, though not very breathable.
Xu Qinghuan got it for forty-seven cents and bought four feet—plenty for a pair of trousers.
Twenty feet of fabric was enough for a set of sheets and a duvet cover, but Xu Qinghuan still needed to make two sets of winter clothes. As Lin Xialan started to go talk to her colleagues about more fabric, Xu Qinghuan held her back.
"I'll just take what I have at home. Don't you worry about it. If I'm cold, I'll figure something out once I get to the Northeast."
She couldn't keep taking advantage of Lanlan; there had to be a limit. Xu Qinghuan knew all too well how scarce fabric was these days; she feared that after this, Lanlan wouldn't be able to get her hands on any defective goods for the next two months.
"Then buy something else!" Lin Xialan grabbed a slightly dented aluminum lunchbox, an enamel mug, and a shoulder bag the size of a person's torso.
There was only four or five pounds of cotton left. Winters in the Northeast lasted half the year and were bitter, but the Supply and Marketing Cooperative had no more; cotton was a highly sought-after item.
Lin Xialan packed everything into the bag, saying as she worked, "You're still missing a lot of things, especially cotton. I'll keep an eye out for you over the next few days and ask my mother if she can find a way to get some. Huanhuan, you must write to me once you get to the Northeast. If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll definitely find a way!"
Xu Qinghuan felt a lump in her throat, and her vision began to blur.
Lin Xialan, having heard no response, kept chattering away. She stood up and saw Xu Qinghuan’s red nose and tear-filled eyes. Tears instantly streamed down Lin Xialan’s own face. She pulled Xu Qinghuan into a hug, patting her back. "Why are you doing this? You know it hurts me too, you meanie!"
"Promise me one thing!" Xu Qinghuan choked out through her tears.
"Okay, tell me!" Lin Xialan wiped her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed, and pulled away from the embrace.
"If you ever find someone, you must get my approval before you get married. I won't allow you to marry without my permission!" Xu Qinghuan said, acting tough and raising a small fist. "Don't forget, you're mine!"
Lin Xialan burst into laughter, though she felt even more like crying. She buried her head in Xu Qinghuan’s shoulder. "The same goes for you. You aren't allowed to marry without my permission either."
"Deal. We keep our word!"
The two girls, as close as sisters, high-fived. Looking into each other's teary eyes, they were already filled with the ache of parting, even before the separation had begun.
After buying so many things, the vanishing cream was the most expensive item—six yuan and ninety-five cents for 110g. The two tins together cost nearly half a month's wages for an average worker.
In total, Xu Qinghuan spent forty-two yuan and fifty-eight cents. Her original savings were one thousand and two yuan and seventy cents, so she was left with nine hundred and fifty-seven yuan and sixty-nine cents.
After walking into a deserted alley, Xu Qinghuan tucked the shoulder bag into her Space. She clapped her hands together; not far ahead was the State-run Restaurant. It was nearly lunchtime, and the fragrance of food drifted on the breeze.
Xu Qinghuan’s stomach gave a traitorous growl. She took out her two lunchboxes, gave them a quick wash, and headed toward the delicious scent.
Since she had the money and the coupons, it would be a shame not to taste the local delicacies of this era.
The small blackboard at the entrance displayed the day's menu and prices: red-braised pork was one yuan with a coupon, red-braised spareribs were thirty cents, fried tofu and vermicelli soup was twenty cents, red-braised bream was fifty cents, and meat buns were one yuan and fifty cents per jin with a coupon. Rice was five cents for two taels with a grain coupon.
Xu Qinghuan ordered two jin of meat buns, two portions of red-braised pork, one portion of red-braised spareribs, one portion of bream, and four taels of rice.
She ate one portion of red-braised pork and two taels of rice, and had everything else packed into her aluminum lunchboxes. The buns were wrapped in oil paper.
She had to admit, pork raised without commercial feed was incredibly fragrant—fat but not greasy, melting in the mouth with an endless aftertaste.
Xu Qinghuan left the restaurant carrying the lunchboxes, rubbing her full belly with satisfaction.
After walking into another deserted alley, she stowed the boxes in her Space and headed straight for the Educated Youth Office.
Lin Xialan’s mother worked there, and Xu Qinghuan, who had often played at the Lin family's home, was always well-treated by Mother Lin. Lin Xialan had already spoken to her mother, arranging for Xu Qinghuan to be sent to the same place as Qiao Xinyu.
"Hello, are you here to sign up?" a staff member asked, greeting Xu Qinghuan with great enthusiasm. Few educated youth were willing to go to the countryside, and the office's work had been very difficult lately.
"I'm looking for Comrade Yuan."
Seeing that Xu Qinghuan wasn't there to sign up, the staff member looked disappointed but called out, "Sister Yuan, someone is here to see you."
The person who emerged was Mother Lin. Xu Qinghuan quickly smiled sweetly. "Auntie Yuan, it's me!"
Yuan Huilan pulled Xu Qinghuan aside and whispered, "Are you really going to the countryside? This isn't a game; once you sign up, there's no turning back!"
But remembering that the girl had already sold her job, she didn't know how else to dissuade her.
"I am going. I've made up my mind!" Xu Qinghuan said firmly.
Seeing that she couldn't be talked out of it, Yuan Huilan felt a pang of heartache and patted Xu Qinghuan’s head. "I still have one spot left in the production brigade where Xinyu is. If you've decided, I'll arrange it for you."
"Yes, thank you, Auntie Yuan!" Xu Qinghuan felt lucky to have Lin Xialan. She followed Yuan Huilan and added, "Auntie Yuan, I heard that the nuts and dried goods in the Northeast are quite good. Once I get there, I'll send some delicious things back to you."
Yuan Huilan felt a tightness in her chest. "If you run into any trouble there, you must tell us!"
She turned to her colleague and said, "This comrade is the child of a martyr and a classmate of Qiao Xinyu, who has already gone to the Shangjiang Production Brigade in the Hongqi Commune of Ānguǎng County. I’d like to arrange for her to go there so the two of them can have each other's company."
Upon hearing this, the staff member looked at Xu Qinghuan with newfound respect. "Sister Yuan, what a coincidence! There happens to be exactly one spot left. Comrade, what is your name? Did you bring your household registration book?"
"I brought it. My name is Xu Qinghuan. I volunteer to go to the countryside to build up the rural areas and receive re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants!" Xu Qinghuan handed over the registration book she had prepared.