Once the registration form was signed, there was essentially no turning back from going to the countryside. Of course, Xu Qinghuan had no intention of turning back.
At this time, the state provided a relocation allowance for every educated youth heading to the countryside, but the funds were distributed to the production brigades.
"You're leaving in three days. How are your preparations coming along?" Yuan Huilan asked with concern. "Winter in the Northeast is much colder than it is here. You need to make sure you have everything ready—a thick quilt, a padded jacket, and cotton-padded trousers."
Among the ration coupons she had prepared for Xu Qinghuan, there was one for fifteen jin of cotton, but it clearly wasn't enough. It would only cover one large quilt and a mattress pad; the padded jacket and trousers would also require cotton.
"Auntie Yuan, it’s already enough," Xu Qinghuan said. "You don't need to worry about me. I will take care of myself."
As for the Yong'an Department Store, Xu Qinghuan had been introduced to a salesclerk there by an acquaintance. Since the Educated Youth Office was quite close, she decided to head over there to get everything done at once.
Wang Juan and Tian Xia were very close. After finishing her shift yesterday, Wang Juan had taken a jin of brown sugar and a can of food to visit Tian Xia. Tian Xia had entrusted her with a request: if her savior ever came to buy things, she must be sure to help her out. Wang Juan had naturally agreed; befriending a capable doctor was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
However, Wang Juan hadn't expected Tian Xia’s savior to be so young.
"Are you Xu Huan?" Wang Juan asked, surprised and unable to hide her disbelief.
"I am. Are you Sister Wang?" Xu Qinghuan replied with a smile. "I’m heading to the countryside soon, so I need to buy some things."
"Just tell me what you need. While I can't give you a discount on the price, I can certainly make sure you get the best of what we have. Also, anything that’s in the warehouse, I can sell to you." Wang Juan lowered her voice for the last part.
Certain so-called defective goods were never displayed on the counters; they remained in the warehouse. Like the practice at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, this was effectively an invisible perk for the employees.
"Then thank you so much, Sister Wang!"
Xu Qinghuan needed fifteen jin of cotton. Cotton was a scarce commodity, but Wang Juan gritted her teeth and gave up her own quota, then asked a colleague for another two jin, and combined it with Tian Xia’s share to make the fifteen jin for Xu Qinghuan, all without needing coupons.
There was also a set of bed sheets and quilt covers that had been dyed poorly. Thinking that since she was helping, she should do it thoroughly, Wang Juan brought them out and asked if Xu Qinghuan wanted them—thirty yuan for the set, no coupons required. The quality of the fabric was quite good, only the dyeing was uneven, which wouldn't affect its use. Naturally, Xu Qinghuan wanted them.
Seeing Sister Wang look a bit pained, Xu Qinghuan could understand. Items that originally cost sixty yuan were now being sold for thirty; it was quite a bargain.
She smiled and said, "Sister Wang, I only have my medical skills to offer. If there’s ever anything I can help you with, just let me know."
Sister Wang hesitated for a long time, then leaned in close to Xu Qinghuan’s ear. "Little Xu, there is indeed something I need your help with."
Even though Xu Qinghuan was young, Wang Juan felt she had no other choice—it was a case of treating a dead horse as if it were still alive. After hesitating, she said, "To tell you the truth, my husband and I have been married for six years, and we haven't had any children. We’ve been to the hospital for checkups, and they said there’s nothing wrong with either of us, but after all these years of not conceiving, it’s just not right!"
There was indeed a shadow of deep distress between her brows.
Xu Qinghuan could understand. In this era, perhaps because the environment was clean and the diet was healthy, most people conceived immediately after marriage. It was considered abnormal if there was no news after three months, and people would start gossiping. Not to mention six years without a pregnancy—Wang Juan must have been under immense pressure.
Without overthinking, Xu Qinghuan took Wang Juan's wrist. Wang Juan was startled for a moment, then realized she was taking her pulse. She thought to herself, *She's so young, I wonder if she really has any true ability.* But she was willing to grasp at even the slightest glimmer of hope.
After switching wrists and pondering for a moment, Xu Qinghuan said, "A normal woman ovulates once a month, but your situation is a bit special, Sister Wang. You ovulate roughly once every six months. If the couple doesn't happen to be intimate during those few days of ovulation, you certainly won't get pregnant."
*So the problem really was with her?*
Wang Juan’s face went pale. She was trembling all over. "Little Xu, Doctor Xu, is there any way? Is there any way?"
If she couldn't have children, she would never be able to hold her head high again. Previously, she had the hospital's certification that she was healthy, so it wasn't her fault that she couldn't "lay an egg." But if it turned out it *was* her, and with a mother-in-law like hers, would she even have a path to survive?
"This isn't a big problem," Xu Qinghuan said. "Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll prepare three doses of medicine for you to take over three days. During the time you are taking the medicine, you must be intimate with your husband. Also, there is a risk with taking my medicine..."
"Tell me! No matter what the risk is, I’m not afraid!" Wang Juan wiped the tears from her face, her complexion looking slightly better. As long as she could have a child, even if it cost her life, she would do it.
Xu Qinghuan said, "Don't be nervous. It’s just that there is a possibility you might conceive twins or triplets."
Wang Juan almost wanted to cry again. "Doctor Xu, listen to you! If I could conceive all at once, you would be my great benefactor. I will honor you for the rest of my life!"
Xu Qinghuan: "..." That really wasn't necessary!
"Let me finish buying my things, and I’ll send the medicine to you tomorrow!" Xu Qinghuan said.
Though she was anxious, Wang Juan knew she couldn't rush things. She had wanted to take the medicine today and be with her husband, but she couldn't delay Xu Qinghuan’s business, so she had to agree.
Xu Qinghuan continued her shopping. She bought two tubes of toothpaste and two toothbrushes. She didn't buy underwear, as she had a stock in her Space, including sanitary pads. These were things only available at the Friendship Store, and they didn't even have wings. Fortunately, she had traveled frequently in her past life and kept plenty of supplies in her Space; otherwise, if she had to use traditional menstrual belts now, she would want to bang her head against a wall every minute.
Seeing the candy, she noted that there were three famous types in this era. White Rabbit Creamy Candy went without saying—seven pieces were equal to a cup of milk—so Xu Qinghuan bought three jin at once for five yuan per jin. Yanshi’s crispy candy was also sold here, so she bought two jin. Fruit-flavored hard candies were cheap but didn't taste good, so she only took one jin. Peanut nougat was something Xu Qinghuan liked, so she bought two jin.
Her candy and pastry coupons were completely wiped out. She had wanted to buy some sponge cakes to taste, but with no coupons left, she could only sigh in frustration.
Seeing her buy so much candy, the salesclerk was shocked. "Comrade, you're buying so much candy, can you eat it all?"
Wang Juan explained from the side, "She’s an educated youth heading to the countryside. She needs to stock up—where would they find these things out in the village?"
Upon hearing this, the salesclerks looked on with respect. When they weighed the candy, even the salesclerks, who usually strictly forbade taking advantage of the socialist collective, couldn't help but keep the scale tilted high, giving her at least an extra two qian.
"Thank you!" Xu Qinghuan expressed her sincere gratitude.
"You're welcome! You are going to where the motherland needs you; you are the truly remarkable comrades!" The salesclerk gave Xu Qinghuan a thumbs-up.
Seeing the stationery section, Xu Qinghuan bought some brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone as well.