Volume One, Chapter 20: Going to the Market

Just as they were about to continue walking, Xia Nannan looked down at the sweet potato longer than her palm and suddenly remembered the sweet potato dessert her mother always made during the New Year when she was a child. When she asked the price, it was six cents per jin. Xia Nannan paused for half a second before starting to haggle with the vendor.

Since all the vegetables were homegrown, they eventually settled on four cents per jin and bought five jin of sweet potatoes.

With sweet potato dessert, how could eight-treasure sweet rice be missing?

Without ration coupons, they bought glutinous rice at twenty-three cents per jin, a bottle of genuine farmhouse honey for one yuan, half a jin of jujubes, and a jin of raisins.

They initially planned to buy brown sugar and white sugar but remembered that there was still a good supply at home from when Wang Cui was around.

After circling the market again, they also bought some potatoes, Chinese cabbage, red carrots, white radishes, and green onions—each a jin—since Xia Nannan planned to make vegetarian meatballs at home.

She had intended to buy some cilantro as well, but no matter where she looked, it was nowhere to be found. It was probably difficult to grow at this time, so no one was planting it.

Xia Nannan was born in Province S, where spicy bean paste is considered a staple dish. They happened to come across some homemade Doubanjiang (fermented broad bean paste) made by an elderly lady, so they bought a jin.

They also bought two jin of bulk vermicelli, an unfamiliar frozen fish, and a large rooster. The vendor said he could prepare the chicken on the spot, but Gu Nanzhou refused and strode off carrying the live bird.

All these items totaled about ten yuan. Looking at the modest sum, Xia Nannan realized that a laborer’s monthly wage in this era was only about thirty to forty yuan. She had just spent nearly half a month’s salary in one go.

Good heavens! She wasn’t even working yet! If she kept this up, she would soon be living on thin air.

At least she had the foresight to bring twenty yuan when she left the house; otherwise, it would have been truly embarrassing.

They had bought so many things that Gu Nanzhou suggested putting them in the car first. The two of them squeezed out of the crowd, puffing and panting, and stored the goods. This time, they were wiser and headed straight to the outskirts of the market, walking about twenty meters before slipping back into the crowd through a vendor’s stall.

Even then, the crowd was so dense that they could only move forward at a snail’s pace, their toes stepping on heels, with no chance to quicken their pace.

Xia Nannan’s eyes were filled with wonder, while Gu Nanzhou’s were filled with curiosity about everything surrounding the inquisitive Xia Nannan.

They bought some fabric, buckwheat husks, and had a set of bed sheets, a duvet cover, and two pillows made on the spot.

Originally, they planned to make just one set, but the remaining two pieces of cloth were so beautiful that they decided to make a pair—handy for guests to use.

Watching the thoughtful little girl, Gu Nanzhou felt sweeter inside than if he had eaten candy.

They worked the sewing machine together, and in no time the bed linens were finished. Xia Nannan was very pleased with the result. She paid and left, carrying the items.

The fabric Xia Nannan had chosen was more suited to masculine tastes, but Gu Nanzhou wanted to experience something fresher and lighter, so Xia Nannan teasingly picked a pale pink cloth with small floral patterns. To her surprise, he agreed.

“Sis, which fabric did that young couple just buy? I want a set too,” a woman said.

Gu Nanzhou’s sharp ears caught every word the woman said, and a faint smile curved his lips.

They had only planned to buy some bedding, but ended up going to the nearby supply and marketing cooperative to purchase pots, bowls, slippers, towels, and other essentials for the new home.

With so many miscellaneous items, Xia Nannan began to doubt whether the jeep could hold everything.

After shopping, instead of heading straight home, Gu Nanzhou parked in front of a row of storefronts.

“You stay in the car; I’ll go get something,” he said to Xia Nannan.

After greeting her, Gu Nanzhou entered a tailor shop, emerging later followed by the shop owner who helped carry the goods. They chatted amicably, seeming to have a good relationship.

The already packed back seat was now stuffed to the brim, not even a child could fit in.

Xia Nannan was surprised. Didn’t the army issue clothes? Why were they ordering so many custom-made items?

Curious but not nosy, she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing Gu Nanzhou must have his own plans.

After picking up the goods, Gu Nanzhou drove to the state-run restaurant in the eastern part of town. Just as they stepped inside, they bumped into an acquaintance.

Bai Yuwei stood up to greet Gu Nanzhou, but he ignored her, leading Xia Nannan toward a window seat deeper inside.

Xia Nannan didn’t know what was going on between the two but found herself awkwardly stuck in the middle.

Yet she couldn’t say anything, so she just bore the feeling of being scrutinized by Bai Yuwei’s piercing gaze and pretended not to notice.

Twenty minutes later, four dishes and a soup arrived steaming hot, warming them just by sight.

As they were about to dig in, the stool beside Xia Nannan suddenly shifted, and Bai Yuwei sat down right next to her, eyes shining with tears.

Gu Nanzhou frowned and picked up a rib, placing it in Xia Nannan’s bowl. “Comrade Bai, still not full?”

Bai Yuwei’s eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Xia Nannan was at a loss. She quickly kicked Gu Nanzhou under the table, signaling him to say less.

She got up to find a waiter for a bowl of rice, placing it in front of Bai Yuwei along with a pair of chopsticks.

As the awkward atmosphere grew thicker, Xia Nannan picked up a rib with the most meat and placed it in Bai Yuwei’s bowl. “It’s all hot dishes. If you don’t eat soon, it’ll get cold.”

Without looking up, she started eating her own meal. If not for Gu Nanzhou giving her a piece of fish, she wouldn’t have bothered to glance at Bai Yuwei.

But when she looked, Xia Nannan nearly wanted to carry her bowl to another table.

Bai Yuwei’s tears flowed freely, falling into her untouched rice, drawing the attention of many diners.

Gu Nanzhou served Xia Nannan a bowl of soup with an expressionless face. “Maybe you should step outside and cry first. Don’t ruin others’ appetite.”

Although it wasn’t peak meal time, there were still many people eating, and Bai Yuwei’s sobbing was indeed disturbing.

Afraid of being sent away, Bai Yuwei wiped her tears, apologized, and took small bites.

Her eating speed was slower than the chicken’s.

What should have been a harmonious lunch was disrupted, turning the three of them into the center of attention in the entire dining hall.

After finishing, Xia Nannan went to pay, but before the money reached the waiter’s hand, Gu Nanzhou stopped her.

“You’ll need to help me tidy up later, so I’ll pay for this meal.”

Xia Nannan didn’t argue, smiling with narrowed eyes. “Alright, next time I’ll treat you.”

What seemed like a simple exchange looked to Bai Yuwei like a battle for Gu Nanzhou’s affections.

...

“Can we talk alone?”

Gu Nanzhou’s face was cold. “No.”

He said no more, gesturing for Xia Nannan to get in the car.

Obediently, Xia Nannan moved to open the door, but Bai Yuwei beat her to it, slipping into the passenger seat. Glancing back, the rear seat was crammed with the newly bought goods, with a bright red padded coat standing out prominently.