Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 62 - 061 Rice more update

Chapter 62: 061 Rice more update

Li Xianglu boiled some noodles, and after everyone had a bowl of chili oil noodles, the two elders stayed home to play chess, while Li Xianglu decided to go out for a walk. Grandpa warned her for a long time before letting her go.

As soon as Li Xianglu stepped out of the door, she found her mask and put the basket that was hanging on her arm into the Storage Ring, then started wandering aimlessly on the streets.

Remembering she still had some food tickets, she first went to a state-run restaurant and bought twenty big meat buns, then used a thirty-centimeter diameter stainless steel basin to buy five big servings of wontons and stuffed them all into the Storage Ring before happily walking out.

When she reached Jinquan Department Store, Li Xianglu roamed around from east to west, finding it extremely amusing.

Upon arriving at the grocery section on the first floor, Li Xianglu, with her sharp eyes, saw a meat stall that had half a sheep hanging, and there were already more than ten people queuing up, so she hurriedly squeezed in line.

An old lady in front turned and, seeing a young girl behind her, smiled and said, "Did the adults at home send you to line up?"

Li Xianglu raised an eyebrow. The old lady spoke with a thick Shanghai accent, so she smiled and responded, "Yes, grandma, are you also buying mutton? Do you know if we need a meat ticket?"

The old lady chuckled, shaking her head, "No need, it’s two yuan and five jiao per jin, cheaper than pork by three fen, but there’s a limit – one person can buy a maximum of two jin. If your family has many members, you can let several people queue up. Although mutton has a stronger smell and isn’t as tasty as pork, it’s quite nourishing when stewed in soup."

Hearing this, Li Xianglu anxiously looked around, wondering where to find more people to help. Then, as if by some telepathic connection, she actually spotted a familiar figure and excitedly shouted, "Brother Qin!"

Qin Xi was buying sugar when he heard a voice, turned his head, and saw Li Xianglu looking at him with a sycophantic face, which startled him. He wondered what she was up to this time.

As he approached, Li Xianglu hurriedly explained that she wanted to buy some mutton. Qin Xi’s eyes lit up, he nodded, handed the sugar he was holding to her, and then quickly left.

While Li Xianglu was puzzled, Qin Xi returned with three people in tow and nonchalantly lined up behind.

Li Xianglu was confused, but when it was her turn, since she was just one person, she could only buy two jin. However, there wasn’t much meat left, and seeing that only half a sheep was remaining, it was too late to call Grandpa.

Carrying her items, Li Xianglu waited at the door until Qin Xi came out with four oil-paper bags, giving two to her.

Li Xianglu, feeling pleasantly surprised, squeezed them – soft and filled with meat. He was so clever to find people to help buy more meat.

Seeing Li Xianglu’s glistening eyes, Qin Xi felt a bit helpless and shook his head. She never seemed to have enough to eat; at the sight of food, she would get all excited like a puppy. Thinking thus, he reached out and touched her head, ruffling her yellow hair.

Li Xianglu, thinking about the meat and planning to make a dish, felt continuous rubbing on her head and wondered what was going on.

Li Xianglu smacked the hand away from her head, glaring unhappily, but, to Qin Xi, she looked like an adorable, angry kitten.

Li Xianglu snorted and asked, "Are you going back?"

Qin Xi smiled, shaking his head, "Not going back, I want to wander around a bit more. Do you want to come with?"

Li Xianglu’s eyes lit up: "Where’s the black market?"

Qin Xi paused and pulled the person towards a hidden area. Only at a turning did he seriously ask, "Are you looking for the black market?"

Li Xianglu gave a nervous smile and said, "I’m just curious, wanting to take a look."

Qin Xi said gravely, "You can’t go recently. They are strict there, and if you get caught, it won’t just be you, Grandpa Li will also be implicated."

Ah, isn’t it already 1974? Why is it still so tense?

But Qin Xi usually speaks reliably. Li Xianglu dared not doubt him and pouted, nodding her head in agreement.

Seeing her inquire but pout unhappily, Qin Xi said amusedly, "Why would you go to the black market? You’re not lacking food or drink. Listen to me and don’t go. After this period, I’ll take you there for a visit."

Upon hearing this, Li Xianglu’s eyes lit up like an obedient puppy, and she quickly nodded.

Qin Xi smiled and said, "I still have things to do. I can only go back later. Take the meat and wait at Grandpa Lan’s place. I’ll return on time in the afternoon."

Li Xianglu nodded her head and watched as he left, her mind filled with too many doubts. What exactly is Qin Xi up to? Could those things he brought back last time be from the black market?

But even if she was greedy, she dared not venture there. Today, her grandpa and others mentioned the situation was tense, and Qin Xi also said it wasn’t the right time recently. That meant something was indeed amiss, and she mustn’t act recklessly.

At the corner, Li Xianglu threw her things into the Storage Ring and continued wandering around with a mask on.

The department store wasn’t interesting and there was nothing good to buy. Li Xianglu leisurely walked back. At an alley entry, she saw two people arguing—one was the old lady with a Shanghai accent from earlier, and the other a middle-aged man. The old lady suddenly shouted, "Help! He’s stealing!"

Li Xianglu was startled and hurried forward, but then remembered she had no weapons. She hastily grabbed a baseball bat from her Storage Ring and struck the man on the back, who instantly fell over.

The old lady, quick-witted, grabbed the basket that had fallen onto the ground and pulled Li Xianglu with her as they ran to the side.

Once they reached another alley entry, the old lady looked around panting heavily. Seeing no one chasing them, she let out a sigh of relief and gratefully said, "Little girl, it’s you! Thank you. If not for you, granny’s meat and snacks would have been gone."

Li Xianglu shook her head, "No need. How can someone rob in broad daylight?"

The old lady helplessly replied, "These days everyone lacks food. I normally don’t dare to go out alone to buy things. My old man’s busy and my daughter-in-law is in confinement. A neighbor mentioned that the store had lamb, so I hurried out to buy some before it sold out."

Li Xianglu walked the old lady deeper in, chatting sporadically. The old lady’s surname was Zhou, from Shanghai. Her old man was a technical engineer, sent to support the Northwest, but she didn’t mention her son’s job.

They parted at the recreation center. Mrs. Zhou went to another courtyard, which seemed to be in decent condition.

Li Xianglu didn’t head straight back but instead went to the turning to take out the basket, put the meat properly, and then took out an old piece of clothing from home that had a pocket with over ten kilos of rice. She had to keep it on a clear path. If rice was eaten up too quickly without sight, people would start suspecting, so she mentioned finding someone sneakily selling rice, and she bought some.

Author’s note: Thank you, Original Also Okay and Greedy Cat’s monthly ticket!

About the last Chapter, Chapter 60 was blocked due to sensitive language. I have edited it, but editors don’t work on weekends. I went ahead with posting Chapter 61. I should be able to fix and post the blocked Chapter 60 tomorrow afternoon. Sorry, I was also confused, unable to find help in my haste.