novelraw Chapter 417 - 13: Department Store and State-owned Restaurant [Requesting Monthly Votes]
Chapter 417 - 13: Department Store and State-owned Restaurant [Requesting Monthly Votes]
Chapter 417: Chapter 13: Department Store and State-owned Restaurant [Requesting Monthly Votes]
In the entire area of nine counties within ten miles, there was only one main city, and Shi Suifeng felt awkward all the way.
Especially when Little He finally stopped the bicycle, and Shi Suifeng managed to move his stiff buttocks to put his feet on the ground, it seemed like everyone around was criticizing him for not treating the girl like a person.
A big guy enjoying the back seat while a little girl pedals in front...
Heh — Ridiculous!
However, the instigator didn’t feel a thing—or maybe he did. But for Chu River, none of this mattered.
She looked up at the new sights of the city, unable to contain her excitement as she rubbed her hands together:
"Should we go to the department store or the state-run restaurant first?"
With a numb expression, Shi Suifeng finally had the chance to naturally take the bicycle handle from her hand, mumbling, "Let’s go to the train station first. I need to buy the tickets."
...
Both of them were destined for big things, and their mental resilience was not bad. By the time Shi Suifeng queued with his credentials to buy tickets at the train station, there were still three hours before the train’s departure.
"Let’s go!" he finally showed some grand attitude like a male protagonist: "To the department store!"
Chu River immediately filled with anticipation—malted milk, walnut crisps, orange candies, White Rabbit sweets...
She’s here! She’s here!
She’s come with food tickets and money!
It was exactly ten o’clock in the morning, and the department store was still crowded. It was the first time in two lifetimes that Chu River entered this place, curiously looking at the bustling crowd, then glanced up at the crisscrossing wires and clips, unable to help but stop and take another look.
Shi Suifeng, however, was not surprised. He just looked down and asked, "In name, we’re married. I also brought cloth tickets; do you want to buy new clothes?"
"You spendthrift!" Chu Aiguo righteously accused him: "What kind of family is this? With White Rabbit sweets right in front of you, how can you only think about new clothes?"
"What does a little worn clothing matter, laborers should have the spirit of laborers."
Shi Suifeng: ...
Alright then.
He realized his mistake.
He took out the money and tickets from his pocket: "Go ahead and buy them."
Chu River couldn’t help but stomp excitedly and then, clutching the money and tickets, plunged into the sea of people.
Shi Suifeng stood still, looking at the wires overhead with small tickets clipped on them, listening to Chu River’s loud voice:
"Two pounds of White Rabbit!"
"Three pounds of walnut crisps!"
"Malted milk, malted milk!"
He couldn’t help but laugh—now it was settled that two major tasks were to be done when returning to the unit.
Like reporting on Zhao Weihong’s oddities.
Like organizing the yard assigned to him, stockpiling food. And giving everyone a heads up that his sister is coming over...
...
Chu Aiguo now regretted not letting Shi Suifeng pick two baskets first. His arms were so full he couldn’t free them, and the salesperson ended up helping him stack them.
If it weren’t for all the tickets being spent, she could have spent all the few hundred yuan at the department store.
Didn’t buy any clothes, shoes, tunics, face cream, soap, or clam oil.
Everything in her arms was food.
Shi Suifeng had been prepared for this, looked around, and pulled a small bag of broken biscuits from her arms, turning to find a middle-aged man squatting at the door waiting for his wife.
"Brother, we bought too much and can’t take it all. How about we trade for your basket?"
The man was simple, and upon seeing the bag of biscuits, he hungrily swallowed, but then rummaged under the basket to pull out a fertilizer bag:
"No need to trade, this basket I made isn’t worth much... How about this, I’ll give you the fertilizer bag, and you give me two biscuits, so I can take them back for the kids to try."
These days, fertilizers were scarce commodities, thick and sturdy fertilizer bags could make clothes and sheets, of course, they were also a resource.
Shi Suifeng smiled even more.
"Alright, brother, thank you very much."
He turned back to put the biscuit crumbs back into Chu River’s arms and grabbed a handful of White Rabbit from another bag.
"Take it back and let the kids have a taste of something new!"
White Rabbit sweets!
The middle-aged man’s face flushed with excitement. There were seven or eight pieces in that handful! He opened his mouth to refuse but saw that the person in front had disappeared into the crowd.
He licked his lips, carefully tucked the White Rabbit back into his pocket, and, as if guarding a treasure, squatted down, continuing to keep watch over his basket.
...
"My White Rabbit..."
Chu River sucked on the creamy White Rabbit candy, feeling heartbroken over the large handful that was given away.
She only bought two pounds in total.