RIRW – Chapter 22

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The county only had two supply and marketing cooperatives. Zuo Dan headed to the one closer to the school. It took about half an hour to walk there.

Inside, there was only one salesperson, a woman who appeared to be in her thirties. She wore a blue work uniform, cracking sunflower seeds while knitting a sweater. When Zuo Dan walked in, she barely looked up and didn’t bother acknowledging her. There was none of the warm, welcoming attitude you’d expect from service workers in later years.

At this time, goods were scarce, and sellers had more authority than buyers. If you wanted to buy something, you had to build relationships with these people. Otherwise, with a simple “Sold out,” you’d be left empty-handed. And you might find yourself doing without for another month—or longer.

While internally criticizing this distorted social order, Zuo Dan kept her expression neutral, looking around before pointing at a pile of rice that still contained bits of gravel. She knew this was low-grade rice, not considered refined or high-quality. However, it was the best available in the store—anything better had likely been bought up long ago.

“How much is this?” Zuo Dan asked.

“One yuan and three cents per jin,” the woman said offhandedly, barely glancing at the rice.

Zuo Dan pointed to the sorghum rice next to it. “And this?”

“One yuan and one cent.”

“Cornmeal?”

“Eight cents.”

“Pork?”

“Six yuan per jin… Hey, why are you asking so much? Are you buying or not? Do you even have ration tickets for meat?”

Seeing that the salesperson was becoming impatient, Zuo Dan flashed a smile. “Don’t rush, comrade,” she said, reaching into the small burlap bag she carried and pulling out an apple.

“Here, have a taste.”

The woman froze, surprised by Zuo Dan’s generosity in offering her such a fine piece of fruit.

Zuo Dan didn’t feel any reluctance. Unlike the grain her grandmother had prepared for her, the apples came from the orchard, which had plenty. They were a renewable resource. If it weren’t for the fact that selling fruit in bulk was impossible in this era, she would have already started doing so. Using them to build goodwill didn’t bother her at all.

Although the salesperson didn’t know Zuo Dan’s motives, she still reached out and took the apple.

Fresh fruit was hard to come by in those days. Even at their supply and marketing cooperative, they only received about twenty jin of fruit a month. And as soon as it arrived, the upper-level leaders would reserve most of it. By the time the stock was supposed to be available, it was already gone. Even the cooperative’s salespeople rarely had access to it, let alone the general public.

“So, what’s the matter? Go ahead and say it,” the woman said. People back then were straightforward—if they received a benefit, they felt obliged to return the favor.

“Comrade, it’s nothing much,” Zuo Dan began with a grin. “I just wanted to ask about the current price of fruit. To be honest, my sister-in-law just gave birth and is recovering in the hospital. Relatives from our hometown brought us some fruit. They said it came from the fruit trees on their production team, and since it’s harvest season, every household got a share. Knowing my sister-in-law loves fruit, they exchanged some for her to eat. My family saw the large bag and asked me to come out and inquire about fruit prices so they can properly repay the favor later.”

Zuo Dan spun her story with ease, making it sound entirely believable.

Hearing this, the salesperson’s opinion of Zuo Dan rose. Anyone whose family received such good fruit from their hometown must have decent circumstances. Coupled with the apple Zuo Dan had just offered, the woman softened her attitude and even smiled.

“So that’s what this is about. It’s no big deal; you could’ve just asked directly,” she said. “The price of fruit depends on the quantity and quality. Lower-grade, misshapen fruits might go for five cents a jin. Better-looking ones can sell for two to three dimes each. But that apple you just gave me—I’ve never seen anything so fine in all my years. With that size and appearance, it could easily sell for two dimes—if there was enough supply. When demand exceeds supply, though, even money can’t buy it.”

The apple had clearly done its job. The salesperson leaned closer and added in a lower voice, “Just last month, the first shipment of fruit came in. It arrived at night, and by the next day, it was already reserved by the higher-ups. When we opened the store the next morning, the customers who lined up didn’t get a single piece.”

There was simply no way around it. At this time, most efforts were focused on grain production. Few production teams were willing to plant fruit trees, which required more skill and care than grains. With grain, you’d at least harvest something, but with fruit trees, if they weren’t cultivated properly, you might not even get a yield.

Zuo Dan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She hadn’t expected fruits to be so valuable in this era.

Before, she assumed everyone was focused solely on grains and wouldn’t spend money on luxuries like fruit. Now it seemed that there would always be affluent people willing to indulge.

Her eyes gleamed as she exclaimed, “Oh my, our relatives are way too generous, gifting us so much! We can’t even finish it all. It’d be such a waste for such good stuff to go bad. It’d be better to trade it for grain.”

The saleswoman’s ears perked up. “You’re thinking of trading it for grain?”

“Of course,” Zuo Dan replied. “My dad said if we can’t finish it, we might as well take it back to the countryside and trade it with the villagers for grain. No point letting it rot at home.”

“Are all the apples like the one you showed me?”

“All the same,” Zuo Dan replied, hefting her bag as if ready to leave. “Big sister, I’ve got to go now. Thanks for your help today. I’ll let my dad know so we can take the fruit back home quickly.”

She turned to leave, calculating in her mind that if the saleswoman didn’t call out to her by the time she stepped outside, she’d head straight to the hospital to find a buyer. Now that she knew the market rates, she wasn’t worried about finding customers.

“Hey! Wait a minute, comrade!” The saleswoman quickly came out from behind the counter. “Don’t leave just yet! If you want to trade for grain, why go all the way back to the countryside? You can trade it right here with me.”

Her eyes were practically shining. Grain was a staple, and unless it was a famine year, it was supplied in relatively stable quantities. Fruit, on the other hand, was a luxury, scarce throughout the year and rarely available in bulk.

Plenty of her acquaintances had already asked her to keep an eye out for even slightly bruised fruit. Reflecting on it, she regretted quoting such a high price earlier. If she’d known Zuo Dan wanted to trade apples, she could’ve pushed the price lower.

Zuo Dan hesitated. “Is that really okay? I’ve never traded with a supply and marketing cooperative before. Won’t people talk?”

Sensing Zuo Dan’s reluctance, the saleswoman quickly reassured her. “What’s the problem? This is the supply and marketing cooperative, a state-run enterprise!” Her tone carried a note of pride.

Zuo Dan feigned hesitation before saying, “Then how would the trade work? My dad said to exchange it all for fine grains, since my sister-in-law just gave birth and needs good food.”

“Don’t worry, we have everything here at the cooperative,” the saleswoman said confidently. “How many pounds of fruit do you have in total?”

Zuo Dan lifted her bag slightly. “About twenty pounds or so.”

“So much!” The saleswoman was even more delighted, holding onto Zuo Dan’s arm to keep her from leaving. “The cooperative will take it all!”

Though she claimed the cooperative would accept the apples, she had no intention of actually handing them over. She had already planned to keep seven or eight pounds for herself. With her monthly salary of thirty yuan, she could afford an occasional treat. More importantly, her children needed the nutrition, and apples made impressive gifts. The rest could be divided among her family and friends—twenty pounds wouldn’t be enough to go around.

“Little sister, do you have more at home? If you can’t finish it all, bring the rest here to trade.” Her tone had become friendlier, even intimate.

Zuo Dan smiled and replied, “Big sister, we do have a bit more, but I’m not sure if my dad would want to trade it. My sister-in-law is still recovering, and she might want to keep it.”

The saleswoman countered, “How much could she possibly eat? Better to trade it for grain.”

“You’re right, big sister. I’ll ask when I get home. How should we weigh the fruit?”

“Leave it to me!” The saleswoman fetched a balance scale from behind the counter, hooked the bag onto it, and after two adjustments of the weights, she announced, “Twenty-six pounds. What kinds of fine grains would you like to trade for?”

Zuo Dan calculated that the apples could fetch over five yuan. Considering the average monthly salary was just over thirty yuan, her little trade in fruit was unexpectedly lucrative. But she knew this wasn’t a sustainable business.

Feigning hesitation, she said, “I don’t think we can finish this much fine grain either…”

The saleswoman, quick to catch on, suggested, “If you can’t finish fine grain, trade for ration coupons instead.” She was relieved, as it would be difficult to make up the difference with grain coupons alone. Supplementing with other types of coupons would be easier.

Zuo Dan nodded. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, big sister.”

She traded most of the apples for flour, sorghum, and cornmeal, totaling about twenty pounds. Though it didn’t seem like much, these were valuable commodities that not everyone could afford, even with coupons. The remainder she didn’t trade for cash, receiving 3.4 yuan instead. Additionally, she was given two pounds of pork ration coupons and two industrial product coupons.

While Zuo Dan didn’t need industrial goods, she remembered her family needed a new iron pot and planned to use the coupons for that. As for the pork coupons, they’d come in handy for buying meat.

Before she left, the saleswoman hinted that if her relatives in the countryside had more fruit, they should bring it to trade at the cooperative. Zuo Dan agreed casually but didn’t plan to return.

There weren’t many fruit growers around, and trading with the cooperative, a government-run entity, posed risks due to its broad reach. Long-term collaboration with them could lead to complications. Zuo Dan decided it was better to play it safe.

In her mind, she adopted a guerrilla warfare strategy—keeping mobile and avoiding being tied to one place. In such times, making money required a diverse approach, not putting all her eggs in one basket.

With a bag of grain in one hand and cash in her pocket, Zuo Dan felt a sense of satisfaction.

Knowing the current market dynamics, she was optimistic about her future. Even if she couldn’t amass a fortune in the next few years, relying on the orchard would ensure a comfortable, self-sufficient life. When the reforms and opening-up policies were introduced in a few years, her opportunities would only multiply.

Returning to the school, she once again asked the elderly guard to call Zuo Cong out of the classroom.

Zuo Cong, still dejected, hadn’t been able to focus in class. Hearing that his sister had come again, he ran out excitedly, his feet flying, and reached Zuo Dan in just a few steps.

“Sis, I thought…” Zuo Cong was so happy he couldn’t finish his sentence.

“You thought I’d left? Do you think I’d leave without saying goodbye? I was just helping the educated youth from the village deliver a message to their relatives in the county.”

“I was wrong, sis.”

“Good. Now that you know better, help me carry these things inside, and we’ll talk.”

Zuo Dan pointed to the bag at her feet. Zuo Cong quickly picked it up, finding it a bit heavy. “Sister, what is this?”

Zuo Dan walked toward the school. “I’ll tell you in a bit.”

Since she had visited before, Zuo Dan directly led Zuo Cong to the cafeteria. Once there, she took the grain from Zuo Cong’s hands and handed it to the head chef she had met earlier.

“Chef, this is Zuo Cong’s food allowance for the month. No matter what he eats in the morning or evening, he must have a large steamed bun for lunch. Please make sure he gets it.”

The chef was so startled that the pipe in his mouth nearly fell out. The black bread regular suddenly turning extravagant? And insisting on a large steamed bun at that—it was like switching from a slingshot to a rifle.

Zuo Cong was equally shocked. He grabbed the bag of grain and pulled Zuo Dan aside, but she refused to budge. “What are you doing?”

“Sister, I should be asking you that! Where did you get this grain? And I don’t need those big steamed buns—I can fill up on black bread just fine,” Zuo Cong said firmly.

Zuo Dan let out a deep sigh. “I don’t want you being laughed at. Do you think I wasn’t upset when I spoke so confidently in the cafeteria earlier?”

Hearing this, Zuo Cong lowered his head, feeling guilty.

“I won’t hide it from you—this grain was bought with my own money. I earned it working for those educated youths. It’s my private stash; no one knows about it. I just want to show those who look down on us that even poor farmers can eat large steamed buns with their own hard work. Do you think your classmate Xu Liang has anything better than you besides his well-off family? As far as I’m concerned, you’re better than him in every way. So eat this food with confidence, understand? When it’s finished, focus on studying hard and making something of yourself. Don’t let me down.”

Even Zuo Dan felt moved by her own words. Having given him the food, she wasn’t about to let this chance to earn his loyalty slip.

Zuo Cong’s eyes grew misty as he nodded repeatedly. “I’ll eat it, Sister. I’ll definitely eat it. And I’ll always remember your kindness.”

Seeing his emotional expression, Zuo Dan felt a bit exasperated. “One more thing—just because I gave you this food doesn’t mean you should flaunt it. For us, food is food, no matter what it is. Our goal is to grow tall and strong. If I find out you’re making fun of others because you’re eating steamed buns, I’ll break your legs.”

Zuo Cong nodded again, vigorously this time. Honestly, even if his sister hadn’t said anything, he wouldn’t have acted that way. Her words at lunch had already spread throughout the school. Many of his peers from poor families had thanked him after class, and the show-offs no longer dared to say anything.

After returning the grain to the head chef and giving him detailed instructions, Zuo Dan pulled Zuo Cong out of the cafeteria. Once back in his dormitory, she took out two large apples from her pocket. “These were given to me by the relatives of the educated youths I helped. You take them.” She shoved the apples into his hands. “Alright, I really have to go now. Don’t see me off—if you miss class, I’ll be angry.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away. She couldn’t handle too much sentimentality.

By the time Zuo Cong ran out holding the apples, Zuo Dan was already far off. Watching her leave through the school gates, Zuo Cong felt a mix of emotions. His sister had spent her hard-earned money to buy grain for him and even saved the fruits she was given, giving them to him instead of eating them herself.

Thinking back to when he had felt that his sister was cold and distant, he now felt like a heartless beast.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Zuo Cong muttered, “Sister, I’ll study hard and give you a good life in the future.”

Leaving the school, Zuo Dan strolled with her hands in her pockets, humming to herself. That kid had been so emotional that it left her feeling a bit guilty for playing on his feelings. Still, having such a brother wasn’t bad—maybe in the future, he could help her out in a pinch or just be someone for her to tease when she was bored.

Zuo Dan was a sentimental person. After arriving in this unfamiliar era, she had thought a lot about whether to leave the Zuo family and live on her own or stay and accept the original owner’s life. Feeling the kindness of Zuo Dacheng and Li Hui, she realized she didn’t want to go back to the lonely life she had led before.

In her previous life, she had only her grandmother, and after her grandmother passed, she was left to fend for herself. That kind of freedom, though unrestrained, came with a coldness only she could understand.

Now, Zuo Dan feared loneliness. Since fate had granted her a family this time, she decided to try living with them.

With her business in town done, Zuo Dan didn’t plan to head home immediately. Since she rarely came here, she figured she might as well make some money before returning. She felt her current personal assets were too meager, and living without money was not an option.

Seeing that it was still early, she went to the county guesthouse, used her introduction letter, and rented a room for a few cents. Once inside, she locked the door and entered the orchard space to pick fruit.

Now that she understood the market, she prepared more this time. Yesterday, thinking the fruits wouldn’t sell for much, she hadn’t brought enough. This time, she picked a good seventy to eighty pounds and packed them into burlap bags she had taken from the Zuo family.

Satisfied with her preparations, she left the guesthouse, carrying her goods.

Meanwhile, at the commune office in town, Shen Yiming stepped out of the building.

“Yiming, heading back?” Director Guo of the Women’s Federation greeted him warmly as she entered. “Why not stay here? There’s a place for you to stay at the commune—it’ll save you the trip back and forth.”

Shen Yiming smiled. “I’ve got some things to handle back home, Director Guo. By the way, what time is the bus back from the county?”

“I think it’s at six. Why? Waiting for someone?”

“No, just asking.” Shen Yiming smiled, slinging his green military bag over his shoulder as he walked out.

Seeing him about to leave, Director Guo stopped him. “Wait a minute! What’s the rush? How far is your place? Take the commune’s bicycle back—it’s getting late, and no one’s using it.”

The commune only had two bicycles, usually reserved for cadres visiting the production teams.

Watching Shen Yiming ride off on one, Director Guo couldn’t help but think he looked even more handsome. No wonder young women liked to date boys with bicycles—seeing a young man ride one was quite the sight.