The 1960s: The Story of a Country Girl's Journey to the City

Bao Ya didn't quite understand why Lin Chuxue had approached her, but she couldn't let her leave her things at her house no matter what.

She walked to the intersection where Sister Chen's house was located, and hid at the corner like a thief, peeking out from behind the wall to observe Lin Chuxue, intending to wait until she left before going back.

He racked his brains trying to figure out a way to make her afraid to come looking for him again.

"Bao Ya, what are you doing here?"

Suddenly a voice rang out behind her, startling Bao Ya so much that her heart skipped a beat.

Turning around, he saw Jiang Yuan behind him, riding a bicycle with one leg on the ground, staring at him with a puzzled look in his eyes.

Why is my wife dressed like that? Don't you have anything else to wear?

Jiang Yuan was wondering where to get some fabric to make clothes for his wife. Looking at his wife's clothes, anyone who didn't know better would think he couldn't afford to support her.

"I...I'll stay here for a while."

Looking down at his scarf, he realized he could recognize her even dressed like that. What kind of eyesight does he have?

"I didn't cook lunch, let's go to the state-run restaurant for something to eat."

Bao Ya suddenly suggested that since Lin Chuxue showed no signs of leaving, they couldn't both just sit there waiting without eating.

"Okay, come on up, let's go now."

When his wife mentioned wanting to eat at a state-run restaurant, Jiang Yuan agreed without hesitation.

Bao Ya didn't want Lin Chuxue to see them, so she sat in the back seat and urged Jiang Yuan to leave quickly.

Meanwhile, Lin Chuxue waited for a long time at Bao Ya's door, but Bao Ya didn't return. She didn't have a watch and didn't know what time it was.

There weren't many pedestrians on the road, and the aroma of food wafted from every household, so it was probably lunchtime.

Qi Jianjun returned to his unit after getting married. Before leaving, he only left her twenty yuan and gave the rest to his mother.

The Qi family are all awful; she can't be bothered with them. She just wants to make some money herself, and if necessary, she can always separate from them.

A few days ago, she secretly collected some eggs and vegetables in the village to sell and made a little money. However, there wasn't enough to make much.

I ran into Lin Baoya at the back gate of the textile factory last time, and I was thinking of getting closer to her so I could put more stuff in her shop. The more I bought, the more money I could make.

Jiang Yuan brought Bao Ya to the state-run restaurant. It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was quite crowded, so the two of them had to wait in line outside.

"Jiang Yuan, over here."

A man in his thirties wearing a Zhongshan suit waved to them from the front, and seemed to know Jiang Yuan quite well.

"Director Fang."

Jiang Yuan called out and pulled Bao Ya over. This man was Director Fang from the state-run restaurant, who was also helping out at the front.

Bao Ya nodded to him, which was considered a greeting.

"You two, once you've ordered, go eat at that table in the back. There won't be any seats available in the front for a while."

"Okay, I'll go order first. Baoya, what do you want to eat?"

"Beef noodles."

It's freezing cold. Bao Ya has been wandering around outside for half a day and now she wants something hot to drink.

Jiang Yuan ordered two bowls of beef noodles and four sesame seed cakes, then took Bao Ya to the small room inside.

This room is the hotel's staff lounge. It's a small room with a small table, two long benches, and a locker for their clothes at the back.

They had barely sat down when Sister Qian, the waitress, brought in their noodles, followed by Simao.

"Sister, what's wrong...?"

Seeing Bao Ya's outfit, Simao's eyes widened in surprise, and then he looked at Jiang Yuan with an unfriendly gaze.

His sister had only been married for a few days, yet she was dressed in rags like a beggar. What was Jiang Yuan up to?

Jiang Yuan was a little flustered by Si Mao's look. What had he done wrong?

Sister Qian paused for a moment while placing the noodles, then looked at Bao Ya and slowed her movements, waiting to hear what gossip was going on.

Bao Ya looked at her clothes and realized they had misunderstood, so she quickly explained:

"I was dealing with coal ash this morning, and I forgot to change my clothes when I came out."

As he spoke, he quickly unbuttoned his tattered clothes, revealing a new cotton-padded jacket underneath.

Burnt honeycomb briquettes often stick together, so when replacing them with new ones, you have to pick them out and knock off the bottom piece, otherwise the new ones won't fit.

Hearing her say that, Simao realized it was a misunderstanding and scratched his head a little embarrassedly. He quickly put the side dishes on the table.

"My master asked me to bring this to you. I'm off to work now."

After saying that, she turned and ran away. Sister Qian smiled at them and went to get busy.

Bao Ya picked up the spoon, drank a few mouthfuls of the hot noodle soup, and felt much warmer before asking Jiang Yuan:

"Are you very familiar with the people at the state-run restaurant?"

I previously thought he only had a good personal relationship with Chef Sun, but now it seems he's quite familiar with everyone in the restaurant.

"Yes, in the past, when the villagers hunted game, they would bring some of it to the state-run restaurant to exchange for other things."

Jiang Yuan didn't explain in detail, but Bao Ya roughly understood. During the famine, the state-run restaurants didn't lack food; they probably traded game for food with them.

Bao Ya didn't ask any more questions and lowered her head to start eating her noodles.

After the meal, Bao Ya told him to just take her to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Jiang Yuan dropped her off at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative and went to work. Bao Ya bought two packs of matches from the cooperative and slowly walked home.

He peeked out from the alley entrance, and only when he didn't see Lin Chuxue did he feel relieved enough to go home.

"Bao Ya is back."

She had just opened the door when Granny Zhou suddenly called out behind her, startling her so much that she nearly dropped the lock she was holding.

She slowly turned around, thinking that Lin Chuxue hadn't left yet and had been called home by Granny Zhou.

Bao Ya breathed a sigh of relief when she saw only Granny Zhou standing at her door.

"Aunt Zhou, is there something you need?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to let you know that a girl came looking for you this morning, saying she's your cousin."

I brought you a lot of things, but you didn't come back for ages, so I carried them back.

Bao Ya wanted to roll her eyes. Was that something she brought for herself? She clearly wanted to sell it herself, but…

Her eyes lit up, and suddenly a good idea came to her. She immediately smiled and said to Granny Zhou:

"Last time I went back home, my cousin said she would bring me some things. But coincidentally, I went to my aunt's house today to help her with some chores. I didn't expect her to come today. Look at the mess this has made."

Aunt Zhou, if my cousin comes again next time, please have her leave her things at your house first. I'll definitely thank you properly when she gets back!

When Granny Zhou heard this, she was surprised to hear such good news. Everyone on the street knew that Bao Ya's family often sent her things, so Granny Zhou believed Bao Ya's words without a doubt.

It would be beneficial to let her leave her things at her house for a while; it's practically free, so why not take advantage of it?

After speaking with Granny Zhou, Bao Ya went inside.

The female protagonist is a very strange creature. If you report her for speculation and profiteering, you might end up getting yourself into trouble.

If you're just putting things at her house to make money, then I'll find a way to fleece her. As long as she gets involved with me, I won't make any money. I bet she'll avoid me from now on.

Thinking of this, Bao Ya's mood instantly improved; she was truly a clever person.