1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

After much persuasion, Chen Weidong finally bought ten feet of foreign cloth for eight yuan and fifty cents, intending to make new clothes for Chen Xiaosui and Chen Xiaoan when he got back.

Then I spent another 85 cents to buy 12 feet of homespun cloth, intending to get Su Man a new outfit as well.

He also saw people selling enamel basins, thermos flasks, flashlights, brooms, iron pots, kitchen knives, needles and thread, soap, matches and other daily necessities. However, most of them were second-hand, and the prices were indeed much cheaper. Quite a few people were asking about them.

Chen Weidong used the few cents he had left to buy some salt and needles and thread. The salt at home was almost gone, so he wanted to buy some more while he didn't need coupons.

We'll need needles and thread for making clothes later, and what we have left at home is simply not enough.

The ten yuan that Su Man just gave me yesterday is gone in an instant. Money really doesn't last long!

He didn't go straight back; he planned to visit all the stalls instead.

Handwritten Spring Festival couplets, New Year pictures, door gods, kitchen god images, red paper lanterns, firecrackers, incense sticks, yellow paper...

Chen Weidong planned to buy another pair of couplets to put up, but he was out of money. He could only write it down and buy it when he came back later.

Hairdressing, shoe repair, pot mending, iron kettle welding... craftsmen set up stalls when there were many people, hoping to earn some "New Year's money," and everyone was busy and sweating profusely.

This time, however, no children were watching them; everyone was there to watch the opera, storytelling, and acrobatics. Not only children, but also many adults were gathered around.

There were also some amateur troupes performing "Mu Guiying" and "The Generals of the Yang Family" on stages they had set up, while the sounds of vendors selling candied hawthorns and popcorn could be heard from time to time.

At the westernmost end, a separate open space was set up for tethering donkeys, cattle, and mules.

There are also pregnant ewes, piglets, Angora rabbits... all of which are brought over by villagers to sell.

Chen Weidong immediately took a liking to the ewe that had just given birth. Although it was a bit thin, its milk sacs were quite full. If it was fed and milked properly, it could produce milk for three or four months without any problem.

He had originally planned to buy a ewe from Yangjiatun to raise at home and milk for Chen Xiaosui and Chen Xiaoan, now that he had come across this opportunity, he would definitely take it if the price was right.

Without lingering, Chen Weidong hurriedly returned home with his belongings.

"Why did you tear so much fabric?"

Seeing Chen Weidong come in carrying a large bundle of cloth, Su Man quickly opened the door.

"This piece of foreign cloth is for making new clothes for the children, and this piece of homespun cloth is for you."

"For me?! I'm perfectly fine in my current clothes, but I'll make you a pair of pants instead. These are the ones you wore when you were sent to the countryside, they've been like that for years."

"I don't need to. I didn't buy you any new clothes when we got married. I'll make you a new cotton-padded coat this time, it'll keep you warm."

Listening to Chen Weidong's words, Su Man was deeply moved. Since Chen Weidong was kicked by the horse, he had indeed become more responsible and family-oriented. However, he had also become more extravagant with his money. In less than a month, he had spent more than forty yuan on hospitalization and shopping.

"By the way, honey, I saw someone selling ewes at the market. I'd like to buy one. Could you give me some money?"

"Why buy a ewe? Didn't we just have a pork stew yesterday?"

Su Man frowned slightly and looked at Chen Weidong. If he didn't give her a good reason, she definitely wouldn't take out the money today.

She planned to save the remaining sixty yuan for her children's schooling; she couldn't afford to spend it recklessly.

"It's not for eating. This is a ewe that just gave birth and is producing milk. I mean, I want to buy it and milk it every day so that Sui Sui and An An can drink it."

Chen Weidong hurriedly explained.

"I drank pig's trotter soup, and maybe that will help me produce milk. Besides, corn porridge will also work. I've seen other families do it this way."

Su Man said hesitantly, but her attitude was not as resolute as before.

"That's quite a difference. Children as young as Sui Sui should drink more milk. It's not only good for their health, but it will also help them grow taller in the future."

If children don't get enough nutrition now, their intelligence will lag far behind other children in the future.

"Really? I've never heard of that before?"

Su Man was skeptical.

"Of course it's true. I heard it from a doctor at the hospital the other day. Otherwise, I wouldn't have spent so much money to buy a sheep."

Chen Weidong nodded firmly. Whether it was the doctor's opinion or not was unimportant; as long as Su Man believed it, that was enough.

Upon hearing that it was the doctor who said it, Su Man's attitude immediately changed. She took out the sixty yuan she had just deposited from the bedding and handed it all to Chen Weidong.

Upon arriving at the sheep stall, Chen Weidong examined the sheep carefully again and asked the elderly man selling them, "Sir, how much are you planning to sell this sheep for?"

"Fifty dollars."

The old man held up five fingers.

"Grandpa, you're selling this too expensively. This sheep weighs at most forty or fifty pounds. If you sold it to a food station or supply and marketing cooperative, it would only cost around thirty yuan. Now it's almost doubled in price."

Chen Weidong shook his head. He had been to the supply and marketing cooperative a few days ago. Now, live sheep are purchased at the "average price of mixed grades," which is about 64 cents per pound. An adult ewe weighs about 50 pounds, and the "official price" sold to the supply and marketing cooperative is just over 30 yuan.

"That's definitely different. When you go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things, you don't need meat coupons. Now I don't accept meat coupons, so the price is definitely higher. Not to mention sheep, even the peppercorns and star anise sold there are much more expensive than at the supply and marketing cooperative."

Young man, if you're really serious about buying, I'll give you a discount of two...one yuan, forty-nine yuan you can take it."

"Sir, how about a lower price, forty yuan? You've been here for quite a while now. There aren't many people who can afford such a big live sheep. If it's slaughtered and sold at the price of meat, there won't be much meat on your sheep."

After some back and forth, Chen Weidong managed to negotiate down another two yuan, eventually winning over the ewe for forty-seven yuan.

Chen Weidong led the sheep to the place where he had just sold couplets.

"How much are these couplets?"

"Eight cents."

"What about the red paper?"

The calligrapher at the stall glanced at Chen Weidong and reluctantly said, "A reamt of 100 sheets costs a little over two yuan."

That one only costs two cents, it's more worthwhile to buy red paper, then he can write it himself when he gets home.

Although he hadn't made a name for himself in his previous life as a writer, he had honed his handwriting. While he wouldn't call himself a master, his handwriting was at least neat and tidy, and he felt he was a bit better than the calligrapher in front of him.

"Then give me two sheets of red paper."

Chen Weidong took out four cents and handed it over.

Passing by a noodle shop, I spent five yuan to buy twenty jin of wheat flour, and finally bought Chen Xiaosui fifty cents worth of hard candy and sesame candy.

When he got home, the sixty yuan he had just taken out was instantly reduced to seven yuan and forty-six cents.

"You just spoil your daughter. Buying so much candy will ruin her teeth sooner or later."

Su Man said irritably that she took the seven yuan and left Chen Weidong with only 46 cents. She felt that she couldn't give him too much money in the future.

Chen Weidong smiled, took out a hard candy, and put it in Chen Xiaosui's mouth. "Is it sweet?"

"sweet!"