Chapter 285: Chapter 285

When Li Huan returned from behind the house wearing shoes that were a size too small, covered in filth, Li Xianglu’s boiled fish dish was ready—a large basin filled with bean sprouts, tofu skin, tofu, gluten, and some vegetables, alongside a cold salad of celery and vermicelli, and a pile of sliced cooked beef.

Furthermore, two pan-fried crucian carps were turned into a milky fish soup.

Sister Xing had requested to stay for lunch; Li Xianglu picked a large carp and three small crucian carps from the water bucket for her to take back home, to make lunch for the children, so there was no need for her to come over in the afternoon.

After washing up, Li Huan changed into Li Xianglu’s long-sleeved shirt and pants to come out for the meal. Li Xianglu carried the core of the rice cooker out to serve rice to everyone, while Qin Xi was helping to distribute the food.

Old Qi frowned at the large basin of fish and asked, "Is this enough to eat?"

Li Xianglu paused for a moment, then continued to serve the rice, scooping out a large bowl and placing it in front of him, "Then eat more rice."

Old Qi glanced at the basin of rice in front of him and nodded, "I’ll just have to make do."

Old Qi caused a fuss, refusing to leave; it was boring for the old man to be alone at home, so he just let him stay on. The two could eat a little more together, and just like that, in a month, the grandfather put on two or three pounds, while Old Qi gained nearly seven or eight pounds. The previously gaunt face had become somewhat rounder.

Yet, Li Xianglu noticed that the consumption of meat and grains at home was simply twice the usual amount. It was only 1980, and although food and supplies had become more abundant, it was still a rationing system. Their family of three was allowed 120 kilograms of grains a month, and Old Qi’s outer region quota was also taken at the beginning of the month, which added 43 kilos—all fine grains, which wasn’t bad.

That amounted to over 160 kilograms of grains for four people, but now at the start of October, Li Xianglu saw that a third was gone by lunchtime. If they kept eating and came back a few more times, they would have to revert to the way they ate five years ago, eating buns made of mixed flour and second-crop rice, otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough food.

Fortunately, when Grandma Su left, she had collected 5000 dollars in Foreign Exchange Vouchers. At noon, Li Xianglu discussed with Qin Xi that after lunch they would go to the Overseas Chinese Store by bike to buy some grains. Actually, there were plenty in the Storage Ring, but they needed to buy some openly, especially since Sister Xing was here. Suddenly presenting a pile of grain without explanation would be difficult.

Li Xianglu added more chili to the lunchtime boiled fish, but with plenty of vegetables and fish, it wasn’t too spicy. The old man ate two bowls of rice and a good amount of vegetables and fish meat. Wild catfish differed significantly from farm-raised ones in terms of texture; even a hint of saltiness made them delicious.

After working all morning, Li Huan and the tall guy just couldn’t stop eating. In the end, the tall guy and Old Qi even started fighting over it. Old Qi, fuming with anger and glaring, while the tall guy stood his ground—this was the fish they caught, how come they couldn’t eat their fill.

After the meal, the old man with a cup of tea in hand took a stroll and then went to sleep, saying before entering his room, "Keep going in the afternoon."

Li Xianglu looked at Li Huan with pitiable eyes; the words were clearly directed at Li Huan, meaning to keep working in the afternoon.

Li Huan didn’t mind but looked down at his shoes and frowned, "Do you have bigger shoes?"

Li Xianglu said, "We’re going to the Overseas Chinese Store at noon to buy some grains. Our family’s food consumption has been too fast lately, and our supply is almost gone." Saying this, she deliberately glanced at Old Qi, who was still fishing for bean sprouts in the basin.

Old Qi paused for a moment, then turned to the tall guy, "Hey, he’s talking about you. My food quota has been handed in; I didn’t freeload!"

The tall guy also refused to back down, staring with bull-like eyes, "We were the ones who caught this fish!"

Li Huan glanced at the two before turning to Li Xianglu: "Then could you bring me a pair of shoes, and also buy more meat and ducks? Father loves old duck soup."

As he was speaking, Li Huan gestured with his eyes towards the tall fellow by his side. That tall guy swiftly got up from the table and went outside. Before long, he came back in carrying a handbag, from which he pulled out a stack of Foreign Exchange Vouchers along with fifteen new fifty-yuan bills.

Li Xianglu took one fifty-yuan note and pushed the rest back, then shook her head.

Li Huan didn’t say anything more and packed away the money and vouchers, then he asked about a place to rest.

Li Xianglu pointed to the messy table: "Old Qin and I have to go out for a bit. The maid isn’t coming this afternoon, and all Old Qi knows how to do is break bowls."

Li Huan looked at the leftovers scattered across the table and numbly nodded: "Alright, I’ll get Ah Hu to tidy up later."

The one called Ah Hu was obviously the tall guy. Hearing his name called, he looked over and quickly realized they were asking him to wash the dishes, and he said somewhat displeased: "That old man ate the most."

Meanwhile, Old Qi, who was said to be the biggest eater, had already left leisurely with a toothpick in his mouth, planning to sleep in the backyard before waking up to see if there was anything fun to do.

Li Xianglu washed her face and changed her clothes, and she and Qin Xi left the house. Li Huan, however, handed her a set of car keys: "Driving there would be quicker."

Li Xianglu took them, and Qin Xi carried them out the door.

What changed the most this year was the supply of goods; suddenly, it felt like there was an abundance available. All sorts of goods that used to be listed but never available for purchase are now available. While there’s not a lot of stock, if you queue up early, you can indeed buy them.

Now, what’s the most lacking? People in the city lack money the most. With just a little over twenty yuan in wages each month, as goods become plentiful, people want to buy everything, leading to not enough money.

There are quite a few people in the Overseas Chinese Store. Li Xianglu and Qin Xi bought some high-quality pork chops, a large piece of beef shank, and two ducks, along with two chickens—one male and one female—all of which were cleaned and prepared, making them very convenient to wash and cook when they got back home.

The two then went upstairs and bought women’s shoes, and also bought a watch for Mr. Qin. Mr. Qin’s wristwatch, a Shanghai brand with seventeen jewels, had been worn for over a decade and was badly worn. With the ceremony with Aunt Yang just two days away, they decided to present Mr. Qin with a watch. Now that he was a deputy director, wearing an imported watch was fitting, so they bought him a second-class imported Omega watch with four diamonds, a large round dial, and a silver-gray color, which looked especially classy.

Just as they were about to leave after paying, Li Xianglu’s sharp eyes spotted a familiar figure looking at watches in the Grade Four watch section—It was Iro.

Li Xianglu remembered that Iro had recently asked Lu Anna for a long-term remittance coupon for a watch voucher, saying it was a gift for his brother.

She had seen Iro’s younger brother before, wearing a Grade Four Innag watch that looked very new. Why would he need another one as a gift?

But there was no need to go and say hello. They had bought so many things and had to hurry back.

PS: I feel like Little Confused really loves me, telling me to correct any typos immediately. Sorry I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to go online; I’ll make changes when I’m less busy tomorrow.