Chapter 17

"Let's go, I'll treat you to a meal at a state-owned restaurant."

Li Dong was unfamiliar with the state-owned restaurant, but Huang Yingnan, who knew the way, quickly led him to one. In those days, state-owned restaurants were all pretty much the same, with large signs.

There weren't many people dining out today, as it wasn't a holiday. After all, in those times, not many families had the extra money to eat out. People usually only went to restaurants when relatives visited or when they were dating someone. Young women liked it, and young men did it to save face.

An ordinary person could brag about eating out for half a year. Li Dong looked around and noticed there was no sign prohibiting the mistreatment of customers, so he figured they probably didn't mistreat customers often, or there would be a sign.

The two arrived at the restaurant. In those days, there were no menus; you had to look at what was available. The blackboard listed the food served that day, and you could order by looking at the board or the menu cards hanging up.

"Comrade, do you have meat buns today?"

"None left."

The girl behind the ticket counter glanced at Huang Yingnan impatiently. She couldn't read, and these people were really annoying.

"Then what do you have today?"

"Can't you read it yourself?"

Well, that attitude, Li Dong thought. Indeed, they were quite arrogant. But it wasn't their fault. In those days, whether you did a good job or a bad job, the pay was the same, and there were no bonuses. As for complaints, it was a joke; there was nowhere to complain.

You either put up with it or left. As long as no one died, your job was secure. Huang Yingnan didn't think there was anything wrong with the service. He looked at the blackboard and turned to Li Dong.

"No more big meat buns, only dumplings are left."

"Let's have something else."

Li Dong glanced at the board. There were quite a few options. "One plate of stir-fried pork slices, one plate of pork and tofu, one plate of braised eggplant, and one bowl of meatball soup."

"Half a catty of dumplings."

"Ticket, please."

The server, who had been a bit unenthusiastic, showed a hint of surprise. This order would cost over two yuan. The stir-fried pork slices were 66 cents, the pork and tofu 35 cents, the eggplant 25 cents, the meatball soup 55 cents, and the half catty of dumplings 62 cents.

Two yuan and 43 cents, plus three catties of food coupons. Li Dong didn't have that many food coupons. "Does anyone here have food coupons? I can trade some cloth coupons."

In those days, cloth coupons were even more valuable than food coupons. Many people only got three feet of cloth coupons a year. Li Dong's offer to trade cloth coupons for food coupons was quite generous. He exchanged the coupons and handed them to the server, who then wrote the ticket for two yuan and 43 cents plus three catties of food coupons.

This order surprised all the customers in the restaurant. Most people only ordered two liang of dumplings, which cost about 20 to 30 cents, considered quite luxurious. Others might order a bowl of rice and a vegetable dish for about 20 cents. This was what outsiders envied.

But Li Dong, from the start, ordered meat dishes, and several of them. Huang Yingnan's eyes lit up, and his mouth watered. Meat, even better than big meat buns.

"Is it too much?"

Huang Yingnan couldn't stop his mouth from watering. Li Dong waved his hand generously. "Not at all, not at all. Eat more later."

Surprisingly, the server brought the dishes without Li Dong and Huang Yingnan having to fetch them.

Three dishes, one soup, and two large plates of dumplings. Huang Yingnan's eyes sparkled. He didn't hesitate. Li Dong, who had been craving food since he arrived in 1978, dug in.

Though the service at state-owned restaurants was often poor, the food was genuine. There was no skimping on ingredients. The braised pork was quite tasty, and the meatballs were delicious. Li Dong and Huang Yingnan ate heartily.

Around them, people could be heard swallowing their saliva. The two ate with gusto. In no time, they finished the three dishes, one soup, and half a catty of dumplings. The half catty of dumplings was different from what it would be in the future; it was calculated by the weight of the flour, which meant about 30 large meat dumplings. They finished everything, and the three dishes and one soup were completely gone. Li Dong looked at Huang Yingnan, who had eaten even more than he had. He wondered how a girl could eat so much.

This stomach is a bottomless pit. Who can afford to feed it? Li Dong thought. "Are you full?"

"Full, it was really delicious."

"Thank you. I haven't had such a delicious meal in a long time."

"I should thank you. Without your help, I wouldn't know what to do." Li Dong took out a yuan and handed it to Huang Yingnan. "Not much, just a little for your trouble."

"Ah, how can I accept that?"

He said this, but Huang Yingnan quickly took the money and put it in his pocket, leaving Li Dong a bit stunned. He didn't even refuse. Was he too straightforward?

Great, Huang Yingnan thought, today's risk was worth it. A big meal and some money, what a stroke of luck.

The two weren't close, so Huang Yingnan didn't pretend. Li Dong nodded and got up.

"I have some things to do, so I'll leave first."

Li Dong, carrying a turtle and a package, quickly left the state-owned restaurant. He noticed a few young men eyeing his package. It wasn't a peaceful time, so he gave Huang Yingnan a nod, and Huang Yingnan nodded back.

Huang Yingnan watched Li Dong leave, then turned and went to the cinema to change his shirt. He bit his lip and headed towards the textile factory. Soon, he returned with eight yuan and a catty of food, humming a song as he walked towards the Jiangkou commune.

"It's been a long time since I've seen Xiaojuan. Now that I have some money, I'll bring her some canned food in a few days."

Li Dong, after avoiding the young men, went to a small alley to change into a patched Korean shirt.

"Huang Yingnan, I don't know if that's his real name. But I didn't lose out; I even gave him a shirt." Li Dong, carrying the package, headed towards the department store. He wondered if there was any good wine to buy, and also some cloth with his cloth coupons. Xiaojuan would need a thick coat for school, as it was still quite cold in the mornings and evenings.

He also planned to buy stationery and a schoolbag for her.

"Ran away?"

The young men who had been eyeing Li Dong at the state-owned restaurant gathered at the entrance. They looked at each other and shook their heads.

"We thought we'd have a good meal, but he ran away pretty fast."

"What about the girl?"

"The girl went to the textile factory. There were guards, so I didn't dare get too close. She disappeared in a blink." A thin, monkey-like young man looked disappointed.

At the department store, Li Dong was disappointed. There was no Maotai. He had wanted to try the famous revolutionary wine, but it wasn't available in Chixian.

This wasn't surprising, as Maotai was rare, and at eight yuan a bottle, few people in Chixian could afford it.

Scattered liquor at 80 cents a catty was more appealing, and Gujing Gong wine was also good and much cheaper than Maotai.

"I'll check the regional government office. If I can get a few bottles, it would be a good addition to the farm."

Li Dong, carrying a "Serve the People" canvas bag, left the department store with a package of cloth and half a catty of cake.

"I'll buy half a catty of meat and then head back to the village." Li Dong, humming a tune, went to the meat stall to buy half a catty of meat. There was no choice of cuts, only scraps, but he was lucky to get even that, as they usually sold out quickly.

"More lean meat and ribs are fine. Only half a catty of food coupons, and it's 20 cents more, no problem." Li Dong happily bought over a catty of meat, mostly lean and ribs. It was a stroke of luck, as fatty meat was the most popular, and lean meat and ribs were less favored. With a meat coupon, it was smart to buy more fatty meat to satisfy the craving, but these had little fat, and no one was foolish enough to buy them.

After waiting for about an hour, the cart driver finally arrived. There were quite a few people, and Li Dong noticed an old lady with the old man from the morning, likely his wife. They arrived at the commune in the afternoon.

Li Dong didn't waste time. The road wasn't safe during the day, let alone at night. There might be wild boars in the mountains, and he didn't want to encounter one, even though he liked pork.

After walking for over an hour, Li Dong, who had recently improved his health, was quite tired. It would have been exhausting before.

"Xiaojuan, Xiaojuan, your dad is back."

"Bringing so many things." The children looked at Xiaojuan with envy.

"Dad is back." Xiaojuan dropped her bamboo basket and ran.

The children saw Li Dong from a distance. He was now the most popular person in Han Village. Regardless of what the adults said about him being lazy and not knowing how to live, the children loved him.

If they helped Li Dong, they would get candy or meat. Children only cared about food.

Li Dong, carrying his packages, especially the meat and cake, made the children's eyes widen and their mouths water.

"Uncle, what did you buy in the city?"

"Nothing much, just some meat and cake for Xiaojuan."

Soon, the whole village knew Li Dong had bought meat and cake in the city.

Cake, what was that? Some of the older people had never heard of it. The children didn't understand but asked Li Dong, who explained.

Han Guofu and his family had just finished work when they heard their grandson shouting that Li Dong was back from the city with a lot of meat and cake.

Many people ran to see the commotion, curious about what Li Dong had bought from his relatives in the city.

"Uncle Guofu, you're here."

Li Dong had put the meat, ribs, and cake on the bed. Han Guofu's eyes widened. This was too much. He didn't believe Li Dong's relatives had brought all this.

Sure enough, Li Dong had bought it himself. His relatives had given him some cloth and 30 yuan. The villagers, hearing this, were amazed. Thirty yuan and cloth! "How much cloth?"

"Not much, just seven or eight feet, enough for a half-set of clothes for Xiaojuan."

Li Dong seemed a bit disappointed, but the others were stunned. Cloth coupons were hard to come by, and Li Dong had managed to get so much. The斜纹布 (diagonal weave cloth) was of good quality. "This cloth is thick and not cheap."

"Reasonable."

Li Dong said nonchalantly. "It costs about 40 cents a foot at the department store."

"Wow, 40 cents a foot, twice as expensive as plain weave cloth."

"That's because it's thick and durable."

The adults, especially the women, were envious of the good quality cloth. Some felt it was a waste for Xiaojuan, who was still a child.

The children were envious. Xiaojuan had just bought new clothes and was getting more.

Xiaojuan folded the cloth and said something that made everyone nod but made Li Dong laugh. "I have new clothes. I'll save this cloth for Dad to get married and make new clothes."

"What?"

"Dad, give me the money. I'll save it for you to get married. No spending it randomly."

She tried to take Li Dong's money, and he sprayed water in surprise. What was this? Getting married? For whom? Li Dong was stunned. Was his daughter really saving money for him to get married? He must have heard wrong.

"Xiaojuan is so sensible."

"Indeed, he needs a wife to manage him."

The elders shook their heads, thinking the meat and cake were too expensive and a waste of money.

"Li Dong, after the autumn harvest, we'll fix your house. I'll help you find a good wife who can manage a household."

Li Dong was confused. What was this about getting married? To a young girl? What were they talking about? Xiaojuan, what did you tell Uncle Captain? You're really out to get me!