“Sis, there’s no one around now. Tell me—why do you want to meet He Xiaoming?”
Tian Tian craned her neck to check for oncoming traffic. Seeing the bus still hadn’t arrived, she said directly, “As for the reason, why don’t you take me to meet He Xiaoming, and you’ll find out?”
Tian Xin hesitated when she saw her cousin wouldn’t spill the beans. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, “Then you better keep the promise you made earlier.”
Tian Tian nodded. Just then, the bus arrived. She quickly waved it down and pulled Tian Xin aboard.
Yesterday, after Tian Xin left her house, she had probably gone back and discussed things with her aunt. Not long after, she had come running back to talk about keeping secrets.
Tian Tian had taken that opportunity to ask to be introduced to someone from the sugar refinery. As it happened, among Tian Xin’s backups, there was someone whose family worked at the refinery. If she remembered correctly, he was the son of the deputy head of the refinery’s sales department.
So early this morning, Tian Tian had dragged Tian Xin onto the bus to head to the county seat. After taking care of business at the sugar refinery, she still had to rush to the supply and marketing cooperative for work.
There weren’t many people on the early bus, so the two quickly found seats. It took about an hour to get from their village to the county. Tian Tian took this same bus to work every day. There were no vacancies in the unit’s dormitory, and as a new hire, she didn’t qualify for an apartment assignment, so she had to commute daily. Fortunately, the bus fare was reimbursed by her workplace—otherwise, the transportation costs alone would have been painful.
“When we meet He Xiaoming, sis, remember not to say anything random. He and I are good friends. Remember—good friends.” Tian Xin kept reminding her the whole way, terrified that Tian Tian might let something slip and blow her cover.
Tian Tian brushed her off. “Okay, okay, I know. You two have a ‘pure revolutionary friendship.’”
She couldn’t care less about Tian Xin’s personal life. Tian Xin was an adult, and whatever she did was none of Tian Tian’s business. If anything, they were barely half a month apart in age. So what was there to say? Her own parents, older brother, and sister-in-law couldn’t control her—let alone a cousin from another branch of the family. If it weren’t for the fact that the New Year was approaching and she didn’t want to delay her plans to make money, Tian Tian wouldn’t even want to be associated with her.
——
The early bus moved fast and made it smoothly to the county seat. The two got off right at the sugar refinery.
The sugar refinery was the largest state-owned factory in their county, mainly producing brown sugar, white sugar, rock sugar, and brown granulated sugar. It was just about time for the refinery employees to start work, and there was quite a bit of foot traffic on the road.
“Should we just wait at the gate?” Tian Tian watched the crowd and looked at Tian Xin. From what she knew, Tian Xin probably had a set method for contacting her backups.
Sure enough, Tian Xin looked proud. “Of course not. Come on.” She lifted her chin and led the way.
Tian Tian didn’t mind and quickly followed. She had an important mission today.
They hadn’t walked long before they reached the state-run restaurant next to the sugar refinery. Inside, a bleached-haired guy stood out like a sore thumb among the dark-haired customers.
The guy had sharp eyes. He spotted Tian Xin within moments and immediately ran out, his eyes lighting up like a dog spotting a meaty bone.
“Xin Xin! You’re in the county so early? Have you had breakfast? Perfect—they’re selling beef brisket rice noodles today…” He Xiaoming stared at Tian Xin with gleaming eyes, rattling off caring words.
Tian Xin gently patted the hand he’d reached out to grab hers and said in a coquettish tone, “Oh, can’t I come to the county to see you—my friend—if I have nothing else to do?”
When He Xiaoming heard that, his eyes grew even brighter.
Tian Tian resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She thought, This guy doesn’t look stupid, so why is he so easily fooled by Tian Xin’s nonsense?
But then she looked back at Tian Xin’s pretty face. She did bear a slight resemblance to Hong Kong actress Jia Xin—about thirty percent—with a tall, shapely figure. Then she looked at He Xiaoming’s increasingly foolish expression.
Well, maybe he enjoyed being played.
——
Over on the other side, Tian Xin and He Xiaoming had already gone back and forth a few times before she finally revealed the purpose of her visit. “Xiaoming, actually, I came today to ask for a favor. This is my cousin Tian Tian. She needs your help with something.”
Of course, He Xiaoming knew that Tian Xin had a cousin who worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. He had even secretly hoped Tian Xin would introduce them, thinking that getting to know her family might bring him a step closer to her. He knew very well he wasn’t the only guy in the county with that same idea.
So he smiled broadly at Tian Tian and said, “Cousin, whatever you need—leave it to me.”
Tian Tian looked at his eager, almost worthless grin and didn’t waste any time beating around the bush. She said directly, “Here’s the thing. A friend of mine wants to get some sugar. Tian Xin mentioned you’re a sugar refinery kid and that you’re pretty capable. I was hoping you could help get a procurement slip or something. Don’t worry—the amount he needs isn’t large. A hundred catties will be enough.”
It was January 1984. Starting from December of the previous year, various ration coupons had been progressively phased out across the country. For some goods, a dual-track pricing system had been directly implemented. Sugar, as a strategic material, was one such commodity. Sugar purchased within the state plan cost about 0.55 yuan per catty but required a sugar ration coupon. Sugar purchased outside the plan—known as negotiated-price sugar—cost at least 1 yuan per catty. Now, with the New Year approaching, the actual market price had already risen to 1.2 yuan per catty.
As an employee of the supply and marketing cooperative, Tian Tian was intimately familiar with all of this.
She could procure negotiated-price sugar, but that would cost double. With a procurement slip, however, it was a different story. Besides, 100 catties of white sugar was hardly a big deal for the deputy head of a sugar refinery’s sales department.
As for He Xiaoming, he was currently grinning from ear to ear. His attention was entirely fixated on Tian Tian’s remark that “Tian Xin had mentioned he worked at the sugar refinery and was a capable man.” He felt absolutely delighted, thinking to himself, So in Xin Xin’s heart, I really am that impressive. Heh heh…
And Xin Xin had already brought him up in front of her cousin. Did that mean she might actually be thinking about marrying him?
The moment this thought crossed his mind, He Xiaoming’s face practically split open with joy. He even began fantasizing about the wedding and what to name their future children.
Seeing the look on his face, Tian Tian knew his attention had completely wandered. So she repeated herself.
“Sure, sure. Is 100 catties enough? Want a bit more?”
Tian Tian shook her head. “It’s enough. Can I get the procurement slip now?”
If the quantity were larger, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to get the slip today. Her plan was to get the procurement slip today, gather the raw materials tomorrow, and have her mother make the product the day after. As for sales, that wouldn’t be a problem.
“Alright, alright, no problem. Cousin, Xin Xin, you two go wait inside the restaurant. I’ll run home right now.”
With that, He Xiaoming hurried off toward the sugar refinery. He was probably going back to ask his father for the procurement slip.
“Sis, what do you need so much white sugar for?”
Seeing the inquisitive look on Tian Xin’s face, Tian Tian didn’t answer. Instead, she countered, “What do you need so many backups for?”
And with that, the conversation came to a dead end. Tian Xin took a deep breath, turned, and walked into the restaurant, looking thoroughly annoyed.
Tian Tian watched her go, her eyes narrowing slightly. She thought to herself, Tian Xin had better not try anything funny. Otherwise, I won’t be so polite.
——
He Xiaoming left quickly and returned just as fast. When he saw Tian Xin sitting inside the restaurant but Tian Tian waiting by the door, he warmly greeted her. “Cousin, why aren’t you going inside? Don’t stand on ceremony with me. The beef brisket rice noodles today are really good!”
As he spoke, he handed over the procurement slip.
Tian Tian took the slip, glanced at the product type, quantity, and stamp to confirm everything was correct, then smiled. “I won’t play the third wheel. Thanks for your help with the slip.”
He Xiaoming waved his hand. “It’s nothing!” There were plenty of slips at home, already pre-filled. He had simply gone back and grabbed one.
Tian Tian was well aware that these slips were pre-made. That was precisely why she had kept the request to 100 catties. Anything more would have drawn attention. One hundred catties was just right—she had a complete plan for how to use it.
“I still have to rush to work. You should have Tian Xin bring you to the village more often.”
Before leaving, Tian Tian didn’t forget to stir up a little trouble for Tian Xin. If she wasn’t mistaken, Tian Xin would soon try to sabotage her.
——
Sure enough, no sooner had Tian Tian left than Tian Xin started playing the green tea role with He Xiaoming, who was sitting across from her ordering food.
“Xiaoming, I didn’t expect my cousin to come asking you for a procurement slip. That was a bit over the line. I know you’re a good person, but by giving her the slip directly, won’t that affect your father’s work?” She spoke with a worried look, her eyes full of concern for He Xiaoming. He was completely charmed.
“Don’t worry. It’s not just my father who issues these slips—the factory leaders do too. And your cousin didn’t ask for much. It’s no problem at all.” He puffed out his chest, looking very proud of himself.
Tian Xin suppressed the urge to call him an idiot and continued her act. “Xiaoming, we’re good friends. You’re loyal and good to me as a friend, which is why you’re so helpful to my cousin. But I can’t let you get into any trouble just because you’re such a nice person. How about this? Since it’s the New Year and sugar is in such high demand, why don’t you have them hold off on honoring the procurement slip for my cousin? Wait until after the New Year, when sugar isn’t so tightly supplied, and then give it to her. That way, you’ve helped my cousin, but you won’t face any risk yourself.”
She had no idea what Tian Tian wanted 100 catties of white sugar for, but her intuition told her she couldn’t let Tian Tian succeed. Besides, this procurement slip had ultimately been obtained using Tian Xin’s influence. She didn’t want anyone benefiting from her goodwill.
She had only agreed to introduce He Xiaoming to Tian Tian. She had never promised to help get a procurement slip.
He Xiaoming wanted to say that a slip for 100 catties was nothing. But when he saw the deeply concerned look in Tian Xin’s eyes, he was instantly moved to the brink of tears. He thought to himself, I’ll just have to let Tian Tian down this once. After Xin Xin and I get married, I’ll find a way to make it up to her.
“Alright, Xin Xin. I’ll do whatever you say.”
If Tian Tian had been there to hear their conversation, she would have laughed herself silly. As an employee of the supply and marketing cooperative, how could she not know all the ins and outs of procurement slips? She had deliberately let Tian Xin set up the connection and had obtained the slip right in front of her precisely because she wasn’t going to be fooled so easily!
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