Procurement of supplies

As he looked around, Jin Guangming finished with his customer and headed straight for Zhao Dongchuan.

"Little Zhao, if you want to buy anything, just come to me, I'll arrange it for you!" Jin Guangming said, taking full responsibility.

"Guangming Ge, you go ahead and be busy, I'll look around first. When I've seen clearly, I'll definitely find you!"

"Alright, you look first. When you've found what you want, I'll get it for you!" With that, Jin Guangming went to attend to other customers.

Zhao Dongchuan scanned almost all the goods in the store, making a mental note of some items he might need.

When he was almost done, he went to find Jin Guangming.

Although Jin Guangming had been attending to his current customers, he had actually been keeping an eye on Zhao Dongchuan. Seeing Zhao Dongchan approach, he quickly greeted a colleague next to him, asking him to take over, and then walked towards the counter where Zhao Dongchuan was.

"Little Zhao, how was your look around!"

"Guangming Ge, you've really gone to a lot of trouble for me!" Zhao Dongchuan said with a smile.

Then Zhao Dongchuan reported the supplies he needed to Jin Guangming one by one.

"2 cans of lychee, 2 cans of yellow peach, 3 bottles of malted milk essence, 10 jin of white sugar, 10 jin of brown sugar… 10 jin of peanut oil, kerosene…"

"You're buying so much, are you hosting a banquet or meeting your mother-in-law!" Jin Guangming teased.

Zhao Dongchuan said with a chuckle, "Some for myself, some as gifts!" As he spoke, he took out a large cloth bag from his satchel.

Seeing that Zhao Dongchuan didn't want to say more, Jin Guangming didn't press further.

"Hey, I was just about to ask if you could carry so many things!" Seeing Zhao Dongchuan's large bag, Jin Guangming showed a hint of realization.

Jin Guangming ran back and forth, becoming Zhao Dongchuan's dedicated salesperson, getting him this and that.

Zhao Dongchuan paid 36 yuan, 5 jiao, and 8 fen, along with the corresponding ration tickets. Almost a month's salary was gone. Those tickets were issued with his salary, and the quota was quite generous, enough for him to use.

Jin Guangming mumbled as he collected the money, "This Little Zhao is really rich, daring to spend like this!"

"My family doesn't have a suitable daughter, so we can't form this connection. Other families don't have girls of marriageable age either. I wonder 'where his flower will fall'!"

He put the loose items into the large bag one by one, carrying the heavier ones by hand.

While packing his things, Zhao Dongchuan offered Jin Guangming a Great Front Gate cigarette. As he stuffed items into his bag, he chatted with Jin Guangming about village affairs.

"Guangming Ge, thanks for the trouble, see you later!" Zhao Dongchuan bid farewell to Jin Guangming and left the store.

With the large bag on his back and the other items tied with rope to the back seat of his bicycle, Zhao Dongchuan slowly pushed his bike away.

Pushing his bike to a deserted corner, Zhao Dongchuan put all the items into his space, leaving only a backpack.

After tidying up, Zhao Dongchuan continued pushing his bike. He wondered if he should visit Tian Fujun's house. Tian Fujun had invited him to eat twice, so since he was in the county, he should at least pay a visit.

Thinking this, Zhao Dongchuan rode his bicycle towards the County Revolutionary Committee compound.

Having been here a few times, he was no stranger to the area. He put his hand into his bag, pretending to take something out, but actually retrieved a box of malted milk essence, a can of preserved fruit, a bottle of xifeng liquor, and several packs of Great Front Gate cigarettes from his space.

With the backpack providing cover, it didn't seem too abrupt.

Carrying the items, he walked into Tian Fujun's courtyard and saw the elderly Xu Guoqiang lying back with his eyes closed, sunning himself. A black cat was lying beside him; the two were keeping each other company.

Hearing the sound, Xu Guoqiang opened his eyes and, seeing it was Zhao Dongchuan, sat up. The black cat, however, remained calmly lying there, sunning itself.

"Comrade Little Zhao, you're here. Are you looking for Runye?"

"No, I came from Shuangshui Village to buy some necessities and food in the county, and I thought I'd pay a visit while I was here!"

"They're all out. Aiyun is working at the hospital, Fujun is inspecting the countryside, Xiaoxia went to school, and Runye is teaching at the primary school. It's just me, an old man, with an old black cat." Xu Guoqiang said with a touch of melancholy.

"I got sidetracked. Come, come in and have some tea. Take these things back, you don't need them. Our family lacks nothing!" Xu Guoqiang said, pointing at the items in Zhao Dongchuan's hand as he walked.

Zhao Dongchuan felt a bit awkward holding the items, unsure whether to keep them or put them down.

Following Xu Guoqiang into the house, he put the items down and, at Xu Guoqiang's invitation, sat on the sofa.

Seeing Old Man Xu about to pour him tea, he quickly walked over, took the teapot, and said, "Old Xu, how could I trouble an elder like you to do that? I'll do it!"

With that, Zhao Dongchuan poured a cup of tea for himself and Xu Guoqiang. Xu Guoqiang didn't say anything, just sat down and chatted with Zhao Dongchuan while drinking tea.

Xu Guoqiang, having finally caught someone to chat with, naturally talked with Zhao Dongchuan about everything under the sun.

Normally, people did come here, but they were mostly those bringing gifts to ask for favors or trying to climb the social ladder. Such people would be sent away, as they couldn't have a real conversation.

Little Zhao wasn't in the system, so there were no such issues. Xu Guoqiang naturally had no reservations and kept him talking.

Zhao Dongchuan drank tea and chatted with Xu Guoqiang about all sorts of things. The two tacitly avoided politics, only discussing local customs and traditions. Zhao Dongchuan had traveled to some places in his original world and had heard of many others he hadn't visited, so he could respond to Xu Guoqiang fluently.

"Comrade Little Zhao, you know quite a lot. Have you been to all those places?" Xu Guoqiang asked curiously.

"No, I read about these in books," Zhao Dongchuan replied.

"Comrade Little Zhao, well done, you have a broad range of knowledge!" Xu Guoqiang nodded.

"Speaking of which, ever since I heard what you said when you came to our house for dinner last time, I've clearly felt that the burden in Aiyun's heart has lightened considerably.

Fujun is no longer as anxious either. Although the situation currently seems unchanged, and he's still butting heads with Feng Shikuan, his mindset is completely different. He sleeps much better at night, and even I, this old man, am in a much better mood!"

"I have you to thank for all of this!" Xu Guoqiang suddenly changed the subject, revealing a gentle smile.

"Old Xu, you flatter me. I was just speaking off the cuff!"

"But we all took it seriously. What you said indeed makes some sense."

Zhao Dongchuan chatted with Xu Guoqiang for a while, then politely declined the offer to stay for dinner and took his leave.

He didn't want to freeload another meal, and it was getting late. He hadn't registered for a room at the guesthouse, so he'd have nowhere to stay at night.

Through his conversation with Xu Guoqiang, Zhao Dongchuan indirectly learned about Runye and Xiangqian's situation. Aiyun was no longer diligently helping Xiangqian, adopting a 'let fate decide' attitude, which significantly reduced Runye's pressure.

Although Li Xiangqian was still 'pestering' Runye, Runye ignored him, and Aiyun didn't interfere, leaving Xiangqian to be rebuffed.

In the original novel, this Xiangqian was determined to marry no one but Runye, a person who wouldn't give up until he hit a wall. He wondered how things would develop later.

Zhao Dongchuan rode his bicycle towards Shuangshui Village, pondering in his mind.

"The future plot has changed, and I don't know which direction it will develop, whether for better or worse!"