Back to the 60s: The Struggle Career of a Charmed Wife
Chapter 1378: Bittersweet Memories 3

Chapter 1378: Chapter 1378: Bittersweet Memories 3

Lu Jiang sighed softly, even though he wasn’t working, Feng Qingxue was usually ten times busier than when she was employed.

After washing and drying his wife’s feet, Lu Jiang helped her out of her clothes, made sure she was comfortably in bed, then checked on his daughter and the triplets before tidying up himself and going to sleep as well.

The next day was the beginning of spring, which was followed by Chinese New Year’s Eve and the Spring Festival; the three holidays together created a unique calendar sequence.

But there was no time off for the Spring Festival, let alone Chinese New Year’s Eve or the start of spring.

In fact, the weekends were also mandatory work days, without any leisure time, though sometimes people would turn a blind eye.

Like always, Lu Jiang got up before six in the morning, washed up quietly, assembled with the soldiers for training, had breakfast punctually at seven-thirty in the mess hall, and started his day’s work.

Qingxue was also busy. With the Spring Festival having been cancelled in recent years and having just returned from the Capital, she had forgotten to prepare for the festivities in advance. When she went to the military commissary, as she expected, there was no poultry, fish, meat, or eggs to be found—not even bones or eggshells. On her return, she instructed Lu Tianzhi and Guan Yu to take good care of their younger siblings while she geared up and took the bus into the city, basket on her back.

Lu Tianzhi and Guan Yu wanted to go with her, but she didn’t agree.

It was a joke; if they followed, how could she bring supplies back?

Even though she had been to Baozhou City before by train, Qingxue was not familiar with it at all. It took her a while to find where the black market was located. Of course, she was there to sell, not to buy.

Right before the New Year, the black market was bustling, with many farmers lugging their goods on their shoulders.

Qingxue stood a distance away from the black market, looking around cautiously, too scared to enter and make transactions directly. She felt that at this time, it was most likely for a raid to occur, ensuring anyone caught would be in trouble.

Though she didn’t encounter them often, it was always better to be cautious.

Soon enough, she was grateful for her foresight.

While some were surreptitiously conversing or trading, a large group of people emerged from all directions, appearing to be local authorities, shouting loudly. Many scattered at the first sign of trouble.

Despite the panic, a few people were still caught in the dragnet, each of them disheartened.

Their goods and money were confiscated, and they were taken away. They were to face severe punishment.

Engaging in profiteering was among the gravest of crimes.

After everyone had left, Qingxue watched for a moment before slipping into the outskirts of the black market area. Unfortunately, there were very few people left, afraid to show up there again. Only a handful of elderly who couldn’t run far and had no incriminating goods on them remained, becoming the ones who slipped through the net. When they saw Qingxue, they rushed over immediately.

"Girl, what do you have in that basket? You’re here to sell, right?"

"I want to buy some New Year goods, girl, do you have any?"

"I was here first; you can’t cut in front of me."

An old woman and three old men talked over one another, nearly starting an argument, fortunate only that Qingxue had stopped somewhere out of the way rather than in the middle of the path or the market square.

However, they were speaking the local dialect, and Qingxue couldn’t understand a word.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!" Qingxue quickly made a hand gesture, she carefully observed the elderly people who seemed to be in good spirits and likely not lacking food, so she said, "I’m here to buy New Year goods too."