Quick Wear: Cousin, Come to the Bowl Quickly

"handkerchief?"

As soon as Lin Xi said this, Chen Lan and the others immediately looked at her.

The reason is simple. In rural areas like Hongguang Brigade, most villagers do not have the habit of carrying handkerchiefs with them. At most, they hang a long handkerchief around their necks when working, or tie a sweat towel around their waists. They are called sweat towels and handkerchiefs, but in fact, most of them are just scraps of cloth left over from cutting clothes.

The educated youth all came from the city and brought handkerchiefs with them at first. However, after staying in the fields for a long time, they were covered in sweat and mud, and their hands would become dirty after just a few wipes with a handkerchief.

When the educated youth first arrived, they were all very particular. Who didn't have a few fine cotton handkerchiefs brought from the city in their pockets? The women had exquisite and beautiful small floral fabrics, and the men had plain checked fabrics.

But the fields in the countryside are very dusty, and after a season of farm work, sweat and mud mix together, and even the best handkerchiefs cannot withstand the damage.

The female educated youth were more diligent. After work, they would take a basin of water and rub the handkerchiefs. However, after washing them too much, the fabric became thin and the color faded beyond recognition.

It was easier for the male educated youth. When sweat broke out on their face, they would just pull up the corner of their clothes and wipe it. The front of their clothes would always be black and yellow, covered with sweat and mud stains.

Over time, most educated youth became like the villagers, tying a large sweat towel around their waist while working, or simply wiping it directly on their clothes. Only a few of them used handkerchiefs.

"Why do you want to spend that money? I still have some scraps of cloth left over from cutting clothes last time. I can just cut a piece for you when I get home." Before the salesperson could answer, Zhao Xiaoyun, who had taken the vanishing cream, spoke first.

"Thank you, Sister Xiaoyun, but I bought this as a gift, and the scraps of cloth are not very good." Upon hearing this, Lin Xi smiled shyly at Zhao Xiaoyun and began to explain.

"Send someone off? Who?" Hu Aihong also came over.

"For my cousin. I stained his handkerchief with mulberry juice last time and couldn't wash it off, so I thought of buying him a new one." Lin Xi didn't hide anything and spoke very naturally.

"Oh - um? You're giving a handkerchief to a gay man?" Hu Aihong nodded when she heard that, but suddenly stopped, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Ah, what's the matter?" Lin Xi blinked with an innocent expression.

"Uh...it's nothing, actually. It's just a handkerchief. Usually..." Hu Aihong lowered her voice, leaned close to Lin Xi's ear, and whispered, "Usually, it's given to each other by dating gay men and lesbians."

"What!" Lin Xi jumped up like a rabbit whose tail was suddenly stepped on. After receiving the surprised looks from several people, she quickly stood up again, blushing and lowering her voice, "Sister Aihong, don't talk nonsense!"

Hu Aihong pressed her glasses on the bridge of her nose and said seriously, "Why are you blushing? I just said it was a gift from a couple who were dating. I'm not talking about you and Song Zhiqing."

"I...how could I..." Upon hearing this, Lin Xi quickly covered her cheeks with her hands and retorted stutteringly.

"Okay, stop teasing her. Don't say Xixi and Song Zhiqing are relatives. It's a new era now. It's just a gift between a man and a woman. It's open and aboveboard."

Seeing Lin Xi blushing with embarrassment, Chen Lan hurriedly came out to smooth things over with a smile, then turned to the salesperson and asked, "Comrade, do you have any handkerchiefs here? I want to buy one too."

"Yes," the salesperson nodded hurriedly upon seeing this. He moved a stool and took out a package from the top shelf. He dusted it off and placed it in front of the group. "It's just that not many people are buying, so the stock is all from last year."

"It's okay. We are in the village and don't need those fancy things. It just needs to be sturdy and durable." Chen Lan waved her hand indifferently, and pulled Lin Xi, motioning her to come forward and pick out a handkerchief.

Lin Xi then walked forward reluctantly with a red face and began to pick and choose from the packages.

While several people were shopping in the supply and marketing cooperative, Chen Caiqing, who had separated from everyone else on the pretext of going to the post office to mail something to his family, changed his clothes and was looking curiously into the entrance of a narrow alley.

She lingered at the entrance of the alley for a long time, until she was sure that no one was paying attention. Then she tightened the heavy bag in her hand, lowered her head and walked quickly into the alley.

"Stop! What are you doing?" As she walked into the alley, she was stopped by two men standing there who seemed to be chatting but were actually observing the surrounding situation.

Chen Caiqing was wrapped in an old headscarf. His once fair face had turned yellow and black. He was hunched over, and his voice was low and hoarse. "Brothers, I'm from the village next door. My family is really struggling to make ends meet..."

As she spoke, she hurriedly handed the bundle forward, looked around, and then continued, "I heard that you can exchange things here. I brought some peanuts that I grew myself, and I want to exchange them for some rice, grain, and banknotes."

As she spoke, she took out two handfuls of peanuts from her bag and handed them over in a flattering manner.

"From the next village?" Neither man reached out to take the peanuts. Instead, they squinted their eyes and looked at her. The taller one frowned and lowered his voice, "Why haven't I seen you before? Who told you about this place?"

"It's, it's the lame man selling mountain products in the alley. He's from my neighboring village." As if frightened by the two men's somewhat aggressive attitude, Chen Caiqing shrank back in fear, and then he stammered to explain, with just the right amount of flattery and embarrassment in his voice.

But of course she would not really panic. In her previous life, Li Weihua used the excuse of sending letters to his family to resell the supplies he had cheated from her supermarket system here. The lame man was his contact. In this life, she did not tell Li Weihua the secret of the system, which naturally cut off his source of income.

Now, it was her turn to manage this financial avenue. The system warehouse was filled with goodies, but unfortunately, most of them were novelties that couldn't be seen in public in this era.

If you want to save up your first pot of gold and pave the way for your future, this black market, which only recognizes money and not its origin, is indeed the most suitable place.

However, although this place does not ask about the origin of the goods, people entering and leaving are strictly checked. It is still the era of unified purchase and sale. If you are caught in private transactions, you will be labeled as "speculator", which is no joke.

Therefore, seeing that the two men were questioning him carefully, Chen Caiqing felt more at ease.

The stricter the inspection, the safer the business here. She secretly calculated that as long as she could pass this hurdle, the business would be easier in the future.

Sure enough, after hearing what she said, the two men's frowns relaxed a lot, and they asked her many questions tirelessly. After Chen Caiqing answered them one by one, they finally waved their hands and let her in.