Ming Mei was becoming a regular visitor to the public security system.
There was no helping it - the more capable you are, the more incidents you encounter. However, this time she was going to a different place than before. Her previous visits had been to the district police station near the factory area, but now she was heading to the main police bureau.
The main reason was that they were closer to the police bureau, and moreover, with so many gold bars involved, Ming Mei and the others figured this wasn't a minor incident.
People these days still had kind hearts, though. While they might run faster than monkeys when facing danger, once it came to visiting the police bureau, everyone was eager to help and extremely enthusiastic. Even Granny Hu, who had taken the most beating, insisted on coming to the police bureau first instead of going to the hospital despite her injuries.
Actually, Granny Hu didn't really want to come. She mainly feared that if she didn't show up, she might not get any compensation. She had genuinely been injured, so shouldn't she at least get some compensation for her wounds? Besides, she had fallen earlier, so she could blame everything on this incident and save money on her medical bills.
Another reason was that Ming Mei had glanced at her while asking questions, and Granny Hu trembled at that look. She thought Ming Mei probably wanted her to come, so she'd better show up - otherwise, who knows if she might get beaten up?
Granny Hu was being quite paranoid.
Ming Mei had merely given her a casual glance, but Granny Hu, being a suspicious elderly woman, was excellent at overthinking. She was afraid Ming Mei would beat her up. After all, hadn't she provoked Ming Mei when getting on the bus?
She had seen how fierce that young woman was when fighting!
She wasn't nearly as strong as the person who had been tied up.
If the tied-up person could make her face swell, she definitely didn't dare provoke Ming Mei anymore.
In one word: scared!
Being timid wasn't shameful.
Being illiterate wasn't shameful either.
But she was genuinely frightened - who wouldn't be? Even strong men were scared! Would anyone believe that a delicate young woman could make a grown man cough up blood with just one punch?
Everyone agreed on this point.
But Ming Mei felt wronged too. If she were really that brave, it would be laughable - she'd be unbeatable in the world. The truth was far from it. The reason she made that person cough up blood with one punch was that he had already been injured from hitting the electric pole.
She knew how to use precise force, but that didn't mean she was some mighty warrior.
Really, there was no way to explain this properly.
Ming Mei felt so wronged - she was actually a fragile woman, yet these people were describing her as some fierce tigress.
Officer Tian, who was in charge this time, noticed Ming Mei's heavy expression and comforted her: "People will forget about it soon enough, don't take it to heart."
Ming Mei worried: "How can I not take it to heart? I'm turning into a tiger mom."
What worried her more was that if this news reached her mother's ears, she'd definitely get her ears pulled.
Ming Mei sighed deeply: "My life is so hard."
Officer Tian: "Actually, I think with your skills, you'd be perfect for our department. How about it? Would you consider changing jobs?"
This wasn't the first police officer to extend an olive branch to Ming Mei, and probably wouldn't be the last.
Ming Mei: "No thanks..."
She lamented: "I'm not suitable... I'm just a brute..."
"Pfft!" Not just Officer Tian, but all the other police officers burst out laughing.
Ming Mei rubbed her face and asked, "So, what's the deal with that person from earlier?"
She wasn't worried about having caught the wrong person. In these times, someone carrying so many gold bars and pulling out a knife - if you said they were an upright citizen, even ghosts wouldn't believe it. And given how chaotic the situation was, Ming Mei subduing the person was the best possible outcome.
Otherwise, who knows if they might have killed someone in their frenzy.
Well, there was no need to guess - they definitely would have. If Ming Mei hadn't stopped them, Auntie Hu would surely have been stabbed several times. During the incident, Auntie Hu was terrified, and now hearing everyone discussing it, she dared not even think about it.
She truly couldn't close her eyes without seeing that person's fierce knife-wielding face, and Liang Meifen felt the same way.
She never imagined that her day would be so... tumultuous.
First, her mother had fallen and lost a tooth, which was minor compared to her sprained waist. Unable to carry her mother on a bicycle, she had to take her on the bus. Who would have thought they'd encounter such an absurd situation on the bus?
She held her mother's hand and said seriously: "Mom, from now on, don't be aggressive with people anymore."
Granny Hu stubbornly defended herself: "When was I aggressive? I just asked him to give up his seat, how could I know he'd pull out a knife just because I asked for a seat?"
Never again, never again, never ever again!
She was scared to death. While this incident started partly because of her, Granny Hu might act tough on the outside, but inside she was trembling with fear, secretly praying to all deities and ancestors, swearing never to raise her voice at people again.
If she had actually been stabbed a couple of times, wouldn't that have been the end of her?
Forget about seeing her grandchildren, she probably wouldn't even live to see her son get married.
She shrank her neck, feeling a chill in her heart.
Granny Hu was terrified, and the police officers, having just taken everyone's statements, understood the situation. In short, this elderly lady had started the trouble. By unfortunate coincidence, she had picked on a man carrying a fortune in gold, which triggered a series of events.
They felt somewhat sympathetic towards her, yet also felt she didn't quite deserve the sympathy.
At least no one was hurt.
By now, the bus driver had also finished giving his statement. It wasn't that he hadn't helped Ming Mei earlier; they actually had an established coordination system.
Generally, thieves and pickpockets don't work alone - they usually work in pairs or larger groups. So when incidents occur, Ming Mei handles the situation while the driver watches the surroundings to prevent others from taking advantage of the chaos, and to react quickly if anyone else tries to intervene.
Of course, this arrangement worked because Ming Mei was genuinely skilled. If multiple people had attacked at once, he would definitely have jumped in to help. But most times, he handled the aftermath, mainly because he worried that rushing in might hinder rather than help. This was their pre-arranged plan, and other buses had their own coordination methods too.
This approach worked for Ming Mei because of her fighting skills.
As for others, some coordinated to contact the police directly. While they didn't encounter thieves very often, they always maintained some level of preparedness.
Of course, there were some who would ignore thieves even if they noticed them, but such people were few. Most people nowadays still maintained a sense of kindness and justice. Even while ensuring their own safety, most would remain vigilant.
Officer Tian looked over everyone's statements and said: "That's about everything. Thank you all for coming to testify. This case is still under investigation, so please head home for now."
The specific details of the case naturally wouldn't be shared with everyone.
Even Ming Mei, despite asking, wasn't told exactly what was going on.
Ming Mei was practically a regular here and knew that some things couldn't be discussed until investigations were complete. She stood up: "Then I'll be going now. We had an incident on our route, so I need to go back and report it."
As everyone was preparing to leave, Granny Hu looked confused and asked: "What about me? He beat me up like this, I need to go to the hospital!"
Actually, Granny Hu had been quite lucky. When the criminal's knife came at her, it only tore her cotton pants. Thankfully, even though it was already Qingming Festival, she hadn't switched to thinner clothes yet, otherwise she would definitely have been injured.
And next year's Qingming might have been about visiting her grave.
That knife stroke only cost her a pair of pants - a blessing in disguise.
"Well, Xiao Zhao, please take this elderly lady to the hospital and check her condition. As for the expenses..."
He hesitated before continuing, "We'll cover them first, and after the investigation is complete, we'll have that person compensate for them."
"Understood." A female police officer named Xiao Zhao responded.
Xiao Zhao looked at Granny Hu and said, "Auntie, shall we go?"
Liang Meifen quickly followed, "Mom, let me help you."
Granny Hu mumbled something, she was truly frightened and the more she thought about it, the more scared she became, her legs felt weak.
Ming Mei stepped forward: "Sister-in-law, are you okay? Didn't that man kick you too?"
Liang Meifen shook her head: "I'm fine, I need to take my mom to the hospital, I might be late getting back. If you get home first, tell mom for me, thank you Ming Mei."
She had heard before that Ming Mei was quite formidable, but hearing about it and seeing it were two different things. She had never witnessed Ming Mei's actions, only heard about the results. So the fear she felt was limited. She knew this person was formidable, but she wasn't sure how formidable and didn't really take it to heart. But today, seeing Ming Mei kick a grown man so hard he vomited blood, Liang Meifen was truly scared, her words carried a hint of respect.
"Ming Mei, if sister-in-law has ever done anything wrong before, please don't hold it against me, I'm just a fool."
Granny Hu quickly chimed in: "Yes, yes, yes, if I, your old granny, have ever done anything wrong, please don't take it to heart, hehe, hehehe!"
Ming Mei: "..."
You really don't have to go this far.
She forced a smile and said, "Sister-in-law, Granny, what are you talking about? Sister-in-law, you know, we're all family, don't say such formal things. Besides, thank you for helping me earlier."
Whether or not the help was effective, Liang Meifen's willingness to help on her own initiative showed she wasn't a bad person.
Her proactive help was something Ming Mei hadn't expected.
Ming Mei was like this, you respect me, I respect you. But if you disrespect me, I'll double it back!
She smiled and said, "You should go to the hospital first, I'll tell mom to prepare something good for dinner tonight, let's replenish our strength."
Liang Meifen: "No need, no need."
Granny Hu whispered: "What's she up to? It's kind of scary."
Ming Mei: "..."
She meant well, why are they suspicious of her?
"Uh, uh, let's go, let's go to the hospital, I can't take it anymore..." Granny Hu was really a bit scared of Ming Mei, quickly changing the subject, ready to leave.
Officer Xiao Zhao: "Let's go then."
Ming Mei also left with the driver, just in time for Granny Hu to look back at her, Ming Mei gave a smile, Granny Hu shivered and quickly darted away.
Ming Mei: "......???"
Granny Hu thought to herself, this Ming Mei's smile is too sinister.
Although everyone was still curious about what exactly happened here, since the police investigation needed to be kept confidential, people gradually dispersed. Ming Mei also got into the car with the driver to return to the main station.
Such sudden incidents were not common, but they did happen occasionally.
Ming Mei sighed: "It's already annoying enough with the heavy rain, and then this happens, what kind of luck is this?"
The driver laughed and said: "You can't say it like that, think of it as a merit. Maybe this will even get you a raise. Do you have enough seniority?"
If this matter was confirmed, he should also get some credit, his seniority was also enough, in theory, he could also get a raise. Thinking of this, he felt more energetic driving. He said: "Think of it, this isn't just a thief, it's walking money."
Ming Mei chuckled: "You're right."
She calculated in her mind and said: "My seniority isn't enough."
She lamented: "If my seniority was a bit more, could I get a raise too?"
The driver: "I think our boss can fight for it, we protected the safety of the masses on the bus and caught a bad guy, the credit can't be small." He had longer working years than Ming Mei and knew more, saying: "Then it depends on what kind of situation this guy is in, the bigger his problem, the bigger your credit, the higher the chance of a raise."
Ming Mei: "Who knows."
Although she said that, Ming Mei's mouth had already curled up, oh dear, who doesn't like a raise!
They returned to the main station, and this matter was indeed remarkable, even the leaders were amazed, how could Ming Mei attract bad people so much? She was already so formidable, yet there were still fools who dared to cause trouble, truly not wanting to live long.
"You all were also frightened today, go home early and rest."
Ming Mei hummed in agreement, saying: "Okay."
"Ming Mei, don't worry, our station will communicate with the police station at any time, clarify whether they have any accomplices, so as not to disturb your life." To be honest, few dared to retaliate now.
It wasn't like catching a thief would lead to revenge, after all, times have changed.
But as a leader and elder, Ming Mei's old leader was still very meticulous. After all, he had watched her grow up since she was a child.
Ming Mei chuckled softly, nodding and saying: "I know."
"Alright, go home early and rest."
Ming Mei nodded in agreement and left, the people in their office all sighed: "What luck is this girl, how can she always meet bad people."
"Others might meet them too, but they might not dare to act, this girl just has a big heart."
"She's always been like that since she was a kid, bold and reckless, remember? When she was little, because the kids from other courtyards bullied ours, she stood up for a bunch of boys..."
"Yes, yes, my son was one of them, this coward, let a little girl stand up for him, what a waste of his height."
Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere immediately lively.
Ming Mei didn't know others were talking about her, she happily rode her bicycle home early, it had to be said, the appearance of bad people was somewhat useful, at least she could go home early.
The rain hadn't stopped all day, when Ming Mei returned to the courtyard it was already noon, every household's chimney was smoking, Ming Mei entered the courtyard and saw Aunt Su collecting water again. Ming Mei's mouth twitched, what a strange person.
It seemed like they would never run out of water.
Aunt Su was collecting water under an umbrella, hearing the bicycle enter the courtyard, she looked up in surprise: "Oh, Little Ming, why are you back at this time?"
She used to call Ming Mei "Little Zhuang's wife", but a few days ago she heard Li Fang greet Ming Mei as Little Ming, so she started calling her that too. Ming Mei's surname was Ming, so it was fine to call her that, like Little Zhang, Little Li, Little Wang.
It's just that the surname Ming was a bit special.
Ming Mei: "Yes, I got off work early today."
Aunt Su: "Your job is pretty good, you can go home whenever you want, quite relaxing. It's said that every industry serves the people, but you seem to have it easier than others."
Her words carried a hint of jealousy, and she wanted to stir up some resentment for Ming Mei, don't think she didn't know, Madam Zhou Li must be peeking and eavesdropping from the window. Although she was arrogant in the hospital, she was taken away by the security department in the courtyard, which was quite embarrassing.
When she was in the hospital, she didn't know anyone, just a few neighbors, it was okay. But after returning, she always felt a bit degraded. Plus, Jiang Lu had a big argument with her, everyone knew she had caused trouble for her son at the factory, she felt even more embarrassed.
So, except for going to the toilet or doing something necessary, she didn't go out, but this person was restless and nosy, so she kept looking out the window.
Not missing any little movement.
Aunt Su deliberately said this, hoping Madam Zhou Li would spread that Ming Mei wasn't working properly.
But she forgot what kind of person Ming Mei was, Ming Mei spoke clearly: "Aunt Su, you're wrong about that. We ticket sellers aren't any easier than factory workers. At least they work in a clean environment, we have it tough on days like this. But since you stay at home all day and don't work, you wouldn't understand."
Isn't it just taunting people?
Who can't do that!
She had a sarcastic grandfather and a fierce, sharp-tongued mother-in-law.
Even if she learned, she learned it well.
She flashed a brilliant smile and said, "I left work early today because of an emergency. But you wouldn't understand anyway. I really envy you, just lying around at home all day, with food served to your mouth and clothes handed to you. Your daily routine is just fetching a bit of water."
Aunt Su: "……"
In her heart, she cursed, but she said, "Where do you get that idea? My days at home are plenty busy with three mischievous boys. We can't afford to be idle. My health isn't comparable to you youngsters, and I'm a real burden to the family. If it weren't for the kids, I'd have followed my husband and sons long ago. But I can't leave my three grandsons, nothing is more important than the children. Especially since I have three strapping boys."
What she took the most pride in was her family's male lineage, three boys, which was something no ordinary family could match. Even if others had sons, they likely also had daughters, but her family had no "useless" girls.
Just thinking about it made her feel extra proud.
Aunt Su, pretending to be concerned, asked, "Xiao Ming, you've been married for a while now, haven't you? Still not pregnant? When do you plan to have kids?"
Ming Mei blinked and laughed, saying, "Why the rush? We're both still young, whether it's early or late doesn't matter. After all, what's important is that the child is loved."
Her tone was earnest: "If we have a child, we'll definitely educate them well. That's a big deal, so we can't rush it. Having a baby early, we ourselves aren't even settled yet, how could we teach them well? We can't just have them without teaching them, that wouldn't do. The child wouldn't grow up to be a likable person."
Aunt Su: "……"
She took deep breaths, feeling very angry inside.
I suspect you're implying something about me, and I'm sure of it!
Aunt Su scrutinized Ming Mei, feeling that this young bride was no simpleton. In their alley, any new bride would sympathize with her and treat her well.
Only Ming Mei, upon hearing her speak, knew she wasn't someone to be trifled with.
And in this exchange, she hadn't gained any advantage. Aunt Su became even more wary of Ming Mei. Just then, she heard Madam Zhou Li's thunderous laughter. She was furious, knowing Madam Zhou Li had heard everything. Madam Zhou Li, who had no children, always felt inferior when Aunt Su boasted about hers. But this time, hearing Aunt Su being put in her place, she laughed loudly, making sure Aunt Su could hear.
Aunt Su, being shrewd, knew it was time to retreat. She said, "Oh, my water's ready, I have to go cook, so I won't chat anymore."
Ming Mei shrugged and turned to go home.
Meanwhile, Madam Zhou Li, peeking from the window, spat and said, "Not a single good one among them, all scumbags, old and young scumbags, why didn't they just fight?"
She had been planning to lay low, let her scandals settle before making a comeback. But being cooped up at home was suffocating, she wished those people would brawl, so she could watch the spectacle. And if there was a commotion, maybe people would forget about her.
That was Madam Zhou Li's thinking.
But things didn't go as she wished.
Why didn't those two fight? Why didn't they just fight?
It was so disappointing.
Ming Mei returned home, under Aunt Su's curses and Madam Zhou Li's frustrated expectations.
Zhao Guihua had already heard Ming Mei and Aunt Su's conversation. She didn't step out to back her daughter-in-law, knowing Ming Mei could handle herself. But she asked, "Why did you leave work early?"
She had planned to just have some steamed buns and pickled radish at home.
Seeing her daughter-in-law back, she fried some cabbage.
Ming Mei: "We encountered bad people today, and I ran into Sister Liang and her mom. Oh, you don't know, that old lady was so arrogant, then someone taught her a lesson, slapping her so hard her face swelled up... Now Officer Tian is accompanying her to the hospital. Sister Liang asked me to tell you she might be back late."
Zhao Guihua: "What happened?"
She immediately perked up: "Tell me about it."
People are lonely.
Any gossip, they don't want to miss.
Ming Mei: "It was today at..."
Ming Mei's storytelling skills were average, but she had to boast about herself. She detailed how she had sharp eyes, spotting the troublemaker instantly. Then she described her bravery in catching the thief.
Of course, getting beaten up also needed to be elaborated on.
This monologue took Ming Mei half an hour to finish, leaving her parched.
Ming Mei smiled, murmuring, "Oh, mom, I really saw a lot today. It was my first time seeing so many gold bars, later counted, there were eighteen in total. I guess there was more on that person, it was my first time seeing so much gold, so rich..."
Zhao Guihua was also surprised, exclaiming, "So much gold, there must be something wrong with it, big or small bars?"
Ming Mei: "Big ones! Really big, it felt like I was going to get rich."
Ming Mei had only focused on catching the person at the time, now thinking about it, she sighed, it would have been nice to touch them, those were gold bars.
She lamented: "I forgot about that at the time."
Zhao Guihua laughed, saying, "It's good you didn't touch them, if anything was missing, it wouldn't be on you. Whenever it comes to money, you have to be clear, so as not to invite trouble."
Ming Mei: "Definitely not, the passengers were all around the bus, eyes like bull's eyes, watching clearly."
Although it was chaotic with many people, since everyone had stepped back from the "battlefield," the scene was quite clear, so there wasn't much to worry about. But her mother-in-law was right, in the future, if there were similar incidents, being more cautious would be better.
Zhao Guihua: "Just keep that in mind."
Ming Mei nodded, after the lament, she thought of another matter.
Ming Mei propped her chin, very seriously saying, "I think... I think... Sister Liang's mother is a bit afraid of me."
Zhao Guihua glanced at Ming Mei, thinking, does she need to think? She's definitely afraid of you.
She remembered from her previous life, this woman had been more aggressive then. Of course, not with them, since no one paid her any mind. This old lady just bullied her daughter, making Liang Meifen look like her mother had died every day.
Later, Madam Zhou Li stepped in, truly a good person, standing up at critical moments, offending Old Man Lan, stirring up trouble with matchmaking, she and Aunt Su did it. Unfortunately, Ming Mei found out, this girl didn't beat the old ladies, but her sons and daughters-in-law, and smashed the windows of both Zhou and Su's houses. It happened that Granny Hu was there too, nearly peeing her pants in fright.
From then on, she behaved like a quail.
Although annoying, she did one thing right, being sensible.
Seeing Ming Mei was truly unapproachable, she disappeared into the crowd, only surfacing once a year during the New Year. And rarely came to their house. It really made Zhao Guihua feel much quieter.
So when Ming Mei mentioned it, Zhao Guihua understood.
She said, "That's just how Liang Meifen's mother is, don't take it to heart."
Ming Mei hummed, then said, "Mom, I'll go buy some meat later, let's have meat for dinner tonight. Sister Liang was helpful today, I should show my appreciation."
Pausing, she added, "Though she didn't really help much."
Zhao Guihua chuckled, saying, "You always know how to talk."
She said, "Don't buy, we still have meat at home, finish it first."
Ming Mei sighed: "We've been eating it for a long time."
A few months have passed since the meat from that time, and it's still there. They haven't stopped eating... Apparently, they really stocked up back then. She peeked around, and Zhao Guihua snapped, "What are you looking at?"
Ming Mei pouted.
Zhao Guihua sighed, "Why don't you go buy some offal? I'm craving some stewed offal."
Ming Mei replied, "Sure, I'll go right now."
She's a straightforward person, so Zhao Guihua said, "Wait, after lunch. What's the rush?"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had lunch together. Zhao Guihua mentioned, "It rained all day today, and it's unlikely to clear up tomorrow. I reckon the mushrooms will start popping up the day after tomorrow. I plan to go up the mountain to pick some mushrooms, then dry them and eat them slowly. Lao San loves mushrooms."
Ming Mei said, "I love them too, but I've never picked mushrooms. My mom never let me buy them because she was afraid I'd get the poisonous kind."
Mushrooms can be dangerous if not prepared properly.
Zhao Guihua said, "You don't need to worry about that. I'll go myself. You're all just a bunch of hindrances."
Ming Mei hung her head, feeling scolded.
Zhao Guihua continued, "I'll go to the outskirts and see if I can gather more. But with this rain, there will probably be more people going to the outskirts to pick mushrooms. I'm just worried someone might spot the pond."
If it weren't raining, fewer people would go to the outskirts, but after the rain, it's different. Mushrooms are quite good as a dish. Plus, it's spring! There are many wild fruits on the mountain, and people will inevitably wander around. She lamented, "If someone discovers the pond, we won't have such a good chance to fish there anymore."
This wasn't an exaggeration. Zhao Guihua remembered from her previous life that once everyone started going, the pond, though full of fish, couldn't withstand the crowds. In no time, it was emptied, even the small fish were gone. Later, even if people went, they couldn't catch any fish.
Ming Mei suggested, "Should we go there a few more times recently?"
Zhao Guihua replied, "We'll see. We can't go up the mountain in the rain."
Ming Mei nodded. She understood her mother-in-law's concerns. They could certainly fish a lot, but it wasn't the right season, and selling them on the black market was both risky and not profitable.
If they brought everything back, they would definitely be noticed. A little here and there was fine, but if they brought back too much, it could lead to accusations of exploiting socialist resources, which would be a big problem. So, even though they knew where there were resources, they couldn't bring back too much.
As for telling relatives and friends, it wasn't a good idea either. It might not turn out well and could even cause trouble.
People might think you've been hoarding and exploiting for years.
Don't think this is a joke. In these times, even father and son could turn against each other. They really didn't need to tell others and risk trouble.
"Mom, don't think too much. What's ours won't run away, and what's not ours is just a matter of fate. We've already benefited a lot from that pond, so we're not at a loss," Ming Mei said, quite open-minded. "We've gained a lot from that pond, so it's fine either way."
Zhao Guihua nodded, glancing at Ming Mei, "You're quite good at comforting people."
Ming Mei immediately smiled, "Of course, I'm good-looking, so whatever I say is right."
Zhao Guihua's mouth twitched, "..."
She said, "Stop bragging. I'll give you money to buy the offal."
Ming Mei replied, "No need, I have it."
Zhao Guihua looked at her and said, "Alright then."
She added, "I know how to cook this. Just wait and see. After lunch, go right away."
Ming Mei's big eyes curved into a smile, "Okay~"
After lunch, Ming Mei immediately rode her bike out. Although she didn't like going to work on rainy days, she had no problem doing other things on rainy days. Why did Zhao Guihua tell her to go now? Obviously, she was afraid they'd run out if she went later.
Offal and organs don't require meat coupons, but they sell well. After all, old Beijingers really enjoy this kind of thing. Zhao Guihua, in her older years, listened to stories about past times, where offal and organs were given away for free, and she always had something to say about it.
Even if it's not good, it's still a bit of meat. It's never worthless.
Even a bare bone costs three cents.
So don't think you'll get something for free, dreaming is faster.
Especially in Beijing, offal and organs are top-notch. Prepared well, they are delicious. There used to be many stewed offal shops, so don't think you'll get something for free.
That's not possible.
If you go late, it'll all be sold out.
Ming Mei pedaled her bike furiously, rushing to the butcher shop under Zhao Guihua's expectations.
For stewed offal, charge!
Ming Mei's old-fashioned bike seemed to ride with sparks and lightning!
"Wow, that bike rides fast!" a passerby exclaimed.
"I can't even ride as fast as a little girl, that won't do!" said a cyclist.
"What's the rush? Riding like that, it's like flying," someone speculated.
Ming Mei zipped to the meat stall and saw a familiar figure from afar. Don't misunderstand, it wasn't Zhuang Zhixi!
And it wasn't even a man.
It was... Jiang Lu!
Jiang Lu looked around, moving towards the meat stall quickly.
Ming Mei: "???"
This is like a secret meeting of the underground party.
Ming Mei sped up her bike, curious!
After all, this was the time for work, and Jiang Lu being here made people quite curious.
Jiang Lu had sneaked out. She couldn't wait until after work; otherwise, she wouldn't get anything. Especially since she wanted something very hard to find. She acted like a thief as she approached the stall, whispering, "Do you have pig kidneys?"
Ming Mei just happened to ride up and heard that.
Ming Mei: "Ah, this..."
Buying a pig kidney, was it really necessary to act like this?
Jiang Lu's face turned red. Ming Mei tried to stay calm, "Do you have pig organs and offal?"
"Yes, we do!" On a rainy day, fewer people came out to buy things, so there was still some left even at noon. Normally, such things sell very well because they don't require coupons and are usually gone by morning.
"How much do you want?"
Jiang Lu felt a bit awkward, especially since Ming Mei saw her buying pig kidneys. Everyone knows what these are for. But she also complained in her heart, why did Ming Mei come to buy things at this time? Couldn't she choose another time?
Even though her mother-in-law wasn't great, she was right about one thing: Ming Mei was quite annoying. She lacked tact.
Ming Mei said, "Jiang, you go first."
Jiang Lu quickly replied, "No, no, you go first."
Ming Mei could see Jiang Lu's discomfort and said, "Alright, I'll buy first."
She weighed some pig organs and offal and paid.
Jiang Lu finally regained some composure and asked, "Didn't you go to work today?"
Ming Mei replied, "I did, but we got off early due to an accident. That's why I came to buy some offal to make stewed offal. Well, Jiang, I'll be going now."
Although they lived in the same courtyard, they weren't really close.
Ming Mei paid, pulled her raincoat, and left without lingering. Although she was curious, she had some tact. Jiang Lu didn't want to buy in front of her, so Ming Mei naturally didn't stay to annoy her.
Pig kidneys...
Jiang Lu didn't know what Ming Mei thought. Seeing Ming Mei leave, she breathed a sigh of relief. She always felt a bit embarrassed buying such things in front of others, even if they were all married women. Jiang Lu didn't want others to think too much about her husband, which was related to his reputation.
She coughed lightly and said, "Give me a pig kidney."
After a pause, she whispered, "Will there be lamb supply tomorrow?"
"Yes."
The butcher was a middle-aged man. He glanced at Jiang Lu, then looked around to make sure no one was watching, and whispered, "I get them early in the morning. If you want some, come early. I'll cut you some fatty ones."
Jiang Lu's business was even worse now. She said, "Can you save one for me?"
This butcher shop mostly supplied pork, but occasionally there were beef and mutton as well. These were always in short supply, and whenever they were available, there would be long lines, as scarcity drives up value. However, Jiang Lu was from a well-off family and bought a lot of meat, so she had some rapport with the butcher.
Like now, she knew about the mutton before Ming Mei.
Of course, it was also because her father was a leader at the supply and marketing cooperative, and sometimes, transactions were done through "reciprocal benefits."
"Save the sheep's... that part... for me."
The crucial, unspeakable part.
Jiang Lu thought that her husband, Zhou Qun, needed a good supplement after his injury.
It was all that damned Bai Fendou's fault, causing her husband so much suffering.
"That part? It's gone. Such a good tonic, it's usually booked up as soon as it arrives. I'm not hiding it from you; you know how it is. It's cut directly at the meat processing plant..."
Even if there were any, I'd want to supplement myself.
How can a man not need some supplement?
He said, "Why don't you get a sheep's kidney instead?"
Jiang Lu looked regretful. She sighed, "Then you have to save it for me."
"Look, we're old acquaintances. I'll definitely save it for you." Although selling to anyone is the same, he occasionally gets to buy "defective goods" from the supply and marketing cooperative through Jiang Lu's connections, so he's happy to interact with her.
It's about give and take!
He usually gives Jiang Lu better meat, and she knows how to reciprocate. It's not easy to get defective goods now; that's a privilege for internal employees of the supply and marketing cooperative.
Jiang Lu paid and put the pork kidney in her handbag.
The butcher, seeing her look of disappointment, hesitated and said, "Or, how about a sheep's... testicle?"
Jiang Lu: "???"
"There are still some left. Not many people buy them, but they're just as good. The main problem is that many people don't know how to cook them, and they can have a strong smell if not done right. If you know how to cook them, you'll see, they sell very well. After all, this stuff doesn't require coupons. If you want, I'll save it for you tomorrow. Don't underestimate it; many knowledgeable people seek this out. We're old acquaintances, otherwise, I wouldn't save it for you. I'd eat it myself!"
Jiang Lu decisively: "Save it!!!"
She earnestly: "Definitely save it!!!"
Her husband, Zhou Qun, needs a big supplement!!!
The butcher looked at her expression with a subtle understanding but still nodded seriously, "Alright, you can rest assured." How weak must a man be to need constant supplementation!
Jiang Lu smiled and said, "If there's anything you need help with in the future, just tell me, and I'll definitely help."
The butcher was overjoyed: "Great, thank you very much."
Both were satisfied. Jiang Lu hurried home, planning to stir-fry some kidney for her husband, Zhou Qun, tonight.
