After leaving the post office, Wang Gang left to help buy the pot and small stove as soon as he brought her to the supply store to buy what she needed.
Lu Xiaoxiao looked at the things in the supply store and realized that there were really too few things compared to what was sold in Jing City. There were many things that were missing.
Lu Xiaoxiao saw that she had received 12 industrial tickets, tickets for 12 feet of cloth, tickets for two catties of pastry, tickets for half a catty of sugar, tickets for eight catties of meat, tickets for two catties of oil, and tickets for 30 catties of food. As they were issued by the unit where the original owner's parents worked, these tickets could be used throughout the country.
Lu Xiaoxiao had used up all the tickets she had exchanged in Jing City except for the food and meat tickets, so she only had the subsidized tickets that day. Hence, she used all the industrial tickets to buy a lunch box, two rice bowls, two plates, a soup bowl, and two spoons. Then, she used the pastry tickets to buy two catties of cake and half a catty of fruit candy.
After Lu Xiaoxiao finished buying, she saw that the salt, matches, and candles did not cost tickets, so she also bought some. As for the oil, she could not buy it without bringing a bottle. When she saw that the food sold was all sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn flour, and so on, she did not buy any more. She planned to save the food tickets to eat at the state-owned restaurant.
Lu Xiaoxiao looked at the pile of things at her feet and sighed, as she waited for Wang Gang to return. Fortunately, not long after, she saw Wang Gang walking towards her with two bags in one hand and a basket in the other.
When Wang Gang saw the pile of things on the ground, he went forward without a word to put them all into the basket and carry them in his hand.
Why didn't Wang Gang carry the basket on his back? That was because the basket was very small. He had bought this basket for Lu Xiaoxiao.
When they arrived at the ox cart, Wang Gang put everything on the cart. After greeting Uncle Liu, he secretly handed over a pack of cigarettes. Then, he asked him to help Lu Xiaoxiao send everything to her house when he returned to the village and help her place the iron pot on the stove. When Uncle Liu heard Wang Gang's words, he nodded repeatedly and agreed, but he returned the cigarettes to Wang Gang.
Wang Gang did not take the cigarette from Uncle Liu. He said to Uncle Liu, "Sorry to trouble you for sending me to the county today. This cigarette is for you as a gift from a junior. Please accept it."
At this point, Uncle Liu could only accept the cigarette. He thought to himself that at most, he would take care of Xiao Xiao more in the future. Uncle Liu's thought was exactly what Wang Gang wanted.
After settling the matters, Wang Gang planned to take a car back to the city. Otherwise, he would not have time to bring Liu Xiaofeng to settle the employment procedures.
Seeing that Wang Gang was about to leave, Lu Xiaoxiao hurriedly took out a bag from her small bag and handed it to him, saying that it was a gift for the little sister.
When Wang Gang heard that it was for his daughter, he thought that it might be a little thing for the little girl to play with, so he took it.
Actually, inside were a red silk scarf and two pairs of hair ornaments made of cloth that Lu Xiaoxiao had put in the day before. There was also the 50 yuan that she had put in just now. Although she did not know how much the pot and furnace cost, it was definitely not cheap to buy them on the black market.
The silk scarf and headband were prepared for Wang Gang's wife and daughter. Although Wang Gang did not find it troublesome to keep helping her, his wife might mind. It was always good to give a gift.
After Wang Gang bade her farewell, he brought Liu Xiaofeng and the second brother of the Liu family to take the bus to the city.
Lu Xiaoxiao looked at the clock in the villa with her mind and realized that it was already past 11am. No wonder she was a little hungry.
Seeing that Uncle Liu was not planning to eat lunch, Lu Xiaoxiao had no choice but to still eat. She was still growing.
Lu Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said to Uncle Liu, "Uncle Liu, I'm hungry and want to go to the state-run restaurant to buy something to eat. Please help me take care of my things."
Uncle Liu also thought that it was almost time for lunch, so it was not strange for children to be hungry easily. Hence, he said, "Go ahead. Be careful on the way. Come back quickly after buying your food. Don't run around."
When Lu Xiaoxiao heard Uncle Liu's words, she nodded repeatedly and said, "I'll be back immediately after I buy food."