Chapter 21: Supply and Marketing Cooperative Procurement

Huo Minglei stammered and said nothing, and Lu Mingyue did not wish to make things difficult for the child. If he wanted to call her, he would do so when he was ready; forcing him to do it against his will would be worse than not having him call her at all.

Huo Zheng also knew that this could not be rushed. After catching a glance from Lu Mingyue, his lips moved slightly, but he ultimately remained silent. The list Huo Zheng had drawn up was very detailed, and after reviewing it, Lu Mingyue found nothing that needed to be added.

Once they had changed their clothes, the family prepared to head to the supply and marketing cooperative. As soon as she opened the door, Lu Mingyue's gaze drifted involuntarily toward a beautiful figure standing ahead.

"Wow, where did such a great beauty come from?"

Huo Zheng’s footsteps faltered. He followed her gaze, took a brief, indifferent look, and then pulled his eyes back to rest on Lu Mingyue. She really was a fickle heart; hadn't she just been looking at him? In the blink of an eye, she was full of praise for someone else. Huo Zheng let out a soft, mocking "tsk."

Song Qingya felt as though someone were staring at her back, but she was in a hurry to get home and pushed the feeling to the back of her mind. Had she turned around at that moment, she would surely have met Lu Mingyue’s infatuated gaze.

As the beauty disappeared from view, Lu Mingyue sighed with regret. She silently lamented to the system that she had missed the chance to introduce herself to a new friend. Huo Zheng looked at the two children, feeling fortunate that they could not hear Lu Mingyue’s inner voice, as her conversations with the system were often quite unsuitable for children.

Huo Zheng returning from the island with a wife caused a small stir in the family compound. Most people there knew the history of the two children. Some praised Huo Zheng for being a good man who selflessly raised the children as his own. Others felt he was just putting on a show, taking them in only to covet the children’s maintenance allowance. Of course, such negative voices were in the minority; if it were up to them, they weren't sure they could have made such a decision themselves.

"Comrade Huo, is this your wife?" A curious sister-in-law asked, staring directly at Lu Mingyue.

Lu Mingyue feigned shyness, her cheeks flushing slightly as she looked at Huo Zheng. Huo Zheng coughed and said, "Sister-in-law Zheng, this is my wife, Comrade Lu Mingyue." He then turned to Lu Mingyue and said, "Comrade Lu, this is Sister-in-law Zheng."

Zheng Xiuhua enthusiastically grabbed Lu Mingyue’s hand and showered her with kindness, saying affectionately, "Your name is so lovely. May I call you Mingyue?" She looked sincere, and Lu Mingyue smiled and agreed.

"System, it seems my charm is quite powerful," Lu Mingyue thought, feeling a bit smug as she touched her face.

Sister-in-law Zheng blinked, wondering if she hadn't been resting well lately—how could she hear Mingyue’s voice when the girl hadn't actually spoken? Huo Zheng, who was constantly keeping an eye on those around Lu Mingyue, noticed the expression on Sister-in-law Zheng’s face and keenly sensed that something was amiss.

"Sister-in-law Zheng, we are heading to the supply and marketing cooperative. Do come visit us at home when you have time."

Before Huo Zheng could speak, Lu Mingyue interjected first. Feeling the weight of the surrounding stares—as if a thousand ants were crawling on her—she felt thoroughly uncomfortable. After greeting Sister-in-law Zheng, she quickly pulled the children away, her retreating figure appearing as if she were fleeing in haste. The other women who hadn't yet managed to strike up a conversation watched her departure with a hint of regret.

The supply and marketing cooperative was located outside the family compound, serving not only the residents but also nearby villagers. The clothes the two children were wearing were becoming old, and Lu Mingyue wanted to buy some fabric to make them new outfits.

Yaoyao looked at her new mother with surprise. "Mom, are you going to make clothes for Yaoyao?"

"That’s right, do you like that?"

Yaoyao nodded vigorously. Even though it wasn't yet the Lunar New Year, she was getting new clothes—how could she not be happy? The little girl shook her head back and forth, her braided pigtails dancing in the wind; the swaying strands were a testament to her joy. Even Huo Minglei, who usually kept a stiff face, had a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

Huo Zheng had never neglected the children in terms of food, but he lacked the meticulous nature of a woman when it came to daily life. The children's clothes had become small, the sleeves a bit too short, though it wasn't obvious unless one looked closely. When Lu Mingyue had bathed Yaoyao, she noticed the clothes were feeling tight, which was why she decided to make new ones. Since she was making them anyway, it didn't really matter if she made one or two.

Huo Zheng felt that making them herself would be too tiring. His own needlework skills were poor; he could manage to sew a sock, but he couldn't help with clothes. Lu Mingyue waved her hand, saying, "We don't have a sewing machine, so making clothes by hand is indeed time-consuming." In the end, they agreed to buy ready-made clothes this time.

Upon arriving at the cooperative, Lu Mingyue led the children straight to the clothing counter and asked, "Take a look and see if there’s anything you like." Huo Minglei looked at his father, then at Lu Mingyue, a look of disbelief in his eyes. Was she really going to buy them clothes?

Yaoyao clapped her little hands, and Huo Zheng lifted her up so she could get a better look at the garments on the rack. Sister-in-law Liu watched the family of four interacting so harmoniously and smiled. The two Huo children were obedient and sensible; as parents, they loved children who didn't cause trouble. These two were usually so well-behaved that it made people’s hearts ache for them.

When Comrade Huo submitted his marriage application, everyone had been curious about his future wife. Seeing her today, she was, if nothing else, truly beautiful—one of the best-looking women in the compound. Comrade Huo was truly lucky. Seeing her bring the children to buy clothes now, Sister-in-law Liu’s smile deepened.

"Hello, Comrade. These clothes are fresh stock from Shanghai and are selling very well. Tell me which one you like, and I’ll take it down for you to try on."

Regardless of the era, trying on clothes was essential. Some families with fewer means usually chose to buy clothes two or even three sizes too large, letting the children take turns wearing them—the eldest would wear it, then pass it to the second, then to the third, and so on.

Yaoyao stared at the wall full of clothes, her little head struggling to take it all in, unable to decide what she liked. Lu Mingyue pointed out several pieces and asked Sister-in-law Liu to help take them down for a fitting. Sister-in-law Liu glanced at her; she had chosen light-colored clothes, which were difficult to keep clean—most parents were unwilling to buy such things. The fact that the Colonel’s wife was willing to buy them showed she truly cared for Yaoyao.

After picking for the little girl, Lu Mingyue chose a few outfits for Huo Minglei. There were fewer color choices for boys, most being practical, dirt-resistant shades. Of course, she didn't forget to pick out something for herself.

The one person who didn't need new clothes was Huo Zheng, as the military issued new supplies every year. If he really needed new clothes, she could make him a couple of sets once they bought a sewing machine. Lu Mingyue also selected some soft fabric, intending to sew them into simple pajamas. Making pajamas didn't require high-level skill; two pieces of fabric could be easily stitched together.

The list also included household necessities like oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, as well as the most important item: vegetable seeds. The supply and marketing cooperative was well-stocked. Once everything was purchased, the family of four headed home, carrying their bags and bundles.