Ruling the Historical Romance Novel as the Female Supporting Character-Chapter 193: She Was the Mouse That Jumped Around the Rice Jar

"Let’s pack up the noodles and take them with us," Su Yijia looked at Gao Huabin. He immediately understood and took out the insulated pot from the cloth bag. Originally, the plan was to buy some congee and soup at the State-Owned Restaurant. Given the available conditions, he wanted to slightly supplement the boss. Although the train sold congee, it was nutritionally deficient, pure white congee. Even with everyone trying their best to care for Qin Kaize, the boss eldest visibly looked haggard in just a short three days.

"Later, we’ll buy some groceries at the supply and marketing cooperative and cook for Kaize when we return," Su Yijia looked at Qin Kaize with a hint of sympathy.

"It’s fine, I’m okay," Qin Kaize smiled, reassuring her. In the past during missions, not eating for two to three days was normal.

"Now you’re a patient, and you need to act like one," Su Yijia emphasized, her eyebrows furrowing. If he didn’t care about where he felt unwell, how long could he live without her?

"Exactly! Kaize, I have to criticize you. As a husband, you need to stop forcing yourself to so strong. Taking care of your health is not just your responsibility, but it’s also for Yijia’s sake."

Gao Huabin caught an opportunity to give Qin Kaize some advice. Qin Kaize wanted to argue but seeing his little wife nodding in agreement, he obediently accepted it.

After leaving the State-Owned Restaurant, they went straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. Although they had brought many things when they arrived, there were still many items they needed to buy. They needed to buy two coal stoves and a supply of coal. They also had to purchase pots, bowls, ladles, rice, flour, seasonings, and two hot water flasks. These items filled their hands to the brim.

Su Yijia specifically bought a small bamboo basket that could be carried on the back, about half the size of one bought in Hu City, but enough to cover her when she retrieved things from her space.

After returning to the guesthouse and arranging the items, they stewed the purchased pork and congee. Su Yijia asked Gao Huabin to watch over them and then set off with the bamboo basket on her back.

"Yijia!" Xia Weiguo hurriedly stopped her.

Seeing the bewilderment in her eyes, Xia Weiguo slowed down his breathing, trying not to scare her. "Our current situation is very dangerous. Please don’t wander around. Be careful not to be caught by bad people."

"I’m just going to buy some mushrooms," Su Yijia pointed outside the guesthouse to the comrades holding baskets.

The guesthouse and State-Owned Restaurant were on the same street.

The former was at the end of the street, while the latter was in the middle. Both were bustling places where people carrying baskets roamed the street in search of items. Although private buying and selling were not allowed, bartering was permitted. Besides, the people here were truly poor, and if one didn’t turn a blind eye, many might starve.

Su Yijia had just bought some meat and eggs from the supply and marketing cooperative, intending to exchange them for fresh and delicious mushrooms. She had also taken extra care to confirm that no one was secretly following them. Otherwise, would she dare to deliver herself to be harmed by others? She wasn’t that foolish. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Watching the people outside who were exchanging items, Xia Weiguo understood that Su Yijia was a free spirit, restless, and that it wouldn’t be good to restrict her.

"How about I let Yu and Fang go with you?"

"Just let one of them accompany me. You guys are the targets, and there are many people at the guesthouse to protect. Uncle, don’t worry. You can stand at the entrance and keep an eye on me. I’ll be back in half an hour at most." Su Yijia pointed to the street to indicate that she was just moving between the guesthouse and the State-Owned Restaurant.

This street was about two kilometers long, but by reducing the distance to half, Xia Weiguo felt somewhat relieved.

He called Yu Yuchen to accompany Su Yijia. Meanwhile, he stayed outside the guesthouse with Qin Kaize, watching the young girl shuttling through the crowd. Her pale yellow blouse paired with white sandals made her stand out among the drab figures.

Xia Weiguo stole a glance at Qin Kaize and noticed his usually icy and aloof eyes, but as he looked at Yijia from a distance, they seemed even more impassioned than when she was by his side, akin to the scorching rays of a midsummer sun that could almost melt a person.

"That rascal, he used to hold back to avoid scaring Yijia," Xia Weiguo thought with amusement, shaking his head.

Meanwhile, Su Yijia had long ceased to care about their thoughts. Now she was like a mouse dropped into a rice bin, excitedly jumping around.

"Auntie, how can I exchange this chicken mushroom?" Su Yijia asked, eyeing the just-picked half-basket of mushrooms, her mouth practically watering.

The woman, seeing Su Yijia’s well-dressed appearance, immediately guessed she was a person of means and hastily replied, "I have thirty pounds of chicken mushrooms here. I’d like to exchange ten pounds for pork belly."

"This? Thirty pounds?" Su Yijia’s expression shifted. She might appear somewhat naive, but she wasn’t a fool.

It seemed to her no more than three pounds at most.

"No, there are only two pounds here; the remaining twenty-eight are over there." The woman pointed to a squatting young boy on the other side holding a sack. She gestured for the boy to come over. He immediately ran to her side and opened the sack, revealing all the chicken mushrooms inside.

Only then did Su Yijia confirm that there were indeed thirty pounds. At the current market price of over a hundred and fifty per kilogram, she found the exchange rather profitable.

"But, Auntie, ten pounds of pork belly seems a bit expensive. Can we lower the quantity?" Su Yijia couldn’t help but show a slightly awkward expression.

"To guard this patch of mushrooms, several men in our family took turns staying on the mountain for a whole week. We only picked them this morning. Look, they are especially fresh, and each one is growing so well," the woman explained eagerly, pulling out more mushrooms from the basket and the sack to show her more closely.

The mushrooms she presented for the exchange were indeed large and plump, clearly only the best ones, as the ones with poorer appearance were kept at home for consumption.

"Auntie, I see you’re an honest person. How about eight pounds then? Besides, I’ve only bought two pounds of pork belly; I have some eggs and fabric to exchange for the rest, would that work?" Su Yijia suggested, forcing her eyes away from the mushrooms.

Upon hearing about the fabric, the woman was ecstatic. Without bargaining any further, she exclaimed, "Fabric! I want fabric!"

In their village, people struggled to afford even their basic necessities, let alone things like fabric or money. Their clothes were worn out and patched, yet they couldn’t bear to throw them away. The entire family had just one or two decent outfits, reserved for anyone who needed to visit the county town. Men and women, all wore the same clothes. Thus, the prospect of obtaining fabric was beyond their wildest dreams.