Chapter 1766: Untitled Untitled 3
Most government agencies and factories would have a day off on New Year’s Day. Coupled with the extra supplies during the festive season, the city remained lively even though New Year’s Day had passed for several days.
Long queues snaked in front of various grocery stores, oil shops, and food stores. Even in the state-run restaurants that sold breakfast, people were packed shoulder to shoulder. Many customers who couldn’t find seats waited at the door for others to finish eating, while many who managed to buy something took it home to eat.
The economy had developed slightly better in the past two years, moving away from the scenes of starvation that were everywhere over a decade ago. Some residents had already started preparing for the New Year early. Along the way, Feng Qingxue noticed many people sneaking around in hidden corners, conducting private trades, with some keeping watch. Most of them were rural folks coming to the city to sell things, farmers and farmer’s wives carrying bamboo baskets, looking around warily, trading chicken, duck, goose eggs, and various grains for city-exclusive tickets or money.
Even though the Lu Family lived comfortably, the shortage of goods among the common people hadn’t changed much.
Feng Qingxue didn’t visit Wucheng frequently. She peeked into a food shop and noticed that the meat counter was already empty, with not even a bone left on the chopping board. The counters for chicken, duck, fish, and eggs were also completely bare.
At the start of each month, when tickets and wages were distributed, was when most families tried to improve their diet.
With a small amount of supplies tightened in her basket, Feng Qingxue adjusted her mask, hat, and scarf, walking openly through the streets and alleys, prepared to visit the bookstore. Unexpectedly, a rough-handed man, about forty-something, carrying a burlap sack, passed by her side and murmured, "Comrade, do you want some fresh wild chickens and hares? They’re plump, each at least three or four jin in weight."