Chronicle of the 70s

The woman was helpless due to the low price, and upon Li Xianglu mentioning something else was available, she immediately asked excitedly, "Do you still have this?"

Li Xianglu looked at the woman without changing her expression and did not answer. The woman, being clever, quickly handed Li Xianglu twenty yuan, an additional two yuan before taking the oil drum and leaving. It was not long before she returned with a fifty-year-old lady.

Both were visibly excited upon seeing Li Xianglu, especially the older lady who sized up Li Xianglu politely and asked, "Young lady, I would like a drum as well."

Li Xianglu took the drum and from her shoulder bag took out a small cloth bag, about half a kilogram in weight, and handed it over saying, "This is also available."

Upon seeing it was refined rice, the two lit up immediately. The woman, after looking around, pulled Li Xianglu to a corner eagerly and asked, "How much for this?"

Li Xianglu gestured three with her hand and added, "No need for food tickets!"

Both were instantly thrilled. Not needing food tickets was a steal since normal black market rice still required food tickets, even for two yuan per kilogram. The elderly lady hesitated for a moment and asked, "Can I exchange something for it?"

Li Xianglu’s eyes sparkled, and she quickly nodded.

The trio agreed to meet at the back door in half an hour before going their separate ways.

Meanwhile, Li Xianglu circled around, found a secluded alley to pull out a handcart from her home, then loaded it with two fifty-kilogram bags of rice and two oil drums.

She then covered them with an old burlap sack and leisurely pushed the cart to the side entrance where she waited.