Seeing Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang return, after the two sat down on the kang, Chen Lan quickly took out two small cloth bags and a large bundle from the system’s warehouse. She placed the large bundle aside, casually opened one of the bags, and handed it to Er Zhuang, then handed the other bag to Xu Mingxuan.
Er Zhuang eagerly opened his bag and reached inside, pulling out a stack of photos and a thick letter. He giggled foolishly as he looked at the photos.
Xiang Xi, watching from the side, couldn't help but scoff, "Er Zhuang, get a grip! So you have a big fat son, what's the big deal? Is it that important? Look at your silly grin, it's an eyesore!"
Er Zhuang continued to grin foolishly at his son's photos, ignoring him. Chen Lan, disliking Xiang Xi bullying Er Zhuang, immediately defended him. She retorted, "Little Watermelon, stop being so stubborn. The way you're acting, you're just envious and jealous. Hurry up and find someone to marry! Don't deny you're eyeing someone with a wife and a big fat son?"
Xiang Xi scoffed and shot back, "Little Lanyard, don't provoke me, and don't bring up old matters. And don't try to set me up, I won't fall for your tricks! I stand by my word, I'll find my own wife."
Xu Mingxuan, who had been looking at his son and daughter's photos with his head down, heard the two bickering and looked up at Xiang Xi. Seeing him acting like a proud peacock, he said, "You're not getting any younger, kid. It's time to settle down and be responsible. Look at my son and daughter, they're already ten years old. Aren't they handsome and adorable? But you're still a bachelor. You must have caused Mama Liu a lot of worry, right?"
After speaking, he picked up the photos again and looked at them seriously as if nothing had happened.
Xiang Xi glared angrily at Chen Lan. Chen Lan made a face at him, which only angered him further. He shouted, "Er Zhuang, let's go, I'm coming to sleep with you."
Er Zhuang quickly agreed. Just as he was about to leave, Chen Lan handed him the large bundle she had taken out earlier and told Xiang Xi to carry a thick quilt over.
After Xiang Xi left with the quilt, Xu Mingxuan and Chen Lan also prepared to rest. Everyone was tired from the day, and it was getting late. Xu Mingxuan went to close the door, then opened the stove door to bank the fire, added a few more logs, and closed the stove door before lying down with Chen Lan.
The next day, Chen Lan was woken up by the bugle call outside. She opened her eyes to find the room still pitch black. Seeing Xu Mingxuan getting dressed, she thought it was already morning and immediately sat up. Xu Mingxuan saw that Chen Lan was awake and said, "Lan'er, it's not even dawn yet, so don't get up. Go back to sleep. It's too cold outside in the morning, so you don't need to go out. I'll bring breakfast back for you and Xiang Xi later."
Chen Lan quickly refused, "No need, Brother Mingxuan. You don't have to bring breakfast for us. We'll cook for ourselves at home. Besides, your rations are already not enough, and with the two of us, it'll be even less! And we brought our own food, so we won't go hungry. Don't let others have opinions; it'll make your job as political commissar difficult. Oh, right, Brother Mingxuan, you and Er Zhuang should also come back for breakfast! We can save more grain, and the soldiers can each have a bit more."
Xu Mingxuan sighed and said, "Lan'er, you're overthinking it. The soldiers won't have any objections! Besides, that much food was brought by you in the first place! What's a few meals?"
He paused, sighed again, and continued, "Sigh! Forget it, let's not talk about it. Since you've arranged it, I'll listen to you. It's still early, you should sleep a bit longer. If you're cooking, make something simple and a bit more. Er Zhuang, Liu Battalion Commander, and I will come home to eat."
After Xu Mingxuan finished washing up, he poured the water outside the door and left, closing the room door. Shortly after, the neat running sounds and commands of the soldiers could be heard.
Chen Lan couldn't sleep anymore. She lay on the kang, pondering her itinerary for the day. After breakfast, she planned to go to the Suifenhe train station with Xiang Xi to visit the famous "Big White Building" and "Head Building," as well as the Russian "church."
Chen Lan was particularly interested in the "Head Building" and wanted to see what kind of building it was to have such a suggestive name. It was said that the "Head Building" got its name from the bas-reliefs of "human faces" carved under the eaves of its roof! It was originally a Russian tea house used for storing and inspecting export tea.
Chen Lan thought again. She remembered seeing quite a few Russians when she exited the train station yesterday. Perhaps she would encounter Russians looking to buy Chinese goods when she went to the train station later? Should she change into cleaner, neater, and more distinctive clothes?
Chen Lan recalled that in the 1990s, the Russian light industrial products were in severe shortage across the border, and the situation would likely be even worse now. She remembered hearing that the things Russians liked most at that time were: Chinese vacuum flasks, which were said to be "standard equipment" in every Russian household!
They also greatly favored Chinese-made towels, silk stockings, silk products, clothing, quilts, and various porcelain items. Chinese-made trench coats and "Great Wall" brand canned pork were considered luxury goods by the Russians at the time.
Chinese "daoye" (cross-border traders) at that time seized the opportunity, traveling between the two countries daily to resell Chinese clothing, shoes, hats, and daily necessities. They all made fortunes! Many people earned their "first pot of gold" during this period.
Thinking of this, Chen Lan’s hands itched to make a big move. She opened the system with her mind and searched for online direct sales stores of Northeast clothing and towel factories. She negotiated with the sellers to purchase their leftover inventory, but with the guarantee of good quality and no defects. After much bargaining, Chen Lan decided to get samples first before placing an order. The sellers naturally agreed. These inventory goods had been accumulating for who knows how long, and they were originally planning to dispose of them as trash. Being able to get some money back now, there was no reason to refuse!
Chen Lan then used her mind to search for canned food manufacturers and browsed their online direct sales stores. However, she found the prices of modern manufacturers' canned goods to be a bit too expensive and finally decided to give up.
Chen Lan habitually checked the system time with her mind and found that it was getting late. She immediately got up, put on her clothes, and went to scoop water to wash up. After washing, she prepared to pour the water outside, just like Xu Mingxuan. As soon as she opened the door, a gust of cold wind blew in her face, making Chen Lan shiver. It was so cold! The temperature seemed to have dropped again today.