Chapter 22: Crushing Strength! A Victory at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative!

The surrounding customers didn't dare to utter a word, yet their eyes were full of schadenfreude and shock.

Who could have imagined that the Lin Yueqiang who was just swaggering a moment ago would, in an instant, have to run errands for the "leprous brother‑in‑law" he despises most?

This guy, truly getting his just deserts!

Soon, Lin Yueqiang returned, carrying a large bundle of cotton and several pieces of thick gray‑blue fabric.

He slammed it heavily onto the counter, producing a "bang", venting his dissatisfaction.

Lu Qingshan didn't even furrow his brows, stepped forward and examined carefully.

The cotton was fluffy, dry, and free of impurities.

The fabric was the currently most popular Diquliang, sturdy and wear‑resistant.

And there was cotton cloth, soft and close‑fitting, perfect for bedding and lining.

He nodded in satisfaction.

The other quick‑witted female sales clerk, seeing this, hurried over with a beaming smile.

She attentively helped measure the fabric, weigh the cotton, fetch the thread, kerosene and rice.

"Comrade, what do you think of this fabric's color? Gray‑blue, the most stain‑resistant, perfect for family use!"

"This cotton is this year's new cotton, white and soft!"

"The thread is produced in Shanghai City, very sturdy!"

Lu Qingshan inspected each item, confirmed they were correct, and then began counting money to pay.

He didn't hand over the full one hundred fifty yuan outright.

Instead, he carefully tallied the bill with the female sales clerk surnamed Zhang, arriving at one hundred forty‑two yuan and four jiao.

He counted out fourteen ten‑yuan notes, then pulled some change from his pocket, made up the total, and handed it over.

Throughout the process, his movements were steady and his gaze focused.

It was as if he were holding not a huge sum but ordinary grocery money.

The female sales clerk took the money and receipt, her hands trembling slightly, and hurriedly counted carefully for fear of making a mistake.

At that moment, Lu Qingshan's gaze swept over the adjacent candy counter and spotted the multicolored fruit candies inside.

He felt a stir in his heart, recalling his daughter Xiao Xue's yearning little eyes.

"Comrade, weigh me another half‑jin of fruit candies," he said, pointing at the counter.

"Hey! Got it!" the sales clerk replied crisply, promptly weighed the candy and wrapped it in wax paper.

"That comes to one hundred forty‑three yuan and one jiao."

Lu Qingshan added another seven jiao.

Through this whole purchase, Lu Qingshan got to know the sales clerk surnamed Zhang.

He suddenly saw something, smacked his forehead, and hurriedly asked the clerk, "Zhang Jie, how much are the porcelain bowls, and can they be sold without a receipt?"

Zhang Jie thought for a moment, then quickly said, "I need to ask the director, please wait a moment."

She jogged to the director's office, consulted, and returned.

"Comrade Lu, the tableware is permissible, not a restricted item, but without a receipt it requires a price increase; does that work for you?"

"Fine, I want three porcelain bowls, two soup basins, four plates, plus chopsticks and spoons…" Lu Qingshan said cheerfully.

"Please calculate the price, thank you."

…

During a trip to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Lu Qingshan met Director Liu and several sales clerks.

He made a big purchase, spending a straight one hundred fifty yuan, astonishing the surrounding crowd.

Lin Yueqiang stood aside, watching Lu Qingshan buy things as calmly as if nothing were wrong.

He even bought candy that only children would eat, and also selected bowls.

His complexion turned to the worst possible shade, his fists clenched with a crackling sound, yet he didn't utter a single word.

He felt everyone's gazes around him piercing like needles, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

Lu Qingshan carefully packed the purchased cotton, fabrics, thread, kerosene, candy, rice, and tableware using the rope provided by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and his own bundle skin, tying each bundle with a sturdy backpack knot, slinging them onto his shoulders, and transporting them to the open ground outside the Cooperative's entrance; his movements were crisp and efficient, resulting in a piled‑up heap of enviable goods.

The items were bought in such quantity that one person couldn't carry them all.

Lu Qingshan was a little troubled, pondering how to transport the goods back.

Suddenly remembering something he had forgotten, he asked Zhang Jie to help glance at the goods at the entrance, then briskly walked past the counter toward Director Liu Jianshe's office.

He wanted to thank Director Liu, and just then Director Liu arrived at the entrance and asked, "Comrade, is everything all set?"

"You're buying so many things, where will you transport them? Want me to find a carriage for you?"

Lu Qingshan, worried about how to get home, heard Liu Jianshe's words and instantly felt overjoyed.

He quickly said, "Director, that's truly much appreciated! I was just fretting about how to transport the goods back! I'm heading to Shanwan Village, it's a bit far."

Liu Jianshe smiled, waved his hand, and said, "You're welcome, it's just a small matter."

"We happen to have Liu Hua Qiang, who regularly runs a carriage at the gate; he's based in town. I'll have him take you, guaranteeing delivery to your doorstep. You can discuss the details between yourselves."

"Good, that's great. Thank you, Director."

Lu Qingshan simply gave a faint nod, turned, and followed Director Liu out of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

He didn't look at anyone on the road, including the pallid‑faced Lin Yueqiang and the noticeably more courteous sales clerk Zhang Jie.

The tall, steady silhouette stood out conspicuously amid the crowded crowd at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Liu Jianshe enthusiastically led Lu Qingshan to the Cooperative's entrance, pointed at a carriage parked by the roadside, and said, "Huaqiang, come over, this Comrade needs a carriage."

Beside the carriage, a sturdy, dark‑skinned man approached, smiling plainly and flashing a set of white teeth.

Facing Lu Qingshan, he said, "Comrade, hello, I'm Liu Hua Qiang, the director asked me to deliver you; place all the items on the carriage. Where to?"

"Hello, I'm Lu Qingshan, I'm heading to Shanwan Village. How do you charge?"

Lu Qingshan said politely, "Oh, not close? With this many items, it's two and a half, okay?"

"Alright, let's go."

"Alright then, you lively fellow, load the stuff onto the cart! Let's set off!"

Lu Qingshan quickly thanked and, together with Liu Hua Qiang, lifted the bundles onto the carriage.

Liu Hua Qiang deftly jumped onto the carriage pole, raised his whip, shouted, and the carriage slowly set off toward Shanwan Village.

Sitting in the jolting carriage, Lu Qingshan glanced back at Liu Jiànshè, who stood at the doorway of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative with a smiling‑tiger face, waved his hand, and felt gratitude swell in his heart.

This newly appointed Supply and Marketing Cooperative director not only helped him out of a jam but also proactively found a cart for him—a truly warm‑hearted good person.

However, recalling Lin Yueqiang's resentful glare moments ago made Lu Qingshan's mood grow heavy again.

Offending Lin Yueqiang publicly today means his future relations with the Lin family will likely become even more complicated.

Yet Lu Qingshan does not regret it.

If people do not offend me, I do not offend them; if someone does offend me, I don't care who they are.

Since Lin Yueqiang provoked first, don't blame him for being impolite.

Liu Jiànshè watched Lu Qingshan's departing direction, deep in thought.

This Lu Qingshan of Shanwan Village seems not simple at all…

Only after Lu Qingshan's figure vanished on the road outside the Supply and Marketing Cooperative's entrance did Liu Jiànshè return to his office, and the stifling atmosphere inside the cooperative suddenly relaxed, exploding into a frenzy.

"My heavens! That person is really called Lu Laizi? Where did he get so much money and tickets?"

"Goodness! Just a couple hundred bucks, spent without a blink!"

"He even bought Diqueliang and that much cotton! What a splurge!"

"Looks like the person truly never shows his face!"

"Lin Yueqiang offended the new director; now he's taken a huge tumble, hit the iron board!"

Amid the chatter, there were gasps of awe and envy for Lu Qingshan, mixed with jeers at Lin Yueqiang.

Lin Yueqiang's complexion flashed red then white; finally he stomped hard, turned and ducked into the rear warehouse, never again showing his face to anyone.

And at this moment, Lu Qingshan, holding the heavy bundles behind him, rode the carriage swiftly on the road home.

The biting cold wind blew across his face, yet it could not disperse the fire within his heart.

The little conflict inside the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was merely a minor episode.

What truly stirred his heart was the hope packed in each bundle, a hope that could give his wife and daughters a good life.

What expression would Yue E have upon seeing these fabrics and cotton?

How would Xiao Xue smile after tasting the candy?

The carriage clattered forward, bearing Lu Qingshan and a carload of hope, heading toward Shanwan, moving smoothly like a Mercedes.

The direction home lies just ahead.