DreamersGN Chapter 104 Buying a Gun
Chapter 104 Buying a Gun
Lu Yao locked his bicycle under the window of the store.
We had to carry all the flour and rice with us, afraid they would get lost if left outside.
I pushed open the two wooden doors and went inside.
The red brick paving was flatter and cleaner than the yellow earth on individual homes.
The supply and marketing cooperative had that exciting smell that people of that era had.
It has a mixed flavor of kerosene, brown sugar, dried pickled vegetables, and soy sauce.
Several men from the neighborhood were chatting in front of the counter with their hands in their pockets, while the sales clerk, a middle-aged man, was idly calculating with an abacus.
When Lu Yao came in, the sales clerk raised her eyelids to glance at him, then lowered her head again to play with the abacus.
Lu Yao didn't say anything, put the rice bag at the door, and walked around the counter inside the room.
This is the grocery store.
The aroma of candies and pastries wasn't particularly tempting to Lu Yao, but his younger sister would definitely love them.
"Weigh out some fruit candies for me."
Lu Yao had to say it three times before the sales clerk finally came over.
His attitude made Lu Yao really want to drag him out and give him a good kick to see if he could talk back.
But I quickly consoled myself.
That's the kind of salesperson you'd expect at this time.
Everything is limited, and the sales staff, being close to the source, can earn a little extra and have some minor power.
So they're all incredibly awesome.
It's not that they're particularly bad; anyone with a bit of power would act this way. It's just human nature.
Later on, some government departments, as long as they had even the slightest bit of power, all acted arrogantly.
With patience, Lu Yao said:
"Weigh out two jin of fruit candy and two jin of White Rabbit milk candy for me."
The sales clerk glared at the unassuming young man.
"Two pounds each?"
"Yes, two jin each."
Although candy is not a necessity and is not so scarce, and does not require ration coupons, ordinary working-class families are lucky if they can buy a few ounces or half a pound of it during the Lunar New Year.
With a few cents or three cents of pocket money, quite a few kids come here to buy a couple of small snacks to satisfy their cravings.
Not many people buy it by the kilogram.
Because it is not a necessity, few people are willing to buy more.
After all, it's not cheap.
Fruit candies cost one yuan per pound, while White Rabbit candies cost one yuan and eighty cents per pound.
Lu Yao immediately asked for four catties of sugar!
Five yuan and sixty cents can buy so many daily necessities!
Then, Lu Yao pointed to the steamed rice cake:
"Give me two more jin of steamed rice cake."
The people chatting nearby stopped talking and all looked at Lu Yao.
In this era, sago pudding is more than just a food.
It is also a nutritional supplement.
Only when visiting the elderly, leaders, or patients would one be willing to buy a pound or two of steamed rice cake.
Who is this young man?
Why did you buy so much stuff?
This steamed rice cake not only cost 80 cents a pound, but also required precious food coupons to buy.
But Lu Yao bought it without even blinking.
The salesperson packed all the items into paper bags.
Lu Yao bought another woven basket from him to store things and hang on the handlebars.
Back then, there were no plastic bags, so you had to bring your own containers when you bought things.
Bring your own bottles for soy sauce and vinegar, and your own basin for tofu.
The items were packed before I asked:
"Comrade, do you sell hunting rifles here?"
The sales clerk only softened her tone after seeing Lu Yao spending money so lavishly, pulling out handfuls of cash and ration coupons from her pocket.
"Hunting rifles are considered means of production and are not sold here. Go east from the gate, cross the Third Road, and then at the intersection there is a supply and marketing cooperative store. They are there."
"Oh, thank you."
Lu Yao took the things and walked out.
Several men who were chatting idly all looked at him.
After buying so many candies and pastries, the others started to look at him differently.
I heard he's also going to buy a gun; I feel this young man is no ordinary person.
Following the directions given by the salesperson, Lu Yao walked in that direction.
Passing by a Xinhua Bookstore branch, Lu Yao went in and bought some books and school supplies.
Pencils, pens, rulers, erasers, and some grid notebooks, including arithmetic notebooks.
Afterwards, Lu Yao went to the hardware and chemical store.
There are fewer people here than at the grocery store.
Only two male sales clerks were playing checkers, while a female sales clerk was knitting in the corner.
There wasn't a single customer.
Lu Yao walked over, the male sales clerk looked at him, and then beckoned to the female sales clerk:
"Xiao Hua, you're in charge of entertaining them."
The saleswoman reluctantly put down the sweater.
First, I added some coal to the stove.
Then he walked over:
"What should I buy?"
"Buy a gun, a rifle, and bullets."
The sales clerk looked at him and said, "Then you'll need identification and a letter of introduction from the armed forces department or the public security department."
Lu Yao took out his militia certificate, along with a letter of introduction from the armed forces department issued by Ju Zhenghua.
The saleswoman looked at it quite carefully, silently reading each word:
"Comrade Lu Yao, the militia group leader of Shuiling Commune under our Armed Forces Department, is hereby granted permission by the Armed Forces Department to purchase three small-caliber rifles and a certain amount of gunpowder for the purpose of hunting and protecting the forest in the village during the winter. This is hereby acknowledged."
Jiangzhou County People's Armed Forces Department (Official Seal)
The saleswoman gasped.
Her hand holding the note became somewhat cautious. She looked up and gave Lu Yao a second look.
"This is a letter of introduction for personal use of a gun; it doesn't have the commune's official seal. So, are you going to pay for it yourself?"
"Um, how much is one?"
"One hundred and ten yuan apiece, with a box of bullets included."
After saying that, he stared at Lu Yao, waiting for him to take out his money.
Three guns cost 330 yuan.
Lu Yao set aside 500 yuan of the money he robbed yesterday.
I gave Gou Shengzi 100 yuan, spent 7.6 yuan on food, and 7.2 yuan on sugar at the grocery store.
I spent more than a dollar on snacks at the movie theater before.
He still has over 380 yuan in his pocket.
That's enough to buy three guns.
He figured he had enough money, so he didn't carry that much with him.
In this era, taking too much money can easily arouse suspicion.
Three hundred is still within an acceptable range.
However, the salesperson at that time also regarded him as a wealthy man.
Of course, the term "tycoon" didn't exist back then.
People of all ages admire strength, and suddenly producing so much money made the saleswoman clench her glutes.
Why would this young man buy a gun if he has so much money?
If you're talking about getting a wife, wouldn't you be picky?
He could marry a city girl and that would be enough.
"Hey bro, do you have a girlfriend?"
She immediately thought of her younger sister, who was still unmarried.
Lu Yao smiled and said, "Sis, I'm in a hurry, get me the gun."
The sales clerk then went to the back to get the gun from the warehouse keeper.
He returned after a while, carrying a long object wrapped in oil paper and three boxes.
Carefully place the items on the glass counter.
Untie the hemp rope and lift the oil paper.
Three brand-new iron-barreled shotguns, their barrels gleaming with a cold, bluish light, were revealed.
The wooden stock has clear and solid grain, exuding a cold and austere aura.
Three boxes of ammunition, twenty rounds per box.
"Are bullets sold individually? I'll take three more boxes?"
"One cent per shot, two dollars a box."
This is really cheap for Lu Yao.
However, it would be a luxury for others.
The two salespeople who were playing checkers have stopped playing.
All eyes were focused on this "iron thing".
He asked Lu Yao, "Comrade, why did you buy so many guns?"
"Fight the wolves!"
"Can this gun shoot wolves?"
Lu Yao smiled and said, "We also have Garand military rifles, which we can use in conjunction with them. These rifles can penetrate two centimeters of solid wood templates at fifty meters, which is much more intimidating than bows and arrows."
The two male sales clerks couldn't help but show expressions of envy.
What man wouldn't want to carry a gun and go hunting? It's just that circumstances don't allow it.
Although I sold guns, I never had the chance to use them.
Just like a Rolls-Royce salesperson might not be able to afford a Rolls-Royce.
"Hey bro, wanna check it out?"
The saleswoman's voice became even more polite.
Lu Yao reached out and gripped the butt of the gun.
He skillfully inspected the barrel and trigger mechanism, his movements practiced and precise.
Small-caliber rifles are relatively light, weighing only 6.2 pounds.
Lu Yao's design lacks a sense of weight and substance; it would be more suitable for girls like Ding Mei and Er Ni'er.
"That's right."
He nodded.
The saleswoman quickly rewrapped the oil paper and then wrapped it thickly with several layers of old newspaper.
Two male sales clerks came over to help, tied it tightly with hemp rope, and handed it out.
"Please hold on tight!"
As Lu Yao took the heavy bundle and walked out, the saleswoman asked him:
Hey bro, got a girlfriend?
Lu Yao didn't even turn his head and walked straight out.
Although he is a womanizer, he doesn't rely on blind dates to pick up girls.
The key is to let things take their natural course!
He securely tied the rifle pouch horizontally to the back rack of the bicycle, while the grain was still draped over the main beam.
I rode my bike back.
I wonder how my family is preparing; tomorrow is the day we're going into the mountains.