Chapter 37: Encountering a Supermarket Lucky Draw

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Encountering a Supermarket Lucky Draw

Yun Zhen arrived at Sister-in-law Liu’s vegetable stall on time for work. After work, she carried a bag of vegetable leaves back to the residential complex as usual, but was stopped by Li Mei.

"Yun Zhen, don’t be in a rush to leave," Li Mei said. "Our packages have arrived. Do you want me to bring yours here tomorrow, or do you want to come with me to the courier station to pick them up now?"

Yun Zhen had asked Li Mei to buy fifty yuan worth of crochet materials for her, which came out to three large bags. "They’re here already?" She was a bit surprised. Li Mei had mentioned their goods were being shipped from a southern city to the north. Since the two regions were so far apart, she wondered how the package could arrive in just one day.

Li Mei smiled. "That’s why they say online shopping is fast and convenient. If you want to buy anything else online in the future, just come to me. I can do it for you."

Yun Zhen thanked her sincerely. "Thank you."

"No need to be so polite," Li Mei said with a smile. "Do you want to come with me? The courier station is right in the university town. It only takes two or three minutes on my electric tricycle."

Hearing that it wasn’t far and shouldn’t delay her from buying cotton, Yun Zhen agreed. "I’ll go with you." If she got the crochet materials tonight, she could sell a batch of crochet dolls tomorrow. If she got them tomorrow, she wouldn’t make any money until the day after. She wanted to get the materials and start earning money as soon as possible.

Li Mei twisted the throttle of her electric tricycle. "Toss your vegetable leaves in the back carriage and hop on."

Yun Zhen threw the vegetable leaves into the back and sat beside her. "Aren’t you supposed to pick up your child? If I take up half the seat, where will she sit?"

"I’ll just have her stand in front of me," Li Mei said. "I can hold her between my arms."

Only then did Yun Zhen feel relieved enough to sit down. She gripped the seat tightly as Li Mei revved the electric tricycle, taking her to pick up her daughter first. It wasn’t Yun Zhen’s first time riding an electric tricycle. The wind brushed against her face, and everything blurred rapidly before her eyes. This sense of freedom was intoxicating.

Soon, they arrived at the gates of the kindergarten. A group of young children stood in an orderly line under their teacher’s guidance. Yun Zhen was shocked as she watched the energetic kids. No wonder this place was called a kindergarten; it was truly filled with tender, young children. Kids of the same age were grouped together, and boys and girls weren’t separated.

"Lele!" Li Mei got off the tricycle to pick up her daughter.

The four-year-old girl threw herself over. "Mommy!"

Li Mei carried her daughter over. "Lele, this is Mommy’s friend. You should call her Auntie."

"Auntie!" four-year-old Lele called out articulately.

Like Li Mei, she had a round, chubby face as plump as a peach. With her round eyes and pink, moist lips, she looked exactly like an immortal child from a painting in Yun Zhen’s eyes.

Yun Zhen gently squeezed her chubby little hand. "Lele is so adorable. She’s just like an immortal child from a painting!"

Li Mei was amused. She hadn’t expected Yun Zhen, who usually seemed so straightforward and naive, to have such a sweet tongue. She said to her daughter, "Lele, Auntie is praising you as an immortal child. You should thank Auntie."

Lele flashed a grin, revealing a row of teeth as bright and white as seashells. Blinking her eyes, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie!"

The more Yun Zhen looked at the girl, the more she liked her. At the same time, she made up her mind to raise Xiaobao to be just as fair and chubby. It broke her heart how thin Xiaobao was. He hadn’t been able to eat a single decent meal before, but fortunately, she now had the chance to change all that.

Li Mei tucked the child between her arms. "We’re heading to the courier station to get the packages. Stand steady."

The electric tricycle traveled down the road for two minutes before stopping at an intersection. Yun Zhen followed her to the front of a shop, where a long line stretched out the door. She looked at the surrounding shops, shock evident on her face. Colored glaze was truly worthless here; it was actually used for doors!

When it was finally their turn, Yun Zhen didn’t have to do anything. Li Mei retrieved both of their packages and placed the massive bundle in front of her. "This is the crochet material package you wanted. Let’s go, I’ll drop you off at your dorm."

Yun Zhen didn’t want to trouble her, especially since she had a child with her and still needed to cook when she got home. "Just drop me off at the entrance of the farmers’ market. I’ll walk back myself."

Li Mei had a broad-minded personality and knew Yun Zhen was just feeling shy. "Don’t be so polite. I’ll take you back."

Lele also chimed in, "Auntie, just let my mommy take you home."

The little girl was surprisingly sensible for her age. Yun Zhen blushed slightly. She wasn’t even as gracious as a four-year-old child. She nodded. "Sorry to trouble you."

Li Mei smiled. "Yun Zhen, you’re way too polite. We’ve known each other for days and understand each other’s backgrounds, so we’re basically acquaintances now. Shouldn’t acquaintances help each other out?"

Hearing her say that made Yun Zhen feel much more at ease. Having come to this unfamiliar place all by herself, she had received help from many kind-hearted people. She constantly felt unworthy of their kindness, acting cautiously with every word and deed, which made her seem less than gracious. She figured she would have to change that in the future. She would work hard to improve herself and strive to repay the good people who had helped her, just as she had been blessed with an opportunity to help her fellow villagers.

Yun Zhen rode Li Mei’s electric tricycle back to her dorm. Along the way, they ran into a traffic jam.

"A new supermarket just opened up ahead. Today’s their first day, so they’re hosting a promotional event. I heard the prizes include a full set of home appliances." A few middle-aged women walking side by side along the road were speaking so loudly that both Yun Zhen and Li Mei overheard them.

Li Mei’s eyes lit up. "Yun Zhen, that new supermarket up ahead is having an opening event, and the prizes include a full set of appliances! Let’s go join the fun. Even if we don’t win any prizes, we can still buy some discounted goods."

Supermarkets always offered discounts on their grand openings, and Li Mei wanted in on the action. Yun Zhen didn’t know what a "supermarket" was; she assumed it just meant a shop was opening. She nodded. "All right, let’s go take a look."

Li Mei twisted the handlebar and turned the corner. The entire street was littered with the remnants of firecrackers.

[Chengpin Premium Supermarket is now open! All items are forty percent off! Join our ten-yuan lucky draw to win luxurious gifts! First Prize (choose one): A full set of luxury home appliances, a Fruit brand tablet, or a ten-gram lucky koi gold pendant! Second Prize (choose one): A thousand-yuan premium nut gift box, a Cheetah brand electric shaver, or two hundred catties of free-range local pork! Third Prize...]

The list of prizes was dizzying. Yun Zhen didn’t understand most of it, but she caught that they were giving away gold and pork, which left her utterly astounded. The people here actually used gold and pork as prizes!

Back in her era, when shops in the county town opened, they would also offer some benefits to build their reputation. For instance, a new medical clinic might offer three days of free consultations, and a newly opened restaurant might serve a complimentary dish. But here, they were literally handing out gold and two hundred catties of pork!

She coveted the prizes but had no intention of participating. If she won, it would be a heaven-sent stroke of luck! But if she didn’t win, they probably wouldn’t refund the ten yuan. She couldn’t bear to part with ten yuan just for a lucky draw.

Li Mei thought differently. Ten yuan to participate in a lucky draw? Draw! Test her luck. It wouldn’t matter even if she didn’t win.

"Yun Zhen, let’s go do the lucky draw." Li Mei pointed excitedly at the lottery area.

Yun Zhen shook her head. "No thanks, I won’t win."

Seeing her longing yet reluctant expression, Li Mei dragged her inside. "My treat. I’ll pay twenty yuan so we can each draw once.

"Oh, come on, we’re already here!"

Yun Zhen found it hard to decline her generous offer, but she still muttered, "It’s ten yuan, though."

Li Mei was resolute. "Ten yuan isn’t even enough for a cup of milk tea. Just treat it as if I’m buying you milk tea."