Chapter 16: Coupon Strategies

With a crisp jingle, someone stepped into the small shop. Before Grandma Li could even set down her bowl, Li Jixiang stood up to investigate. Just as her hand lifted the cotton curtain separating the kitchen, An Chen’s mother also poked her head in, nearly causing the two women to bump faces.

“Aunt An,”

An Chen’s mother, her face round and glowing like a full moon, greeted Li Jixiang with a warmth and fondness surpassing even that for her own sons.

Thanks to the stack of little stamped slips Li Jixiang had given her—each offering a one-yuan discount on rice—An Chen’s mother had become the star of the afternoon market with her bean sprouts.

“Jixiang, could you spare me some more of those discount slips? So many people missed out this afternoon and blamed me for not having enough. They kept asking if I’d have more tomorrow. You have no idea—the slips were so coveted, some folks tried to snatch them even without buying my bean sprouts. I had to hold down an old lady’s hand to keep her from grabbing one!”

“That’s a rice discount coupon. You can use one for every bag of rice you buy.”

Indeed, in this small town and age, people had little experience with coupon promotions—a single move could win the day.

Li Jixiang smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She handed the reclaimed coupons from the afternoon to An Chen’s mother.

An Chen’s mother glanced at the stack and, eager for more, asked if she could have a few extra. It was the coupons that had made her bean sprouts sell out in a flash. Some old ladies even started quarreling over the limited supply; two particularly fierce ones tried to snatch coupons from her hand.

Now that she realized the value of the coupons, An Chen’s mother wasn’t as generous as before. No longer would she hand out a rice coupon just for a dime or two’s worth of bean sprouts. Only those who spent at least five dimes would receive a coupon, and even then, only one per person.

She was sharp, this An Chen’s mother—she’d uncovered the secret of bundled sales in no time.

With such a clever mother, it would be no easy task for An Ning and An Chen to find wives. A shrewd mother-in-law is best matched with a simple daughter-in-law!

The stamp carved from a white eraser had been pressed so many times that the imprint on the slips was now a blurred smudge, barely recognizable.

An Chen’s mother worried the coupons might not be accepted when people brought them to buy rice, but Li Jixiang reassured her: her coupons were unique—she would recognize them anywhere. Half reassured, An Chen’s mother left with her handful of slips.

“Jixiang, you haven’t been to school in two days. If you’re not ill, you should really return to class.”

After the thrill of making money, Grandma Li’s concern shifted to her granddaughter’s studies. She rose slowly, supporting herself on the glossy tung-oiled table, and placed a hand on Li Jixiang’s shoulder, her voice heavy with earnestness.

She had always harbored a dream of education, but her son had come of age in hard times. As a proud widow, she’d begged tirelessly until she managed to send her son off to join the army.

The first time she saw her son, Li Haiyang, in full artillery uniform, her eyes brimmed with tears. Her husband had died young; her greatest wish had been to raise her son to be an educated man.

“Grandma, I know. Once things settle down in a few days, I’ll go back to school.”

She was still uncertain whether selling rice would be a lasting trade, so for now she focused on accumulating funds and raising her popularity score. Once the wealth base was upgraded, life would change dramatically again.

At the very least, her own family no longer had to worry about having rice to eat. After a bowl of white rice, even Grandma Li’s complexion seemed to glow with health.

“I hope you don’t mind me nagging, but let me say it again. Only by studying hard and getting into college can you obtain an urban residency permit.”

The rural registration was a heavy weight on Grandma Li’s heart.

“These things will all be resolved in time—no need to worry.”

She didn’t know how long she would remain in this world, but was certain that the tide of history moved the same everywhere. In the future, urban and rural registrations would cease to signify social standing; people would move freely as they wished.

Grandma Li assumed her granddaughter was worried about her tiring herself out selling rice and insisted that Jixiang return to school the next day. Life was already much better now—nothing compared to the true hardships of the past.

With Grandma Li’s resolve unshakable, Jixiang relented.

No good would come from arguing with the elderly; it would only make them sad, and if Grandma Li fell ill from worry, the consequences could be severe—her beloved little pink numbers might plummet below zero.

Besides, returning to school wouldn’t interfere with moving rice from the wealth base to let Grandma Li sell.

Ever since she’d returned to the blacksmith’s shop the previous afternoon, she’d noticed her strength growing. No matter how much rice she carried, it was effortless. As long as there were customers, she could keep the supply flowing.

The long walk to school was time she could otherwise spend making money. The thought of buying a bicycle took root, and Jixiang decided she would head to the town’s only department store at noon to purchase a ladies’ bicycle.

She only needed to endure this one last long walk to school—by evening, she could ride home as swift as the wind.

Jixiang walked briskly.

She wondered if, after two days’ absence, she would be reprimanded by Zhang Chunfen. Rumor had it that sick leave required a note from the town clinic.

A chorus of bicycle bells rang from behind, drawing closer. Jixiang didn’t turn around, guessing it was the usual middle school boys pressing their bells to tease her. Staying calm and ignoring them was the best way to handle those mischievous, timid boys.

“Jixiang! Jixiang—”

A chubby, excited voice called out. Jixiang stepped aside and glanced back. An Ning had stopped beside her, astride a black-framed bicycle.

An Ning planted a long leg on the ground, hands gripping the handlebars, his face turned toward a roadside breakfast stall with a look of disdain. +1, +1… In an instant, her popularity score from An Ning reached 100.

What a show-off! Teenage boys were always asking for trouble.

The bicycle wobbled; An Chen clung to the seat post, struggling to sit steady. But to dismount, his short legs dangled awkwardly on either side of the rear wheel, not quite reaching the ground—landing safely seemed a challenge.

An Ning showed no intention of helping. An Chen’s cheeks flushed with anxiety.

Jixiang reached out to steady him, and An Chen’s eyes sparkled with excitement, his words tumbling out in a stutter.

“Jixiang, is your sleepwalking cured?”

“Yes, I’m all better.”

Her little pink score leapt by another hundred, and Jixiang, in high spirits, replied to An Chen with extra gentleness.

“I’ll wait for you after school today.”

“Shut up, you! After school, I’ll take you home and make sure you do your homework.”

An Ning twisted An Chen’s arm. An Chen whimpered in protest.

“Why’d you hit him? That’s terribly rude.”

Jixiang grabbed An Ning’s arm, her expression stern, eyes flashing.

“He scored a nine on his language test yesterday. The teacher wants a parent’s signature. My mom and dad told the teacher to give him a good lesson, beatings included. I’m going easy on him. Spare the rod, spoil the child!”

An Ning’s tone softened, and as he spoke, two faint dimples appeared on his sun-darkened cheeks as he glanced at Jixiang.