Chapter 13 Schadenfreude

The beating had nearly finished. The leader, fearing a fatality, finally spoke up to stop it. "Throw their clothes to these two morally corrupt dogs and take them back for public trial." As the two were dragged out, a woman in the crowd exclaimed, "Isn’t that the Sun Family’s third son?" Someone nearby joined the conversation, "Do you know him?" The woman pointed at Sun Ruiming. "That young man lives in the same area as me. How could this unfortunate kid commit such a shameful act? No, I have to go back and let his family know. He’s an old neighbor, after all." The onlookers wanted to ask more, but the woman took off running. It was apparent she wasn’t just going back to deliver a message; she was clearly reveling in the misfortune, eager to spread the explosive news. Upon reaching the corner of the street, she grabbed people and gesticulated as she talked, her speech fervent and spittle flying. It didn’t take long for the news of the Sun Family’s third son being caught in an illicit affair to spread like wildfire. On the other hand, Yunyi was in a good mood and on a shopping spree. She used her industrial coupons to purchase two thermos flasks, two enamel basins, and three aluminum lunch boxes. She also used up all her cloth coupons for fabric, knowing that the selection in the countryside wouldn’t compare to Beijing’s. Then came Malt Essence, milk powder, milk candies, assorted candies, red and white sugar, peach crisps, biscuits, rubber shoes, soap, matches, and labor-protection gloves. In short, by the end of the trip, she had used up all the household’s coupons. After all, even if she didn’t need these items herself, they could come in handy once she moved to the countryside. After leaving the department store, she found a secluded spot and directly took her purchases into her space. When she emerged again, she had changed her appearance. Returning to the department store, she converted the certificates she had obtained from the Sun Family the night before into goods. She also bought a lot of expensive milk candies and pastries that didn’t require coupons, preparing to head to the welfare institute in the suburbs. The original owner had been taken there by Old Master Chu when she first returned to Beijing. Several of the honored veterans there even knew Old Master Chu, and Yunyi also wanted to take this opportunity to visit them. 「By the time she got off the car with her large and small packages, it was almost noon.」 Seeing that no one was around, she found a hidden spot to go into her space and revert to her own appearance. After coming out of the space, she took out the plain buns she had prepared in advance, thinking of finding a spot in the shade to sit and fill her stomach before proceeding. The welfare institute was roughly a kilometer away from where she got off. Just as Yunyi was worrying about how to get there, she saw a bullock cart slowly approaching in the distance. Yunyi’s eyes lit up instantly. She quickly finished the bun in her hands, stood up, and hailed the bullock cart. "Uncle, I’d like to go to the welfare institute up ahead. Could you give me a lift?" The old man driving the cart looked at her large and small packages on the ground, then at the villagers already sitting on the cart, and glanced at the remaining space. "Ten cents, will you ride?" The bullock cart belonged to the village collective. Even villagers had to pay to ride it to town. The money from the short ride to the welfare institute would generate income for the village. Yunyi nodded at the old man. "Yes." The old man driving the cart was kind-hearted. Knowing she was helping her grandfather visit the old revolutionaries, he even helped her deliver her things right to the gate of the welfare institute. This saved Yunyi a lot of hassle. Still, it was enough to leave Yunyi completely exhausted. Looks like I need to start exercising more regularly and soon, she thought. The gatekeeper, hearing that she was there to donate items, quickly went inside to inform the leadership. Shortly after, someone came out to greet her. Seeing the supplies laid out on the ground, he said, "I’m the person in charge of the welfare institute. On behalf of everyone here, I’d like to thank you, young comrade, for this benevolent act."