The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

Liang Zhe glanced down at the money in his hand and sighed silently. "Alright, then I'll buy ten jin."

"Wow, quite generous." The sales clerk took the money and settled the bill for Liang Zhe's malted milk powder and other items together—sure enough, it was more than three dollars more expensive than he had originally budgeted.

Liang Zhe bought brown sugar and cake. In his arms, Tian Tian pointed her little finger at the shiny fruit candies in the glass jar: "Daddy, I want this."

Liang Zhe squeezed the few coins he had left in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then said to the sales clerk, "I'll weigh out five cents worth of candy."

But when he received it, he found there were only three pieces. "Isn't it supposed to be one cent per piece?" he couldn't help but ask.

The sales clerk curled her lip and coldly uttered three words: "Prices have gone up."

I never imagined that prices would rise to this level so quickly.

The allowances everyone took out when leaving the base wouldn't buy much here.

He felt frustrated and regretful. He should have brought more allowance with him, so he wouldn't have had to come to town and not be able to bring back more food for the experts.

He originally wanted to buy some meat, but meat was only available once a week, so he couldn't get a turn and had to give up.

After tidying up, Liang Zhe told Tian Tian to leave by herself, while he carried the two heavy net bags in his hands and was about to leave when he saw several women gathered at the door, their bamboo baskets empty, indicating that they hadn't bought anything.

"Aunt Zhang, I remember eggs were selling for six cents last week, how come they've gone up to a dollar in just a few days?"

"Not only has the price gone up, but the quantity has also decreased. I saw that soldier buying eggs, and he only got six or seven per pound, whereas he usually gets at least eight."

"Does this scale mean it's inaccurate now?"

"Who knows?" Another woman fanned herself with her floral headscarf. "Not only are eggs expensive, but oil and salt have gone up too, and even matches are two cents a box now. Why is that?!"

"Aunties, it's strange, ever since this Director Tie took office, the prices of goods in the supply and marketing cooperative have skyrocketed, like a hen riding a rooster. What used to buy a pound of grain can now only buy half a pound. My family's grain coupons are almost running out!"

"That's for sure." The other two women nodded in agreement.

"Hey, you lot!" Their discussion drew criticism from some of them. The saleswoman slammed her hand on the table and snapped, "Buy it or don't, leave if you don't want to! Why all this nonsense!"

"Oh, look how arrogant you are!" The woman called Aunt Zhang, who was holding back her anger, immediately turned around, put her hands on her hips, and retorted, "This is the people's supply and marketing cooperative, not your private plot, Yao Guilian! What, just because your husband is the director of the supply and marketing cooperative and you got this job, does that mean the people can't even voice their opinions?"

"Is that giving feedback? That's just picking a fight!" Yao Guilian snapped. "Everything in the supply and marketing cooperative has a clearly marked price. You can't afford it, and you want to cause trouble here? Get out of the way and don't delay other people from buying things!"

"I can't afford it?" Aunt Zhang laughed, pointing to herself. "Why don't you ask around? I, Zhang Fang, have a job. Do you think I'd be short of your measly little bit? I just can't stand how you do things."

"Yao Guilian, I'm wondering the same thing. Even if there's a nationwide shortage of supplies, sugar shouldn't be selling for two yuan a pound, right?" The speaker was Zhao Xiulan, known as Aunt Zhao. Her basket was empty; she hadn't bought anything suitable. "I heard your sister-in-law has two big boxes of sugar. Did you resell public property?"

"Pah! You, surnamed Zhao, are spouting nonsense!" Yao Guilian jumped up from behind the counter, pointing at Zhao Xiulan's nose and yelling, "You think you can frame me with just a few of you? If you can't produce any evidence today, I'll call the police right now and have them arrest you all!"

"It's good to call the police! Calling the police will let them investigate whether your scales are rigged!"

The argument escalated, with spittle flying everywhere. Zhang Fang and Zhao Xiulan put down their baskets, rolled up their sleeves, and were about to join the fray when Yao Guilian, not to be outdone, pulled a feather duster from the counter. The two sides were on the verge of a fight.

Liang Zhe's heart tightened. With so many people around, and things getting chaotic, the child could easily be caught in the crossfire. His hands were full of things, so he quickly called out, "Tian Tian, ​​come to Daddy quickly!"

Sweetie sniffled and said to Liang Zhe, "Daddy, Sweetie wants to eat a big apple."

"The Big Apple?"

Liang Zhe turned around and saw that the fresh food counter was completely empty; there wasn't even a piece of peel, let alone an apple.

"Sweetie, we don't sell apples here."

"Yes, there are." Tian Tian opened the "Illustrated Guide to Common Plants and Animals" that Shen Ruowen had given her, pointed to a few pages, and said, "Tian Tian recognizes them. Here, there are apples, pears, and grapes."

Liang Zhe was startled and subconsciously glanced at the counter again. "Sweetie, are you sure there are apples and pears here?"

"Yes, there is." Tian Tian nodded vigorously, pointing her little finger at Yao Guilian. "Tian Tian can smell the fragrance, it's so sweet, it's on Auntie, and..." She then pointed to the second floor, "over there."

Liang Zhe narrowed his eyes.

In a town so lacking in resources, he hadn't expected to be able to buy fruit, but if the supply and marketing cooperative had it, that would be a different story. The experts at the base were short of vitamins, and fruit was something more precious than gold.

If the supply and marketing cooperative doesn't sell these fruits at all, then there's only one possibility—these fruits have all been secretly hidden away.

Thinking back to the outrageous prices and the short-weight goods, coupled with the accusations made by several women against Yao Guilian, an idea flashed through Liang Zhe's mind like lightning.

He placed the two nets he was carrying in the corner, looked around, and felt that nowhere was safe. In the end, he picked up his daughter and strode towards the door.

In just a short while, the situation seemed to become even more tense. Yao Guilian waved a feather duster, Zhang Fang picked up the shoe soles she was sewing from the counter, and Zhao Xiulan held a knitting needle in each hand. The three of them stood in a triangle, none of them daring to make the first move, but none of them were willing to back down.

"Come on then! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

"Stop talking nonsense. If you have the guts, don't run away. When my Director Tie comes back, he'll arrest you all."

"Director Tie? I think he's more like a miser! Does he dare to face the accounts in front of everyone?"

"Why should I reconcile our accounts with you? Who do you think you are?!"

Liang Zhe stood aside, quickly calculating in his mind: if he subdued Yao Guilian first, could he force her to reveal the location of the hidden fruit? As long as he found one thing, he could prove that they were engaging in speculation and profiteering.

Just as he was about to make a move, a loud male voice suddenly came from outside the supply and marketing cooperative: "Stop it, all of you!"

As the crowd parted, a middle-aged man strode in, exuding an air of importance. He carried a briefcase and was followed by a clerk.

"What are you doing! Have you no manners? This is a supply and marketing cooperative, not a place for you to run wild! If you want to cause trouble, go home!"

Upon seeing him, Yao Guilian immediately felt reassured: "Old buddy, you're finally back! These old women are going to cause a huge scene at the supply and marketing cooperative. They're completely lawless! Call the police and have them arrested!"

"Arrest? Arrest my ass! I think we should arrest you first!" Tie Jieshan glared and shouted angrily, "You're a state-owned store clerk, can't you have any manners? What are you arguing with the people for! Apologize right now!"