The beloved but ungrateful girl is reborn: This time she has truly changed.

Qi Weiwei found milk soap, the flagship product of the internal supply and marketing cooperative. It was wrapped in a thin layer of oil paper, and the milky white soap was smooth and delicate. When you got close, you could smell a faint milky fragrance. After washing your hands, they were not dry or tight. It cost 4 cents a bar.

On the black market, this thing sells for three and a half dollars!

Of course, there is a purchase limit: 5 yuan per person per month.

She picked out five well-packaged ones, then moved on to ginseng face cream.

The white porcelain bottle with a red label reveals a snow-white, soft cream that melts in your eye when you unscrew the cap. It spreads easily on your face and is absorbed by your skin, unlike other face creams that leave your skin oily.

They still managed to get the maximum purchase limit of 3 bottles per person per month.

Turning past the shelf, there were several dark green metal boxes piled up in the corner, with the Ministry of Industry's gear logo printed on the lids.

She curiously opened one, and what was inside made her eyes widen in amazement.

Hardware tool kit.

It's not the kind of loose wrenches and pliers sold in ordinary hardware stores, but a carefully designed set.

The outer shell is made of hard cowhide, dark brown in color, with brass corner protectors at the four corners, making it feel heavy in your hand.

Opening the box, she couldn't help but gasp at its layout—the iron compartments were arranged in a neat, staggered fashion, each lined with soft, smooth pigskin. The tools fit perfectly inside, never bumping into each other. From the smallest watch screwdriver to the largest pipe wrench, from a wood saw to a claw hammer, from a hand axe to a level, every type and model of tool imaginable was included.

What's even more ingenious is that there's a row of leather sleeves sewn inside the lid, specifically for inserting various sizes of screwdrivers, making them easy to find when needed.

The entire set of tools is packed full, yet it weighs only as much as a large backpack. The design is extremely ingenious; each tool is a miniature version, yet it is still highly practical.

Qi Weiwei has seen countless product designs in the business world in her life, but she still loves this kind of exquisite industrial aesthetics that runs deep.

She applied for three sets on the spot—this item is naturally subject to purchase limits and is tiered.

Based on her rank, she can buy a maximum of three sets per month.

When checking out, we also enjoyed an internal price that was 80% of the listed price.

After returning home, she gave one set to her grandfather, Qi Dayou, and the other to her father, Qi Chou.

After receiving it, Qi Dayou examined it over and over, his fingers touching the pigskin lining, his eyes even turning a little red.

He spent his entire life working in a steel rolling mill, rising from apprentice to chief engineer; his affection for the tools was beyond the comprehension of most people.

Qi Chou took the toolbox and locked it in the cabinet, saying he would study it properly when he returned from his next run.

Qi Weiwei never expected that this would stir up such a hornet's nest. During the Sunday dinner gathering, everyone protested.

Qi Zhuangzhuang was the first to start a fuss.

He squatted down next to Qi Dayou, watching the old man take out each tool, wipe it clean, and put it back. His eyes were like those of a big dog whose bone had been stolen.

"Weiwei, this isn't fair!" Qi Zhuangzhuang slammed his hand on the stone table. "Grandpa and Dad both got them, why don't I? I'm also the head of the family—I'm the eldest grandson of the first branch!"

Ma Lan teased, "We don't care about that, haha!"

"Then I'm the eldest brother—"

"You're no use who you are, Dad. You should go chop wood!" Qi Xing squatted on the doorstep with a bowl of noodles with soybean paste in his hand, his mouth stuffed full, and mumbled the last word.

Qi Zhuangzhuang turned around and glared at his son: "Eat your noodles!"

Qi Chunchun and Qi Maomao also crawled out of the house.

Qi Chun Chun circled Qi Da You twice, adjusted his glasses, and spoke with restraint, but his eyes betrayed him:

"Weiwei, that toolbox—our hospital's logistics department director has a similar one, a sample from Shanghai. He treasures it like the back of his hand, he won't let anyone touch it. Where did you get this?"

"An internal sample from the Ministry of Industry." Qi Weiwei took a sip of tea from her enamel mug, smiling. Qi Maomao squatted down in front of her, tilted his head back, and held up three fingers: "Weiwei, I've never asked you for anything in my life, have I? Just this one thing—make sure you get me a set!"

Qi Chun Chun chimed in, "Two sets!"

Qi Weiwei laughed so hard she almost fell over. Just as she was about to speak, she caught a glimpse of Ling Heping leaning against the door of the woodshed, arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips.

She recognized that look in his eyes—he wanted it too.

But he wouldn't throw a tantrum like Qi Zhuangzhuang, nor would he cling to Qi Maomao like he would pester him.

He simply leaned against the doorframe, quietly watching the noisy crowd, occasionally glancing down and smiling.

Qi Weiwei cleared her throat and raised her enamel mug: "Everyone, everyone—listen to me."

The noise in the courtyard temporarily subsided.

"I've already used up my internal purchasing quota for this month," she said. "Next month, I can buy three more sets. You guys can discuss queuing up!"

"Then I'll go first!" Qi Zhuangzhuang immediately raised his hand.

"I'm second in line!" Wen Sumei suddenly said.

"No... Grandma, what do you need the toolbox for?" Qi Zhuangzhuang asked with a pained expression. "To cut wire," Wen Sumei replied without looking up. "The roses in my yard need trellises."

"Then why don't you just borrow Grandpa's?" Qi Zhuangzhuang rolled his eyes.

Zidane said in a singing voice, "No! I won't lend it to anyone! Don't even ask!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ling Heping said, "I'll be third in line!"

Qi Zhuangzhuang let out a wail: "You, He Ping! Silent and waiting here, huh?!"

Ling Heping said smugly, "First come, first served, hehe!"

Qi Zhuangzhuang covered his face and squatted down under the pomegranate tree. Dandan patted his shoulder to comfort him and stuffed a half-eaten watermelon into his hand.

Dinner was eaten in the yard.

Wen Sumei and Qi Lingling finally stopped the washing machine.

The stone table was laden with dishes—

Qi Jiajia brought back sliced ​​braised pork hock from the supply and marketing cooperative and arranged it on a plate. Wen Sumei made braised sea cucumber with scallions and sweet and sour pork ribs. Chen Hongxia made a cold cucumber and mung bean noodle salad, and there was also a big bowl of tomato and egg soup. Dandan and Qianqian each held a chicken leg and were gnawing on it with their mouths full of oil. Qi Xing and Qi Yang had a contest to eat noodles with soybean paste, and their faces were almost buried in their bowls.

Qi Dayou sat at the head of the table, holding a wine glass, his face flushed.

Today's meal isn't for the New Year or any other holiday; it's just a casual meal for the whole family.

But he felt that this simple meal was better than any delicacy.

The conversation always revolved around two things—the washing machine and the tool kit.

Qi Chun Chun hadn't been scheduled for next month's slot yet, and was still arguing with his grandmother, trying to persuade the old lady to give him the toolbox slot.

Qi Maomao joined Qi Zhuangzhuang's camp, saying that his faucet had been broken for two months and he had been borrowing wrench from Old Wang next door, always having to watch his neighbor's face.

Everyone was making a racket, and Qi Weiwei was so amused that she laughed until she couldn't breathe.