Seeing Jiang Si step out of the line empty-handed, Uncle Chen immediately said, "Comrade Jiang, why don’t you rest in the car? I’ll go queue instead."
"No need, Uncle Chen." Jiang Si opened the car door and sat in the back seat. "Someone has already arrived ahead of us."
Someone had come before them?
Following Jiang Si’s gaze, Uncle Chen soon spotted a tall, familiar figure in the crowd.
It was Chi Heng.
Seeing him holding a bag of fruit while quietly standing in line, Uncle Chen’s face broke into a faint smile.
Though Uncle Chen wasn’t usually talkative, he was well aware of Chi Heng’s feelings for Jiang Si.
He knew Jiang Si was a sensible young woman.
Yet, deep down, Uncle Chen couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry for Huo Tingzhou, who was far away on Qiongzhou Island.
Now, seeing how attentive Chi Heng was to Miss Chris, he couldn’t help but feel genuinely pleased.
And, admittedly, relieved.
Shifting his gaze away, Uncle Chen turned to ask, "Shall I take you home now?"
Jiang Si thought for a moment. "Not yet. Let’s stop by Dongfeng Store first."
Dongfeng Store, later known as Daoxiangchun, was a renowned old-fashioned pastry shop in Capital City.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival just a day away, Jiang Si knew the crowds lining up for mooncakes would be overwhelming. She figured it was better to buy them today and save themselves the hassle of queuing early tomorrow.
As expected, her reasoning proved correct.
Even though it was already noon, Dongfeng Store was packed with people.
Jiang Si glanced around—the variety of mooncake fillings was limited, nothing like the endless options of later years.
Prices ranged from eighty cents to one yuan twenty per pound, with each pound requiring six liang of grain coupons.
The most common were the "zilaihong" (red) and "zilai bai" (white) varieties—their crusts baked with sesame oil and stamped with a distinctive crimson circle.
The fillings contained crystallized sugar bits, walnut kernels, and candied orange peels, delivering an incredibly satisfying bite.
Then there were the red bean paste and jujube paste fillings.
As for the five-nut filling—though unpopular in later generations—it was the most sought-after signature flavor of this era.
Getting your hands on it was a matter of pure luck!
With the festival approaching, the shop had also prepared limited batches of lotus seed paste and rose-flavored mooncakes.
Tomorrow evening, Huo’s fourth uncle and his family would be visiting.
Considering the number of guests, Jiang Si picked a few of each flavor.
Uncle Chen had been driving her to and from work for months now, so it was only right to give him something for the festival.
Besides that, Jiang Si also selected a box of rose-flavored mooncakes for Chris.
Compared to the other fillings, this one wasn’t particularly outstanding.
But foreigners often had allergies to nuts, and Jiang Si didn’t dare risk Chris eating any.
If something went wrong, the consequences would be serious.
After buying the mooncakes, Jiang Si also picked up some of the shop’s signature pastries—sachima, ox-tongue cakes, and jujube flower crisps.
These treats were a bit too sweet for her taste.
But the older folks at home loved them.
Pairing a piece with a pot of jasmine tea made for a delightful moment of relaxation.
Once done, Jiang Si didn’t head straight home. Instead, she asked Uncle Chen to drive to the nearby Dong’an Market.
With her usual chauffeur service, she rarely had the chance to retrieve items from her space.
It wasn’t just about retrieving things—when the children were younger, she could occasionally take them inside for a quick visit.
But now that the little ones were growing up, Jiang Si had become more cautious.
Never underestimate a child nearing their first birthday—especially these two, who had been drinking spiritual spring water for months. Their cognitive abilities far surpassed those of ordinary children.
Right now, they couldn’t articulate much, but in a few months, when they started talking, what if they suddenly blurted out:
"Mama disappeared into thin air!"
"Mama made fruits appear!"
That would be the end of her.
"Uncle Chen, wait here for me. I’ll go in and look around, maybe buy a few things."
Since she was out today, Jiang Si planned to retrieve more supplies.
Uncle Chen hesitated. Though the Mid-Autumn Festival was tomorrow, many families had already started stocking up.
Glancing at the bustling crowd, he said, "How about I come with you? I can help carry things."
"No need, Uncle Chen. I’m just browsing." Jiang Si quickly refused.
If he came along, how could she retrieve items from her space?
Seeing her insistence, Uncle Chen relented but reminded her, "I’ll wait right here at the entrance. Call me if you need anything."
Jiang Si nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
After wandering the market for a while, she found a secluded corner and began transferring items from her space.
Since the weather was still warm, she skipped the pork—without a fridge at home, it wouldn’t keep.
Besides, tomorrow was the festival, and work units usually distributed holiday perks.
Pork, being one of the most coveted goods of the time, was bound to be included.
Instead, Jiang Si took out a plump white goose.
Raised in her space for over two years, it was hefty—easily weighing seventeen or eighteen pounds.
For the festival, crabs were a must.
She scooped out a large netful, each weighing at least half a pound.
She also packed plenty of seasonal fruits.
Thankfully, she had a burlap sack—otherwise, carrying everything would’ve been impossible.
Once satisfied, she dragged the sack out.
Why not carry it? Simple—it was too heavy!
Uncle Chen had been keeping an eye out.
When he saw Jiang Si emerge dragging a bulging sack, he was startled and hurried over.
Before he could speak, Jiang Si said, "Uncle Chen, wait a moment. There’s a bit more."
A bit?
This was far from "a bit."
After two or three trips, the car’s trunk was packed to the brim. Only then did Jiang Si dust off her hands in satisfaction.
"Uncle Chen, tomorrow’s the festival. Take these home with you."
Aside from mooncakes, she had set aside seasonal fruits and a plump hen for him, all placed separately on the passenger seat.
"No, no, Comrade Jiang! These are too valuable!" Uncle Chen waved his hands in refusal.
Driving her was his job—he couldn’t possibly accept so much.
"Uncle Chen, just take them."
"I really can’t."
As they went back and forth, Jiang Si’s eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure across the street.
It was Secretary Yan.
Honestly, running into him here wasn’t entirely surprising.
The construction ministry’s residential compound was nearby. Though Secretary Yan had been "retired on health grounds" and removed from his post, his benefits remained intact.
He still lived in the compound.
However, after the disciplinary notice was issued, he had kept a low profile, rarely stepping out.
This had made surveillance rather challenging.
Until last week, when he finally emerged—only to head straight to the higher-ups with a handwritten appeal.
Only then did Jiang Si realize that during the time he had been secluded indoors, he had been quietly working on all of this.
Lost in her thoughts, Secretary Yan had already boarded the bus with his belongings.
The bus soon pulled away from the station.
Jiang Si wasn’t very familiar with the bus routes in Capital City, but she could clearly tell that this bus wasn’t heading toward the residential compound.
Perhaps it was a woman’s intuition, but the moment the bus left the station, she immediately opened the car door and got in.
"Uncle Chen, please follow that bus ahead."
Without asking questions, Uncle Chen promptly started the car and trailed the bus at a steady pace.
The bus headed north, and after about five or six stops, Secretary Yan got off at a place called 'Tuanjie Lake.'
The name of this place stirred a faint memory in Jiang Si.
She recalled that the Tan Family’s residence, Huashikou Alley, seemed to be nearby.
