Li Long did not refuse Auntie Liu's request about the raisins. She did not want much anyway, just fifty yuan's worth.
Helping others made things easier for oneself. After agreeing, Li Long said to Auntie Liu:
"Auntie Liu, people from our work unit don't come here often. Please help keep an eye on the courtyard when no one's around."
"Of course, of course. No problem." Auntie Liu readily agreed. People generally would not dare touch property belonging to a public work unit.
She made her rounds in the neighborhood every day anyway. Coming over for an occasional look would be no trouble at all.
Li Long did not take the fifty yuan Auntie Liu offered. He asked for the Subdistrict Office's address and said he would make a phone call while he was out later and get it arranged.
"Why go out for that? Just use the phone at our office. Save yourself the phone charges." Auntie Liu thought, You're helping us out. How could we make you pay for the call too?
Li Long wanted to decline, but Auntie Liu grabbed his sleeve and tugged him along. He stopped protesting and followed her to the Subdistrict Office.
On the way, Auntie Liu asked how many kilograms fifty yuan would buy. Earlier, she had seen how good the raisins were-large, sweet, clean, and translucent-but had felt too embarrassed to ask the price.
"Fifty kilograms. I'll charge you one yuan a kilogram," Li Long said. "But I can't do this too often. Not everywhere back home produces raisins. We have to bring them in from Turpan too."
"Understood." Auntie Liu immediately caught his meaning. "We're just getting some for the New Year... Fifty kilograms is quite a lot!"
Li Long smiled without saying anything.
When they reached the Subdistrict Office, people