Early the next morning, after breakfast, Li Long rode his bicycle out of the village. After taking Li Juan to the primary school, he continued toward the County Seat.
The county Supply and Marketing Cooperative Store had no scythes, which left Li Long rather disappointed.
He went to the Department Store next.
The Department Store's hardware selection consisted of only a few common tools; it did not even have sickles. Li Long wondered whether things had been going too smoothly for him lately and his luck had now run dry.
"Comrade, what are you looking to buy?"
A clear, bright voice rang out.
Li Long turned and saw a somewhat familiar face. He soon remembered that she was the sales clerk who sold radios.
Oh? The sales clerks these days were quite helpful. Not bad, not bad.
Xiao Liu had watched Li Long circle the counter twice and prepare to leave without buying anything. Guessing that he had failed to find what he wanted, she could not help asking.
"A scythe. I'd like to buy a scythe..." Li Long replied. Thinking the girl probably did not know what a scythe was, he explained, "A big sickle that herders use to cut hay."
"We don't carry that sort of tool," Xiao Liu said after a moment's thought. "The Supply and Marketing Cooperative has a larger selection of hardware. Over there..."
"I've been there," Li Long said with a wry smile. "They don't have any either."
"Then you'll have to go to the prefectural seat," Xiao Liu said. "Or Stone City would do. The Department Store and Supply and Marketing Cooperative there are higher-level outlets, so their selection should be more complete than ours."
Li Long had actually been thinking the same thing. He said:
"Thank you, then. I'll go take a