Chapter 26 Back to the Black Market

Shen Chuning had made an appointment with Zhou Yubai to meet at the photo studio in town to take wedding photos and get their marriage certificate.

She left early, planning to visit the black market first.

She needed to sell some grain from the space to make up for her spending.

She found Old Man Li, who was weaving baskets, and gave him a dime, as her brother had done.

Old Man Li pointed her to another courtyard.

She realized that the black market’s location wasn’t fixed but changed frequently.

Entering the black market, she went straight to the inner room to find Chen Tao.

“Girl, why are you here alone? What do you want? Just ask, Brother Chen can get it for you.”

Chen Tao patted his chest, guaranteeing it.

Shen Chuning was a little nervous being here alone.

But she knew she couldn’t show it.

She bravely and calmly said, “Brother Chen, I’m not here to buy anything, I’m here to sell something.  See if you’re interested.”

Chen Tao laughed, “Girl, you’re underestimating Brother Chen. What is there that Brother Chen wouldn’t take?”

Shen Chuning showed Chen Tao a sample of the grain she had brought.

She could process the grain in the space.  The grain she brought was processed.

The wheat was ground into fine flour, whiter and finer than the best flour.

The rice grains were complete and oily, crystal clear, far superior to the broken rice with rice bran from the grain depot.

The corn was also ground into very fine corn flour, golden yellow, with a strong corn aroma.

Seeing such good grain, Chen Tao’s eyes lit up, “Girl, how much of this good grain do you have? Brother will take as much as you have.”

Grain was a valuable commodity, especially high-quality grain.  Even at a higher price, it would sell quickly.

Shen Chuning had only harvested once, about one thousand kilograms, and after processing, about eight hundred kilograms remained.

Four hundred kilograms of rice, two hundred kilograms of flour, and two hundred kilograms of corn flour.

She had hidden them before coming, waiting to take Chen Tao to collect them after agreeing on a price.

“Girl, we usually buy rice at twenty-five cents per kilogram, flour at twenty cents, and corn flour at ten cents. But yours is high-quality, I’ll give you thirty cents for rice, twenty-five cents for flour, and fifteen cents for corn flour. What do you think?”

Chen Tao offered the price readily.

The grain depot sold rice at twenty cents, flour at eighteen cents, and coarse grain at ten cents, but required coupons, which weren’t needed here.  The black market price was slightly higher.

Chen Tao’s price was fair.

Shen Chuning agreed and took Chen Tao to where she hid the grain.

She had hidden the grain under a Buddha statue in a dilapidated temple on the way.

Temples were destroyed during the movement to break the four olds and establish the four news.

People were afraid of being labeled as superstitious and didn’t dare enter the temple, so it was a safe place to hide things.

Chen Tao was cautious.  Before entering the temple, he left people to watch outside before entering with Shen Chuning.

After checking the grain quality, Chen Tao had it weighed.

He then paid Shen Chuning: four hundred kilograms of rice at thirty cents per kilogram was one hundred and twenty yuan, two hundred kilograms of flour at twenty-five cents was fifty yuan, and two hundred kilograms of corn flour at fifteen cents was thirty yuan, totaling two hundred yuan.

Chen Tao readily gave Shen Chuning twenty ten-yuan bills, “Girl, if you have more good goods, bring them to Brother Chen. I’ll give you the best price.”

Shen Chuning thanked him and left quickly.

Chen Tao didn’t linger.

After leaving the temple, his subordinate asked, “Boss, that girl has so much grain, should we…”

His subordinate made a threatening gesture.

Chen Tao slapped him on the head, “Are you stupid!  She has a lot of grain, she’s our lucky star!  Treat her well, don’t even think about doing anything!”

Grain was in short supply!

The grain he bought from Shen Chuning could be resold in big cities for one yuan per kilogram for rice and flour, and three or four cents for corn flour.

The profit margin was over fifty percent.  This girl was their lucky star!

Shen Chuning had been cautious.

Zhou Yubai had asked her to meet at the photo studio to take wedding photos and get their marriage certificate.  She went to the black market first.

If anyone at the black market had bad intentions, they would see her meeting Zhou Yubai.  She asked Zhou Yubai to wear his uniform for the wedding photos.

She believed Zhou Yubai’s uniform would deter the black market thugs.

After leaving the temple, she noticed no one was following her.

Chen Tao seemed honest.

Although Shen Chuning had made an appointment with Zhou Yubai to meet at the photo studio,

Zhou Yubai went to pick her up early in the morning.

He found out that Shen Chuning had already left.

He was worried but also felt a sweet feeling.

His wife must have gone to town early to take wedding photos and get married early.

He arrived at the photo studio but didn’t see his wife.

He frowned worriedly.

A girl in a red dress and pigtails caught his eye.

“Brother Yubai, sorry, I bought a dress and was late.”

Shen Chuning was happy to have earned money for the first time, her smile radiant.

Seeing Zhou Yubai in his uniform, handsome and strong, she felt shy, sweet, and happy that such an excellent man would soon be her husband.

Zhou Yubai looked at Shen Chuning. Her fair skin was even whiter against the red dress.  Her face was radiant.

Zhou Yubai’s expression was calm, “Let’s go, let’s take the photos.”

Hearing the man’s indifferent voice, Shen Chuning’s happy mood turned anxious.

She secretly glanced at his cold face, wondering if he was angry.

Sitting on the bench, waiting for the photographer, Shen Chuning was tense, not daring to get too close to the man.

The photographer gestured with his camera, “You’re here for wedding photos, right?”

“Yes.” Shen Chuning responded nervously, unsure of Zhou Yubai’s mood.

The photographer waved, gesturing for them to get closer, “For wedding photos, be happy, smile, the woman leans towards the man, the man slightly tilts his head towards the woman.”

Shen Chuning secretly glanced at the man’s cold face and cautiously moved closer.

The man leaned his head towards her hair.

She could feel his hot breath on her head, making her heart skip a beat.

Zhou Yubai, getting closer, smelled her fragrance.

His heart fluttered, and his lips unconsciously curled up.

“Good, keep that position, very good!”

“Click!”

After the flash, the photographer checked the photos, “Okay, come back in a week to pick them up.”