Chapter 5

The price given by the Black Market Boss was indeed somewhat higher than that of the State Supply Agency.

“Alright.” Chen Suihuan immediately nodded in agreement.

“Corn and soybeans are one yuan and fifty cents per jin, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are one yuan per jin, and cotton is five yuan per jin.

As for apples, one yuan and fifty cents per jin. Chickens five yuan each, ducks and geese four yuan each. Number One Sister, do you think these prices are acceptable?”

These prices were quite fair, a little more expensive than at the State Supply Agency, but Chen Suihuan was still very satisfied.

“I can also provide 1,000 jin of pork.” Chen Suihuan said, looking at the pigs in the space.

There were now sixteen pigs ready to be taken out of the pen.

1,000 jin of pork would only require killing four pigs.

“I will buy the pork at eight yuan and fifty cents per jin.” the Black Market Boss decided immediately. Pork was a good commodity.

“Alright then, see you tonight at the bamboo forest west outside the city. I will put all the goods there.

I just calculated, if each item is 1,000 jin, plus the chicken, duck, and goose meat, the total is 2,610 yuan.

Of that, I only want 1,000 yuan. The remaining 1,610 yuan I want you to give me in tickets, and they must be nationwide valid tickets, any type is fine, you arrange them for me.

By the way, it’s best if you can get me some watch tickets, bicycle tickets, sewing machine tickets.

Of course, if you really can’t get that many tickets, you can also exchange with small yellow croakers or jade antiques.” Chen Suihuan told the Black Market Boss.

The Black Market Boss replied: “I really can’t get that many tickets all at once, but I have plenty of small yellow croakers and such.

Don’t worry, I will definitely bring those items tonight.”

After making the arrangement with the Black Market Boss, Chen Suihuan left.

After leaving, Chen Suihuan walked around a few times, making sure no one was following her, then found a hidden corner and entered the space to clean herself up.

She changed into her previous clothes and then casually appeared again.

After leaving the black market, Chen Suihuan went to the Textile Factory. Director Ji had already sold her mother’s cotton work and given Chen Suihuan 1,000 yuan.

Chen Suihuan returned home. Chen Sui’an had already prepared a meal and was waiting for her.

“How was it? Did they come to cause trouble today?” Chen Suihuan first surveyed the home situation, checking the tables, chairs, and stools—all were fine, then asked Chen Sui’an.

Chen Sui’an shook his head: “No, they gave you such a big cut on your head, they’re probably too scared to come now.”

“Good they didn’t come. I just went to the bank and opened a passbook for you, it has 1,500 yuan inside, keep it safe.

Although there is a monthly allowance in the Military Unit, it’s easier to get things with money. Keep this for emergencies.

The rest of the money I will keep with me. When you get married, I’ll give it to you.” Chen Suihuan took out the passbook belonging to Chen Sui’an and handed it to him.

“Sis, I don’t really need it, why don’t you keep it for me?” Chen Sui’an frowned, not wanting to accept the passbook.

“I gave it to you, so just take it. Alright, hurry up and eat. After the meal, you’ll have to accompany me to buy things.

I haven’t bought bedding or clothes yet.” Chen Suihuan stuffed the passbook into Chen Sui’an’s arms and then sat down to eat.

Only then did Chen Sui’an put away the passbook and eat.

After eating, Chen Suihuan rummaged through the wardrobe. Before her mother died, she had said that she hid some money and tickets inside the big wardrobe.

Since her mother’s death, Grandmother Chen and the others had come over to cause trouble frequently. Chen Suihuan didn’t dare to take out the money for fear it would be stolen.

Chen Suihuan rummaged through the compartment inside the big wardrobe and found some torn cloth, with money and tickets hidden inside the fabric.

The money wasn’t much, only about 100 yuan, but there were quite a lot of tickets.

There were meat tickets, grain tickets, sanitary paper tickets, cloth tickets, sugar tickets, soap tickets, and pastry tickets.

After searching, Chen Suihuan even found a watch ticket.

This watch ticket was probably prepared by Mother Chen for Chen Sui’an, since in a few years Chen Sui’an was going to get married. Nowadays, weddings always required the “three turns and one ring” set.

Watch tickets and bicycle tickets were rare and hard to come by; if one found them, they had to grab them quickly.

Chen Suihuan had plenty of money but no tickets, so these tickets solved her urgent problem perfectly.

Holding all these tickets, Chen Suihuan called Chen Sui’an, and the two siblings went together to the supply building.

The supply building was a landmark in Jing City, with six floors in total.

Chen Suihuan bought four sets of thin clothes, mostly in common colors and durable fabrics. Since she was going to the countryside, where she’d have to work, it wasn’t suitable to wear fancy clothes.

As for cotton-padded jackets, they were basically not sold there; one had to find a tailor to make them. Chen Suihuan planned to go find a tailor in the Northeast to have her thick clothes made later.

There wasn’t enough time now; even if she made them, it would be too late.

After buying the clothes, Chen Suihuan purchased sixteen pairs of yellow canvas shoes for work, two pairs of rain boots, and a few pairs of gloves.

Her family already had thermos bottles, water flasks, and tea jars. Since the house was going to be sold, these things definitely had to be taken along.

Chen Suihuan bought two ceramic basins, two aluminum lunch boxes, and when she saw locks for sale, she bought a few locks as well.

After that, she bought pastries, brown sugar, White Rabbit milk candies, rock sugar, and finally a few jars of snow cream. She had almost used up all the tickets in her hand.

Only then did the two siblings return home, loaded with bags.

That night, Chen Suihuan cooked the meal. She used only Spiritual spring water. After eating, Chen Sui’an felt an upset stomach and went to the bathroom more frequently.

Chen Suihuan knew this was a sign of detoxification and didn’t worry, just told him once and went out.

She borrowed a bicycle from the neighbor and rode straight toward the west side of the city.

There were very few people on the west side. Chen Suihuan arrived at the agreed meeting place, made a bit of a mess around, walked back and forth a few times, leaving some footprints.

Only then did she take out all the goods she was going to sell from the space.

After waiting about twenty minutes, the Black Market Boss arrived with a group of people.

Seeing the goods behind Chen Suihuan, the Black Market Boss’ usually refined smile took on a few more flattering traces.

“Little Sister, you really are something! These things are all top quality. I wonder if we’ll have the chance to cooperate again next time?” The Black Market Boss called for people to move the goods, then tried to cozy up to Chen Suihuan.

Chen Suihuan was about to go to the countryside, and when she returned to Jing City, it would probably be two years later. She figured this business wouldn’t be done again anytime soon.

“Next time, maybe. It’s not that easy to get these things.” Chen Suihuan replied.

The Black Market Boss thought that made sense. With so many goods, it was obvious they were top quality and not easy to gather.

“Here, this is the money and tickets. Count them. I really couldn’t find that many tickets, so I used small yellow croakers and stuff to make up the remaining 600 yuan.”

The Black Market Boss handed over a stack of money and tickets, along with two boxes.

One box contained 20 small yellow croakers. The other held a set of imperial green jade headwear, four pairs of high-quality jade bracelets, two silver bracelets, and a gold lock.

Looking at all the gold and jade, Chen Suihuan was left speechless.