Chapter 38: So Expensive?

Who would buy CDs on the main road for no reason?

Driving a luxury car, opening the trunk, just to sell a few DJ mixes?

What a joke!

If you have the right connections, you can easily find places near here involved in shady business.

But Lu Chuan didn’t expect that such tactics existed so early in this world.

It was surprisingly familiar, it almost brought tears to his eyes!

After paying, Lu Chuan and Sun Laizi walked confidently into the black market.

Although it was a bright sunny day outside,

the moment they entered the black market, the surroundings immediately became dark due to the thick walls of bricks and tiles built overhead.

Torches were lit on all sides.

People were constantly coming and going.

Many wore masks, clearly trying to avoid being recognized.

As Lu Chuan was preparing to wander around,

a man walked over, holding a bamboo staff with five layers of masks hanging from it.

“Guest, would you like a mask?”

“How much for one?”

Lu Chuan asked.

The man cheerfully raised two fingers: “200 coins each, choose any style you like!”

“50 coins!”

Lu Chuan raised a hand and asked.

The man paused for a moment, then awkwardly replied, “Guest, we don’t usually bargain like that.”

“That’s because you didn’t meet me sooner. If you had, you’d be selling them at this price already!”

Lu Chuan chuckled.

“If you’re not selling, then fine!”

Lu Chuan shook his head, not taking it seriously.

In the black market, even if you wear a mask, it’s impossible to escape the sharp eyes of those around you.

These people had the sharpest eyes.

“Hmm?”

Just then, Lu Chuan’s expression grew serious, and his breathing quickened. He noticed a small elderly man sitting at an inconspicuous stall.

The old man had his hands tucked into his robes.

In front of him was a map!

It was the same map Lu Chuan had seen in the cave before.

Lu Chuan’s brow furrowed deeply. After pausing for a moment, he didn’t approach the stall.

Seeing this map in the black market was normal, but he had to be cautious.

After wandering around the entire black market,

Lu Chuan stopped in front of the old man’s stall, pretending to be just another newcomer to the city. “What’s this? Looks interesting.”

“I don’t know.”

The old man looked up, eyeing Lu Chuan with suspicion. “You come to buy something here, but don’t ask about its origin or its destination? Don’t you understand the rules?”

“Understand, understand…”

Lu Chuan smiled and nodded.

Then, as if suddenly losing interest, he turned and walked away.

“By the way!”

Lu Chuan turned to Sun Laizi. “Didn’t you say you could find coal here?”

“If you want coal, you need to go to the Gathering Treasure Pavilion!”

After saying that, Sun Laizi continued, “Ordinary people really can’t get their hands on this.”

“Is it the place we just passed?”

“Yes!”

Sun Laizi nodded.

Lu Chuan had a strong impression of this so-called Gathering Treasure Pavilion, the most notable thing being the seductive owner.

She was completely different from the women Lu Chuan had encountered before.

They arrived at the Gathering Treasure Pavilion.

The proprietress lazily leaned against the counter.

When she saw someone enter, she immediately flashed a charming smile. “A customer? I wonder what you two need?”

Lu Chuan raised his head.

He looked the proprietress over seriously. After a brief pause, he said, “Coal.”

“Ah!”

The proprietress was taken aback.

After a moment, she said helplessly, “It’s rare for someone to want this. If you go to ordinary places, it really isn’t easy to find!”

As she spoke, Lu Chuan looked at her. “The price?”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

The proprietress looked Lu Chuan up and down. “Are you new here?”

“What’s the matter? Can’t I buy coal as a newcomer?” Lu Chuan asked with a smile.

The proprietress shrugged. “You don’t need to provoke me like that. There’s really nothing in the Gathering Treasure Pavilion that we wouldn’t sell. It’s just some coal. But the price might surprise you!”

“How much?”

Lu Chuan asked.

“One stone, 10 taels of silver!”

The proprietress held up one finger.

“That’s outrageous!”

Sun Laizi couldn’t hold back a curse. “Are you robbing us?”

“You can’t say that!”

The proprietress replied, “Our business at the Gathering Treasure Pavilion is honest, never deceiving anyone. This coal is hard to come by, and ordinary people can’t afford it!”

“Relationships, big and small, have to be handled too!”

“This price is very fair!”

The proprietress said in a relaxed manner, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Lu Chuan smiled.

Looking at the proprietress, he said, “Are you treating us like sheep to be slaughtered?”

“Isn’t that so?”

The proprietress walked around the counter, lightly brushing against Lu Chuan. Her eyes glimmered with amusement. “In this day and age, even among high officials and wealthy families, it’s rare for them to use this kind of thing!”

“Since you want to use it,”

“Then you must be a prime candidate for a fat sheep!”

The proprietress spoke nonchalantly.

“The price is too high!”

Lu Chuan replied again.

“Sorry!”

The proprietress yawned, then said, “The Gathering Treasure Pavilion doesn’t negotiate on prices! If you think it’s too expensive, you’re free to look elsewhere! But let me say something big—”

“This stuff, in the entire area of Bingzhou, other than the Gathering Treasure Pavilion, there are no more than three places that can supply it!”

The proprietress said this proudly.

Lu Chuan’s lips twitched.

Though he had expected the price to be high, he hadn’t imagined it would be this high.

“I want to see the goods first before making a decision.”

Lu Chuan spoke with a calm tone.

“Alright!”

The proprietress nodded. “No problem!”

“Please follow me…”

As she spoke, the proprietress swayed gracefully as she led Lu Chuan and Sun Laizi to the back courtyard.

Finally, they stopped in front of a locked warehouse.

The proprietress reached out, sliding her hand across her body.

Then, from the fullness of her form, she pulled out a shiny key.

She unlocked the warehouse door.

“Coal is something we only have about a hundred stones here. If there’s more, we’ll need to source it from other places!” The proprietress said lightly.

Lu Chuan stepped into the room.

The coal was all packed in bamboo baskets, with a layer of cowhide paper covering them.

It seemed they were worried about moisture.