“It’s true. Not only did Tan Shuwei from the Distribution Committee agree, he only asked for a two-entry courtyard house and even refused the large yellow croakers.”

In the study of the Lu family, located in the mechanical factory’s family compound, when Qiao Jiuru heard this news, both she and Jian Shou were shocked and overjoyed—surprised, too.

They hadn’t expected that this man not only didn’t mind receiving so little, but even didn’t want much to begin with.

“Can we really trust this guy?!”

Su Huaiyuan found it hard to believe someone could stay indifferent in the face of so much money and couldn’t help but voice his doubts.

“Old Master Qiao once saved his grandfather and father. At first, he didn’t want anything at all. In the end, just to put our minds at ease, he accepted a house—consider it a gesture of gratitude for the Qiao family’s life-saving kindness.”

After Lu Baoguo explained the Tan family’s situation to Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—who would have thought such karmic circles still existed?

Good deeds are indeed rewarded.

So that’s how it is!

Now, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan were completely reassured and couldn’t help but feel fortunate—thank goodness they’d found the right person in Director Tan.

“We’ll remember this favor.”

“Yes, we won’t forget it.”

Both Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru were sincerely grateful.

If they could avoid exposing the secret of the space bracelet, they absolutely would—after all, “a man’s wealth is his own undoing.”

Something so heaven-defying was not meant to be owned by ordinary people.

If anyone found out, it could bring disaster to the entire family.

This reasoning wasn’t just understood by Qiao Jiuru—Su Huaiyuan was even more cautious.

“Jiuru, Huaiyuan, now I can go on this business trip without worry.”

Lu Baoguo couldn’t help but express his relief.

He hadn’t eaten or slept well these past few days, constantly worrying about how to help them.

Thankfully, things hadn’t spiraled further out of control.

“Brother Lu, it’s all thanks to you and Brother Zhang. We don’t need to say much—just know we’re deeply grateful.”

“Yes, Brother Lu, you and Brother Zhang worked so hard for our family.”

The couple looked at Lu Baoguo with heartfelt appreciation.

Unfortunately, Zhang Hong couldn’t come tonight due to an emergency surgery.

But now, at least, Lu Baoguo could relax.

“Jiuru, Huaiyuan, we’re all family. If we’re talking about favors, I owe my life to Qiao Yin. Without him, I’d have been dead long ago.”

“By the way, are you all set? I know a lot of people—anything else you need help with?”

Truth be told, Lu Baoguo was even happier than the couple.

He waved his hand at them repeatedly but was still a bit concerned about their preparations for being sent down.

At that, Qiao Jiuru hesitated.

She still felt there weren’t enough supplies in her spatial storage.

The land in the space wasn’t producing fast enough to eat from.

She’d been running to the black market for days buying up food, but working to hide her identity meant the efficiency was painfully low.

“Brother Lu, do you know anyone who deals with the black market? We still haven’t bought enough.”

Qiao Jiuru trusted Lu Baoguo, so she asked him directly.

Su Huaiyuan trusted him too, so he didn’t stop her.

“I know someone—Guangsheng and his brother-in-law both have black market contacts. Come on, I’ll take you to him now.”

The existence of a black market wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and Lu Baoguo wasn’t an inflexible old-timer.

Sometimes, even his wife secretly bought things there.

Though unless it was necessary, they tried to avoid it—the risks were real.

Fortunately, the mechanical and textile factories weren’t far apart, just about three li (a mile or so).

Guangsheng’s home was easy to find; he also lived in the textile factory’s family compound.

However, they didn’t go straight to his home but had someone call him out.

Guangsheng hadn’t expected that barely an hour after parting with his old superior, he’d be summoned again.

Still, when he learned it was to ask about black market contacts, he immediately took Lu Baoguo, Qiao Jiuru, and Su Huaiyuan to find someone.

The black market guy didn’t live far either—it only took about ten minutes by bicycle.

“Xiao Lei, these two are my friends. They need to buy some things—help them out.”

Guangsheng called Xiao Lei out of his house and spoke to him in a dark, deserted corner, pointing toward Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan.

“Brother Sheng, no problem—as long as they’ve got the money.”

Xiao Lei didn’t hesitate at all and agreed readily.

After all, it wasn’t charity.

Guangsheng patted Xiao Lei on the shoulder and thanked him, then walked back to the couple.

“Professor Qiao, Xiao Lei works the black market. Just tell him what you need.”

Lowering his voice, Guangsheng pointed them toward Xiao Lei. He wouldn’t get involved further or eavesdrop.

“Comrade Guang, thank you so much.”

Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan thanked him repeatedly.

They’d also heard it was he and his brother-in-law who helped introduce and mediate with Director Tan from the Distribution Committee—another favor they remembered.

“We’re all on the same side—no need to be so polite.”

Guangsheng didn’t care at all.

He knew who they were and had heard about Qiao Yin. He had nothing but respect.

Besides, this was all just a small matter—a simple favor.

It was getting late, so Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan quickly went to speak with Xiao Lei.

Lu Baoguo didn’t follow. Instead, he stayed back with Guangsheng, keeping an eye on the surroundings and standing guard for them.