Chapter 34: Trading Again

In the end, Gu Shiyu still couldn’t muster enough strength to answer Ji Tangtang’s question. Ji Tangtang didn’t mind; she was just chatting casually to distract him. Her own strength made supporting Gu Shiyu effortless. Yet his presence completely enveloped her, leaving her feeling both comforted and possessive. This strange sensation was entirely due to the Dan Poison, and without her cultivation, the effect was even stronger. Moreover, the more severe the effect, the longer it would take to fully purge the poison. She would need to find a way to cultivate again…

Lin Xinming’s exclamation broke Ji Tangtang’s thoughts.

“Brother Gu, you can walk!” Lin Xinming was so shocked and excited that his words came out jumbled. “This is wonderful, Comrade Ji! You really are Brother Gu’s benefactor!”

He moved to Gu Shiyu’s left side, helped him sit down, and kept exclaiming, “Ah! Wait, what brings you here? Did something happen?”

Gu Shiyu replied, “Nothing happened. We came today to get our marriage certificate, and thought we’d drop by to see you. I hope it doesn’t interfere with your work?”

Lin Xinming breathed a sigh of relief. “Not at all. I’ll just tell the team and take a seat aside. I’ll also ask the canteen chef to make some good dishes for us to enjoy.” Without waiting for Gu Shiyu to respond, he hurried off like the wind.

“Do you need to use the restroom?” Ji Tangtang thought that since they’d been out for a while, he might feel embarrassed in front of his comrades, so she asked considerately. She had momentarily forgotten that even though they were married, they weren’t that familiar with each other yet.

Hearing her, Gu Shiyu’s pale face flushed red.

“No, I don’t…”

“Brother Gu, I’ve arranged everything!” Lin Xinming rushed back like a gust of wind.

Ji Tangtang ended her topic and, with Lin Xinming’s help, guided Gu Shiyu to a temporary resting room for the officers. After settling him in, she said to the two men, “I’ll leave now!”

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. I’ll take care of Brother Gu,” Lin Xinming saluted her.

Once Ji Tangtang left, he smiled at Gu Shiyu. “Brother Gu, your sister-in-law is very good to you.”

“Very good,” Gu Shiyu said, lowering his gaze. “But it’s taking up too much of her time.”

The conversation turned heavy, and Lin Xinming’s joy dimmed slightly. Soon, though, he said, “Brother Gu, you will get better. Look, you’re even able to stand now, right?”

Gu Shiyu didn’t dare be overly optimistic but allowed a flicker of hope in his heart.

Not wanting to dwell on the heavy topic, Lin Xinming shifted the conversation. “Brother Gu, you wanted to ask me about the investigation results, right?”

Gu Shiyu responded with a hum. “Any progress?”

“We tracked down some elderly people who were involved back then. They said that Shen Meifang was indeed pregnant at the time, but beyond that, they didn’t know.”

Lin Xinming sighed. “If you really doubt it, it might be better to handle it directly with those people.”

Gu Shiyu pondered for a moment. “Thank you. You don’t need to spend more effort on it.”

Lin Xinming patted him on the shoulder. “Brother, we’ve been through life and death together. Don’t be so formal with me.”

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After leaving the public security bureau, Ji Tangtang rode back to the supply and marketing cooperative. Before entering, she ran into Liu Xuemei at the entrance.

“I spoke with my brother. He contacted people in the residential compound, and eight households are willing to trade with you, totaling fifty jin of grain. Yesterday he acted rashly; he asked me to apologize and said you can decide the price of the pork,” Liu Xuemei said.

Ji Tangtang replied, “My master said that although this wild boar meat is different from ordinary meat, you and I are friends, and this is our first time dealing together. So for this first transaction, let’s give you a discount and just settle the difference at market price.”

Liu Xuemei hadn’t expected such generosity and felt their relationship had become a bit closer. “If you ever need help, just let me know. I’ll do what I can.”

Ji Tangtang indeed had a request. “Do you have any processed cloth? I’m out of cloth tickets, but I can pay a higher price.”

Liu Xuemei hesitated. Although she worked at the cooperative, she had to follow the rules. But having just received such a great favor from Ji Tangtang, she didn’t want to disappoint her. After thinking, she said, “I can inquire at the department store to see if they have any processed cloth. If someone releases cloth tickets here, I’ll also keep an eye out for you. Is that okay?”

Ji Tangtang nodded in satisfaction. “Where should we exchange the goods?”

Liu Xuemei had already coordinated with her brother. “I’ll take you to my house. You can just say you’re my cousin if anyone asks.”

Ji Tangtang patted the rear of her bicycle. “Hop on and lead the way!”

They quickly arrived at the Xinhua Road residential compound. After registering at the gate, they split up.

Ji Tangtang found a secluded spot in the secret realm, took the wild boar meat out of the Qian Kun Bag, and sorted it again. She placed one 50-jin portion into a basket, covering it with wild vegetables for concealment, and carried it out.

At Liu Xuemei’s house, Liu Jianfeng had already prepared rice and flour. He showed Ji Tangtang the quantities: “I have 30 jin of flour and 20 jin of rice.”

Ji Tangtang revealed the wild boar meat hidden under the vegetables: “Already weighed, 50 jin. Check it yourself.”

Liu Jianfeng was extremely satisfied with the meat; it had a thick layer of fat. He had never seen such a plump pig. Regardless of taste, having this much fat would make everyone happy. To be thorough, he took out the scale and weighed the meat, then double-checked the rice and flour.

After confirming the weights, they discussed the price. On the market, ticketed rice was 0.13 yuan per jin, flour 0.18 yuan per jin, and pork 0.8 yuan per jin. Liu Jianfeng suggested setting both rice and flour at 0.2 yuan per jin and pork at 1 yuan per jin. He would directly pay Ji Tangtang 40 yuan to cover the difference. Ji Tangtang had no objections and even offered the wild vegetables she used to conceal the meat.

Recalling the delicious wild leek and scrambled eggs from the previous night, Liu Jianfeng didn’t want her vegetables to go to waste, so he went to the kitchen and brought a few cans as a gift for Ji Tangtang.