Chapter 39: Why are you wandering around here so late at night instead of sleeping?

“Quick, quick, quick, another cart of corn is here. Someone come help unload it—we still have another cart to fetch.”
“Coming, coming! Make some space.”

Another ox cart piled high with golden corn arrived. Everyone rushed in, unloading it onto the drying yard. Some began spreading the corn out to dry, while others took the dried corn and added it to the pile for shelling.

After a full seven days of hard work, Ming Leyao felt like her back was about to give out, but finally, all the grain was processed. The next step was to deliver it to the grain depot without delay. If they were the first to hand in their quota, the commune would give them a reward—money, grain, pork. The prize was generous enough to get everyone fired up.

Every year at this time, the brigade leadership took the matter very seriously.

That night, just as they finished tying up the last bag of grain, the brigade leader began organizing the delivery team. They had tractors, ox carts, handcarts, shoulder poles, even bicycles—any transport available was used, forming a long line.

Just past midnight, the tractor led the way, followed by ox carts, and then the bicycles and handcarts. Ming Leyao had nothing urgent to do and wanted to fully experience the “double harvest” (harvest and sowing), so she joined the walking group with a shoulder pole. Everyone jogged along quietly, no one speaking, heads down, focused on the journey.

Getting the first place at the grain depot didn’t just depend on which team’s cart arrived first—it depended on all the grain being delivered. The night was pitch black, with no moonlight, so everyone walked cautiously, worried that if they relaxed even a little, they wouldn’t be able to lift the pole again.

After a bumpy, tiring journey, they finally arrived at the county grain depot. Their hard work paid off—they were the first to arrive. Pang Jianyuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly directed everyone to pile the grain together. He had a few young, strong men rest beside the grain pile, while the others collapsed wherever they could.

Despite the chaos, the scene remained quiet.

There weren’t many women in the group this time. Ming Leyao didn’t join the other women but instead quietly approached the brigade leader and whispered a few words.

“Uncle, now that the double harvest is over, there’s not much else going on, and the school hasn’t reopened. I want to go visit Grandpa Cui.”

“Of course, of course. You go ahead. I brought two blank introduction letters with the official seal. Fill one out yourself. But don’t stay too long—school will probably resume in five or six days.”

“I understand, Uncle. I’ll go now.”

“Hey, hey! Where are you going in the middle of the night? There’s no transportation!”

Ming Leyao didn’t explain. She simply waved at Pang Jianyuan and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

She found a secluded spot, entered her secret space, disguised herself, and headed straight for the black market carrying fifty catties of pork on her back. She hadn’t planned to stay long in Qiping County—just wanted to make a quick profit before heading to Nanxing City to do a big deal with Boss Wan.

She knocked on the black market’s door. The person who opened it recognized her and greeted her warmly, reaching out to take her basket. Ming Leyao didn’t hesitate and handed it over, but the man wasn’t expecting it to be so heavy. Off balance, he fell flat on the ground.

The sound wasn’t too loud or too soft, but in the still night, it was definitely noticeable.

“What happened?”
“What’s going on?”
“What was that noise?”

Five people rushed out, even the black market boss, Tang De, came out cursing.

“Who the hell is making noise? Want to die, waking me up at this hour?!”

Then someone spotted the meat on the ground and gasped, tugging at Tang De’s sleeve.

“Boss, boss, look—isn’t that meat?”
“Boss, it is meat—oh my god, such a big chunk… I’ve only seen this much at the meatpacking plant.”
“The meatpacking plant’s meat belongs to the state. This meat… might become ours today!”
“Boss, let’s keep the meat, and maybe cut a little piece for the brothers later?”

“Get lost!” Tang De waved them away, muttering to himself, let me secure the goods first before you all start dreaming.

“You’re here, comrade.”
“Old acquaintances now, right? Boss Tang, give me a good price?”

“Of course! Gotta give you the best.” With a haul like this, he had to.

In the end, Ming Leyao sold the fifty catties of pork for 200 yuan, a watch voucher, and ten catties of cotton Tang De had just acquired the day before. Since she got the cotton, Ming Leyao didn’t feel like she’d lost out. Tang De got the meat, and felt like he’d scored a bargain. The deal was a win-win, both sides left happy.

After leaving the black market, Ming Leyao swung by the old man’s house. She hadn’t been in over a month, and he looked even thinner than before. When he saw her, it was like he’d seen an ancestor returning.

She took a box of gold, silver, and jade items from him and left behind 100 catties of coarse grains, 10 catties of pork, and a pound of soybean oil—as thanks for all his help.

By now, the eastern sky was growing light. Ming Leyao hadn’t slept all night and was getting drowsy. She drank a cup of her golden lotus pond water and instantly felt refreshed—like she could run another fifty kilometers.

Since it was still early and buses hadn’t started running yet, and she didn’t want to risk entering her space during daylight, she immediately left Qiping County and headed toward Nanxing City. Along the way, she caught a bus, paid 0.2 yuan fare, and after two bumpy hours, arrived in Nanxing.

In Nanxing, she didn’t stay near the Cui family, but instead found a guesthouse near the train station. The area was busy and crowded—messy, but conveniently close to the black market, saving her a nighttime trip.

After checking into her room, she went into her space to wash up, replaced the bedding with her own, and finally settled down for a good rest.

She slept straight through to 4 p.m., and when she woke up, she still felt a bit weak. After drinking some water to perk up, she ate a boxed meal she had prepared earlier, then picked up a medical book to read until nightfall.

Once it was dark, she changed her appearance again, slipped out the guesthouse window, and melted into the night.

There were more people near the train station than around the Cui home—some catching night trains, others secretly selling things. People passed by in twos and threes, some rushing, some sneaking.

Ming Leyao paid no mind, walking briskly toward the alley where the black market was located. It was pitch black inside, but thanks to her night vision, she avoided stumbling or making noise.

Just as she neared the market, voices rang out not far ahead. Ming Leyao froze in her tracks.

So many people out tonight… What is everyone doing wandering around instead of sleeping?!