Chapter 14: The Yihe Town Black Market

Wang Shuning was glad she’d chosen wooden basins; they were more durable than plastic or iron, and repairable.

“Excuse me, I won’t buy basins. Soy sauce, cooking wine, chicken essence, and salt—one of each, please. And a little of these other seasonings.” She didn’t need oil; she’d use lard tonight and process soybeans and rapeseed in her space later for oil.

Wang Shuning also bought a mosquito net and a thermal cover for bathing in winter.

Zhang Meili, Guo Jingyi, Lü Beichu, and Zhao Heping also bought seasonings, as they’d cook separately.

Lü Beichu also bought sweets and candies, likely for Guo Jingyi.

“Shall we eat here before going back?” Wang Shuning felt awkward eating with He Zhuzhu’s family again. It was better to eat in town and return later.

Lü Beichu agreed, but Zhao Heping and Zhang Meili insisted on going back to cook; eating in town cost more.

Guo Jingyi felt her cooking was better than any restaurant in town.

“You go back first. My stove isn’t dry yet; I can’t cook lunch. I’ll eat at the state-run restaurant and return.” Without them, she could explore the town after lunch.

Although she hadn’t harvested anything from her space yet, she needed to scout the area for future business.

“Be careful and return early,” Zhang Meili warned.

Wang Shuning nodded. “It’s just a few things; I’ll be fine on the main road.”

After they left, Wang Shuning went to the state-owned restaurant. The dishes were simple home-style cooking, expensive but didn’t require coupons.

After looking at the menu, she ordered a bowl of braised beef noodles. It wasn’t sliced beef like in modern times; it was large pieces of braised beef, the broth rich and flavorful.

After eating, she picked up her basket, transferred the contents to her space, and covered it with a cloth; no one knew it was empty.

Yihe Town was relatively large; the market was concentrated in one area, easily explored in half an hour.

Even in town, there were clandestine transactions, likely in hidden alleys, easy for escape.

Seeing several women carrying baskets heading into an alley, Wang Shuning guessed it was a black market. Those leaving seemed to carry heavy bags.

Wang Shuning covered her face and head with her scarf, pretending to pass by to scout for future purchases.

Several men and women leaned against the walls, watching cautiously.

Even with her scarf, they saw she was a young woman, not a local. They tightened their grip on their goods.

Wang Shuning felt nervous and approached the kindest-looking man. “Sir, what are you selling? Do you have live chickens or ducks?”

Her space had grains, vegetables, and aquatic life but no poultry. Buying live ones would solve her meat problem. She didn’t plan to raise pigs; she wouldn’t slaughter them.

The man looked at her like she was an idiot. “Who dares sell live poultry here? They’re noisy and easily attract Red Guards. Even if sold, they’re slaughtered. Chickens and ducks are scarce in town; they’re usually delivered to regular customers. Are you new here?”

Wang Shuning looked at his basket—rice and wheat flour, light in color, not as good as hers. “I’m new and don’t know the prices. How much is the rice per pound?”

The man whispered, “Fifty cents a pound, no coupons needed.”

“So expensive?” Wang Shuning was surprised. Rice in the supply and marketing cooperative was twenty cents; this was more than double.

“We don’t need coupons, so it’s more expensive,” the man said, eyeing Wang Shuning. She seemed wealthy, young, and likely an educated youth.

Wang Shuning adjusted her scarf. “I’ll buy when I run out of food.”

“Don’t rush. Forty-eight cents?”

Wang Shuning shook her head and turned. This place had few goods and customers; there must be other places.

After an hour and a half, she found two more locations, secluded and easy for escape.

Returning home, she went to He Pingping’s neighbor’s house; wood and sawdust were scattered in the yard.

She called out, “Hello? Is anyone home?”

“Who is it?” A girl carrying a basin came out.

Wang Shuning said, “I’m a new educated youth, Wang Shuning. I heard you sell wooden basins. Do you have any?”

He Fengxia put down her basin. “Yes! Come in and choose.”

Many basins and small cabinets were inside.

Wang Shuning bought a large basin, two small ones, and a cabinet—two yuan.

He Fengxia said, “I’ll have my father help move the large basin and cabinet to Aunt Zhu’s after work.”

Solid wood was heavy; the small basins weighed ten pounds each, and the large one almost thirty.

Wang Shuning paid and carried the small basins back, washing the vegetables.

Including the village chief and He Zhuzhu’s family, there were eleven people; seven dishes would suffice.

She put the pig’s trotter and half the pork in her space; she didn’t need that much tonight. The liver, half a pound of pork, and eggs were already luxurious.

Villagers had large appetites; she needed to feed them well.

When the village chief and six villagers arrived, the table was set.

He Zhuzhu, who had hurried back to help, frowned at the dishes. “Three meat dishes? Don’t serve the sliced pork; put it away.”