Chapter 24 Unexpected Encounter with Zhou Yubai at the Black Market

Shen Zhengliang showed Chen Tao the two lingzhi mushrooms and the wild ginseng.

Chen Tao’s eyes lit up, “Good, good, I’ll take these lingzhi mushrooms and wild ginseng. Comrade, name your price.”

Shen Zhengliang offered one hundred and eighty yuan, and Chen Tao finally negotiated the price down to one hundred and fifty yuan.

Lingzhi mushrooms and wild ginseng were rare and life-saving, normally costing much more.

But in this era, this was the only sales channel. As long as the price wasn’t too low, they had to sell it.

After selling the lingzhi mushrooms and wild ginseng, Shen Zhengliang told Chen Tao that his sister wanted to buy meat and eggs.

Chen Tao looked at Shen Chuning.

He gestured for someone to take Shen Chuning to the back to buy things.

Shen Zhengliang was worried and wanted to go with her.

Shen Chuning said helplessly, “Brother, don’t you still have things to discuss with Brother Chen? I can go myself.

Don’t worry, I’m old enough to handle such a small matter.”

Chen Tao also smiled, “Comrade, this isn’t our first cooperation, don’t you trust the safety here?”

Shen Zhengliang thought that although the black market was illegal, it was absolutely safe.

He instructed Shen Chuning to come out and find him if anything happened and let her go.

Shen Chuning was taken to an inner room and realized that the small courtyard had a hidden space.

Half of the inner room had a large wooden board as a chopping block, with two freshly slaughtered pigs on it, each weighing over one hundred and sixty kilograms.

Such pigs were considered top-grade during quota deliveries.

The black market manager could obtain such pigs on ordinary days, demonstrating his capabilities.

Shen Chuning bought twenty kilograms of pork, half lean and half fat, and fifty eggs.

The weight strained her shoulders and almost bent her over.

After leaving the room, unnoticed, she quickly transferred eighteen kilograms of pork and thirty eggs into the space.

She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much lighter.

Shen Zhengliang was discussing ordering meat with Chen Tao.

Although the Zhou family was hosting the wedding banquet, Father Shen wanted to hold a banquet as well, to avoid being looked down upon by the Zhou family.

Shen Zhengliang originally planned to use this money to pay off debts.

When educated youths came to their village last year, Shen Chuning fell for Chen Ziyun.

Shen Chuning disliked their dilapidated house, feeling embarrassed in front of Chen Ziyun, crying at home every day.

His father, cherishing his daughter, even without money, decided to build a brick house.

He borrowed fifty yuan from the village, fifty yuan from his sister who married into the city, and eighty yuan from his brother who became a son-in-law in the city, building the house.

His resentment towards his pampered sister started from this incident.

Later, when they found the lingzhi mushrooms and wild ginseng, he planned to sell them to pay off the debts.

Although it wasn’t enough, they could pay off the rest slowly.

But if they used some for the wedding banquet, the remaining debt would be even larger.

If Shen Chuning remained the same, only taking from them, he wouldn’t agree to the wedding banquet, even if his father beat him up.

But his sister was now so sensible and obedient, he couldn’t bear to see her get married without a banquet and be looked down upon by her in-laws.

Hearing that Shen Zhengliang was ordering meat for the wedding banquet, Chen Tao readily agreed, “Okay, I’ll save it for you.  I’ll also give you a discount of one cent per kilogram as a wedding gift for your sister.”

Shen Zhengliang thanked him repeatedly.

Chen Tao said generously, “Don’t mention it.  Just bring any valuable goods you find in the future.”

Many high-ranking officials needed lingzhi mushrooms and ginseng, which were rare and hard to find.

In his years running the black market, this was only the third time Shen Zhengliang had sold lingzhi mushrooms and wild ginseng.  The first time was a wild ginseng root, the second time two wild ginseng roots and a lingzhi mushroom, and this time two lingzhi mushrooms and a wild ginseng root, all top-quality.

As soon as Chen Tao finished speaking, Shen Zhengliang saw Shen Chuning coming out of the inner room.

He quickly stepped forward to take the backpack from Shen Chuning’s back.

He saw a red mark on her neck from the backpack straps.

He felt distressed, “Ningning, why didn’t you call Second Brother to help you carry it?”

Shen Chuning smiled, “Second Brother, after I get married, I’ll have to do the housework myself. I can’t still ask you to help me.”

Shen Zhengliang’s face darkened, “If Zhou Yubai dares to make you do hard work, I’ll beat him up!”

Shen Chuning was about to say she didn’t want her brother to fight with her husband.

Before she could speak, someone quickly entered, showing something to Chen Tao secretly.

Chen Tao glanced at it and didn’t hide it from them, taking it out.

It was five brand-new Shanghai brand men’s watches.

This was a big deal.

Shen Zhengliang wisely pulled Shen Chuning away.

Outside the room, Shen Chuning pulled Shen Zhengliang, “Second Brother, wait.”

Shen Zhengliang looked at Shen Chuning questioningly.

Shen Chuning blushed slightly, whispering, “I want to buy a watch for Brother Yubai. He gave me a bicycle, and I…”

She had mentioned this last night, and he thought she was just making an excuse for her father.

Unexpectedly…

His sister had truly grown up.  Before, no matter what others gave her, she felt it was only right.

Only Chen Ziyun was different.

Now, she wouldn’t give anything to Chen Ziyun anymore.  She would treat people well who treated her well.  If someone gave her something, she would return something of equal value.

He readily agreed, “Okay, Second Brother will wait here with you and accompany you to buy it.”

Soon, the person who had brought the watches came out happily.

Shen Zhengliang and Shen Chuning entered, and Chen Tao, knowing they were buying a watch,

took out the five watches for Shen Chuning to choose from.

“Girl, these are Shanghai brand watches, brand new, not only practical but also beautiful.”

Shen Chuning chose a watch with a blue dial and a metal strap and asked Chen Tao, “Brother Chen, how much is this watch?”

Chen Tao readily said, “This watch costs over one hundred and ninety yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative, even with coupons.  I’m old friends with your brother, I don’t need coupons, two hundred and ten yuan, okay?”

Shen Chuning had wanted to buy a watch for Zhou Yubai when she went to the supply and marketing cooperative.

But they didn’t have any in stock, and she only asked the price and asked the saleswoman to keep an eye out for one.

The price at the supply and marketing cooperative was indeed the same as Chen Tao said.

Two hundred and ten yuan without coupons was a fair price.

Shen Chuning didn’t hesitate and bought it.

Chen Tao even found an original box for it.

After thanking Chen Tao, Shen Chuning put the watch away and left with Shen Zhengliang.

But as soon as they left the room, they saw a familiar figure in the courtyard.

Shen Chuning’s heart sank, why was Brother Yubai here?

He was a soldier, was he here to arrest people from the black market?

If they were caught…

She grabbed Shen Zhengliang’s wrist, “Second Brother, let’s go.”

Shen Zhengliang hadn’t seen Zhou Yubai yet and was confused.

Zhou Yubai locked onto the fleeing girl.

He blocked her path, “Why are you here?”