Chapter 39.2

After walking around the alley, Yin Xiaoman’s gains were quite impressive.

She had exchanged ten eggs for twenty sea cucumbers and one salted rabbit leg for two large flatfish.

Although she knew she had to stay low-key in a place like this, and it was best not to attract attention, what she had already traded was more than enough.

But later, when she saw a man with a metal bucket filled with over twenty large prawns, each about the size of her palm, she could hardly move her legs!

These must be expensive, and a single rabbit leg would not be enough to trade for them.

Moreover, she hadn’t even finished cutting the cured sausages and salted meats, and taking them out now would be too conspicuous.

After a moment’s thought, Yin Xiaoman gritted her teeth and took out a small jar of honey from her space. It was something rare in this era. She moved closer to the man and asked: “Will you trade?”

Although only a little bit of the jar was visible through the bamboo basket, she opened the lid, and the golden liquid with a rich, sweet fragrance immediately stunned the man!

“Honey! Where did you get this?”

Once he spoke, he realized his question wasn’t appropriate and quickly corrected himself. “I’ll take the whole bottle. I’ll give you these prawns, and I have other things at home. You can come with me to get them.”

Hearing that familiar, slightly childish voice, Yin Xiaoman froze for a moment.

The man had been crouching on the ground with his head lowered before, so she hadn’t noticed him.

Now, as soon as he spoke, she instantly recognized him as Xiao Tao, the young man who had made a transaction with her before.

At the same time, when they got closer, Xiao Tao also recognized her through the layers of disguise.

“Little Big Sister?”

He hesitated for a moment, then immediately broke into a wide smile.

“Little Big Sister, it’s you! Come back to my house, I have good stuff there!”

Without waiting for Yin Xiaoman to respond, he affectionately reached out and grabbed the sleeve of her clothes, pulling her toward his house.

Though Yin Xiaoman still had some reservations, the temptation of those prawns was too strong, so she decided to follow him back.

This time, perhaps because they had arrived earlier, Xiao Tao actually had quite a bit of stock at home.

In addition to the prawns, he also took out more than a dozen large abalones and two sea jellies that were as big as soup bowls.

“Big Sister, if you ever come again, just look for me. I promise the stuff I give you will be both cheap and good. You’ve been walking around this alley for half a day, do you think you can find another shop that sells prawns like mine?”

Xiao Tao was young, his voice still carried a childlike tone, but he desperately tried to put on a very mature stance, which seemed somewhat out of place.

But it also made Yin Xiaoman lower her guard a bit.

Unable to resist, Yin Xiaoman took a candy from her pocket and handed it to him. “Here, have this.”

Xiao Tao immediately stopped talking.

At that moment, a loud knock sounded from outside, startling both of them!

“Who’s there?”

Xiao Tao asked loudly.

“It’s me, your Third Uncle. Open the door!” came a coarse male voice from outside.

Xiao Tao’s expression changed immediately. Without saying another word, he shoved Yin Xiaoman’s shoulder. “Big Sister, you should hide inside, my Third Uncle is really annoying.”

He then pushed her and the seafood into the house.

Soon, they heard the door opening from outside, followed by the sound of the man grumbling.

“Taking so long, what are you doing?”

“What else could I be doing? Fixing fishing nets, of course.”

“Who are you trying to fool? Don’t think I don’t know. I’ve already heard that you’ve been working with Yao Wei, doing that flipping business, speculating and profiteering! Xiao Lin, don’t blame your Third Uncle for saying this, but that kind of business won’t last. If you get caught, they’ll chop your head off!”

“Chop my head off? What are you talking about? Uncle, stop making things up! I’m just fixing fishing nets. I’ve never heard of anyone getting their head chopped off for fixing fishing nets. Alright, Third Uncle, if there’s nothing else, you can leave. I’m busy!”

“Hey, don’t push me! What about the matter I talked to you about last time? Have you thought it over? This is a good job, and if you miss this chance, it’s gone. All you have to do is loiter in front of the Military Unit gates, watch for a bit, and you get a dime a day! A dime, enough to buy an egg! So, what’s it going to be? Are you going or not? They’re waiting for a response!”

“I’m not going! If anyone’s going, it’s you!”

“Hey, kid, what’s wrong with you? How are you talking to your elder? Don’t you know any better? If I didn’t see you as my brother’s kid, would I let you have such a good opportunity?”

“Don’t you dare give it to me! Good opportunity? Why don’t you let your own Da Lin and Er Lin go instead?”

Xiao Yao clearly became angry. Even from a distance, Yin Xiaoman could feel the anger in his voice.

“What good job? You want me to go to the Military Unit, sit around, count how many people and vehicles come and go, see if there are any strangers or old men? Is that the job you’re offering me, uncle? Do you think I’m an idiot? That’s what you want me to do? You’re asking me to be a spy! That’s a head-chopping job!”

“Spare me! What nonsense are you talking? Counting cars and people is being a spy? You’re just a kid, don’t talk nonsense! That’s money, it’s money!”

“Even if it’s money, I won’t take it! Uncle, are you done yet? If you keep talking, I’ll report you to the neighborhood committee!”

“You dare!”

“I dare if you don’t leave!”

…

Soon, there was the sound of pushing and shoving from outside. Clearly, Xiao Yao was pushing the man out.

At this point, Yin Xiaoman was frozen with fear, her body chilled by what she had just heard.

Spy!

Having been in the Military Camp for almost half a year now, she was no longer as clueless as before. She understood the severity of the situation.

If what Xiao Yao’s Third Uncle said was true, she had to report it to the camp immediately!

“Big Sister, you’re scared, aren’t you? Hey, don’t be afraid, my Third Uncle is all talk. He’s a coward, he wouldn’t dare report me. Don’t worry, it’s safe here…”

“Xiao Yao, I need to go. I have other things to do.” Yin Xiaoman quickly interrupted him.

A hint of regret flashed in Xiao Yao’s eyes, but he still nodded. “Alright, then I’ll walk you out.”

This time, Yin Xiaoman had him take her and the items to the same secluded spot as before. After he left, she quickly stored the items in her space, then hopped on her bike and rode straight to the post office.

She rode quickly, and after sending the letter, she didn’t waste a minute. She immediately turned around and headed back to the camp.

When she arrived at the camp, the others hadn’t even finished lunch yet.

“Qi Big Brother, I need to talk to you. Can you come out for a moment?”

She strode into Cui Yan’s house, not even bothering to greet everyone before she addressed Qi Feng, who was smiling at her from the dining table.

“Sure.” Qi Feng looked slightly surprised but quickly put down his chopsticks and followed her out of the kitchen.

Standing in the yard, Yin Xiaoman didn’t hold anything back. She told him exactly what she had overheard that day.

She didn’t even consider what Cui Yan had repeatedly told her—this was something she shouldn’t tell the men in the house.

At first, when Qi Feng heard that Yin Xiaoman had dared to secretly visit the black market behind everyone’s back, his face darkened.

Despite her efforts to avoid it, as someone who had long been in charge of the soldiers’ morale and mental well-being, Qi Feng easily recognized the shadow of his own wife in what she had said.

Otherwise, how would a young girl from out of town know where the black market was?

Just as he was about to express his displeasure and give this naïve girl a piece of his mind, Yin Xiaoman’s next words stunned him!

“Are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?” His face immediately turned serious, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

“Definitely. Qi Big Brother, do you think those people might be connected to the ones who bombed the military factory before?”

Yin Xiaoman had been thinking about it all the way, and the more she thought, the more she felt it was possible.

To say nothing else, what was the meaning of counting how many old men entered or exited the Military Camp?

Clearly, they were looking for Engineer Ning and Mr. Hua!

At this thought, Yin Xiaoman shuddered on her own.

Without her saying it, Qi Feng also understood the seriousness of the situation.

He knew far more about this than Yin Xiaoman, so he naturally realized the situation was not as simple as she thought.

Their regiment had already secured the trial rights for the new warship, and Shen Qingyun had gone for training on the new vessel.

With this kind of incident happening now, targeting the two old men was one thing, but more importantly, these people were very likely after the new warship!

If that was the case, Yin Xiaoman’s visit today had indeed been a major contribution!

At this thought, Qi Feng looked at her meaningfully.

He didn’t even bother to finish his meal. After confirming the details of Xiao Yao’s home address, he dropped a command: “Stay in the camp these days. No one is allowed to leave!”

Without even going back to say anything to the others, he quickly grabbed two bicycles and sped off toward the camp’s exit.

Yin Xiaoman entered the kitchen, and everyone in the house stared at her with curiosity, clearly shocked by what she had said to Qi Feng that made him so flustered, he couldn’t even finish his meal before running off.

Having finally reported everything, Yin Xiaoman felt like the heavy burden in her heart had lightened a little.

Only then did she realize her legs felt weak, her clothes soaked with sweat from her back, and she was so exhausted she could barely take another step.

Ignoring the others’ gazes, she immediately sat down on the stool that Cui Yan had moved for her earlier, grabbed a jar of water, and drank it down in big gulps.

After a long pause to recover, she finally spoke: “Qi Big Brother said that for the next few days, unless he gives us word, none of us are allowed to step out of the camp.”

As for the rest, without Qi Feng’s permission, she didn’t dare to say another word.