Chapter 27: Not Knowing the Rules

After finishing their buns, Liu Xiuhua and her group stepped out of the state-run restaurant. This time, they planned to go straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. Previously, when she had come to buy items there, she had met a salesperson by chance during a brief conversation. Over time, they had become somewhat familiar.

In the past, Liu Xiuhua had occasionally delivered vegetables to people, giving her a bit of experience and some local connections.

This time, carrying a large bundle of vegetables on her back, she intended to use it as an excuse to see if anyone nearby wanted to buy ginseng.

She would never dare to sell at the hospital entrance, too conspicuous, and she could easily be reported as someone looking to profit opportunistically. She had to be discreet.

Although Liu Xiuhua didn’t know exactly how the neighboring brigade sold their ginseng, she knew she couldn’t completely imitate them. After all, her second child was still in the military, and she had to set a good example to avoid bringing trouble to him.

The four of them arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative and found it not yet open, so they waited outside for a while.

Early-arriving customers were already lining up. Liu Xiuhua, with her granddaughter and grandson, didn’t want to squeeze in and stayed across the street.

When the cooperative finally opened and the first wave of customers had passed, Liu Xiuhua made her way inside to look for someone.

“Comrade, I’d like to ask if Amei is here?” she asked, not seeing a familiar face, directing her question to a young woman holding an enamel cup of water.

The woman put down the cup and shook her head. “Amei took the day off today. She’s not working.”

“Alright, thank you then.” Failing to find her, Liu Xiuhua left feeling disappointed.

She lifted her back basket, filled with lush green vegetables and an old hen. She had hoped to sell them smoothly today, only to discover that Amei wasn’t working.

With nothing gained, Liu Xiuhua could only head home with the three little ones. As they passed the state-run restaurant again, she noticed a narrow alley and suddenly stopped, as if recalling something.

“Grandma, what’s wrong?” He Lei asked, turning back.

He Xi and He Tian also stopped, hand in hand, each holding the candy they had just bought at the cooperative.

Liu Xiuhua came back to her senses and, after a brief hesitation, led them to sit under a large tree across from the restaurant.

“You three stay here and behave. Grandma has something to take care of,” she said, taking out the pre-weighed White Rabbit milk candies from the basket and giving a few to each of the three. “Leilei, make sure your little brother and sister don’t run off. Grandma will be back soon.”

He Lei nodded, putting the candies into his pocket, holding one child by the hand as they all obediently sat under the tree.

“Go ahead, Grandma. I’ll wait here for your return.”

“Good boy.” Liu Xiuhua slung the basket on her back and started toward the alley, but He Xi quickly followed.

She ran up to Liu Xiuhua, pouting. “Grandma, you must come back quickly. Mom said we’re having fish tonight.”

He Xi tugged at Liu Xiuhua’s hand, her chubby little fingers prompting a squeeze. “Alright, Grandma will be back soon.” She released her hand and, under He Xi’s watchful gaze, walked step by step into the alley.

He Xi stayed behind, clutching her chest, ultimately not following.

Finally free to move, Fang Mingxi followed the map to locate the black market. Before entering, she ducked into an empty alley and lifted the system-panel basket onto her back.

The basket, about a meter tall and eighty centimeters wide, was a common rural bamboo carrying basket.

Inside were various foods: chicken mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, fist-sized potatoes, and some bright red thorn berries, almost all the recent harvest.

Fang Mingxi emerged from the alley and turned toward another alley entrance. Leaning against the wall was a buzz-cut man. Without looking away, she calmly walked in with the basket.

At the last moment, the man stretched out his hand to stop her. She asked hoarsely, “Is there a problem?”

The man rubbed his thumb and forefinger. “Don’t know the rules? You have to pay ten cents to enter.”

Fang Mingxi genuinely didn’t know this rule. She patted her body and found two empty cloth pouches.

“Big brother, I came out in a hurry today. I didn’t bring money. Can I use something else instead?”

The man’s face changed immediately. “You came here without money? Don’t you know where this is? Come on, get out of here, quickly…”

Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of him. It flipped, revealing a yellow-shelled egg in the palm.

Fang Mingxi held out her hands. “Big brother, can I use this as my entry fee?”

“Sure, absolutely fine.” The man’s expression relaxed, and he discreetly slipped the egg into his pocket. Then, shifting from his earlier annoyance, he enthusiastically pointed her the way.

“Once inside, turn right and pick any stall. The black market ends in half an hour. Be sharp and don’t get caught.”

The black market rules required a twenty-cent fee. The gatekeeper would watch over entrants and warn them if danger arose so they could escape.

If you could escape, you were safe. If not, the gatekeepers couldn’t help. Everyone came with a purpose, and how much they earned depended entirely on luck. Even if caught, you couldn’t blame them, they had done their job by giving you a warning.

Fang Mingxi thanked the man and entered the black market, taking a turn right into a side alley with her basket.

It was about 6:20 a.m., and daylight was bright.

The real black market stretched across a network of alleys, each with multiple entrances.

Not long after Fang Mingxi entered, an elderly man with a basket, his face covered, walked in from the right, followed by a sparse group of others.

These newcomers said little, setting their goods on the ground, lifting a corner to display them, and sitting to wait for buyers.

Fang Mingxi was unusual. She neither covered her face nor hid her presence.

Her clothes were neat and clean, unpatched, and her cloth shoes were new. She looked entirely different from the rest.

Even her complexion stood out. Everyone else had the yellowish pallor from eating only rations, but her skin was snow-white.

People wondered who she was. A cooperative salesperson? Or someone from elsewhere?

If from elsewhere, why arrive at the black market so early? Didn’t their area have a market?

Still, everyone wisely kept their questions to themselves, focusing on potential customers while speculating on her identity.

Her appearance suggested she was a girl from the city, nothing like the locals from Hongqi Town. But city girls selling at the black market were rare, they were all seeing this for the first time.

Fang Mingxi calmly accepted all the stares. She didn’t hide, simply arranging her goods on the ground, lifting the straw cover, and placing a chicken mushroom on top.