Chapter 845: Chapter 718: Lingnan Black Market

The chat before bed last night was not without its rewards. The two of them, being quite close, even talked about some gossip. Through this conversation, Zhou Jiao at least got some useful information—every day before dawn, local farmers bring their produce to trade near the cinema.

From the way things sounded, this auntie had used sewing machine coupons and industrial vouchers to barter for some goods. At four in the morning, Zhou Jiao followed this auntie. When she had a colleague cover her shift, Zhou Jiao immediately followed suit.

"Little girl, don’t make a sound later. If you see something you like, I’ll bargain for you."

Zhou Jiao nodded with a bright smile, using the local dialect to get closer to the aunt. She noticed that this auntie loved gossip and had a youthful heart.

Generally, who would take a stranger, a little girl, to the black market?

However, upon reaching the destination, Zhou Jiao realized that calling it a black market was an overstatement; it was more like a morning market. Besides some local fruits and vegetables, seafood was the most abundant here.

While the aunt was trading for yellow croaker, Zhou Jiao used the black shoulder bag for cover and traded ten pounds of rice with an older woman for several local tickets.

After the aunt finished, she turned back to Zhou Jiao: "Quick, see if there’s anything you need. I need to go back and switch shifts."

"Auntie, you head back first. This is interesting; I’ll keep browsing."

The other seemed a bit hesitant: "Are you really okay on your own?"

"Look, I’m empty-handed," Zhou Jiao gestured, "Once the restaurant across the street opens, I’ll have breakfast and head back."

The other thought for a while, realizing that in half an hour the morning market would be open too, so it wasn’t dangerous. She gave a few reminders and hurriedly took her leave.

Zhou Jiao was in no rush now. Her goal was never these trivial transactions; it was the more shrewd-looking farmers.

Before long, quite a few people had gradually left. Zhou Jiao set her eyes on an old man; besides the fact he was quite old, which made it inappropriate for a single woman to approach middle-aged men, his skilled techniques in trading caught her attention. Very decisive, once time was up and he had an extra bag of goods, he didn’t continue to sell and quickly left.

Seeing the man hunch deliberately, with his head down, and with muddy cloth shoes, such an elderly man was crisp in his actions and knew when to stop.

Zhou Jiao followed quietly behind him without greeting him. If he were wise, he would wait until they left the safe area to ask about her.

After about five or six minutes, the old man turned around and sized up the smiling Zhou Jiao, shaking his head, "Little girl, be careful not to get kidnapped by following me."

Zhou Jiao stepped forward and whispered, using the local dialect, "Sir, I need a large quantity."

"I can tell. Others look for goods, but you’re looking for people," the old man tossed the bag to Zhou Jiao, "If you trust me, carry it and follow me."

Zhou Jiao quickly slung the bag over her shoulder and followed closely behind.

"The old man’s surname is Qiao, ranked fourth, I’m the cart puller of our team. The ox cart is outside the city gate; it takes an hour to get to our village."

Zhou Jiao immediately understood, "Mr. Qiao, as long as we get back before noon, it’s fine."

Mr. Qiao walked briskly, hands behind his back, "If someone asks once we’re there, you’re my grand-niece."

"Just call me Zhou, Mr. Qiao," Zhou Jiao replied.

Once on the ox cart, not even an hour had passed as Mr. Qiao mentioned. It’s likely this old man was testing Zhou Jiao’s attitude; if she showed any hesitation, he’d probably find an excuse to leave.

Forty minutes later, Zhou Jiao was taken to his house. The old man instructed his grandson to lead the ox cart to the production team, while he took Zhou Jiao into the yard.

"You’re back. And this is?"

Zhou Jiao had just entered when a lady, wiping her hands, approached with a smile.

"Don’t ask. She’s your grand-niece!" the old man waved his hand, "You women have better conversations. Take this girl inside and see what she needs."

The old lady glanced at Zhou Jiao and beckoned her, "Child, come talk to this old woman inside."

"Auntie, dried fruit and nuts, eggs, meat, if the price is lower I’ll want more."

The old lady looked behind her, "How will you carry it away?"

Seeing the old man’s smile but silence, Zhou Jiao wasn’t shy either, pointing to him, "Mr. Qiao can take me to the main road."

Mr. Qiao nodded slightly to his wife.

Given the girl dared to come alone to the black market looking for people, she must have a plan to transport goods back. This requires no concern from them; they can ask their eldest son to use a cart to transport it.

The old lady followed her husband’s signal: "Go to the field and speak to Da Ye and the others, tell them to bring the things over, and remember to avoid people."

After her husband left, she fixed her eyes on Zhou Jiao, "Girl, fruits are cheap, like I said. But eggs and meat, the price can’t be lowered; we worked hard to raise those."

Zhou Jiao nodded. She knew she wouldn’t buy things cheaply here.

"Let me be clear, once you leave this village, even if something happens, we won’t acknowledge it."

"I understand those rules."

"That’s good. Let’s go inside, and I’ll give you a price list. If it’s acceptable, I’ll have someone fetch more for you. With the year-end approaching, many families are preparing for weddings. If you’d come a few years ago, wanting to buy as much as you want, for any price, you couldn’t have; people just started recovering this year..."

Zhou Jiao followed her inside, listening to the old lady ramble about how it was two years ago and last year, realizing that in previous years, everywhere from the north to the south, people lived through natural disasters and hardships.

Even though Zhou Jiao knew the private plots they could now cultivate would eventually be taken back, she didn’t bother to point it out. Pity can’t be extended to so many struggling people.

Especially when the counterpart quoted eight cents for an egg, she was even less willing to reveal any secrets. Don’t think she doesn’t understand the southern market; she gathered quite a bit of price information in the black market this morning.

Even if eggs were scarce, they’re five cents each at most if sold to a supply and marketing cooperative, even in the best of circumstances. The South is different from the North, where winter means hens still lay eggs due to the warm climate, so prices aren’t as high. And with the free market opening this year, allowing farmers to sell vegetables and fruits, try selling eggs?

However, when the other pointed out the variety of fruit prices, ranging from five cents to a dollar five, Zhou Jiao didn’t argue much. She considered herself at their mercy and accepted it.

Buy less of the expensive stuff, more of the cheap stuff.

Besides the variety of oranges that were quite attractive here, there wasn’t much else worth hoarding. Litchis, longans, and dragon fruits were items she had bought plenty of during her countryside internship at each location.

Just that as things got busier she couldn’t keep up. Now she wanted to add some figs, bananas, and other local specialties, otherwise, she wouldn’t have made a special trip.

"All right, I understand what you mean. The more fruits, the better?"

"Yes. Besides providing benefits for my work unit, I could also satisfy my cravings. I can’t really afford much with just a month’s salary if I buy only meat."

The old lady pointed to the watch she was wearing, "I recognize that thing."

Zhou Jiao raised an eyebrow.

"Hahaha... Surprised? We’ve got plenty of water ghosts here, many households have brothers who escaped long ago and they send things over."

"Not worried?" Zhou Jiao asked, hinting at something.

The old lady gave a meaningful smile, "We’re humble folk; nothing like them. Those who had the means left years ago."

Raising such sensitive topics, Zhou Jiao didn’t press further and changed the subject.