Chapter 59: Little Sister, Run Quickly

Tian Yang warmly invited her inside. “Brother, do you have goods this time?” The city had been suffering from a severe shortage of meat lately; the higher-ups had been urging him.

“Yes, but not much. Prepare yourself. Around two o’clock, we’ll meet for the exchange in the small grove outside the city.” Lin Jingyue glanced at the excitement in Tian Yang’s eyes.

Tian Yang slapped Lin Jingyue’s shoulder in delight. “Brother, you’re a true friend! You’ve saved me from a fire!”

…Who’s your brother?

“Besides meat, I have about two hundred pounds of rice. Want any vegetables?” Lin Jingyue suddenly thought of the vegetables stored in her space.

She could hardly eat them all.

Besides, she could grow them at any time in her space.

“Yes!” Only a fool would refuse!

“Then around two, bring your money and a scale. If you have ration tickets, that’ll do too. Cloth or sugar tickets are best.” It really was inconvenient without tickets.

Having said that, Lin Jingyue didn’t linger. “I have things to do. See you in the grove at two.”

Watching Lin Jingyue’s hurried departure, Tian Yang didn’t mind at all. In this business, keeping things brief and not getting too close was crucial.

Both had their boundaries.

After leaving Tian Yang, Lin Jingyue wandered through a familiar alley, sold some chickens and ducks, and as it got close to one o’clock, she decided to wrap up.

She headed for the recycling station.

The old man there had given her a piece of blue-and-white porcelain worth a fortune.

She found a secluded corner, changed clothes in her space, and came out wearing a blue skirt that reached her calves, a white shirt, and sneakers. Lin Jingyue swung her ponytail.

“Stop—”

Suddenly, a thunderous shout rang out. She froze, then forced herself to walk calmly.

“Stop!”

…Only a fool would stop.

Lin Jingyue rolled her eyes and took off running.

Moments later, a gust of wind swept toward her. She tensed, reacting instinctively!

“What the hell! We’re both down and out, why are you hitting me?!” The man stared at her wide-eyed.

Lin Jingyue felt confused, but her movements were swift—she flipped the man over her shoulder and slammed him to the ground. “Who said I’m with you? Why were you chasing me?”

“Who was chasing you?” The man grimaced in pain. “For such a petite girl, you sure pack a punch.”

“Stop!”

“That’s the one chasing us!” The man sprang up and took off.

After running a few steps, seeing Lin Jingyue hadn’t moved, he returned. “Are you stupid? If you get caught, it’s all over. Run!”

He grabbed Lin Jingyue and dragged her forward as if his life depended on it.

…Brother, who the hell are you?

The two darted through the maze of alleys, finally losing their pursuers only when they no longer knew where they had ended up.

Both leaned against a wall, panting heavily.

Lin Jingyue glanced at the man beside her: white shirt, black pants, sneakers, messy hair, and a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief. His smile carried a hint of rebellious charm.

“What? Do you think I’m handsome?” Xie Yunzheng brushed his bangs aside.

His face attracted plenty of admirers.

The girl before him was striking herself—almond eyes, rosy cheeks, bright gaze, and white teeth.

“Cricket’s ‘ket’.” Lin Jingyue rolled her eyes. “What did you do to get chased?”

“What else? Just went to the black market for some supplies,” he shrugged, unconcerned. “What about you?”

“Me?” Lin Jingyue sneered. “I did nothing—just got caught in the crossfire!”

Unbelievable—she’d run purely on reflex.

Xie Yunzheng scratched his head. “Haha, sorry, I thought you were with the black market crowd.”

“Forget it. We’re even. Let’s pretend we never met. I’m leaving.” Lin Jingyue waved him off.

Xie Yunzheng suddenly remembered how she’d flipped him to the ground in a flash.

Ouch—his back was starting to ache.

Watching Lin Jingyue’s retreating figure, Xie Yunzheng called out loudly, “Hey, my name’s Xie Yunzheng. What’s yours?”

“We met by chance—no need for names.” Lin Jingyue didn’t look back, playing it cool.

…

She emerged from the alley and checked the time. It was already one forty. She quickened her pace toward the recycling station.

“Old Huo, Hu Hansan is back again, haha…” Lin Jingyue carried a chicken and a wild rabbit, but her laughter stopped abruptly when she saw someone else sitting in Old Huo’s spot.

Her smile froze, making her look a bit ridiculous.

She awkwardly wiped the smile from her face. “Excuse me, is Old Huo here?”

Song Shiyun glanced at Lin Jingyue. “He’s not.”

“I see. Sorry to bother you.” Lin Jingyue was about to leave when he called her back.

“He’ll be back later.”

“Could you give these to Old Huo for me? Thank you.” Lin Jingyue handed over the cloth bag.

Song Shiyun nodded. “I can.”

“Thank you. Just tell him they’re from Lin Jingyue.” Not wanting anyone to claim her goods, she volunteered her name.

“All right.”

He was sparing with words.

Lin Jingyue nodded and left the recycling station. It was almost two. She skipped shopping, exited the city, and arrived at the small grove. After changing her outfit, she heard noise approaching.

She inwardly complained—what a waste of time changing clothes.

She quickly laid out her goods: two hundred pounds of rice, various chickens, ducks, fish, and vegetables—cabbage, tomatoes, radishes, and green peppers, totaling about two hundred pounds.

“Brother, we’re here.” Tian Yang entered with his crew, grinning at the sight of the goods spread across the ground.

It was more than he’d expected.

“Let’s weigh everything first,” Lin Jingyue said without small talk.

Tian Yang, experienced in these dealings, immediately had his two men organize and weigh the items.

Chicken and duck at seventy cents a pound, fish a bit cheaper at fifty cents—her fish were top quality. Rice on the black market generally went for a whole yuan; after checking the quality, Tian Yang said, “Brother, I won’t waste words. This rice is decent. I’ll give you eighty-five cents a pound, okay? Vegetables, same price, five cents a pound.”

The price was fair.

Official grain prices at the supply station were much lower—around fifteen cents for rice—but demand far outstripped supply. There were many without grain tickets, so black market prices remained high.

At times of hardship, some even sold at one and a half yuan a pound.

A tenfold increase!

Such were the times; nothing could be done.

After weighing, Lin Jingyue received money and some ration tickets. After checking, she quickly slipped away.

She didn’t bother chatting or strengthening ties with Tian Yang.

Tian Yang…

Qingshan Brigade—Lin Jingyue, bathed in the golden light of sunset, rode her bicycle through the brigade like a beautiful moving landscape.

Children ran alongside her for a while, then left to play.

“Comrade Lin!” Everyone was just finishing work. Aunt Liu saw Lin Jingyue and her eyes shone.

Her piercing voice nearly startled Lin Jingyue off her bicycle.

“…Aunt Liu, what is it? Can you not be so jumpy?” Lin Jingyue said, exasperated.

If she fell off her old bicycle, it could ruin her looks.

Damn!

PS: Lin Jingyue: I really can’t take it anymore