After spending a morning in the mountains, the biggest harvest was the Jacaranda, and their backpacks were filled with common medicinal herbs. In addition to Han Zheng's game and wax gourd, they also found half a basket of wild wood ear mushrooms and a basket of dry pine needles to take home as kindling.
Today it was Yun Huaying's turn to cook. While she was washing rice and cooking, Lin Shan and Jiang Yuan cleared out the wax gourds and put them in the vegetable basket. They said to her, "Huaying, let's go to the team and find some neighbors to trade for some vegetables."
"Okay, you two go together. If they have chicken or duck eggs, buy some back."
Just as they left, Han Zheng came over to deliver some food: a small bowl of Laba beans, which goes well with rice, and two bitter melons. "Huaying, it's the time of year when vegetables change, and we don't have many at home. Just make do with what you have for lunch. I'll go to the county town this afternoon to buy some vegetables for you."
"When are you going?" Yun Huaying asked him.
"I'll go after I finish eating with grandpa."
Han Zheng had something to do, but it was not convenient to tell her.
"I'm going to the county town too. I want to buy a watch and some sweet potatoes."
The sweet potatoes and potatoes in Yun Huaying's space have piled up into small mountains. She has to find a way to sell a batch of them. Of course, she has to find an excuse to cover up when bringing them back.
"Then let's go together later. I'll pick you up after dinner." Han Zheng was eager to go with her.
"Okay." Yun Huaying agreed and thanked him, "Grandpa Han worked hard to grow these vegetables. Thank him for us."
When Lin Shan and the others came back, Han Zheng had already gone back to eat. They went out with a full basket of wax gourds and came back with a basket of vegetables. As soon as he entered the house, he said to her, "Huaying, wax gourds are very popular, especially with families with elderly and children. They are all rushing to exchange them with us."
Jiang Yuan followed suit, saying, "Just now, Sister Yang Min brought us a bunch of beans and traded them for a pound. Two of the male educated youth also brought us bitter melons and eggplants. Da Zhuang's mother took half of it and gave us two large pumpkins, three ounces of dried chili peppers, and a small bag of dried bamboo shoots from the spring. Other neighbors also exchanged some of their goods, and we sold the entire basket of wax gourds."
Looking at the basket full of vegetables, Yun Huaying raised her lips slightly and said, "We'll have enough vegetables for a few more days. After dinner, Han Zheng and I will go to the county town and buy some sweet potatoes."
They both actually wanted to go to the county town, but after looking at each other, they decided tacitly: "Okay."
They won't be a third wheel today. They will wait for two days when it rains and they don't have to go to work, and then they will go to the county town together.
At noon, I fried half a bowl of Laba beans, cooked a pot of loofah and egg soup, and had a simple meal with rice.
When Han Zheng came over, they had just finished their meal. The bicycle he assembled was left at the team leader's house. After she put on her bag and hat, they went to Zhao's house to pick up the bicycle.
"Huaying, I have to go to the Armed Forces Department to run some errands. It'll probably take about an hour. After you finish shopping, go shopping and we can meet in front of the state-owned store later, okay?"
"Sure." Yun Huaying nodded and asked him, "Han Zheng, where is the black market in Yang County?"
Han Zheng turned around and looked at her, and asked, "Huaying, what are you going to buy at the black market?"
"I don't have any particular need for the moment. I just want to go shopping and find out what's going on." Yun Huaying didn't tell him the truth.
Han Zheng wisely didn't ask any more questions. She was a very independent person and had likely frequented the black market in Jing County, so she was well aware of its rules. So, she told her, "There are two black markets in Yang County. The one we often go to is Xishan Lane, across from the back door of the County Hospital. The other black market is much larger, located in a residential area near the Yang County river port. Most of the people trading there are truck drivers passing through with goods from the south. They often pick up contraband goods from the south and resell them when they stop in Yang County."
“Why are they selling it in Yang County?”
Yun Huaying was puzzled. This was a county town and the economy was not prosperous. Not all good things could be sold here.
Seeing that she had quickly grasped the key point, Han Zheng's smile deepened. He turned back to look at her and said in a low voice, "Because this is the base where certain people make money. The port of Yang County is completely under their control."
Yun Huaying understood and didn't ask any questions. Instead, she asked what she cared about: "What kind of things are usually sold there?"
"They have a complete range of products. They have everything that the supply and marketing cooperatives have. There's no need for bills. All goods are settled in cash."
Han Zheng had been there many times and was familiar with the situation there. He told her, "Not everyone can enter the Hegang Black Market. You must get a pass to enter. You don't need to use your ID card or other registration methods, but you have to pay a ten-yuan membership fee. Then you will be given something similar to a seal. With this, you can enter at any time."
Yun Huaying was very interested in this place and wanted to go and see it. She didn't have many bills but a lot of cash, so this place was the best place for her to go.
"Huaying, the people moving around in the Hegang black market basically have complicated backgrounds. It's a mixed bag, and there are quite a few people with criminal records hiding there."
"Those truck drivers work in groups, and most have been through thick and thin. On the surface, they're transporting goods with official letters of introduction, but in reality, they often engage in unethical and illegal activities. Their networks are complex, involving more than just ordinary civil society organizations."
"If you want to go there, don't go alone. I'll take you there when I have time."
Yun Huaying wanted to go this afternoon, but she wouldn't just rush over blindly without listening to advice. She asked him, "After you finish your work, can you take me there?"
The timing is fine, but...
Han Zheng was a little worried. He glanced back at her and said, "Huaying, if you insist on going, you have to dress up. You are too beautiful. If someone spots you, you will be in trouble."
Yun Huaying was dressed very casually today, and stood out in the crowd. The only problem was her face, but she had a way to cover it up. "I'll buy some makeup from the state-owned store later, paint my face black and yellow, and then wear a mask."
"good."
Han Zheng nodded, looking towards the road ahead, saying, "The black market across from the county hospital is relatively safe, but there are frequent patrols by the Red Seal Team. The goods there are not cheap, and there isn't a wide variety. You can go there first."
Yun Huaying had an idea in mind and guessed that this black market was similar to that in Jing County. There were a lot of potatoes and sweet potatoes in her space, and she probably couldn't sell them all here.
Han Zheng sent her to the door of the state-owned store, but Yun Huaying did not go in directly. She went to the nearby meat processing plant first. There was not much meat left in the afternoon, only two pieces of pork tenderloin that others had picked out. She didn't like eating fatty meat, so she asked the female comrade who sold pork to pack it all up for her. She planned to go back and make sweet and sour pork tenderloin tonight.
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