Su Tang understood immediately.
When she was in Shanghai and Chengdu, she dealt with many middlemen in order to purchase supplies.
Unexpectedly, even the resource-scarce Sun City has a black market.
"Okay," she readily agreed.
Qin Ye was taken aback when he saw that she wasn't curious at all, then smiled helplessly.
How could he forget that his wife was not some pampered young lady raised in seclusion?
Her courage is greater than the sky.
"Aren't you afraid?" he couldn't help but ask.
"With you here, what do I have to be afraid of?" Su Tang's answer was perfectly natural.
These words made Qin Ye feel incredibly comforted.
Night falls.
The entire military compound fell silent.
Qin Ye pulled out two worn-out, drab cotton coats and two scarves that could cover most of his face from the closet.
"Put these on, don't wear our usual clothes," he instructed.
Su Tang obediently changed into it.
The two looked at themselves in the mirror; they were covered in dust and dirt, looking like two ordinary people on their way to visit relatives in the countryside.
"Remember," Qin Ye said as he left, "when we get there, stick close to me. Don't get lost."
"Understood, Commander Qin." Su Tang gave him a playful military salute.
Qin Ye was amused by her, and his nervousness dissipated considerably. After all, it was inappropriate for a soldier like him to go to such a place, and being recognized would not do him any good.
The two rode their bicycles away from the residential compound without making a sound, disappearing into the dark night.
The black market in Sunlight City doesn't have a fixed location, but rather several mobile strongholds.
Qin Ye clearly knew the connections.
He led Su Tang through winding alleys, deliberately choosing those dark, unlit lanes.
The further we walked, the dimmer the light became, and the fewer people there were.
Su Tang's senses were amplified infinitely in the darkness.
She could hear a few barks from afar, smell the coal smoke in the air, and sense several furtive footsteps following them not far behind.
But she wasn't flustered at all.
Because Qin Ye's large hand was holding her hand tightly the whole time.
That hand, dry, warm, and full of strength, gave her an immense sense of security.
Finally, Qin Ye stopped at the entrance of a seemingly inconspicuous dead-end alley.
He tapped the wall three times rhythmically.
"Bang, bang bang."
After a while, a meow, like that of a cat, came from deep within the alley.
"Meow—"
Qin Ye then pulled Su Tang inside.
The alley was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
But as soon as you turn a corner, the view suddenly opens up.
This place resembles an abandoned courtyard, with a few lanterns flickering on and off.
Under the dim yellow light, people could be seen indistinctly.
These people gathered in twos and threes, all covering their faces with scarves or hats, and speaking in very low voices, like the hum of mosquitoes.
The air was thick with a tense yet exciting atmosphere, a unique scent of underground transactions.
This is the black market of this era.
A place that exists outside the rules, yet is full of vibrant life.
As soon as I entered, a man who was as thin as a monkey immediately approached me.
"Brother, sister-in-law, what do you need? I have some freshly arrived national grain coupons and a few industrial coupons, all at fair prices!"
Qin Ye gave him a cold glance, said nothing, and pulled Su Tang to continue walking inside.
The man, feeling rebuffed, walked away dejectedly.
Su Tang knew that Qin Ye was observing and selecting.
The black market is a mixed bag; there are genuine items as well as scammers, and it's easy to fall into a trap if you're not careful.
Soon, another middle-aged man wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, who looked honest and unassuming, came over.
"Comrade, it seems you're celebrating a happy occasion?" he asked in a low voice, but his eyes were shrewd.
Qin Ye stopped, glanced at him, and hummed in response.
"I have some top-quality red paper here, and some silk thread from the south. Would you like to take a look?" the man said, carefully taking out a small package wrapped in oilcloth from his pocket.
When opened, inside was indeed a small stack of bright red paper, thick and substantial, along with several rolls of silk thread in various colors, gleaming softly under the kerosene lamp.
The quality here is worlds apart from that of the supply and marketing cooperative.
Su Tang's eyes lit up.
"How much is this paper?" Qin Ye asked.
"Two cents a sheet of paper, five cents a small roll of silk thread," the man quoted.
This price is four or five times that of the supply and marketing cooperative.
But here, money isn't the issue; having goods is king.
"Give me fifty sheets of paper, and two rolls of each color of silk thread," Qin Ye said without even haggling over the price.
Upon hearing this, the man's eyes lit up; he knew he had encountered a big customer.
"Okay! Please wait a moment!"
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