Chapter 110 Black Market Food Coupons
No one expected that the heavy snow not only did not stop, but hail also fell, which made the already collapsed roadside even worse. No one dared to walk for a while.
Everyone was getting anxious. Some sought refuge with relatives, some borrowed food coupons, and tried every possible means. The school, realizing the severity of the situation, held meetings with students to reassure them. They also promised to provide free porridge in the school cafeteria and do their best to help the students.
As for Fubao, the bag of food that Li Jianbai sent him had already been eaten. Fubao and Gu Shengtian had almost finished their dry food. After Chen Cuier exchanged the corn kernels for the cheapest and roughest black-faced steamed buns, there was not much left.
Now Fubao and his friends survive by relying on the thin soup distributed free of charge in the cafeteria and a small amount of dry food each.
Gu Shengtian: "If we keep going like this, we'll get dizzy and have no time to study."
Chen Cui'er also sighed: "We have to think of a way, what should we do?"
Holding her chin, she thought of her parents. "I guess they're incredibly worried back home. They don't know the situation in the county either."
It would be fine if we didn’t mention family, but as soon as we did, everyone’s eyes became red.
Fubao really missed home. At this time, his home should be warm and cozy, with vegetable porridge stewed in a big pot and yellow cornmeal cakes stuck to the edge of the pot. They were soft and hot, and they burned his teeth with every bite.
It’s so sad to think about it. I guess my parents at home must be worried sick.
But there is no point thinking about these things now. In special times, even if my parents want to fly over, they can’t. I can only find a way myself.
She thought calmly, "These past few days, when we were exchanging corn kernels for rations, I saw a few people acting suspiciously nearby. I guess they're from the county town doing black market trading. I heard that this black market has a fixed location, but most people don't know about it, so we have to get information from them. After school today, let's go over and see if we can get the location of the black market."
Chen Cui'er was bewildered and adoring after hearing this: "I was so busy changing my rations that I didn't even notice."
Otherwise she would admire Fubao!
Fu Bao sighed: "What else can we do? Now that we've come to this, of course we have to think about our food supplies!"
A few people gathered together to discuss it and decided to go together when the time comes. Fubao, who is the best at talking and looks the most innocent and least like a bad guy, will go to contact people to buy food coupons, while Gu Shengtian and Chen Cuier will be responsible for supporting them from behind.
Everything was well planned.
Fubao went over to talk to the people, and his pretty, well-behaved, and innocent student face easily gained their trust, allowing him to successfully enter the underground black market trading place. Everyone here wore masks and scarves, and looked very sneaky.
Fubao hid in the dark and put on the scarf that Liu Guizhi had knitted for her. She also took out her gloves and tied them on her head with a rope. Although it looked weird, if you didn't pay attention it would look like she was wearing a hat.
After getting dressed, she walked cautiously among the crowd, carefully identifying the sellers.
In fact, people who come to the black market to trade generally won’t be cheated, but Nie Laosan’s family has bought shoddy food before, so they should still be vigilant.
After all, she didn't have much money and couldn't let someone cheat her out of it.
As she was walking, she felt that the silhouette of a person next to her looked familiar.
After a few careful glances, I confirmed that this was raw silver.
Raw silver must be due to a shortage of food, so they have to go to the black market to buy food coupons?
Fubao thought about it carefully. There was indeed enough food before the silver was produced, but the city was closed for a long time, so naturally the food was exhausted. Coming out to find a way to get food was also a part of the cleanup.
It’s just… I spent so much effort and thought to enter the black market, but I didn’t expect that raw silver would come in so easily.
And looking at her appearance, she seems very familiar. Could it be that she has been here before?
At this moment, Shengyin turned around.
Fubao quickly dodged and hid behind a burly old man.
Shengyin didn't know whether she saw Fubao or not. She stood there silently for a while, then sneaked over to the front of a man wearing a Zhongshan suit next to her, fluttering her fingers as if she wanted to buy food coupons.
Fubao lowered her head and left. She didn't want to get involved with raw silver, so she decided to go to another place to buy food coupons.
After looking around, Fubao finally found a suitable seller. The seller was well-dressed and should work in a respectable unit. She gave him the money, and he secretly handed her the food coupons.
Holding the food coupons in his hand, Fubao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With food coupons, at least I can exchange them for dry food, which will allow me to survive for a while.
Fubao carefully put the food coupons into his pocket, lowered his head, and hurriedly prepared to leave. But just as he reached the entrance of the alley, he heard someone shout, "Run!"
Before she could react, she saw people around her running forward like crazy.
Fubao suddenly understood and started running after him.
Although she is just a girl, she has been running around in the mountains frequently in recent years. If we really compare her running skills, she may not be worse than those who work in the city.
Who knew that while she was running, someone would rush up to her and stretch out his leg to trip her.
She was running so fast that she didn't expect this to happen. There was snow and mud under her feet, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.
Fubao raised his head panting, and the person in front of him was Shengyin.
Shengyin looked down at her coldly, "Fubao, aren't you a lucky star? Aren't you lucky? Just wait to be caught this time!"
As he said that, he raised his leg to kick Fubao.
Fubao can't run away. She will definitely be caught. If she is caught, she will definitely be embarrassed. Let's see if she can still be glorious in the future!
Fubao sneered.
Shengyin was stunned and laughed, "How dare you laugh?"
At this moment, Gu Shengtian came over behind her and pushed her hard.
Shengyin was caught off guard and had no place to hide. He fell flat on his face.
Chen Cui'er came up and slapped Shengyin hard on the face with a "slap".
Fubao, who was helped up by Gu Shengtian, was really angry and kicked him.
I have never hit anyone in my life, but for a child who is used to walking on mountain roads, doing this kind of thing is easy and nothing.
Shengyin didn't even react, his face covered in mud and snow, he just stood there dumbfounded.
She always thought Fubao was like a dog that couldn't bark or bite, stupid and dull. She almost pushed her into the well, but she didn't say anything later. That was just her personality, and being bullied was no big deal.
But I didn't expect Fubao to be so cruel this time.
A few people had just kicked Shengyin to the ground and were about to kick her again when they heard someone shouting from behind: "Don't run, don't move!"
If you tell me not to move, I won’t move. Of course Fubao and the others won’t listen.
The three of them looked at each other and rushed forward like flying.
The people behind him went up and caught Shengyin directly. After catching Shengyin, someone came to catch them.
Gu Shengtian whispered, "Run to the alley, let's run separately!"
So several people each chose a corner of the alley and went in.
Fubao turned right. She ran desperately, running until she was out of breath, her throat was sore, and she felt like her legs were no longer her own.
She went into the alley, she ran into the alley, turning left and right. After a few days of snow, the alley was filled with either snow or mud, and every step she took was sticky and wet.
Fortunately, there were already quite a few footprints here, so it wouldn't be noticed by others. Besides, the box was winding and difficult to find.
The reason why black market transactions choose such places is simply because it is easy to hide and escape here.
After running for an unknown amount of time, she finally felt relieved when there was no movement behind her.
She squatted on the ground and gasped for breath, panting with exhaustion.
He touched the food coupons in his pocket. Fortunately, the food coupons were still there, enough for them to eat for several days.
She clutched the food coupons, thinking about the cash she had been caught with, and couldn't help but think that she deserved it.
If you trip others up, you deserve to be caught.
She finally calmed her breathing, took off the cotton gloves and scarf on her head, and went into the alley to return to school.
Who knew that as soon as I came out of the alley, I saw several policemen there.
She was stunned, her mind racing.
Several police officers spotted her and looked her over, clearly suspicious: "What's your name? What do you do? What were you doing just now?"
Fubao said very obediently, "My name is Gu Danyang, and I'm a student in Class 1, Grade 1 at No. 1 Middle School. I just went to my classmate's house to play, and now I'm planning to go back to school."
As she spoke, she blinked her eyes and asked innocently, "Brother Policeman, what are you doing? Are you catching bad guys?"
Several police officers examined her. She looked like an innocent middle school student, but—
They looked at each other. They had just caught someone buying food coupons on the black market, and he seemed to be a student of the No. 1 Middle School.
So students can make mistakes too?
When Fubao saw their expressions, he immediately understood that Shengyin was arrested, so his reputation as a high school student of No. 1 Middle School was affected?
She gritted her teeth helplessly, her mind racing, thinking that since you haven't caught me ready, so what if I have food coupons in my pocket? You have no evidence and I bought them on the black market.
As for why I was here...she quickly thought of a classmate who lived nearby, and she went to that classmate's house.
Anyway, they can't find any evidence, so just hold on to it.
But...if it really gets investigated, it would definitely not look good for a high school student like me to be involved in such a thing, and it would have a bad impact.
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard a voice saying, "Uncle Sun, why are you here?"
Fubao looked up and saw Li Jianbai.
Li Jianbai spoke to the older policeman in a relaxed manner. After a few words, Li Jianbai's eyes swept over Fubao.
Fubao felt embarrassed.
She always remembered the cold and arrogant look on Li Jianbai's face when she first met him, so even when he brought her food, her attitude was not very soft.
But I didn't expect that he would see my most embarrassing side.
She turned her face away, pursed her lips and said nothing.
Li Jianbai seemed to have just seen Fubao and said in surprise, "Fubao, why are you here?"
When Officer Sun heard this, he asked, "Why, do you know each other?"
Li Jianbai nodded: "Yes, this is someone my dad knew when he was working in the commune."
Officer Sun looked at Fubao and smiled: "So it's someone I know."
Li Jianbai: "Uncle Sun, what's wrong? What happened?"
Officer Sun quickly shook his head. "Nothing, just checking. This area has always been uneasy and chaotic. Nothing to worry about. You can go now."
When he said you, he was naturally referring to Fubao and Li Jianbai.
Fubao nodded and hurried away with Li Jianbai.
The two people walked one in front and one behind, and neither of them spoke.
When he was finally out of the sight of those policemen, Li Jianbai suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Do you know what would happen if you were caught selling food coupons privately?" Li Jianbai asked calmly.
"I know." Fubao started to feel a little embarrassed, but after thinking about it, it was nothing.
People need to fill their stomachs.
There was no other way for her to go, she had to do this.
What's shameful about a deal made between two parties just to fill their stomachs?
The person who sold her the meal ticket was obviously a government official of high status and position.
So she said calmly: "If you get caught, you might be fined, you might have to write a self-criticism, and you might also--"
She couldn't continue speaking.
If there is evidence, this matter will be quite serious.
Li Jianbai stared at Fubao.
Fubao let him look as he pleased; it wouldn't hurt him anyway.
Li Jianbai suddenly laughed: "My mother praises you for your intelligence every day, saying that you are a good student and asks me to learn from you. I see -"
He whispered, "You seem to be dumber than anyone else."
Fubao looked over and saw a hint of sarcasm in the smile in his eyes.
Fu Bao raised his head and said without blushing or panting, "Mr. Li, do you know what it means to eat meat porridge? How can a person who has enough food and drink to eat have the qualifications to judge the actions of others?
After she finished speaking, she said sincerely: "What happened today is all thanks to you. I am very grateful to you."
After changing the subject, she said, "But just because you helped me doesn't mean you can judge me like that. I just did what I had to do in my position."
Li Jianbai stopped smiling.
He tilted his head and stared at her.
Maybe it was because she was too excited before, but in this cold day after the winter snow, her cheeks were as rosy as pink jade and her eyes were shining with moisture.
Such a girl is like a morning flower blooming in a snowy night, full of vigor and vitality yet delicate and charming.
"Everyone's life is difficult now. My family is not in a difficult situation, but..." Li Jianbai paused, his words becoming vague: "It's an extraordinary period now, and my parents can't do anything haphazardly."
After all, he had helped him. Although Fu Bao disliked Li Jianbai, he didn't want to embarrass him too much. Besides, he didn't seem to have any ill intentions. He immediately explained, "Don't think too much. I'm very grateful for the food you brought me last time. You helped me a lot. If it weren't for your food, we might have taken the risk a long time ago."
Li Jianbai looked at Fubao, was silent for a while, lowered his head, raised it again, and finally said: "There are some things about my parents that I don't know, and it's not easy to ask... But if you hold on, it should be soon."
After saying this, he suddenly turned around and left in a hurry.
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