44: Chapter 44 Selling Watermelons When Bones Can’t Be Sold_1 44: Chapter 44 Selling Watermelons When Bones Can’t Be Sold_1 Yan Fei did nothing in the night, wrestling with his thoughts till dawn.
The weak light from a single candle in the cave could only illuminate a small area, making the rest of the cave appear even more mysterious and deep.
Hearing the faint sounds of waves and the occasional cry of a Pterosaur from the entrance, Yan Fei grew increasingly conflicted.
Although the temperature outdoors would have dipped below freezing at this time of year, inside the cave, a torn straw mat was sufficient to ward off the chill.
Next to the mat, lay a box where Yan Fei had been storing his money.
It was filled with cash notes of different denominations, from one to fifty to a hundred yuan bills.
Yan Fei did nothing all night, ultimately falling asleep amidst his turbulence of thoughts.
When the next day arrived, Yan Fei inevitably succumbed to the temptation of money.
He returned to the open square by the railway station where he had set up his stall yesterday, to sell dragon bones.
After all, if there were people willing to buy, the bones he was selling were certainly better than cow bones.
He arrived at the station square early in the morning, and bought a hat.
The hat was knitted with wool, a popular style that he had noticed being worn by many people on the streets the day before.
It was simply styled with a button-sized piece of round plastic in the center, wrapped with wool.
The lower part could be folded up like a regular hat, or it could be pulled down to cover the neck, protecting it from the cold.
Of course, the center of the face would still be exposed, but if you wanted to, you could cover your face with the part that extended over your chin, leaving only your eyes visible.
This style was very suitable for people like bank robbers or anyone else engaging in illicit activities.
Yan Fei turned up to sell his dragon bones disguised just like a masked bandit.
According to him, there was no difference between his actions and stealing money, even though he could use the potentially useful properties of these bones as an excuse to console himself.
His business today was even better than yesterday, especially with the city dwellers who had a bit of disposable income.
Most people, after buying the bone, would seek confirmation on whether or not they had been scammed, but even the most knowledgeable could not identify the bone, the most they could say was that they weren’t certain.
But they could all agree that this was definitely not a cow’s bone; they could at least deduce that much from the weight and density.
In fact, Yan Fei was prepared to be confronted and had even prepared to refund a few customers and quickly escape.
However, to his surprise, business continued to boom.
The people who had sought confirmation and came back for more couldn’t help but spread the word, which aroused the interest of passersby.
After all, if it was really tiger bone, it would be quite a rare commodity.
Although its efficacy was highly debatable, it was its scarcity that often led to its effects being exaggerated.
When asked what he was selling, Yan Fei still insisted it was the Divine Dragon Bone.
He would deny to his death that they were tiger bones.
This denial increased people’s belief.
They would make excuses for him, thinking that who would dare to sell tiger bones in this day and age?
It’s illegal, so it’s understandable that this young man insists it’s a dragon bone!
Hurry up and pay, it mustn’t have been easy for him to obtain these.
Traditional medicine shops sell these kinds of products by gram, and they’re not easily accessible to the average person.
Now that there’s a chance to get it at such a cheap price, not buying it would be foolish!
So, Yan Fei continued to take in money till his hands grew tired.
Finally, towards noon, the old man selling tiger bones nearby could no longer sit still.
Seeing the old man stealthily heading towards the police station, Yan Fei sighed in relief.
He had been keeping an eye on the man all along.
After completing a transaction, with the money in hand, Yan Fei began shouting, “I’m not selling anymore!
These bones are not tiger bones, they’re fake!
I’m packing up and going home!”
“Even if they’re fake, I’ll still buy them, young man.
Don’t rush, weigh me a piece before you go…””
I really need it, someone at home has rheumatism.
I rushed here as soon as I heard about it.
I’ve been waiting for half a day…
Yan Fei ignored the discussion around him, packed up his things, and left.
Just then, the uncle with tiger bones came over with two policemen.
Yan Fei grabbed his worn-out snakeskin bag and took off.
Amidst the shouts of the crowd, he disappeared into the throng before the two policemen could react.
Once he’d slipped into the crowd, Yan Fei breathed a sigh of relief.
The police’s appearance gave him an excuse to pack up — earning money this way was too nerve-racking.
After eating New Year’s Eve dinner on the 23rd of the lunar month, Yan Fei stayed at home in the county town for the night and played for a day before leaving.
Today was already the 25th of the lunar month, and New Year’s wasn’t far off.
Yan Fei figured he had nothing to do back home.
So he decided to check out the central market that Baked Bun Sister had mentioned- he wouldn’t be trying to sell sweet potatoes.
At the very least, he could see what valuable items others were selling and see if he could sell anything more.
He picked an isolated location, placed his money inside a cave, and kept a few coins in his pocket.
Yan Fei maintained his disguise as a masked bandit, heading toward the central market.
He could smell the fishy odor half a block away.
Both sides of the market entrance were lined with fish vendors.
Plump carps, black carps, and grass carps were neatly arranged with countless people perusing their selection.
Families had just enough to afford these fish during every New Year season, and they were always sold out quickly.
Fish that can’t be sold at a good price usually count on these few days.
Yan Fei muttered to himself.
He pitied the fact that he had a vast sea yet aside from the occasional Compsognathus spotted on reef beaches, he hadn’t seen any large fish.
They were all monsters.
Moving further into the market, there were stalls selling beef, mutton, pork, and whole skeletons of lamb and beef hanging from the racks.
To Yan Fei, who ate dinosaur meat every day, it was just ordinary.
The real vegetable market was further inside.
Mainly radishes, cabbage, yellow heart vegetables, spinach, garlic sprouts, large scallions, and several kinds of spices and seasonings were sold, all in abundance.
Because of the large crowd, Yan Fei was squeezed around but found nothing he owned.
Although there were many vegetables on the island, he dared not sell them.
Wandering around, he saw a particularly crowded place with a banner hanging overhead that read ‘Greenhouse Vegetable Store’.
Yan Fei chuckled, “The person who named this place can’t even write the word ‘Dapeng’ correctly.”
But he loved the buzz of a crowd.
He muscled his way to the front and was stunned: cucumbers were still being sold?
Yan Fei accidentally voiced his question out loud, and a friendly auntie nearby enlightened him: “These are grown in plastic greenhouses.
Unique stuff, grown with high technology.
We didn’t have these in past years.
You’re not buying, so can you give aunts some room, dear?
I’ve been squeezing in here for half a day and still haven’t managed to get anything!”
Yan Fei’s superb martial skills finally came in handy.
The group of aunties and uncles were no match for him.
He pushed his way through, creating some space for the auntie, which led to a chorus of complaints.
Stuff that used to be dime cheap was now being sold for three to four Yuan.
Tomatoes were also available.
However, the price was three Yuan with no bargains.
Bunches of small vegetables, which usually sell for a dime per bunch, were now tied up with string and sold for two to three Yuan each.
In a blink, they sold out.
This would hardly even make a single plate of stir-fried vegetables!
The people in the city sure are loaded!
When Yan Fei took a closer look, he couldn’t help but get excited.
The vegetable vendor brought out a watermelon from the back.
It was priced at five Yuan per catty.
Although the high-tech watermelon was only slightly bigger than a small boulder, it weighed several catties, selling for tens of Yuan.
Yan Fei was instantly enticed: “Xu Xiaoyan, you really are a wife that brings good luck to her husband!”
I’m gonna strike it rich!