There’s no way to just ask around directly, I can only go out and walk a bit. If I run into someone, that’ll be great; if not, I just have to accept it.
It’s already getting late. Jiang Xinyu stands by the roadside, watching people biking home after work, packed close together. It’s true what they say, you don’t realize how crowded the Capital is until you visit.
Where is the black market anyway? It might be dangerous, better to just find someone directly.
She walks along the road and sees a middle-aged woman with a pen clipped to her shirt pocket.
The woman stops. "Young comrade, what’s the matter?"
Jiang Xinyu feels comfortable looking at this person, someone who naturally seems approachable.
"Comrade, I’m from out of town, this is my first time in the Capital, and I’ve spent all my money. I’ve got some rice that I want to exchange for cash."
"Let’s go, we’ll talk over there."
Jiang Xinyu follows the woman to a spot under a large tree. "Young comrade, you said rice?"
"Yes, that’s right." Jiang Xinyu grabs a handful of rice, spreading it out in her hand for the woman to see.
"That’s really good rice. How much are you planning to sell it for?"
"Comrade, I’m not sure. I bought this from the black market back home intending to visit relatives here, but they moved, and I’m out of money. I have to exchange this rice for cash to get home."
Li Xiaoyu hears that it was bought from the black market, realizing it won’t be cheap. There’s no rice supply at the moment, and her husband should be coming home, so she wants to improve his meals.
"Young comrade, how much do you have?"
"Yes, I bought a hundred pounds."
"How much are you asking for it?"
"I bought it for five bucks on the black market, I’m not making any profit, but if the price is too low, I won’t sell."
"Five bucks? That’s too high."
Jiang Xinyu smiles, turning to leave. "Wait, young comrade, I’ll buy it, but not all of it, just ten pounds. No, twenty pounds."
"Comrade, I need to go back to my place to get it."
"Young girl, don’t be afraid, I won’t harm you."
"Sister, let’s meet here in an hour. I need to find other buyers, so I sell it all, preventing others from coveting it."
Li Xiaoyu imagines the scene where the young girl is robbed of her hundred pounds of rice, quickly shaking her head.
"Young girl, if you trust me, I can take you to ask another family?"
"That would be great, Sister, I’m new here; I’m scared, but lucky to meet someone like you."
"Come on, I’ll give you a ride, it’s not far from here."
Ten minutes later, they arrive at a front door, Li Xiaoyu knocks, and a middle-aged woman similar in age opens the door.
"Xiao Yu, why are you here?"
Li Xiaoyu explains the situation, "Do you want it?"
"How much do you need?"
"I’ll take the remaining eighty pounds."
Jiang Xinyu looks at the straightforward middle-aged woman, feeling a special fondness.
"Two Sisters, since you both want it, I’ll go get it. Can I deliver it here?"
"Sure. How long will it take you to be back?"
"I’ll be back in half an hour."
"Alright, we’ll wait for you. Knock the door when you return. Xiao Yu, do you want to come inside and wait?"
"Will it bother Uncle Zhou?"
"It’s alright, young girl. You hurry and come back."
Jiang Xinyu remembers the way, and it’s really not far from the inn, but walking will take about half an hour.
It’s completely dark now, she’s a bit anxious, unsure of the situation here.
She stops in a dark alley, finds a spot, and leans against the wall, waiting for the time.
With ten minutes left, she takes out a basket, placing two sacks of rice inside, then slowly stands up and walks toward the house they visited.
Her shoulders feel very sore from the load. But she grits her teeth and perseveres.
At the house door, she hurriedly knocks, unable to endure anymore.
In less than a minute, footsteps are heard, Jiang Xinyu jumps in surprise and quickly hides against the wall. Her hand on the bag, ready to stash it if anything looks wrong. The basket is big, and now it’s dark, no one can see what’s inside.
The door opens; it’s Xiao Yu coming out. She looks around, seeing the young girl at the base of the wall.
"Come inside, don’t worry, we’re not bad people."
Jiang Xinyu crouches down, picks up the basket, and follows them into the courtyard.
"Young lady, here’s the scale, let’s weigh it."
Ten minutes later, Jiang Xinyu leaves with five hundred dollars. She jogs back quickly to the inn.
She rushes to the front desk, panting, "Comrade, has anyone been looking for me?"
Jiang Xinyu raises her hand to check the time, it’s already seven o’clock. Why haven’t they returned yet? They’ve been separated for almost twelve hours.
Uneasy, she returns to her room. She’d worked up quite a sweat running back, hastily goes downstairs to fetch water, pouring the first round into a basin, and then goes for a second round.
She washes her hair, takes a bath, changes into clean underwear, and scrubs in the basin until clean, hanging them on the rack by the window.
After tidying up, it’s already eight o’clock. Why hasn’t Wei Kaiyun come back?
With no appetite for dinner, she finds it difficult to sit still. Her anxiety is palpable.
By ten o’clock, Jiang Xinyu’s nervousness is at its peak.
She’s now leaning on the windowsill, watching the open space in front of the hotel. If Wei Kaiyun comes, she’ll know.
Unable to calm down, she fears something might have happened to Wei Kaiyun. He hadn’t told her where he went, what should she do?
Suddenly, car lights beam from a distance. Jiang Xinyu leans over, praying it’s Wei Kaiyun getting out of the car.
Heaven finally listens to Jiang Xinyu’s prayer. She sees Wei Kaiyun get off the car.
Never before has she felt so eager for this man.
His lock-the-door speed is particularly handsome. Moreover, he suddenly looks up at her. Jiang Xinyu’s heart races, is this what feeling enamored is like?
Jiang Xinyu rushes out with the keys. Just as she goes downstairs, she locks eyes with Wei Kaiyun coming in.
Seeing him unchanged, she finally feels at ease.
"Director Wei, you’re finally back."
"Hehe, have you eaten? Here, I brought you something, I’ll check into my room first."
Jiang Xinyu takes the lunch box, still warm.
Wei Kaiyun’s room is 207, right next to Jiang Xinyu’s.
Upstairs, the two enter room 205 together.
"You eat first, it’s getting a bit cold now."
"Mm, now that you’re back I feel relieved, I am actually a bit hungry."
She opens the lunch box, taking a look: rice, scrambled eggs, and stir-fried cabbage with meat.
"Director Wei, I can’t eat that much."
"It’s alright, I’ll finish what’s left."
She picks up the spoon beside her and starts eating!
Left with more than half, Wei Kaiyun takes the spoon and finishes it.
"Director Wei, I’ll fetch you some water. You should freshen up and rest."