The Beginning of the World: Going to the Countryside as an Educated Youth

Chapter 38 Huangyuan Black Market

Zhao Dongchuan grabbed the bag of chickens and tried to collect them into space with his mind.

Hmm, no response!!!

He continued the test, untied the bag, touched the chicken leg with his hand, and collected it!

Hmm, still no response!!!

Zhao Dongchuan already had the answer in his heart. It was highly likely that no living creatures could be allowed in.

Sure enough, I tested fish and sparrows later, but neither worked.

It seems like water, land, and air are all useless!!!

Zhao Dongchuan laughed at his somewhat childish classification.

The biggest difference between living things and other things is that one is alive and the other is dead. So what is the essential difference?

In essence, one is alive and the other is not?

So how do we distinguish between life and non-life?

Zhao Dongchuan fell into inexplicable philosophical thinking.

Forget it, do whatever you want, just make some food!!!

Zhao Dongchuan has carried out the fine tradition of the Chinese nation. If he can't figure it out, he should just stop thinking about it and make a living. Food is the first necessity of the people!!!

Originally he wanted to stew the chicken, fry a fish, and release the sparrow.

But he didn't want to handle the chicken and fish himself. It wasn't that he didn't know how to handle them, but he didn't want to kill them himself. This would make him feel inexplicably guilty! Well, some people might say he was being hypocritical, so let him be.

At least he doesn't need to come alone now. Zhao Dongchuan is going to carry some chicken and fish to give to Jia Bing. These are delicious dishes made by his mother-in-law Shufen!

He also wanted to see if he could get some information. Jia Bing had lived in Huangyuan City for many years and was more familiar with the place than he was.

Maybe I can get some useful information.

Thinking of this, Zhao Dongchuan packed up the bag, hung the chicken and fish on the bicycle, and drove towards Jia Bing's house.

When they arrived at Jia Bing's yard, the big black dog "Baron" trotted over to Zhao Dongchuan affectionately, rubbed his trouser leg, and made a cheerful whining sound!

Jia Bing heard the noise and came out. When he saw it was Zhao Dongchuan, he greeted him, "Boy, it's rare that a busy man like you still have time to visit our house."

Zhao Dongchuan was not annoyed, and joked: "Teacher Jia, I am just envious of my sister-in-law's cooking skills. I even brought a chicken and a fish here specially."

Jia Bing's wife Shufen also came out and said with a smile: "Xiao Zhao, you just come, what are you bringing? If you want to eat my cooking, just come often!"

Zhao Dongchuan handed the chicken and fish to Jia Bing's wife: "I got my salary today and bought some meat dishes. Sister-in-law, please help me cook."

Shufen was no longer polite and took it with a smile.

"Okay, we got our salary today, it's worth celebrating, and this also marks your official arrival in Huangyuan City." After saying that, he went to the kitchen and started to get busy.

After a while of busy work, the food was ready. The three of them got on the kang and started eating around the table.

While praising his sister-in-law for her good cooking skills and the delicious food she prepared, Zhao Dongchuan started chatting with Teacher Jia.

"Teacher Jia, let me ask you, do you know where I can get a watch ticket? I want to buy a watch, and I have the money, but the problem is that there are no tickets now!"

"You just got your salary and you're going to buy a watch? A watch costs at least a hundred dollars!"

"Young people just can't stand their temper and like to show off!" Jia Bing said with a bit of disappointment.

"I heard of a place where you can get it, but I haven't been there. Just take it as a reference," Jia Bing said after a while, lowering his head and lowering his voice.

"There is a market near the Dongguan Bus Station. People often bring their unused tickets or other supplies to exchange," Jia Bing emphasized when talking about exchange.

Then Jia Bing told Zhao Dongchuan the specific location of the place, the method of entry, and the precautions.

After hearing this, Zhao Dongchuan realized that there actually was a black market in Huangyuan City. He had always felt that it existed, but he had never found someone who understood the market conditions.

I didn't expect Jia Bing to know this so clearly.

Seeing Zhao Dongchuan's strange expression, Jia Bing said unnaturally, "Shufen was sick before, and I wanted to get some nutritional supplements for her, so I looked for it."

Zhao Dongchuan's expression of "I understand" made Jia Bing feel a little embarrassed.

Jia Bing laughed and stopped talking about this topic, instead he started talking about Zhao Dongchuan's new novel.

After listening to the outline of Zhao Dongchuan's story, Jia Bing said that the story had great potential and could hopefully be published in the provincial journal Yanhe.

It's just that he was born at the wrong time. The current trend has great restrictions on realistic novels, and Jia Bing is not sure whether he can get it published. Zhao Dongchuan's previous "Love Life" is just a short poem, and the theme is to express the love of life. Those who understand it will understand it, but others cannot delve into the specific issues and write an article.

Zhao Dongchuan didn't care. He knew very well that in two years, the policy would change, and that would be the time when the literary world would burst into great vitality.

The two were chatting animatedly, and Shufen kept pouring wine and serving food to Jia Bing.

This small room is filled with a strong smell of fireworks, which makes people intoxicated.

Zhao Dongchuan said goodbye to Jia Bing and his wife and returned to the dormitory feeling a little tipsy.

Looking at the loving Jia Bing family, he felt a strange emotion in his heart, but he quickly put it aside. Now was not the time to think about these things, as he still had a long way to go.

The next day, which happened to be the weekend, Zhao Dongchuan went to Li Huiying's house and brought some cakes bought from the department store, which was considered a welfare benefit given to employees by his "boss".

It was because he was too young and Li Huiying was a simple middle-aged woman. Otherwise, if a young man like him visited a widow's house from time to time, rumors would definitely spread.

The neighbors around him just thought that he was Li Huiying's relative or nephew, and did not treat him differently.

After telling Li Huiying about the information he got from Jia Bing, Zhao Dongchuan decided to test the waters and explore the way. If it works, he would let Li Huiying sell goods in the "black market" in the future. Although she would have to pay an entrance fee, she wouldn't have to worry anymore.

Zhao Dongchuan put on the system glasses in a deserted place, changed his appearance, and rode his bicycle to the "black market" that Jia Bing mentioned.

Pedestrians were intertwined along the road, and donkey carts, horse carts, bicycles, and cars were all mixed together. Although there were no specific traffic regulations at that time, everyone consciously divided the areas.

Zhao Dongchuan occasionally avoided pedestrians and let pass passing cars, and finally arrived at the market near the bus station that Jia Bing mentioned. He found a parking lot of a state-owned store to park his bicycle, and then found his way into a small alley.

After exchanging secret codes with the masked lookout and paying 5 cents for an entrance fee, Zhao Dongchuan entered a new world - an alleyway with many paths leading to all directions.

There is no open-air venue here like in Shenzhen where people can set up stalls openly.

This place is more like a hidden underground battlefield. The vendors have their faces covered and are squatting or standing in the corners. Some of them have a big bag next to them, revealing agricultural and sideline products or chicken, duck, fish and meat inside. Some are selling fashionable clothes from other places. Those who are more particular will put a piece of cloth and display their treasures.

Compared to the market in Shenzhen, this place is much quieter and people talk in low voices.

It seems that the Huangyuan area is not only economically backward, but also more conservative in all aspects of thinking.