Boiling and waiting, hoping and longing, finally, the sester ended, and we could have a winter break.
The local students at the school rushed ho imdiately; life was too hard to bear.
This year’s winter was particularly cold. Sleeping in the middle of the night, cold and hungry, often everyone in the dorm would huddle together for warmth, and we didn’t dare to casually relieve ourselves in the night for fear it would make us hungrier.
For most students, going ho might be worse; households weren’t necessarily better off than the school, but after being oppressed for too long, people tend to escape with hope.
Originally, our class was supposed to follow the professor to units during winter break for tours and internships. But now, not even the teacher ntioned it, and everyone dispersed. Zhang Guoqing happily played dumb, telling classmates that he and his wife were going back to their hotown in the Northeast.
If there really was a task, you teachers would have to find him in the Northeast if you have the skills.
Carrying their luggage, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao followed Yi Jiefang and a few buddies, shouting all the way happily towards the small station. It was really difficult; his wife was about to turn into a paper figure from thinness.
Zhou Jiao anxiously stomped her feet. What fools! Aren’t you afraid of being exposed with such energy? Haven’t you noticed how lethargic and powerless the nearby students from each school are?
At the station, Zhou Jiao, panting with her hands on her knees, said, "Gentlen, can we be more discreet?"
Everyone burst into laughter, realizing sothing was amiss, exchanged looks, and quieted down.
"Are you really going back ho?"
"We’re protecting you as you go back."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, "Unless there’s an ergency, we basically don’t go back."
Yi Jiefang and the others pulled long faces when they heard this. What about their at? Their families had many people, unlike the Zhou Family, where only Zhou Xiaozheng could ensure everyone tasted the flavors.
"The bus is here; we’ll talk later." Zhang Guoqing helped Zhou Jiao and left first. By the end of the year, he still had to scour the black markets in Beijing to see the situation; he really didn’t plan to go ho.
Near the Big Courtyard, even Yi Jiefang wouldn’t go ho but instead carried his luggage to the Zhou Family first. They planned to discuss how to get through the winter, as who knew when they could gather everyone together.
A group stord into the Big Courtyard, carrying luggage into the Zhou Family’s west wing. The elders hadn’t returned from work, and everyone lounged without any regard for their appearance on the kang.
Zhou Jiao was not surprised, went alone to the bedroom, packed her luggage, and took the clothes to the washing room. Seeing the ti was still early, Ping An hadn’t finished school yet.
She leisurely walked into the living room to find Aunt Chen had already prepared two bowls of noodles.
"There are too many people, I didn’t prepare for them. You eat first, then Xiao Wu can eat after you."
Zhou Jiao shook her head with a smile, "Aunt, make so soup for them to fill their stomachs. They gave quite a few biscuits before, we can’t shortchange them."
"Alright. Xiao Fei seed to have sothing to discuss with Xiao Wu, left a ssage for him to get in touch quickly. The head told you to take care of yourself and not go out too much."
Zhou Jiao nodded upon hearing this.
Speaking of Fang Fei, she thought of his wedding this year during National Day. It was really simple, just in the canteen, with the couple swearing a few words in military uniform, and they were married.
The couple prepared two pieces each for their in-laws, and she gave two as a gift. Her father gave each to the Yi Family and Fang Family. Thinking of the New Year’s money Fang Fei gave Ping An before, hmm, it was a loss.
Thinking of this, Zhou Jiao giggled foolishly. If this thought were known, people would say the son just takes after her.
Zhang Guoqing nestled in the west wing, listening to them chatter about which black market was the most suitable. Well, these buddies were knowingly breaking the rules.
"This is settled, next is the at problem. I already asked an acquaintance for help with seafood. The price is twice as high as usual, anyone who wants it, speak up, no more than ten pounds per person."
"Just ten pounds, not enough to fill the gaps between our teeth. Think of a way to get more." Wan Dayong disdainfully curled his lips at Yi Jiefang.
"Brothers, there’s really nothing that can be done. Yellow croaker usually costs forty cents a pound, now you can’t even buy it for a yuan on the black market. We can’t make it difficult for others either."
Zhang Guoqing watched them with a smiling face, having a serious debate over ten pounds of seafood. His mind, however, was reminiscing about the past when a bag full didn’t even cost five yuan.
It was truly the difference between heaven and hell.
Wan Dayong smacked his own head, "Did we forget to greet classmate Mu in our rush to get back?"
Ding Datou laughed, "Da Yi already talked with him, I was there yesterday too. But he still has to go back ho to get the news."
"Nice, the young man has potential."
Yi Jiefang shrugged Wan Dayong’s arm off his shoulder with a laugh, "Don’t get happy too soon, even if it rains it’s just a drizzle, what’s the worth?"
Aunt Chen ca in with a wooden tray and said, "Fill your stomach first, don’t just chat."
"Auntie, you’re full of love."
"I’m so hungry, I forgot about the emptiness in my stomach."
Zhang Guoqing got up and went out, leaving them in the room. In the living room, sure enough, there was a bowl of noodles. But how could eating alone be so enjoyable?
"In a while, I’ll go out with them and just in ti to pick up our son. You should go and rest in the house for a bit."
Zhou Jiao lowered her voice, "Did they reach a conclusion?"
"A few of them pooled together, talked it over, not much more that can be done."
Zhou Jiao didn’t ask further, urging him to hurry and eat the noodles before they clump together.
Early the next morning, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao, after so disguise, sneaked to the South Suburb Black Market. This place was ntioned by others; he had never been, nor did he know if it was really the largest in the city as others said.
Arriving at the place, it was pitch black except for the dim gas lamps. The couple didn’t really plan to buy anything; after looking around, they found everything they needed was there. To avoid looking suspicious, they bought two pieces of river fish.
After asking a few prices, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged glances, both feeling each other’s shock.
Truly, a day in the mountains felt like a hundred years in the human world. They couldn’t believe the prices had skyrocketed so much, truly "as precious as gold". No wonder so many people hesitated to eat and used it for trading.
Hearing that a big loaf of bread cost fifteen yuan, and cookies required grain coupons at ten yuan per pound, Zhou Jiao’s eyes flickered, she lowered her eyes, and pulled Zhang Guoqing.
In a flash, a pound of grain coupons had beco unattainable even at five yuan.
It had to be said, Zhou Jiao was tempted.
If she sold the cookies, she could exchange them for grain coupons and still cover herself by ten yuan per pound, a highly lucrative deal.
Zhang Guoqing saw her eagerness, and they squatted in the corner with a black bag on the ground, placing two packs of cookies on it. Thus, the couple began their business.
Despite growing up working to support herself, Zhou Jiao had never set up a stall before. Zhang Guoqing resud his old trade with considerable skillfulness.
Soon, a middle-aged man ca up, gestured for a price, and ordered five packs of cookies.
Zhang Guoqing fetched five packs from the black bag behind and handed them over, while Zhou Jiao imdiately accepted the money. The couple worked well together, and the first deal was a success!
Having sold twenty packs of cookies already, Zhang Guoqing saw they were all local grain coupons valid for one month, exchanging them for nationwide ones would be troubleso. He imdiately switched the goods to use bran instead.
His demand wasn’t high; a pound of bran non-coupons for three yuan.
Why exactly three yuan? It was a casual decision. Could he tell anyone he valued the collectible worth of a three-yuan note?
In the high-priced environnt, this should be the lowest price; clearly, everyone really lacked the grain. In no ti, they sold out all of the one hundred pounds of decorative bran.
Zhou Jiao kept receiving the money, sighing at the huge profit.
If it wasn’t for making too big a target, selling all the bran in the space, their whole family wouldn’t need to work for ten years, just living on without a care.
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