Chen Lan felt that the few of them were not familiar with this place. Selling goods bit by bit like this was a waste of time and also very dangerous. After all, the things they brought out should be considered high-end items in this 1970s. Therefore, Chen Lan decided to find the boss of this black market, Brother Hu, and sell a batch of goods to them at wholesale prices. This would be safer.
So, Chen Lan, with the twin siblings, turned back and headed towards the moonlit entrance. Because of the system, Chen Lan's senses were exceptionally sharp. From afar, she saw Jia Xing, dressed as a simpleton, and Jia He, dressed as a burly man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, also there, now trying to get close to the tall man. Jia He's gruff voice could be heard saying, "Brother, do you still need people here? We brothers don't want wages, just a place to stay and a meal."
The tall man glanced at the two and immediately refused, "I want to eat too. You two have such grand ideas. How many people can eat their fill now? Do you two know what's going on here? I see you two are from out of town, right? You don't know the rules here. Today, I'm in a good mood, so I'll do a good deed and accumulate some merit!"
With that, the tall man paused, looked around, and then lowered his voice, "Let me tell you the truth. Don't think I'm relaxed and comfortable just collecting money and guarding the place. Actually, my head is on the line every day. It's not that I'm scaring you, but if the Revolutionary Committee catches us doing this, it's death. If it weren't for my old mother to live a few more years with me, I wouldn't be doing such a risky thing! Listen to my advice, give up this idea, go home quickly, and live a good life with your mother, wife, and children! Although life at home is a bit hard, at least your family is together, right?"
His heartfelt words made Jia Xing and Jia He nod in agreement with sighs.
Chen Lan never expected that this tall man, despite his fierce appearance, had a kind heart and was also very filial.
So, she quickened her pace and, without beating around the bush, directly told the tall man their requirements, and had Jia Hui open her backpack for him to see samples of the goods.
The tall man was straightforward. After carefully examining the samples, he buzzed and called out without a word, "Follow me!" He then waved to someone behind him. At this moment, a short man in a mask ran over from somewhere.
Chen Lan thought to herself, no wonder there was only the tall man guarding the alley entrance. It seemed there were many people ambushing around here.
The tall man said nothing and led Chen Lan and her two children away from the intersection of the three-forked alley. They wound their way through the alleys for a long time before finally stopping them in front of a courtyard. It was dark, so she couldn't see the courtyard clearly.
Chen Lan took the opportunity to look around. She didn't see Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang, nor did she see Jia Xing and Jia He following. She didn't know if Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang had followed.
The tall man cautiously looked around and observed for a long time, still finding nothing unusual. Then he stepped forward and knocked on the main door three short times and one long time. There was no movement from inside for a long time. After waiting a while longer, the tall man knocked again, three short times and one long time. Immediately, the door opened from the inside.
The person who opened the door was a lean young man. Seeing that it was the tall man, he didn't speak but nodded at him as a greeting. They must have done this often, their cooperation was very tacit.
The lean young man saw Chen Lan and her two children following behind and remained unfazed, only saying calmly, "Follow me."
Hearing this, the tall man turned and left, leaving only Chen Lan and her two children.
The lean young man let the three of them enter the courtyard and then closed the main gate. Chen Lan and her children immediately became vigilant. Chen Lan unconsciously reached for the stun gun in her pocket. The lean young man then led them on a long, winding route through the courtyard and stopped in front of a quiet small courtyard. He looked back at the expressions on their faces. Finding nothing unusual, he pushed open the slightly ajar door and led them inside.
Finally, the lean young man led them to a quiet house. The door was open, and a middle-aged man was sitting at a table, frowning and writing something.
This man was the boss of this black market, Brother Hu. Business had been slow lately with no new goods. Only grain was in high demand, but the harvest had not yet come in, and it was the period between harvests. Brother Hu was worried.
Chen Lan heard the lean young man call out, "Brother Hu, we have customers."
Hearing the shout, Brother Hu stopped writing, closed the book in front of him, and looked up at the three people at the entrance.
Chen Lan also carefully observed the man in front of her. She finally saw his appearance clearly. He looked unremarkable, like an ordinary person who wouldn't stand out in a crowd. Who would have thought that such an ordinary person was the boss of this black market, the famous Brother Hu.
Chen Lan guessed that this might be another disguise of Brother Hu, just like everyone else trading in the black market, most of them wore some kind of disguise.
At this moment, Jia Yao, disguised as a middle-aged man with a full beard, stepped forward. Mimicking his father, he looked at them with sharp eyes and imposing pressure. Without beating around the bush, he asked in a deep voice, "I heard you buy fine grains?"
Brother Hu suddenly felt a sense of pressure. He involuntarily sat up straighter, cleared his throat, and asked with a slightly respectful tone, "May I ask your surname, sir? What do you go by?"
Jia Yao didn't answer, just frowned and continued coldly, "Do you want rice, flour, meat, oil? Name your price."
Chen Lan was stunned by Jia Yao's arrogant demeanor. This boy's imitation of his father's stoic, expressionless look was spot on.
Jia Hui and Jia Yao were twins. Jia Hui, being observant, took out two small cloth bags containing rice and flour from her large backpack and placed them on the table in front of Brother Hu. She then said in a rough voice, "Samples."