Free Web NovelChapter 433: Chapter 155: Taking Qin Xiang to the Black Market
"Your brother is surprisingly good to his brother-in-law, Jing Si," Second Aunt said, nudging Qin Mei, who sat beside her, with her elbow.
Qin Mei smiled awkwardly. ’Qin Xiang had saved some food for Jie Jingjue too. He’s not selfish and knows how to share. That’s a good habit, one worth cultivating.’
After lunch, Second Aunt went home, Jing Qi went to his room for a nap, and Jie Jingjue stretched. He hadn’t slept well last night and wanted to go rest in his room too.
"Jing Wu," Qin Mei called out to Jie Jingjue.
"Sister-in-law, what’s up?" Jie Jingjue stopped and turned to look at Qin Mei.
"My brother and I are going out for a bit," Qin Mei said. Qin Xiang, who had been about to head to his room, immediately perked up at her words.
"Do you need me to drive you?" Jie Jingjue asked. The car was still parked outside, waiting to pick up their dad from the machinery factory after his shift. ’If Sister-in-law needs to use the car, I’ll have to pull myself together and be her driver, no matter how tired I am.’
"No, that’s alright. I don’t feel comfortable leaving Jing Qi home alone. With you here, I can rest easy." Qin Mei was just letting him know, reminding him not to wander off.
Jie Jingjue smiled in understanding. "Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I won’t go out until you’re back. Here, take the car keys. Brother Qin can drive."
"We’ll just take the bicycles," Qin Mei said. She was heading to the black market; driving a car would be too conspicuous and draw unwanted attention.
"Alright then. Be careful on the road." Jie Jingjue put the car keys away.
Qin Mei was a little surprised. ’This carefree fool actually told us to be careful.’
Qin Xiang rode the bicycle with Qin Mei on the back. Since he wasn’t familiar with Shijiu City, he simply pedaled wherever she directed him.
When they arrived at their destination, Qin Xiang parked the bicycle and stared at the place before them, dumbfounded. His temples began to throb. "Mei, this is..."
"The black market," Qin Mei said. She didn’t try to hide it from him; it wasn’t something she could hide, anyway.
"The black..." Qin Xiang was stunned, his heart racing and hands trembling. "You brought me to a black market in broad daylight?"
"It’s my first time coming during the day, too," Qin Mei whispered. ’At night, it’s pitch black. You can only see by the moonlight, and even then, not very well.’
"Your first time during the day? Don’t tell me you come here often at night?" Qin Xiang lost his composure. ’It’s dangerous for her to be at a black market at night. This is a serious problem. I’ll have to have a serious talk with Jing Si later.’
Qin Mei shot him a sidelong glance but didn’t respond, instead grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the black market.
"Mei! Wait!" Qin Xiang pulled her to a stop. He was stronger than she was.
"Are you coming or not? If you’re not, just wait for me out here." Qin Mei shook his hand off. If he wouldn’t go in, she’d go by herself.
"Mei, given my position, is it really appropriate for me to go into a black market?" Qin Xiang said with a grave expression. He was a soldier. If a soldier was caught in a black market, it would be fine if he wasn’t caught, but if he were, the consequences would be far more severe than just some thought education.
"It’s fine. We’ll just slip in quietly. No one will notice," Qin Mei said.
"Let’s go back," Qin Xiang said.
"You go back, then." Qin Mei didn’t want to force him. She turned and walked toward the black market.
"Mei," Qin Xiang called in a low voice, not daring to shout. He watched her small, determined figure walk into the black market. After a fierce internal struggle, he finally relented and braced himself to follow. ’Principles versus my sister’s safety... her safety is more important.’
’The worst that can happen... is I leave the army and go home to be a farmer.’
Qin Mei walked ahead with Qin Xiang following close behind. While she looked around, he kept his eyes fixed on her, terrified that something might happen to her right under his nose.
Qin Xiang had been to black markets before—he’d even been a regular. Of course, that was all before he joined the army. This was his first time visiting one since enlisting.
The black market in Shijiu City was much like the one in Yangcheng City. Looking at Qin Mei, Qin Xiang gave a helpless, wry smile.
’She’s already dragged me to a black market. What about Jing Si?’
Suddenly, Qin Xiang grew very curious. Jing Si was even more principled than he was.
Qin Xiang quickened his pace to catch up to Qin Mei, walking beside her. He asked in a low voice, "Has Jing Si been here before?"
"He has," Qin Mei said, looking up at Qin Xiang. "But only at night."
Qin Xiang instantly felt a sense of equilibrium. ’Night or day doesn’t matter. The important thing is that he came.’
"Miss, is that you?" a young man called out to Qin Mei.
Qin Mei stopped. She didn’t recognize the young man, but when she saw the two baskets of potatoes in front of him, her pupils constricted. She walked closer to him.
’The last time her mother-in-law had dragged her to the black market, this guy had ripped them off badly.’
"Buying potatoes today, Miss?" the young man asked with a cheerful grin.
"Not today," Qin Mei said, slightly annoyed.
"Heh, Miss, last time was an accident. I was wrong to you and the madam. How about this? I’ll give you a discount on the potatoes this time, what do you say?" The young man’s smile was ingratiating.
’As they say, you don’t hit a smiling face.’ Qin Mei wanted to settle the score, but she couldn’t find an opening.
Qin Mei glanced at the potatoes in the basket. ’I like potatoes, but I don’t need to risk coming to a black market to buy them. It’s not like I’m short on cash.’
"I can’t carry them," Qin Mei said, preparing to leave.
"Miss," the young man called out to her again, saying with a grin, "It’s fine if you can’t carry them. Your husband can. Have your husband carry them."
Hearing those two words, "your husband," Qin Xiang’s face darkened. ’What’s with this guy’s eyes? Mei and I look so much alike, a clear-cut case of brother and sister, yet he insists on mistaking us for a married couple. Is he blind?’
He thought his sister would at least give the young man a piece of her mind, but to his surprise, she completely ignored him. ’If he misunderstands, so be it. It’s not worth explaining.’
’This is the black market. No good comes from starting trouble here.’
Qin Mei walked a lap around the black market but didn’t see the old man who sold medicinal herbs. She was a little disappointed. ’The young guy selling potatoes comes to the market during the day, but the old man didn’t. He’s certainly cautious.’
"Young lady, are you looking for Old Zhang?"
Qin Mei paused, looking at the old woman selling eggs. "Old Zhang?"
"I’ve seen you buy herbs from him a few times," the woman said, then sighed. "Young lady, Old Zhang went up the mountain to gather herbs a few days ago and fell, breaking his leg..."
"The patrol is here!" someone shouted, and the black market instantly descended into chaos.
Qin Mei put a hand to her forehead. ’Does it have to be this coincidental? My first time at the black market during the day, and I run into a patrol again.’
Qin Xiang reacted in a flash, grabbing Qin Mei and running, pulling her along to scale a wall.
The old woman selling eggs was dumbfounded. ’Whoa! Good heavens, they cleared that wall so cleanly.’
After they jumped down from the top of the wall, Qin Xiang stared at Qin Mei in surprise. He had only given her a slight boost, yet she had vaulted onto the wall with ease.
Out of the corner of her eye, Qin Mei noticed the change in Qin Xiang’s gaze—it was now searching, scrutinizing, and filled with doubt.
"Let’s go. If we get caught, with your status, you won’t be able to clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River," Qin Mei said, pulling Qin Xiang to get a move on.
"Young lady, young man, give me a hand!" The old woman, holding a basket of eggs, was perched atop the wall, calling to them for help.
Qin Mei stopped. After hesitating for a few seconds, she nudged Qin Xiang. "No one has it easy these days. Who would risk setting up a stall in the black market unless they had no other choice? Go on, brother, be a good samaritan and give the woman a hand."
"Alright." A fond, indulgent smile touched the corners of Qin Xiang’s lips. His sister had spoken, so of course, he wouldn’t refuse.
"My eggs, my eggs! Young lady, take my eggs first!" Compared to her own safety, the old woman was more concerned about her eggs. If she were caught for speculation and profiteering, she would at most be detained for a few days and undergo thought education. But if the eggs broke, they would be completely ruined.
Qin Mei wasn’t tall enough; even on her tiptoes, she couldn’t reach the basket the woman was handing down. Qin Xiang had to do it.
"Careful now, young man. Don’t drop the eggs," the old woman instructed.
Qin Xiang took the basket steadily. Only when she saw the eggs handed over to Qin Mei, completely intact, could the old woman’s anxious heart finally be at ease.
"Young lady, take good care of them for me. Be careful not to break my eggs, or my heart will bleed," the old woman said as she reached her hands out to Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang grabbed the old woman’s hands and, with a single pull, used his powerful grip to yank her right over from the other side of the wall. The woman was so frightened her soul nearly left her body.
"Steady now, ma’am." Qin Xiang helped her find her footing.
"Ma’am, your eggs." Qin Mei looked at the still-shaken woman, a faint smile playing in her eyes as she returned the basket.
