Free Web NovelChapter 429: Chapter 316: One US Dollar!
One US dollar... Why would there be a US dollar at the vegetable market!?
Only eight Eastern Country currency for vegetables, yet the other party insisted on settling with a US dollar... Why!?
Xu Liang furrowed his brow, and countless possibilities emerged in his mind, but the implications behind these possibilities were truly frightening.
Finally, he took a deep breath, looked up at the middle-aged man, and asked solemnly:
"Boss, this US dollar... who gave it to you!?"
The boss scratched his head, not quite understanding why the other party asked this, but he still replied:
"A woman."
A w... woman!?
Does Zhu Haoyi or Li Yang have a woman around them?
Maybe, after all, it’s natural to have desires, but a woman consistently staying close to them — absolutely not!
So... who is this person!?
"Can you be more specific?" Xu Liang pondered briefly and continued to ask.
Immediately, he pointed nonchalantly at all the scallions in front of the boss.
"Boss, I’ll take all your scallions."
Take them all!?
Upon hearing this, the boss was ecstatic, quickly engaging his brain, trying hard to recall, and soon his eyes lit up, he said:
"A middle-aged woman with average attire but decent temperament."
"She was about... 1.65 meters tall, simply dressed, spoke quite slowly, didn’t seem like someone from an ordinary family."
"Uh... it was probably in the morning, around six thirty, during the morning market when she came to the vegetable market, picked and chose, and then came to my stall, bought a bundle of scallions, and said she had no change."
While speaking, the boss waved the US dollar in his hand.
The texture of the US dollar is harder than the Eastern Country currency, with a slight plastic feel, accompanied by the crisp sound of ’rustle’ as he waved it.
"She used this thing to pay."
"She said one dollar equals eight Eastern Country currency, but what use is this to me, I can’t use it in supermarkets, can I?"
"Supermarkets might not even accept it!"
"But she said this one dollar was worth six dollars, so I figured I’d make an extra two dollars, only a fool wouldn’t do it!"
One dollar worth six dollars, with a two-dollar difference....
Then giving Xu Liang change, and using it to offset eight dollars!
No wonder the boss didn’t keep it as a souvenir, but wanted to spend it...
But now no one cares about that.
Xu Liang squinted his eyes, keenly perceiving some information within the brief words.
"Have other vendors at the vegetable market received this kind of money?" Xu Liang opened his mouth to ask.
The boss was candid, said:
"Yes, she thought I didn’t know, but after the morning market peak, I chatted with other stall owners while packing up the stalls."
"With US dollars at checkout, wouldn’t anyone encountering this situation have a good chat?"
"Take a look at the vendor next door selling lotus roots."
The boss raised his head, indicating for the other party to turn and look at the busy, lotus root-carrying lady behind him.
"She has a few dollars too."
Which means...
The other party most commonly uses US dollars for buying vegetables at the market, not Eastern Country currency!?
Xu Liang fell into contemplation, continuously pondering the underlying issues.
First of all, why is the other party using US dollars?
It’s known that using this in Eastern Country is quite complicated, first because supermarkets, vendors, the main spending points, most likely don’t recognize US dollars, meaning the money can’t be spent!
It really was the case; the other party desperately tried to spend these dollars, even sacrificing the value of an eight Eastern Country currency US dollar at a purchasing power of six!
Equivalent to a one-fourth depreciation, something no one could accept!
Why not go to a bank?
Just by going to the bank and converting US dollars to Eastern Country currency, then wouldn’t he be able to spend as he wishes!?
Even if each person has only an exchange limit of fifty thousand US dollars per year... but that converts to a whole four hundred thousand Eastern Country currency, the 2005 four hundred thousand Eastern Country currency!
Facing such convenience, yet not using it...
Is it because he was too lazy to exchange, or could there be other unknown reasons why he won’t exchange!?
"Does the vegetable market have surveillance?"
Xu Liang opened his mouth to inquire.
"Yes, do you want to see it? You’ll need to find the market supervisor for that." The boss replied.
Xu Liang nodded and didn’t continue chatting with this greedy boss, swiftly stood up, and took out a hundred dollar bill from his briefcase.
"Load all your scallions onto the tricycle outside."
"No need to return the remainder."
With that said, Xu Liang turned and walked towards the market manager.
"Hey, what a generous boss!"
Upon hearing this, the boss was overjoyed, repeatedly congratulating and then happily shouldered a bundle of scallions, moving them to Xu Liang’s vehicle.
As for Xu Liang...
Seeing him heading towards the manager, Yang Ruoxi and Su Yu behind him paused for a moment and quickly followed.
Soon, Yang Ruoxi suppressed her voice and asked softly:
"What’s going on? Is there a problem with the money?"
Xu Liang didn’t say directly, only nodded slightly.
The problem with the money is significant... or rather, the problem with the owner of the money is significant!
"Do you remember what you found when investigating Zhu Haoyi?" Xu Liang counter-asked as he walked.
What did she find?
"Didn’t find anything.... "
Yang Ruoxi instinctively replied, she had been watching Zhu Haoyi every day for half a month, but really didn’t find anything.
The other party had only three places: the residence, the vegetable market, and the courthouse and police station, back and forth.
Just...
"To be honest, the head of a mining company in Upper City wouldn’t even talk about hiring a nanny, but wouldn’t have to resort to buying groceries and cooking for themselves."
Xu Liang slowly spoke.
Although Upper City and another place are both hailed as ’culinary deserts.’
In reality, there isn’t a shortage of delicious food, Zhu Haoyi could easily buy it, it’s convenient, and it wouldn’t cost him much."
But facing the arrival of the case, the other party insisted on buying groceries...
At first Xu Liang felt it was strange, but didn’t think deeply.
After all, he was also buying, and he had plenty of money in hand, being nationally renowned as the owner of the ’Conscience Law Firm.’"
Originally assuming others might have small hobbies like that, but looking at the market issue right now...",
"The other party... might not be here to buy groceries." Xu Liang said expressionlessly.
Not here for groceries, then...
Yang Ruoxi paused, her mind instantly recalling what the scallion seller had said earlier, about a woman who liked to settle payments in US Dollars...
Thinking of this.
Yang Ruoxi only felt her mind instantly become clear.
Clear, at this moment all questions were answered!
She wasn’t unaware, just that the other party chose to meet in the market, a conventional place, leaving her somewhat blindspot hidden!
"I see!" Yang Ruoxi murmured, enlightened.
At this moment.
Xu Liang also arrived at the market regulator, who was chatting with a middle-aged fish seller.
He lazily interrupted without eavesdropping by speaking directly.
"Hello, let me take a look at this morning’s surveillance footage of the market." Xu Liang said.
Upon hearing, the burly regulator paused, then stopped talking, turning to look at Xu Liang, furrowing his brow.
"Who are you?"
"The market’s surveillance is recorded per regulations, unauthorized personnel are prohibited from accessing!"
Upon hearing, Xu Liang didn’t hesitate, directly pulling out a red bill from his wallet.
"One hundred bucks."
"Ha, I’m a market regulator!" The man snorted coldly, disdainfully said.
"Two hundred." Xu Liang said.
"Rules state that surveillance cannot be accessed without reason." The man continued.
"Three hundred." Xu Liang spoke again.
This time.
"Just this much money? Ha, just this much money..."
The man’s expression changed, seriously said, "I can show it to you for two hours at most."
Xu Liang nodded.
Then the man rejoiced, hastily leading Xu Liang to the surveillance room to retrieve the footage.
In 2005, Eastern Country hadn’t fully established the ’Sky Eye System,’ so even in Upper City, there wasn’t much surveillance, but Dongyang Vegetable Market had an immense flow of people.
Injuries frequently occur here, along with a lot of petty theft.
Even because payment hadn’t yet become electronic, some people had already paid, but the merchants forgot, claiming the opposite side hadn’t paid, subsequently provoking conflict.
Therefore, not only does Dongyang Vegetable Market have surveillance, but the quantity is also very high!
"Please adjust to 6:30 in the morning, at the stall selling hard-leaf scallions."
Xu Liang arrived at the surveillance room... calling it a surveillance room, but there was only one big-headed computer, that was also enough."
The regulator sitting by the computer, moved the mouse to start controlling.
The next second, a black-and-white image appeared on the computer screen.
Xu Liang adjusted the speed, stayed silent, just quietly watched.
There were many people at the morning market at 6:30, scrambling to get fresh produce was like a crowd, dense like an ocean of people, slight foot movements causing ripples.
Countless people moved their feet in front of the scallion stand, under the accelerated speed like ants, touching feelers and immediately departing.
Until...
"Stop!"
Xu Liang suddenly spoke up.
The regulator was startled by the voice, instinctively froze the screen.
At this time, the time had advanced to 6:43 in the morning.
And during this time period...
In front of the scallion stand, one could see a woman talking to the vendor, at the moment pulling out money to hand over, and the vendor reaching out to receive it."
This money...
Although unclear, based on shape, it was clearly a US Dollar bill!"
"Rewind back thirty seconds!"
Xu Liang’s eyes narrowed, began commanding the regulator.
Obediently, the regulator rewound the video.
The next second...
A slightly fuzzy face appeared on the screen.
Estimated from her physique, the woman was between thirty-five to forty years old, fairly aged, skinny, yet standing straight."
Her appearance... probably quite decent, even through surveillance, one could feel the unique aura emanating from her."
She stood there, contrasting with the busy passersby at the market, like a crane amongst chickens, outstanding and eye-catching."
This person... who is she!?
Xu Liang stared intently, but he couldn’t figure out if he had seen her before, finally could only discreetly touch his backside."
The next second.
A USB drive appeared in his hand.
This thing was developed domestically in the late 90s, introduced to the market in ’99. Besides wrenches and wires from his backside, he often kept this thing handy."
He didn’t know who this woman was, but... perhaps someone else would know!
