CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 27: SPACE PROSPERITY 9

The little one wearing small leather shoes became quite spirited, which Jiang Mingyue observed all the way.

Xiao Jiang Ran kept swinging his little feet, occasionally smiling with pursed lips. Jiang Mingyue had reasonable suspicion that he was showing off his new shoes.

Such an easily satisfied little guy really makes one feel tender affection.

The machinery factory was just ahead, so the siblings wandered back to try their luck again.

However, the result was still that their uncle hadn’t returned from the countryside.

Jiang Mingyue wasn’t discouraged. If it didn’t work out, she would stay and wait; she could always wait for her uncle to return.

As for those people at the Jiang Family’s old house, she also hoped her cousin would cut ties with them sooner, so as not to be taken advantage of for nothing.

Especially thinking of Jiang Beishan, who felt superior to others, with that temperament; who knows how he bullied Xiao Ran before.

"Sister, does dad not want me anymore?"

Jiang Mingyue felt both sorry and amused. Sorry for the little guy being too sensitive—what things he must have gone through to develop such a fragile heart. Amused was his melancholic nature, just like a little old man.

"Of course not. Uncle went to the countryside to work for Xiao Ran’s sake. Because that’s Uncle’s job, only by working well can he earn wages to support us Xiao Ran."

"So that’s how it is!" The little guy was truly smart, a simple prompt and he understood immediately. His drooping little head was now bobbing happily like a sunflower.

The siblings pushed their bicycle down the street. Jiang Mingyue originally wanted to buy some small snacks like candied haws to treat Xiao Ran, but all along the way, there wasn’t the prosperity of later generations; it was downright desolate. Jiang Mingyue belatedly remembered that business couldn’t be freely conducted yet.

All supply sources had to rely on state-planned provisioning, concentrated at places like the supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores. Ordinary people wanting to resell things could only do so secretly and had to be careful not to get reported. The black market emerged precisely under such circumstances.

Jiang Mingyue remembered the various grains she recently stored away in her space; she had to find a way to sell them to exchange for money to live a better life. Speaking of which, she held the most precious grains of this era in her hands.

If she found the right people, she could even be regarded as a savior.

Jiang Mingyue didn’t want to be a savior, but if her grains being distributed could save some lives, it would be her greatest purpose in being in this era.

But she hadn’t gone to the black market before. She heard from later generations’ unofficial histories that it was chaotic and worried bringing a child might be inconvenient, especially when pulling various grains from the basket.

Thinking it over, Jiang Mingyue thought of Uncle Ma.

Ultimately, Jiang Mingyue sent Xiao Jiang Ran to Uncle Ma’s place for temporary storage.

Alone on the road, without concerns, Jiang Mingyue released her spiritual power, sweeping widely in a carpet-style search until she finally found the place.

Actually, it wasn’t so laborious. After all, she could predict a general area.

It was just on the west side of the suburb. Beside it was a small grove, and if a surprise inspection occurred, they could skillfully slip into the grove and later pretend they were there for convenience.

Before going in, Jiang Mingyue tore a piece of blue cloth bought that day and made a simple big mask for herself, leaving only her eyes exposed, most of her face hidden. She guessed even the Four Treasures of the Study wouldn’t recognize her.

Alright, she guessed she now looked like a standard village girl.

Village girl Jiang Mingyue pushed her bicycle in and discovered it was quite lively inside, but soon also noticed many were there to buy, but very few to sell.

See, food was scarce, so they had to come to these places to try their luck.

Jiang Mingyue found a spot in a corner, stood the bicycle up, and secretly brought out a pot of braised meat from the basket under its cover. Taking advantage when no one was looking, she quickly covered the basket again.

Thankfully, she was quick. As soon as the pot of braised meat came out, those with discerning noses immediately followed the scent over.

It smelled so good, enough to make a person salivate!

The aroma was so enchanting it quickly drew over a crowd of men seeking food nearby.

"Comrade, what kind of meat is this? Why does it smell so good?"

Jiang Mingyue smiled and picked a bit of meat for him to taste, saying, "Wild boar meat hunted from the mountain, uniquely seasoned braised flavor. Brother, would you like to buy some to pair with your drinks?"

The man was straightforward, and though he only had a taste, the lingering flavor in his mouth made it irresistible. He absolutely wanted to buy some for his whole family to try.

"Sure, is this the price?"

Jiang Mingyue, realizing she didn’t have a scale, came up with an idea: "Brother, seeing how much you want to buy, this meat is top-quality pork belly, evenly thick and thin, almost the same size. Three yuan for ten slices, without needing coupons, how does that sound?"

The man clicked his tongue, finding the price steep, but remembering the taste he couldn’t bear to leave.

"Miss, what you’re selling is quite pricey. How about this, make it a bit cheaper; two yuan for ten slices, and I’ll give you some tickets as well, how about that?" The one speaking was an elderly gentleman, who didn’t wait for Jiang Mingyue to agree before he started counting out the money.

"Here you go, girly, ten yuan in total. Count it, fifty slices, plus ten cloth coupons and five daily goods coupons."

Without thinking, Jiang Mingyue took the old man’s food container and quickly grabbed the meat.

In dangerous places, there’s no room for dilly-dallying; she only favored straightforward people.

With the old man leading the way, others didn’t waste time either, diligently counting out their money and coupons and reporting how much they wanted. In no time, a large pot of braised meat was gone.

"Comrade, do you have anything else to sell?"

Of course, there was! But grain needed to be weighed first—that was her oversight. Now it seemed only rabbits and wild chickens could be sold.

"Yes, I still have chickens and rabbits, quite plump. Want some?"

The brother who had already bought some braised meat didn’t dare hesitate anymore, immediately expressing his intention to buy.

"Brother, there’s both male and female for rabbits, three yuan each. Chickens have both hens and roosters, four yuan each. Which would you like?"

The brother, who had spent ten yuan on braised meat, was now moved to tears by the affordability: "I want them all, one male and one female rabbit, and one pair of chickens too."

"Fourteen yuan in total, here you go." The brother seemed to fear Jiang Mingyue would change her mind, promptly stuffing the chickens and rabbits into a sack. Before leaving, he quietly suggested to Jiang Mingyue: "Comrade, your chicken and rabbit prices are practically a steal. I suggest raising them a bit; these are live animals that can reproduce. Don’t be foolish anymore."

Treated as a fool, Jiang Mingyue sincerely expressed thanks, yet remained firm in her pricing for new inquiries.

Her vast space infused with spiritual energy, where animals reproduced every three days, had recently accelerated to two-day cycles; their numbers growing geometrically. With such stock, she was eager to find opportunities to spread them out, hoping everyone would start raising chickens and rabbits. In the future, there’d be no worries about meat, and even the state wouldn’t have to worry about residents having access to meat.

Maybe it was too lively here, countless eyes turned this way. Jiang Mingyue’s spiritual power keenly captured an all-too-familiar gaze.

Having wrapped up that transaction, she packed up and left. "Sorry, we’re sold out. We’ll meet again by fate in the martial world. Kindly make way."

Just as Xu Ya squeezed in, Jiang Mingyue disappeared without a trace.