After some thought, Li Jiao decided to rename the remaining ointment as Purple Cloud Ointment. They also planned to go to the scrap yard to look for suitable boxes or small jars for better storage.
Since Qin Lie’s leg hadn’t fully recovered, the task naturally fell to Da Niu.
True to his name, Da Niu was as strong as an ox and never seemed to run out of energy. He immediately thumped his chest and promised to handle the matter himself, adding that when he went to the scrap yard to buy that tin pipe the day before yesterday, he happened to see someone selling such items.
Hearing this, Li Jiao was delighted. She handed Da Niu a few yuan and said, “If this isn’t enough, come and tell me. I’ll go bargain with them.”
“It’s definitely enough. Those things might look fine, but they’re actually damaged—scratched or dented—so they can’t be sold otherwise.”
Da Niu took the money with a simple, honest smile and immediately ran off.
Just like that, the issue of the boxes for the Purple Cloud Ointment was resolved, putting Li Jiao in an excellent mood.
When Da Niu returned with the items, Li Jiao lowered her voice and said, “We’ll have to wait until midnight to go there. The Ghost Market is crowded and full of prying eyes. I don’t dare go alone.”
Her gaze fixed intently on Qin Lie, she continued, “If you can promise not to move around recklessly and just stay by my side, I’ll let you come with me. Otherwise, I’ll ask Da Niu instead.”
“Haven’t I been obedient enough, Jiao Jiao?” Qin Lie grabbed her hand and sighed helplessly. “If you don’t want to take me, then don’t.”
“What nonsense are you talking? How could I not want to take you? Just be obedient.” Li Jiao chuckled cheerfully and deftly packed all the Purple Cloud Ointment.
Qin Lie watched her movements, his eyes shadowed with gloom. When had his Jiao Jiao learned so many things? Or was it simply because these ointments and medicinal herbs were things she liked, making her naturally skilled at handling them?
Before Qin Lie could ponder further, Li Jiao called him over to help pack the ointment.
They worked until three in the morning, filling all the small boxes neatly—more than fifty boxes in total.
Outside, it was the darkest and coldest hour just before dawn.
To catch the earliest wave of the Ghost Market in the western suburbs of the county town, Li Jiao fought off her drowsiness and bundled up Qin Lie, who was still recovering from his injury, until he looked like a rice dumpling.
His injured leg was specially wrapped with two layers of cotton padding, and he wore a worn-out hat that covered most of his face, leaving only a bit of his chin exposed.
Luck was on their side. For just twenty cents, they managed to flag down a tractor at the village entrance that belonged to a neighboring village and was heading into the city to haul coal.
From a haystack by the roadside, a pair of bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at this scene.
Li Wenbo, who had been frightened out of his wits by Da Niu during the day and was too ashamed to return to the educated youth dormitory, had spent the night hiding in the haystack like a ghost, shivering from the cold.
Under the dim glow of the tractor’s headlights, he saw Qin Lie prop himself up with one hand on the edge of the vehicle, open his brand-new cotton coat, and wrap the petite Li Jiao entirely in his embrace against his chest.
The tender, affectionate sight of the two filled Li Wenbo with such envy that his face twisted in resentment, his teeth grinding audibly.
“That shameless pair—they’re definitely up to no good in the middle of the night!” Li Wenbo retreated back into the haystack, his mind teeming with dark, festering thoughts.
That troublemaker Qin Lie must have talked Li Jiao into doing something illicit.
What else could they possibly be up to, sneaking into the city at this hour and acting so mysteriously, if not engaging in speculation and profiteering?
“Li Jiao wouldn’t even let that dark-skinned boy touch her hand before, and now they’re so intimate? Wait, did they see me and are putting on a show for me on purpose?”
The more Li Wenbo thought about it, the more convinced he became. A cold sneer curled at the corner of his mouth: “Alright, Li Jiao, you just keep acting. I’ll watch you perform. When you come back, I’ll make sure you cough up those few hundred yuan!”
If he couldn’t keep getting money from Li Jiao… Li Wenbo snorted inwardly. He’d report Li Jiao and Qin Lie for speculation and profiteering! He’d make sure they couldn’t handle the consequences!
The tractor chugged along, belching black smoke, bumping all the way to the western outskirts of the county town.
The so-called Ghost Market was a spontaneously formed black market.
It opened before dawn and dispersed as soon as the sky brightened. Transactions relied entirely on eye contact and hand signals; no one dared to make loud noises.
Li Jiao helped Qin Lie find a sheltered corner against a wall, spread out the half of an old bedsheet wrapped around the Purple Cloud Ointment, and arranged the boxes of various sizes on top.
You could find anything here, but Li Jiao’s small, delicate boxes—each one different—were unique.
Li Jiao opened a lid, and the rich medicinal scent of gromwell root and angelica instantly wafted out.
“What’s this? Smells mighty nice.” Soon, a few older women drawn by the fragrance gathered around.
“Auntie, this is a secret family recipe called Purple Cloud Ointment. It’s specially made to treat chilblains and chapped skin. The pain goes away as soon as you apply it.”
Li Jiao blinked her eyes, lowered her voice, and began her pitch. Her voice was crisp and sweet, and she looked utterly well-behaved.
“How much?” The auntie took a liking to Li Jiao at first glance and casually asked.
“Fifty cents a box.” This was the price Li Jiao and Qin Lie had agreed on after discussing it.
“Whoa, that expensive?” The auntie immediately felt like backing off.
“Auntie, this is made with pure lard and blended with precious medicinal herbs. And don’t throw the box away after you use it up. Come back to me, and with this box, I can refill it with twenty cents’ worth but only charge you ten cents.”
Li Jiao didn’t want to waste such good boxes. Mainly, it would be too troublesome to acquire more later. This way, they could be reused. If more people needed them in the future, she could always collect more then.
Hearing this, the auntie was somewhat tempted. Twenty cents was almost half the selling price, but she only needed to spend ten cents to get half the ointment.
In other words, sixty cents for one and a half boxes?
That was definitely a bargain! A huge bargain!
Without another word, the auntie pulled out her money and bought it. She couldn’t afford snowflake cream, but she could afford this thing. At least it smelled even better than snowflake cream.
In no time, thanks to the box recycling scheme, Li Jiao managed to sell over a dozen boxes.
Good business naturally attracts attention.
“Move aside, move aside.”
An auntie who had just paid and hadn’t yet left was shoved aside.
A hoodlum in a floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket, with a long scar running across his face, swaggered over lazily.
“Don’t you know the rules? Who said you could set up here?” Scarface was the local bully in this area, always picking on newcomers for fun.
His eyes fell on Li Jiao behind the stall. Though the light was dim, Li Jiao’s skin glowed with a pale radiance, and her eyes were especially bright and captivating.
At first glance, Scarface was utterly smitten.
As for the cripple beside Li Jiao, who kept his head down, was wrapped up tightly, and had a cast on his leg, he was completely ignored.
With a loud thud, Scarface kicked aside a few small boxes.
“Well, well, isn’t this little lady quite a looker?” Scarface muttered something vulgar, extending a grimy hand to grab the cloth bag of money in Li Jiao’s arms.
His other hand grew even bolder, reaching out to touch Li Jiao’s face. “Little girl, how about you come with me to that grove over there to discuss the rules? As for the stall fee…”