The next morning, Si Chongguang woke up feeling refreshed and energetic.
Qin Wenying, however, was not so comfortable. While washing up, she could barely lift her arms. She shot Si Chongguang an angry, coy glare only to immediately blush again when she saw the bite marks on the man’s lips.
Si Chongguang, still washing up, turned around and saw her expression. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek again.
“I think our little sister-in-law will need me to handle something tonight. You didn’t rest well last night go to bed early tonight.”
Qin Wenying’s face instantly turned bright red. She kicked him once.
“Don’t make it a habit. We’re in someone else’s house have some shame, will you?”
She got dressed first and walked out of the room.
Si Chongguang bent down, rubbed his thigh, and followed her out with a smile.
In the courtyard
Lin Qimo was teasing little Lin Xiaobao when she looked up and saw them coming out.
She chuckled. “Third Sister, brother-in-law, you’re up.”
Qin Wenying froze.
It’s over she knows too.
“Brother-in-law, there’s tofu pudding in the stove. If you want it salty or sweet, season it yourself. Aunt Qiu and the others are making dried tofu in the big pot. I’ve kept yours warm in the small pot.”
“Alright, thank you, little sister-in-law,” Si Chongguang said casually as he headed to the kitchen.
At that moment, Qin Wenying silently added another debt to her mental ledger on behalf of her younger brother.
What a good younger brother indeed. Who was it that said not to expose the relationship? She was told not to say anything, and then he went ahead and confessed to his wife anyway. Now she had become the “culprit.”
“Little sister, I didn’t mean to deceive you. It was Wenqian who told me not to say anything you won’t blame me, right?”
Lin Qimo looked at her and shook her head.
She admitted that marrying Qin Wenqian had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. But after that night considering he even handed over ten years of savings, and in that situation still restrained himself from taking things further he was a man worthy of her sincerity.
“Did you tell him everything that’s been happening around me recently? I saw he included an admission recommendation letter to a military academy in his letter.”
Qin Wenying nodded.
“I told him about Tangtang’s situation. She’s very capable, and I hope she can study in a better environment, so I told him everything here. Wenqian has always been decisive since he was young this arrangement won’t harm her. There are special admission spots this year, it would be good for her to try.”
It was certainly a good opportunity. Even if she didn’t pass, coming back to continue studying wouldn’t be affected.
“Wenqian said he’ll return after finishing this mission. From now on, you two won’t have to be apart so often you should properly build your relationship.”
Lin Qimo was stunned.
Qin Wenqian had not mentioned anything about leaving the military in his letter at all.
Thinking of that letter that read more like an official report, she couldn’t feel touched at all. She only smiled faintly.
“Leaving the military… will that be alright?”
“How wouldn’t it be? He’s just being transferred back to Beijing for a civilian post,” Qin Wenying replied, casually taking the sweet tofu pudding handed over by Si Chongguang.
After breakfast, Lin Qimo used delivering goods to the state-run restaurant as an excuse and went straight to the county town with Li Da and Si Chongguang.
With Li Da leading the way, the three first went to the antique street in the county. With Si Chongguang’s help, they spent 150 yuan buying a newly unearthed small object.
On a moonless, windy night.
Three figures, tightly wrapped and wearing hats, made their way into the forest toward the black market.
Both Li Da and Si Chongguang had their faces fully covered, only their eyes visible. Lin Qimo followed their example.
In this era, the black market was mostly filled with underworld figures hooligans and black-market traders gathered there.
The black market opened on the 1st and 15th of each month. The location constantly changed and was always deep in the forest at night, making it difficult for outsiders to find.
Most people disguised themselves, so no one knew who they were trading with.
But within the black market, there was a special place the “Black Pawnshop.”
Anyone who pawned items there had to register their real name and leave a fingerprint signature.
It was said to be run by the most powerful figure in the black market, a man only known as “Black Eagle.” No one had ever seen his real face.
It was supposed to be illegal speculation, yet they made it look like a formal institution.
Even following proper procedures who in their right mind would actually sign their real name?
Lin Qimo silently complained in her mind while glancing around with curious eyes alongside Si Chongguang, both of them acting appropriately sneaky for the atmosphere.
Suddenly, a similarly masked person bumped into her shoulder.
She let out a muffled sound of pain and saw the person shining a flashlight on a bag of grain and oil vouchers to show her.
It startled her.
Although cloth coupons had been abolished, grain and oil vouchers were still in circulation.
Villagers mostly sold rationed grain and oil at negotiated prices, which were higher.
Clearly, Li Da was not new to this place. He stepped in front of Lin Qimo and made a gesture she didn’t understand.
The man clicked his tongue and walked away.
Li Da continued leading them forward until they reached their destination the black pawnshop.
Calling it a “pawnshop” was generous; it was just a long wooden table placed there, with one corner already broken. A white cloth hung beside it with three large characters written on it.