“Mm.”
Tang Jin was very satisfied with his attitude and didn’t take someone as brainless as Song Yunting to heart.
After returning to her room, she rested in her space for a while before finally feeling better. Thinking about all the “dirty goods” stored inside, Tang Jin decided to head out.
She first entered her space through a public restroom, disguised herself as a woman in her forties, and put on Zhang Xiuli’s clothes. After making some inquiries, she located Yang City’s black market.
She started by selling Tang Zhiyuan’s bicycle for 180 yuan. After that, she gradually sold off Du Qingfeng’s bicycle, as well as a tape recorder and a wristwatch.
After several trips back and forth, the larger items alone earned her more than 800 yuan. Then she sorted through the supplies in her space and sold some of Du Qingfeng’s and Tang Zhiyuan’s personal belongings at bargain prices.
She had no interest in using things that they had used.
By the time she was done, Tang Jin had made over 1,000 yuan from this outing. The sewing machine was too large and inconvenient to move, so she kept it.
After selling everything, she used up some ration coupons that were about to expire and started shopping. Cooking oil, salt, meat, an iron pot, dried small fish, noodles, vermicelli, soap—Tang Jin bought a huge pile of necessities. By the time she headed back, both hands were full.
The moment she stepped out of the black market, however, a sturdy woman blocked her path.
The woman had dark skin and fierce-looking eyes.
“Big sister, bought quite a lot, didn’t you?”
Tang Jin had exchanged so many goods in the market that plenty of people had already taken notice. Lowering her voice to sound older, she replied,
“My child is getting married. Naturally, I need to buy a lot of things.”
“Then why did you sell those watches and bicycles? Wouldn’t they be useful for the wedding?”
The woman cracked sunflower seeds as she spoke. She looked like someone not to be messed with.
Tang Jin wasn’t afraid of her.
“Those were sold on behalf of someone else. If my child is getting married, of course I should buy brand-new things. Otherwise, the new bride won’t be happy.”
Just as Tang Jin was wondering whether the woman intended to rob her, the woman stepped closer and discreetly opened a small pouch.
Inside, something gleamed golden.
“Big sister, interested in these?”
Tang Jin’s eyes widened.
Well now.
Turns out the woman was dealing in gold and jade jewelry.
“How do you want to trade?”
Tang Jin was genuinely interested. According to the novel’s plot, these items would become extremely valuable in the future.
“Cash, coupons, grain—anything works.”
The woman’s name was Qian Ying. She had spent years operating around the black market.
Lowering her voice, she said,
“Quite a few people were eyeing the money and goods you traded just now. With me around, nobody dares make a move.”
It was a promise of protection.
Trade with her, and your safety was guaranteed.
“I’ll pay cash. I want the entire bag.”
Tang Jin had only taken a quick glance. These things were dirt cheap now because they couldn’t legally circulate. Stockpiling more wouldn’t hurt.
“Big sister, you’re straightforward!”
Qian Ying hadn’t expected such decisiveness. She lowered her voice and quoted a fair price.
“Two hundred yuan for the whole bag. I’m only making a little for my trouble.”
She expected bargaining.
Instead, Tang Jin immediately pulled out the money.
“Deal.”
Selling gold jewelry was risky business. Once she held onto it until the future, it would be pure profit. There was no reason to haggle.
That reaction actually made Qian Ying feel a little embarrassed.
She reached into her pocket, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and stuffed them into Tang Jin’s hands.
“Big sister, you’ve got yourself a friend. Everyone calls me Yingzi. If you ever need anything, just come find me here!”
“Thank you.”
Tang Jin put all the jewelry into her bag. The black market was crowded, so she didn’t examine it there.
Qian Ying even escorted her all the way to the market entrance.
“I’ll keep those people occupied. You get moving.”
“Thank you, Yingzi.”
Tang Jin knew she would have had to expend some effort if not for Qian Ying’s help, so she appreciated the favor.
After leaving the market, she slipped into a deserted alley and entered her space directly.
Changing back into her own clothes, she carefully sorted the supplies she had bought and stored them neatly around the courtyard.
Only then did she open the bag and inspect the jewelry.
Good heavens!
The moment she saw the contents, she felt both delighted and regretful.
Delighted because the gold jewelry and jade pieces were made from excellent materials and crafted with exquisite workmanship.
Regretful because such beautiful jewelry had simply been tossed into a bag, leaving many pieces scratched and damaged.
What a waste.
She carefully separated a set of emerald-green earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, then carried them into the room she had furnished for herself in the courtyard and stored them in boxes.
Aside from those two complete jewelry sets, the rest consisted of assorted gold bracelets, rings, and other items.
It looked as though different people had sold them to Qian Ying over time.
Tang Jin counted carefully.
There were over twenty pieces altogether.
She definitely hadn’t lost out on this deal.
Satisfied, she cleaned everything and put it away.
When times improved in the future, she could sell them then.
Not that she particularly needed the money.
The purchase simply made her happy.
After being busy for so long, Tang Jin felt hungry. She made herself an egg pancake inside the space.
The morning sickness still hadn’t gone away.
She could only force herself to eat while drinking water alongside it.
After finishing, her stomach finally felt a little better.
When Tang Jin emerged from the space again, she had reverted to her youthful appearance. Carrying an enamel basin, she headed back to the guesthouse.
“Comrade, you’re back.”
Zhang Mei greeted her from the doorway, stretching her neck to see whether there was anything else in the basin.
Smiling, Tang Jin handed her a few malt candies.
“Sister Meizi, sweeten your day.”
“Thank you.”
Zhang Mei wanted to refuse, but when she thought of the greedy little mouths waiting at home, she accepted them after all.
Her impression of Tang Jin improved considerably.
The two chatted as they walked inside.
Only then did Tang Jin notice Song Yunting standing by the telephone making a call.
No wonder Zhang Mei had deliberately kept her distance.
Meanwhile, Wen Fang stood beside Song Yunting, listening nervously to whatever Mother Song was saying on the other end of the line.
Song Yunting sounded as if she were about to cry.
“Mom, you have no idea how wronged Sister Wen Fang and I have been…”
It was Wen Fang who first heard the approaching footsteps.
Seeing Tang Jin return, she tugged lightly on Song Yunting’s sleeve.
“Yunting, she’s back.”
Caught talking behind someone’s back, Song Yunting looked extremely embarrassed.
But Mother Song, on the other end of the line, sounded excited.
“Yunting, is that the young woman named Tang Jin you mentioned? Put her on the phone.”
Tang Jin merely glanced at them indifferently.
She couldn’t care less what they said about her.
Just as she was about to head upstairs, Song Yunting called out.
“Tang Jin, my mother wants to speak with you.”
Tang Jin: …
She really wanted to refuse.
But she was already married to Song Yunli. The woman on the phone was technically her mother-in-law.
Until she understood her mother-in-law’s attitude, she had to consider Song Yunli’s feelings.
So she walked over, took the receiver from Song Yunting, and spoke while Song Yunting watched with a look of malicious anticipation.
“Hello, Auntie.”
Tang Jin had originally intended to call her “Mom.”
But after thinking it through, although she and Song Yunli were married, they hadn’t held a wedding ceremony, nor had she received any formal gift acknowledging her change of address.
“You’re Tang Jin, right?”
Mother Song’s voice was calm.
“I’ve already heard some things about you from Yunting. You and our Yunli are not suitable for each other.”
She paused before delivering her verdict.
“So I suggest that the two of you break up.”