After the first pot of gold came...the shopping spree!
One of the first things she bought in the Black Market was pork jerky and other meat snacks. They were a bit costly, but it was her first bite of meat since transmigrating!
No, to be accurate, the last time she managed to get a bite of meat during the new year’s celebration! This was in stark contrast with the rest of the family, who could eat meat a few times a month!
She ended up buying a lot of it, spending a few yuan just for a few jin. Her gracious spending attracted a lot of the people there.
"Young lad, buy this!"
"No, this! I’ll give you extra if you buy from me now!"
"Yes, yes~"
"Boy, get some of this as well!"
"Young lad! This will help you grow taller!"
"Kid! Eat this and you’ll grow stronger!"
"..."
She realized that because of her loose clothing and disguise, most of them thought she was a young lad, albeit a thin and weak-looking one.
After thinking about it, she realized that things might not have been this smooth had they known she was a girl. It was sad to say, but she might have been taken advantage of if she were openly female.
There were also those hoodlums. Those two cronies around the boss were not good things. They looked down on her, and she could see herself getting harassed if they knew she was a woman.
In the end, she spent a total of 5 yuan on various snacks like dried fruit and small pastries. She also spent another 10 yuan for the things that would’ve needed coupons to buy. Other than processed meat, she bought several types of grain as well.
As she prepared to finally leave the Black Market, she mentally reviewed her steps so far. She thought she was careful enough, and she thought the hoodlum leader wasn’t too bad.
In terms of reliability with transactions, she’d rate the boss 7/10 and the people around him 3/10, and that was being conservative. This meant she was willing to become acquaintances with the leader, but not his cronies.
She shrugged and moved on, heading to her next task.
And she still had a lot to do.
...
The hoodlums, at this time, had no idea they had been ’graded’.
Hu Wenli, a.k.a. Brother Woo headed straight home after passing by the black market and buying a few things to bring back.
Now alone, he headed to one of the state municipal apartments near the suburban areas.
Hu Wenli was the son of a martyr, which allowed him and his mother to get decent housing even if neither of them had a job at the time. His father died when he was only thirteen years old.
They had pensions and all, but the death of the soldier destroyed the family. His mother was pregnant at the time, and the news shocked her so much that she lost the child and her health.
Without a mother and with a sickly mother, Hu Wenli spent the days without a proper guardian. It did not take long for him to lose his way, which ironically began when relatives from both sides started eyeing his father’s pension.
He beat them all up, including his cousins and his uncles. He angered his grandparents with words, causing them to curse viciously at him.
He was tagged as an unfilial bastard, gaining an infamous reputation, so he couldn’t even get a proper job.
In fact, whenever the relatives heard that he might be getting a job, they would make a scene, and he would lose that opportunity. In the end, Hu Wenli went to less savory modes of living.
Fortunately, he had been trained a bit by his father before he died, which was why he was so formidable amongst the hoodlums of Jiangning City.
However, at least at home, he retained a youthful smile his mother loved.
"Mom, I’m home," he said, holding up the potatoes and beans he got from Su Qinghua. "Look what I got~"
His mother, Li Weili, was sitting on the sofa with her book. She looked kindly at her son. "Welcome home," she said, voice a little weak, since she was not in her best health. "You’re back for lunch?"
The factories weren’t far from here, so even if Hu Wenli was lying about having a job, he could still reasonably go home midday to check on his mother.
"How was the job in the steel factory? Is it very tiring?" she asked, helping him out with the things he brought in.
Hu Wenli’s expression remained neutral. "It was alright," she said. "I got these as a bonus. I’ll make you something good."
"Are you sure? I was just about to cook—"
"It’s fine. I rarely get a bonus, so I’d like to cook for you today."
He headed straight to the kitchen to whip up a simple meal of potato and bean stew.
As he cooked, the aroma wafted out, kneading the stomach. His eyebrows rose, and he couldn’t stop himself from getting a taste.
sip
He cooked relatively often for a man, so he was very well aware of the level of his own cooking. Since he didn’t do anything special, this improvement of taste could only mean one thing.
That kid wasn’t lying; his goods were really good.
...
The family of two met at the dining table half an hour later. Li Weili had an appetite for a change, and she scooped up a full bowl today.
Hu Wenli chuckled at the side, scooping a full bowl for himself as well.
His eyes shut as he appreciated the warmth and the natural flavor of the soup. The taste and texture of the potatoes and beans definitely elevated the whole thing.
He opened his eyes to see his mother’s reaction. She had a look of satisfaction on her face, making him feel a little proud.
And...was it just his imagination, but it felt like his mother was less pale than she was a few minutes ago.
Later, she would tell him that she really felt warm and comforted. She hadn’t felt any better in a long time, today was the first.
Hearing this, Hu Wenli couldn’t help but remember that young man bragging a while ago.
"My stuff is 100% tastier and healthier than others!"
His eyebrows rose.
There really wasn’t a single word of exaggeration in his words, huh?