The black market was located in a narrow alley, with guards stationed at both ends. If “red armbands” showed up on one side, someone would blow a whistle, and everyone would run toward the other end.
If both ends were blocked, there were several nearby alleys where the black market boss owned properties.
Each house had a back door, and together they formed escape routes leading in different directions.
Of course, that was a last-resort method for saving one’s life—and it had never been used so far.
For people who made a living doing this kind of business and wanted to stay safe, how could they not “grease the right palms”? Even if inspections happened occasionally, they usually got advance notice and could move valuable goods and regular traders out of sight.
This was outright illegal profiteering. At best, they’d be sent to labor camps; at worst, they could even be executed. Every step had to be taken with extreme caution.
As for those who were caught, most were ordinary buyers. With clean records, they would usually just be detained and educated for a few days—not punished too severely.
The black market operated somewhat like rural markets in later times. Vendors lined both sides of the alley, setting up stalls, while people walked down the middle.
Yu Zhaozhao followed the alley, planning to walk down one side and return along the other. Along the way, besides looking at food, she paid special attention to anyone exchanging ration coupons.
She intended to trade for nationally usable coupons—industrial coupons, soap coupons, and other daily necessities.
She didn’t want to carry too much luggage when going to the countryside—it would be too troublesome getting on and off the train.
Besides, she would meet the male and female leads on the train, and she couldn’t use her space there.
After all, the educated youths would be living together. If she, someone with barely any luggage, suddenly produced too many things, it would only arouse suspicion.
The female lead had a sort of “lucky aura.” Yu Zhaozhao didn’t want to attract her attention too early.
Just thinking about having to share a room with the female lead made her feel conflicted.
The female lead’s biggest trait was attracting trouble—wherever she went, problems followed. The original girl had suffered quite a bit simply because she was always around her.
So Yu Zhaozhao had already decided: unless necessary, she would keep her distance.
Fortunately, this situation wouldn’t last forever.
After the female lead eventually quarreled with another girl in their dorm, she would propose building her own house and moving out. At that time, Yu Zhaozhao could follow suit without drawing attention.
There were quite a few sellers in the black market, but meat and grain were still scarce. After almost making a full round, she only found two vendors selling grain.
Unfortunately, it was coarse grain, which she wasn’t interested in.
If necessary, she would figure something out after going to the countryside. After all, she still had unopened rice and flour in her space.
Besides, during the first month, everyone would be living together—it wouldn’t look good if she alone ate fine grains. No need to rush.
The market was bustling, but after one round, Yu Zhaozhao only bought two baskets for carrying things.
Just as she thought she wouldn’t gain much today, she noticed a middle-aged man and a young man pushing a cart into the alley.
The cart was covered with cloth, so no one knew what was inside. Most people glanced at it and went back to their business.
Only Yu Zhaozhao noticed that one corner of the patterned cloth was stained red—and immediately had a guess.
She rushed forward and positioned herself first as the cart stopped.
“Brother, that’s meat under there, right? How much are you selling it for?”
Remembering her current disguise as a middle-aged woman, she called out smoothly.
The man stopped the cart and looked at her.
“Sharp eyes, sister. Freshly slaughtered pork. Pork belly is 1.2 yuan per jin, lean meat is 1 yuan—no coupons needed.”
As he spoke, he lifted the cloth. The pork was indeed fresh, pink and white, with a glossy sheen of fat.
In those days, fatty meat was more popular than lean meat due to the lack of oil. They used to be sold at the same price, but after several fights broke out over it, the vendor set different prices.
The difference of two mao was enough for many families to compromise.
Yu Zhaozhao didn’t care much about the price—she usually chose meat based on what she planned to cook.
“I’ll take 20 jin of pork belly and 20 jin of front leg meat.”
“That much?” the vendor said in surprise.
“I’m hosting a banquet at home. Lots of relatives—you have to feed people well, right?”
Feeling his scrutiny, she explained casually.
“Alright, I’ll cut it for you now.”
The vendor was only surprised for a moment. On the black market, all kinds of people came and went. As long as he got paid, nothing else mattered.
While the man cut the meat, the young helper threaded straw ropes through the pieces. Without plastic bags, meat was tied up and carried away like this.
Yu Zhaozhao glanced at her baskets, then at the oily pork belly.
“Brother, do you have any oil paper? I’d like to line the baskets—I’ll pay for it.”
The vendor looked at the meat in his hands.
“Sure, I’ll give you a couple of sheets. No need to pay.”
After all, she was a big customer—and one who didn’t bargain. His attitude was naturally friendly.
“Thank you, brother.”
She lined the baskets with the oil paper. Each basket held 20 jin of meat perfectly.
After paying, she slung one basket over her back, carried the other, and left the stall.
As new customers gathered, no one paid attention to her. Using the baskets as cover, she transferred the meat into her space. Otherwise, carrying that much weight with rope straps would have been painful.
After buying the meat, her luck seemed to improve.
She went on to purchase fifty eggs, two old hens, ten pairs of work gloves, two pairs of cloth shoes, four pieces of oil felt, and two rolls of oil paper.
To her surprise, she also managed to buy two bolts of slightly defective fabric.
These were usually internal benefits only available to supply cooperative staff—most likely obtained through connections in a textile factory.
All the items she bought were quietly transferred into her space under the pretense of placing them into her baskets.
Thankfully, the alley was long and she didn’t buy everything in one place—otherwise, her empty baskets would have raised suspicion.
Just as she felt she had bought enough and was about to leave, she saw a young man holding ration coupons, trying to sell them to passersby.
“Brother, need coupons? I’ve got bicycle coupons, watch coupons… Sister, need coupons?”
Yu Zhaozhao walked up to him and asked with a smile,
“Do you have any coupons that can be used nationwide?”
The young man turned reflexively at being called—
—but the moment he saw her, he jumped in fright.