Ning Hong was woken up by the noise and sat up with messy hair like a bird’s nest.
The bed was too hard, making her grimace in discomfort.
She shouted toward the door, “Got it!”
While speaking, she got dressed and climbed out of bed.
Neither of them had bothered to lower their voices, but fortunately Ning You in the other room had already woken up.
Not only was she up early, she had even practiced a full set of boxing moves.
When you’re out in the world, you can’t get by without some fighting ability!
As the living room grew lively, Ning You slowly came out of her room.
He Meili and Ning Hong had just finished boiling water.
“Oh! The water’s already boiled? Even the lazy ones have become diligent—rare sight indeed…” Ning You said as she casually grabbed a kettle.
Ning Hong glared in anger. “What are you doing?”
“Washing up, what else?” Ning You looked at her like she was an idiot.
She couldn’t be bothered with her intellectually questionable stepsister and went straight back to her room.
She disliked everyone in the Ning family, so she used the toiletries she had bought yesterday.
Ning Hong was so angry at Ning You’s arrogant attitude that she almost fainted from rage.
“Mom, look at Ning You!” she stomped her foot in dissatisfaction.
He Meili was also unhappy.
Ever since marrying into the Ning family, she had never done such trivial tasks like boiling water—those were always handled by that little wretch Ning You.
And now she actually…
“Let her be for now,” He Meili gritted her teeth and signaled Ning Hong to stay calm.
That little wretch wouldn’t be arrogant for long. Once her husband’s matters were settled, Ning You would suffer for it!
Thinking of the news He Meili had revealed the night before, Ning Hong immediately calmed down, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes.
Just endure it for now!
Ning You sensed that the mother and daughter weren’t picking a fight today and felt a little suspicious.
They must be scheming something again.
Fortunately, she already had her own plans.
After washing up, Ning You went out, and by then the Ning family had already gone to work.
She didn’t care and also left the house, heading toward the Yun family.
Just as she stepped out of the residential building, a young man in a blue-and-white striped naval-style shirt ran toward her like the wind.
“Xiao You, you’re up so early!”
Ning You smiled faintly and joked, “The early bird catches the worm.”
Yun Hang rarely saw her smile and paused slightly, then laughed. “I said I’d save it for you, and I always keep my word.”
As a dealer in the underground black market, he had plenty of good things in his hands.
The two arrived at a secluded courtyard.
Yun Hang knocked in a complicated pattern, then even gave a coded password. After a series of extremely careful procedures, they were finally allowed inside.
Quite professional and cautious.
Noticing Ning You’s gaze, Yun Hang said proudly, “Hehe, better safe than sorry.”
Although this place was hidden, who knew if it might still be discovered?
From the outside, the courtyard looked ordinary, but inside it was completely different.
“Brother Hang, who’s this?” the person opening the door, a dark-skinned boy, raised his eyebrows at Yun Hang.
Brother Hang had never brought a girl here before, so of course he was curious.
But… this girl looked very young. Was she even 18?
Yun Hang instinctively glanced at Ning You. Seeing her calm expression, he felt a strange sense of disappointment.
He didn’t dwell on it and introduced her with a smile: “This is my friend, Ning You. Just call her… Miss Ning.”
The dark boy was very sharp and immediately understood from Yun Hang’s expression that things weren’t going his way yet.
He laughed inwardly but said warmly, “Hello, Miss Ning. I’m Zhao Ahei. I’m probably older than you, so you can call me Brother Zhao, or Brother Hei, whatever you like.”
He seemed like a very easygoing person.
Ning You nodded. “Brother Hei.”
Since they would likely deal with each other in the future, being friendly was better.
She glanced at the items inside the room, her eyes flickering slightly.
…Quite a big business indeed!
They even had radios, bicycles, watches, and other big-ticket goods.
Seeing that the girl was calm and also someone brought by Brother Hang, Zhao Ahei immediately patted his chest loudly.
“No problem! If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I’ll get it for you!”
Yun Hang squeezed in front of Zhao Ahei. What was this guy doing? Did he think he didn’t exist?
“Xiao You, whatever you want, as long as I have it here, I can keep it for you. As long as the money is right, everything’s negotiable.”
Zhao Ahei facepalmed helplessly. “……”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
At this rate, how are you ever going to get a girlfriend?
Ning You remained calm. She never intended to take things for free anyway.
Yesterday she went to the store too late and only managed to buy small things like toothbrushes and towels. Everything else was out of stock.
It wasn’t that the clerks were arrogant—it was simply a seller’s market. If you don’t want it, plenty of others do.
Ning You picked out a cotton shirt, a cotton undershirt, two rolls of toilet paper, several pairs of nylon socks, and an enamel cup.
“Let’s start with these. How much? And how do the coupons work?”
Yun Hang quickly calculated like a seasoned businessman.
“Except for the cotton shirt and undershirt, which are a bit more expensive—three yuan each—plus two cloth tickets. The rest… two rolls of toilet paper is 0.18 yuan…”
He muttered as he calculated quickly in his head.
“Let’s make it 13.8 yuan total. You can give the tickets as you see fit.”
Ning You blinked. That cheap?
No—more accurately, money really had value back then!
After finishing her purchases, Ning You thanked them and prepared to leave.
Yun Hang wanted to escort her, but she refused.
Seeing that the girl said no, Yun Hang really didn’t go out, shocking Zhao Ahei so much his eyes nearly popped out.
“Brother Hang, you’re really not going to see her off?”
Yun Hang replied nonchalantly, “Why would I? Didn’t Ning You say no need?”
If he went out to escort her and made her angry, what then?
Zhao Ahei: “……”
Would you also eat shit if she told you to?!
But he didn’t dare say that.
Instead, he changed the topic: “Brother Hang, at this rate you’re never getting a girlfriend!”
Yun Hang exploded. “Why would I not get a girlfriend?”
“Talking about money first thing, ‘as long as the money is right, everything is fine’—that gives girls the impression you only care about profit…”
Zhao Ahei carefully chose his words.
“We’re dealers. Who isn’t profit-driven? Would you keep doing it if there was no profit?” Yun Hang retorted.
Zhao Ahei: “……”
Fair point.
After struggling for a moment, he added, “At least round the price a bit?”
Yun Hang stared wide-eyed, shocked as if he had just seen a different Zhao Ahei.
“How can you be like this!!” he said righteously.
Zhao Ahei: “?”
“13.8 is 13.8! Why would you want to take an extra 20 cents from her?
Zhao Ahei, I never thought your heart could be so black… even cheating your own people. Don’t you feel guilty?”
Yun Hang shook his head in disappointment, unwilling to associate with him.
Zhao Ahei: “!!!”
Was he the one trying to overcharge 20 cents? He meant rounding it down!
…For the first time, he felt like his Brother Hang had a wooden brain.
Forget it. Impossible to argue.
Zhao Ahei closed his eyes and gave up.