Chapter 18: Black Market

"It’s turmoil! There’s going to be war!"

Su Wanqiu slowly said.

She repeated what the owner of the rice shop had said, word for word.

It turned out that,

after the natural disasters,

many places in the Great Xia were in dire straits.

In some areas, even cannibalism occurred,

and regarding this,

the Great Xia made no reaction whatsoever,

so it stood to reason that,

turmoil erupted.

"Ah!"

Chen Xuan sighed.

Fortunately, for now, Yunze County remains relatively safe.

The County Government Office controlling the supply of rice and flour is probably to prepare in advance.

However,

this brings hardship to ordinary villagers like them.

Originally, due to the drought, there was little harvest, and everything had already been consumed over the winter; otherwise, these villagers wouldn’t have risked going into the mountains to forage.

Now,

even rice and flour are controlled.

This means... have they abandoned villages like theirs?

Or is it collusion between officials and merchants to raise prices?

Compared to the former, he more believes in the latter cause.

After all,

the more chaotic the world, the more opportunities there are to make a fortune.

"In the short term, there’s not much of a problem, our family has enough food, don’t worry about it."

Compared to other families,

their situation is many times better.

They’re already considered lucky.

However,

at this time, Su Yun, the little girl, was drooping her head, still looking unhappy, "Eating meat every day is too greasy!"

"Ugh!"

Chen Xuan was speechless.

Others can’t even think of eating meat, but she is tired of eating it.

This mouth of hers... is too spoiled.

"What nonsense are you saying? In these times, being able to eat until you’re full is already not easy, and you still have meat to eat. If you’re not satisfied, if you don’t want to eat it, then don’t eat, after a few days of being hungry you’ll eat for sure."

Su Wanqiu scolded her, she’s already married, yet still so immature.

At this moment,

she was truly angry in her heart.

Thinking of properly teaching her a lesson this time, she couldn’t let her continue being so impudent.

She’s not young anymore, she shouldn’t be like a child.

"Sister... I was just saying it casually."

Seeing her sister really looking angry, Su Yun was immediately scared to tears, hastily explaining.

"Even if you say it, you shouldn’t. You’re not like before anymore, you need to manage the household."

"Also, look around, which family in the village can have three meals a day? Our family is already much better off, and you still say such things, it really angers me!"

Su Wanqiu grew more and more emotional as she spoke,

her chest heaving in her agitation.

"I understand.... sob.... sister, I... I won’t say it again in the future."

Su Yun said while wiping her tears.

"Hmph!"

Su Wanqiu coldly snorted and turned her head away, refusing to look at her.

Immediately,

the little girl looked towards Chen Xuan, who was still sitting there, for help.

The meaning,

he understood immediately.

Actually, Chen Xuan was also a bit unhappy earlier.

This little girl indeed speaks without thinking.

Everyone’s lives were already hard enough, and like Su Wanqiu said, their family could have three meals a day, and even eat meat all the time, which was already many times better than others.

At least,

in Shuanggang Village, it was like this.

So,

when Su Wanqiu scolded her, he didn’t say a word.

However,

now it seemed the little girl realized her mistake.

And,

in the end, it’s because she’s still too young.

In his previous life on Blue Star, at her age, she’d still be in high school!

So he patted her hand, and pointed towards the room, "Go in first!"

Upon seeing this,

the little girl slightly raised her head, fearfully glancing at her sister, seeing that she didn’t speak.

Then she looked at Chen Xuan,

seeing him nod again, she finally lowered her head and walked into the room.

At this time,

Su Wanqiu sighed and looked at Chen Xuan apologetically, "Sorry for troubling you!"

"Haha, it’s nothing, Yun’Er meant no harm, she was just saying it casually, give her some time, she will definitely be able to manage the household like you in the future!"

"I hope so."

Su Wanqiu was also helpless, it was indeed because she had spoiled this sister of hers.

"I’ll go cook first."

Just as she was about to enter the door, Chen Xuan stopped her, "Wait, sister-in-law."

"What’s the matter, Brother Xuan?"

Su Wanqiu turned around and asked.

"Sister-in-law, just now you seemed hesitant to speak, is there something you want to say?"

As a hunter,

he was very sensitive in his observations.

Just a moment ago,

he noticed the odd expression on this sister-in-law’s face, only changing after scolding Su Yun.

Moreover, he speculated that the little girl Su Yun didn’t know yet,

there might even be some danger,

which is why it unfolded this way.

So,

he asked only after Su Yun entered the room.

"Um...."

Su Wanqiu hesitated suddenly.

Actually, in the rice shop, she inadvertently overheard some conversation,

but,

just as Chen Xuan had guessed,

it involved danger.

So she was reluctant to speak of it.

Seeing this,

Chen Xuan persuaded, "Sister-in-law, I’m not a child, and it’s not like I’m ignorant or careless. If there’s danger, I won’t recklessly charge in, and besides, I’m a Martial Artist now, considered somewhat capable of self-defense."

Su Wanqiu nodded slightly at these words.

Indeed,

he wasn’t a reckless person.

Only then did she speak, "Black market!"

"Black market?"

Chen Xuan was surprised to hear this, it was the first time he had heard of such a place.

"Yes, the black market, I inadvertently overheard someone mentioning it in the rice shop, though the government controls the rice and flour, on the black market you can still purchase them."

"It’s said that the black market has a powerful backing, not only allowing free trade but also, if you have money, you can buy anything!"

"But, it’s very expensive! And they say people there are not to be trifled with! That’s why I was wondering whether I should tell you or not."

Su Wanqiu revealed all she had heard.

Chen Xuan, after listening,

was immediately moved.

Because of the phrase ’if you have money, you can buy anything.’

"Does that mean, even cultivation techniques?"

"I must go there."

He made up his mind immediately.

But now the problem before him was,

first, he didn’t know how to get to the black market!

He needed to ask the rice shop owner; the issue shouldn’t be major.

Second, was the money!

The money his family had now was collected from Li Jin previously.

And some had already been spent.

This amount certainly wasn’t enough.

Fortunately, a few days ago he had hunted a large White Tiger in the back mountain.

Weighing up to six hundred pounds.

Moreover,

the fur was completely intact.

It should sell for quite a bit.

As for,

whether it’s enough to buy a cultivation technique, he didn’t know.

After all, the original owner was just an ordinary hunter, his understanding limited to Shuanggang Village, rarely having been to the county town.

How could he know about cultivation techniques?

"Alright then, that’s it, our family isn’t in urgent need, there’s no reason to take that risk!"

"Understood, I’m aware, sister-in-law, don’t worry."

Seeing him like this,

Su Wanqiu felt some regret in her heart.

But,

since she had already spoken, there was nothing she could do.

She could only nod and then enter the house.

And Chen Xuan just sat outside like this until dusk.

Looking at the neighboring households around them,

the only one with a smoking chimney, besides theirs, was just one other family.

This life,

this world,

no wonder people are revolting!

"Ah!"