Siheyuan: Don't mess with me, I just want to be a free fish

Chapter 5

Early the next morning.

It was still dark, and Li Weidong got up from the warm bed.

This time, Li Weibin didn't wake up.

On the contrary, grandma heard the movement, and walked out from inside wearing clothes.

"You have just arrived in the city, and you are not familiar with the place, so don't try to be brave when you encounter something."

With that said, grandma stuffed some money into Li Weidong.

"Grandma, don't worry, when did your grandson suffer?" Li Weidong waved his hand, but didn't answer.

At noon yesterday, he went back to the house and counted the money given by his stepmother Zhang Xiuzhen. It was 11 yuan and [-] cents, which was quite a lot.

What's more, the reason why he asked for money was to give everyone an illusion, so as not to make food out of thin air and arouse suspicion.

"You fight with your brother without showing off? It's nothing more than fighting at home. When you go out, you must protect yourself. If you encounter trouble, run away."

Grandma gave Li Weidong an angry look, and stubbornly put the money into Li Weidong's pocket.

"Okay, I promise to run faster than a rabbit."

Li Weidong didn't refuse anymore. He grew up in front of his grandma and knew his grandma's character very well.

After taking the flashlight and saying goodbye to grandma, Li Weidong left in a hurry.

Where is Pigeon City, Li Weidong has already found out clearly with his younger brother Li Weibin, and even asked him to lead him there specifically for this purpose, which can be regarded as a stepping stone.

And after lunch yesterday, he persisted outside for more than five hours, accumulating some energy, but he was also terribly cold.

But seeing five big old pumpkins, the little suffering is nothing.

The pigeon market in the 60s was a product of last resort.

Strictly speaking, it is illegal, but because of the particularity of this era, in many cases it is turned a blind eye.

And most people prefer to call it a black market, not only because it is chaotic here, but more importantly, the prices are black.

After Li Weidong entered the black market, he turned off the light and began to scan the people squatting on both sides of the road.

Some people may think that the black market in this era is the same as the morning market in later generations. There are vendors selling vegetables on both sides of the market, and they can buy whatever they want.

In fact, the two are not a concept at all.

Li Weidong walked slowly for more than ten meters, and there were only a handful of people who actually placed things in front of him. Most of them squatted there, either with empty baskets, piled with a few stones, and some holding a few chicken feathers in their hands.

"Uncle, what are you selling?"

Li Weidong came to the middle-aged man holding a chicken feather in his hand and asked softly.

"Eggs, just trade and not sell."

The middle-aged man glanced at Li Weidong, and said the next few words emphatically.

"Okay, then how do you change it?" Li Weidong also reacted.

"A catty of stick noodles." The middle-aged man replied.

Li Weidong didn't foolishly ask whether it was an egg or a catty of eggs.

These days, eggs are more expensive than meat, comparable to luxury goods.

Especially in the past two years, the supply of eggs to ordinary citizens was stopped directly. Those who live in the city, if they have no relatives in the countryside, will not even see an egg all year round.

In the annual ring of the novel, during this period, an old man driving a car in the city said a word: I even forgot whether eggs are round or square.

This year, although the supply of eggs has initially resumed, each household only has a ration of one catty per quarter.

On weekdays, it is really not easy for ordinary city people to eat an egg.

Therefore, although the other party wanted a pound of stick noodles, the price was not outrageous.

After all, stick noodles cost nine cents a catty.

But that is when you have a ticket and a certificate, and you go to the grain and oil station.

If you want to buy a pound of stick noodles on the black market without a ticket, it costs as little as two or three cents.

"What about the money?"

"No change."

The middle-aged man is determined.

"What about the pumpkin? Can you change the top-quality old pumpkin?" Li Weidong asked again.

"Old Pumpkin?"

This time, the middle-aged man hesitated.

Although it is not as good as cornmeal and dried sweet potatoes, the old pumpkin is not incapable of filling the stomach.

In comparison, it is much more affordable than eating eggs directly.

"How do you want to change it?"

"How about three catties for one?" Li Weidong thought for a while and said.

This price was obtained after his estimation.

Zhang Xiuzhen said earlier that the pumpkins she bought on the black market cost eight cents a catty, and three catties cost twenty-four cents.

"Four kilos."

The middle-aged man said directly.

"I don't think it's three catties or four catties. I have an old pumpkin at least thirty catties. I can exchange ten eggs with you. It's okay, right?"

"Row."

The middle-aged man nodded.

"Then wait a moment."

After Li Weidong finished speaking, he turned his head and left.

Because the black market was not safe, and it was the first time, Li Weidong was very cautious and did not take out the pumpkin early.

When he got into an alley and saw no one around, he took out a pumpkin from the warehouse of the game farm, covered it with his clothes, and returned the same way.

"Uncle, take a look."

The middle-aged man took the old pumpkin, and just weighed it, with a hint of joy on his face.

Compared with Li Weidong's estimated weight, the opponent is obviously more proficient.

The pumpkin in my hand is definitely not light.

"Sixth, get ten eggs for this little brother."

At this time, the middle-aged man said to a figure squatting a few meters behind him.

"Ah."

The figure muffled the sound, and carefully took out ten eggs from nowhere.

However, Li Weidong's claws were numb.

Although he prepared a broken sack, it was for pumpkins.

There is room in the game farm, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, you can't make a big magic show, right?

"Uncle, do you have a basket? I'll pay for it." Li Weidong had to ask the other party for help.

"I still have ten eggs in the basket, why don't you exchange them together? I just gave you the basket too." The middle-aged man came up with an idea.

"Uh, that's fine, then wait a little longer."

Li Weidong repeated the action just now.

The middle-aged man who took the pumpkin again looked at Li Weidong with a strange expression.

"How many pumpkins do you have, boy?"

"No, just two. I'm afraid that someone will rob me, so let my dad watch over there." Li Weidong grinned.

"Okay, I will come every other day. If you still have pumpkins, come and exchange them with me."

The middle-aged man nodded, and waited for Li Weidong to leave with a basket of eggs before he winked at Lao Liu behind him.

The latter sneaked into the alley that Li Weidong had just entered.

A few minutes later, he returned to the spot with a disappointed face.

After Li Weidong left, he found a random corner, delivered the eggs to the game farm, and continued wandering around with an empty basket.

Two pumpkins for twenty eggs, in his opinion, it was worth it anyway.

After all, it was equivalent to two hours in the sun for him.

"Brother, do you want a ticket?"

I don't know if it's because of carrying a basket, Li Weidong has a deep understanding of the treatment he received at the train station in the early days of his previous life.

After casually asking about the price, Li Weidong lost his mind.

If you don’t have a food book, even if you go to the grain and oil station with food stamps, they won’t sell it to you.

Moreover, the food stamps also have a date, and they are basically used in the current month, and become invalid after the expiration date.

Therefore, these extra food stamps are more useful for eating out or buying some non-staple food.

Li Weidong's goal is very clear, that is ready-made food.

Of course, if it's eggs, meat, or oil, he won't hesitate.

It didn't take long for Li Weidong to find a seller of white noodles.

The so-called white noodles are actually graded.

The best is fine noodles, also called special noodles, which are often referred to as 30 noodles or 40 noodles in later generations.

Then there is the first-class flour, which is generally called white flour, and the standard is 60 flour, which is mainly eaten by families of later generations.

As for the rich and strong powder, it is 70 powder, and it is even worse.

But now, the most is still 80 powder, which is a standard implemented in the case of food shortage, the color is gray and the taste is poor.

But even so, at present, it is also a standard fine grain, and I don't know how many people can't eat it.

The other party sold this kind of 80 powder.

Eighty cents a catty!
It is almost 5 times that of food stamps used in grain and oil.

(End of this chapter)