"Girl..." Wang Cheng called out to her from behind.
"What's up?" Bai Xue turned back, puzzled.
"Can you still get food? I mean in the future! My uncle's family has many people, and the grain is never enough each month. If you can get food, could you maybe sell me some every month? I'll pay the black market price. Not a lot is needed, I can manage with whatever you have! Fine grains or coarse grains, anything is fine!"
"Uncle, if it's convenient, let's find a place to talk. Put the grain away first! It's dangerous!" Bai Xue said, looking around cautiously.
"Alright! Alright, alright!" Wang Cheng perked up with hope, immediately hoisting the grain and turning to unlock the State-Owned Restaurant's door.
"Girl, let's talk in the restaurant's kitchen. I'll hide the grain there!" he said, leading her inside.
Bai Xue wasn't afraid and followed him in. The restaurant was pitch dark, with nothing visible. She vaguely saw a glimpse of Wang Cheng's figure and carefully made her way to the kitchen.
Wang Cheng, familiar with the kitchen, found half a candle and lit it, brightening the room.
"Girl, find a place to sit. I'll go settle the grain!" Wang Cheng said, heading to the other end, leaving Bai Xue eyeing the half candle.
She seemed to recall that her supermarket had wedding supplies in the cosmetics section, including double happiness red candles.
However, those candles were as thick as a baby's arm, unlike this red candle which was only as thick as an adult's thumb.
While waiting for Wang Cheng, Bai Xue, having nothing to do, entered the supermarket space in her mind to check. Sure enough, she found double happiness red candles in the cosmetics section, with only sixteen on the shelf.
It was strange that Bai Xue still couldn't open the warehouse door, as if it was firmly locked. Maybe the warehouse hadn't come with her.
Bai Xue felt a bit regretful. It seemed she still couldn't sell the supermarket's supplies in large quantities, considering this era of material scarcity and food shortage had about twenty years to go. She had to save them for her family's consumption.
Fortunately, there was plenty of grain on display. All combined, the rice and flour estimated to weigh over five thousand pounds in total.
"Girl, come, drink some hot water to warm yourself!" Wang Cheng came over with a warm tin of hot water just as she was deep in thought about various matters.
Bai Xue accepted the cup and waited for Wang Cheng to speak.
"Girl, what I mentioned earlier... can you make it happen?" Wang Cheng asked directly.
"Uncle Wang, I can manage to spare a few dozen pounds of food each month, but it won't be possible to specify between fine and coarse grains. Let's stick to the price you mentioned earlier for the transaction! However, I have something to ask of you in return," Bai Xue said after considering.
Wang Cheng brightened at the mention of a few dozen pounds of grain available every month. Though his salary was limited, he still had relatives who could chip in. Securing food wouldn't be a problem. He quickly replied,
"Girl, whatever you need help with, your uncle will certainly do his best to assist!"
"Well... I have some baijiu (white liquor). If you have connections, could you help me sell it?" Bai Xue knew the chef at the State-Owned Restaurant would likely have connections, so she asked. Being new here, she dared not act rashly on her own.
After some thinking, she realized that the grains, meat, and vegetables were essential goods she couldn't sell. Her younger siblings were too weak and malnourished; they needed good food to build them up. But she could sell the liquor from the supermarket! Selling those to get some cash was a good idea.
"What did you say? Baijiu?" Wang Cheng thought he misheard and asked again, staring at her without blinking, afraid of hearing wrong.
"Yes! Loose baijiu. I'm not sure of the black market price! If possible, could you also get some coupons? Grain coupons, meat coupons, industrial coupons, and fabric coupons are all fine," Bai Xue explained that she'd sell at the black market price and needed some coupons, particularly bicycle coupons.
If she was to sell things, she'd undoubtedly have to make frequent trips to Pingyang Town. Walking would mean a thirty-mile journey, and she feared she might not make it.
But money was tight, and she couldn't openly ask.
If it weren't for needing money, she wouldn't even consider selling grain. She sold the yellow millet in her supermarket for several pounds each, and now the black market price was just one and a half pounds, making the sale unprofitable.
"Girl, I wasn't wrong about you! You're quite the capable person! Tobacco, alcohol, sugar, and tea are all in high demand. You even have them to sell! Rest assured, leave this to me, and I guarantee to get you a good price! No problem with the coupons!" Wang Cheng patted his chest confidently.
He knew several big figures from Pingyang Town who dined at the State-Owned Restaurant, and they loved drinking. How could the liquor not sell?
"Uncle, can you help me check around, and next time, I'll bring a few pounds! I can also get my hands on some tobacco, sugar, and tea! Check it all for me!" Bai Xue didn't ask for a specific price.
Her supermarket had all sorts of famous cigarettes, and although there were names on the filters, it didn't matter for selling. She could remove the filters and sell them.
Worst case, she could sell at a lower price.
"You even have cigarettes? Girl, I'm curious what kind of person you really are. Dressed so ordinarily, even poorly, yet you have fine grains and tobacco, alcohol, sugar, and tea at your disposal," Wang Cheng couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked.
"Uncle, curiosity killed the cat! My identity is better left unexplored! It's best not to investigate! We can peacefully make money, and you can feed your family. If something happens, I believe you'll be worse off than me!" Bai Xue moved closer, her gaze sharp as she continued, "Because! I have protection! And you..." Wang Cheng understood the unspoken words.
He looked at Bai Xue, whose aura and sharp gaze seemed far beyond her teenage appearance, more like a seasoned business veteran!
Seeing Wang Cheng somewhat intimidated, Bai Xue softened her expression and said, "Uncle, who doesn't like a win-win deal? Right! If they sell, I'll give you a ten percent commission!"
"Alright, alright!" Wang Cheng nodded vigorously after a long pause, realizing her mention of a ten percent commission.
"Then it's settled, Uncle. Remember to keep it secret! Not even family should know! I'm heading back now!" Bai Xue stood up, walked out briskly without looking back, and disappeared from Wang Cheng's view.
Wang Cheng sat in the kitchen for a long time, unable to recover from what had just happened. Such fortune had been dropped right into his lap!
Bai Xue quickly entered the supermarket space once she left the State-Owned Restaurant, and after ensuring no movement outside, she let her guard down. After all, they had just met, so she trusted no one. But she had gambled right; Uncle Wang was an honorable man and had not followed her.
So she left the space and ran back to the clinic.
Just at the door, Bai Dajiang came out and upon asking, she discovered Bai Daliang was worried since she'd been gone so long and had sent him to find her.
Bai Xue sighed with relief, that was close.
She followed Bai Dajiang back to the ward, spent an uneventful night there, and her second night after time traveling passed on the clinic's hospital bed.