The previous blizzard had piled snow along the exposed corridors. But snow was still snow. No matter how cold, it remained hollow inside. For snow that hadn't been compressed, there was no need to come down from the 25th floor. Walking from the 24th floor was enough.
So the fall that person had just taken was essentially pointless. Before this, no one had thought of that.
Lao Gao said, "Then we can just leave from the 24th floor. But with snow this high, you can't see the path."
Suddenly, Lan Jin had an idea. "Walking isn't possible. One floor of snow blocks the way. But my Hummer is tall. It's not a full floor high, but it can drive through the snow. Plus, if someone sits on the roof to guide, we can get out."
In this deep snow, no one walking on it could make it solid. So as long as they didn't go out, it would stay the same. The only ones who could change it were themselves. No matter what, the first step had to be taken.
It had to be said, Lan Jin's idea really worked. The question was, after such a blizzard, was the black market still there?
Lao Gao said, "Let's burn charcoal for two days first. Then we'll go out. Maybe others need some time too."
Lao Gao was calm. Lan Jin and Huang Jinghe naturally weren't in a rush either. The five of them, including Grandma Ling, kept busy. The women cooked while the men made charcoal. There was never a moment of idleness. Even Qiao Qiao had an iPad to study by herself.
Two days later.
Both they and the black market were probably ready.
Before leaving, Ling Jiang asked, "How many invitation letters should we use?"
Lan Jin said, "The three of you can pretend to be a family. I think one invitation letter is enough."
Ling Jiang laughed, "Pretend to be siblings first. If not, just brother and sister. One letter is already lucky."
Lan Jin, Lao Gao, and Huang Jinghe headed to the 24th-floor corridor.
At home, someone needed to stay behind. Ling Jiang stayed with Grandma Ling. Before leaving, she warned, "Be careful. Times aren't like before. Others have powers now. If you can't fight, you need to know how to hide."
Lan Jin smiled, "We know how to hide."
Amid the white snow, Lan Jin could conceal both people and the Hummer using her space ability. The real concern was for Ling Jiang and Grandma Ling at home. "You should be careful. We worry someone might try to come here while we're gone. But the black market isn't far. We'll drive. We'll be back soon."
Ling Jiang nodded. "Okay."
Turning back, Lan Jin summoned the Hummer into the snow. She and Huang Jinghe reached for the door handles. After getting in, Lao Gao climbed onto the roof. Originally, he wanted to sit, but he realized he couldn't see the road unless he stood. He held onto the rope Lan Jin had tied and stood carefully on the roof.
Lan Jin drove slowly, cautious of hurting anyone or damaging the car.
The latter was the bigger worry. The Hummer was her only vehicle. If it got damaged, she had no way to fix it. She had to drive slowly so Lao Gao could stand steadily even without holding the rope.
After twenty minutes, they arrived near the black market.
"It's just ahead, not far," Lao Gao said excitedly.
Lao Gao knew it was the black market because the snow around it had been cleared perfectly. That area looked untouched by the blizzard.
As the Hummer passed the barriers, Lao Gao finally stepped down from the roof and sat in the back seat. "I was so scared there might be wire in the road to strangle my neck. Finally sitting, I feel so relieved."
Lan Jin smiled, "Impossible. If there were wires, someone would have gone out first. It would leave marks. It wouldn't hit your neck."
Still, fear on unknown roads was normal.
Once inside the black market zone, one press of the accelerator brought them to the main gate.
Hearing the engine, a few people approached their car. One was Da Fei, who had traded with them before.
Da Fei looked surprised through the window.
When they got out, Da Fei joked, "It's you! I thought it was someone else. After the last charcoal deal, I didn't see you. I was waiting for your charcoal."
Lao Gao said, "This time we have something to trade. If you want charcoal, that's fine too."
Everyone here came to trade. No one knew yet what Lao Gao intended to exchange.
Da Fei said, "Tell me first. Not to brag, but here, if you can think of it, you can trade for it."
But Lao Gao surprised him. "Invitation letter. Capital city base." Da Fei had never heard of it.
Since Lao Gao could mention it, the item must exist. Da Fei said, "Wait, I'll ask. I don't have it now, but what can you offer to trade?"
Lan Jin interjected, "What about condoms? Is it useful now? Can we trade this?"
Its value had to be high. Among wealthy people, it had even surpassed food. But the tool and materials were buried under ice, impossible to produce. It had become an extremely scarce resource.
Da Fei's eyes lit up. "You have this? How many?"
Lan Jin said, "First, let's see the value of the invitation letter we want."
Da Fei looked at her meaningfully, then went inside with his men. Lan Jin and the others returned to the car to wait.
This time, Da Fei took a long while, about twenty minutes, before coming back out.
Seeing him, Lan Jin and the others got out of the car. Da Fei said, "We can get this for you, but not right now. Delivery will take some time. Come back in a week. Also, prepare the things I need in the meantime."
===
In here the author write condoms as "小雨伞" (xiǎo yǔsǎn) or "small umbrella". I think it was kind of slang for condoms, for readability I decide to write it as condoms not small umbrella. I mean I bet you also didn't know that small umbrella is condoms, right?