The room was still, the air in it was thick with the scent of old paper and the lingering heat of the day. Lin Ying sat on the edge of her narrow bed, her heart hammering a steady rhythm against her ribs. She had used her rare card, but she hadn’t expected it to yield such a bounty: a heavy gold bracelet and three bottles of multivitamins.
The bracelet was a string of twenty individual gold beads, held together by a thread of some mysterious, shimmering material. As she cradled it, the weight surprised her. Gold is honest in its heaviness; she guessed it weighed as much as two small eggs—perhaps a hundred grams.
In this era, such a treasure was both a blessing and a tether to danger.
[Historical Note: In the 1980s and early 90s, the Renminbi (Yuan) held immense purchasing power, but the streets were often unpredictable. Public security was managed by local Gongan (police), but without modern surveillance, “hooliganism” was a common charge for the various thugs who loitered in shadows.]
If she sold the whole piece, she might gain several thousand Yuan, a fortune. But a young girl carrying that much gold was like a child wandering a den of wolves. To trade it, she would have to brave the Hei Shi (the Black Market).
Lin Ying decided to be cautious. She would unstring the beads and sell them one by one. It was slower, but silence was her best armor.
She then turned her attention to the three bottles of “Rainbow Brand” multivitamins. In her current state malnourished and pale from a diet of mostly watery porridge and steamed buns they were a godsend. But it was the Super Rare Card that truly made her breath hitch.
With a soft click in her mind, a high-tech tube appeared.
Physique Enhancement Potion (Diluted Version).
The description flickered before her eyes: From a technologically advanced main planet… slightly improves the human constitution.
Lin Ying felt a chill of awe. Her Gossip System was strange enough, but this was something from a future she couldn’t fathom. Would there be undiluted versions later? Potions that could make one immortal? She shook the thought away and drank it in one gulp. It tasted of nothing—just clear, cool water.
She waited. In the novels she had read, the heroines usually sweated out black grime or felt their bones snapping into place. But for Lin Ying? Nothing.
“Has it even worked?” she whispered to the System.
A moment later, a calm mechanical voice echoed in her mind: “The potion works subtly. Results will materialize over three to six months. You have to be patient, Host.”Relief washed over her as she heard that . As health was the foundation of everything. She had learned that the hard way in her past life.
The next day, while sitting in class, Lin Ying’s mind wasn’t on her lessons but on her upcoming trip to balckmarket. She recalled the “Black Market” described in the book she was trapped in. It was located on Beichuan Street, but it only breathed to life on the “6s”—the 6th, 16th, and 26th of every month.
When the 26th arrived, she lied to her mother, Su Yulan, saying she was heading to the bookstore with her friend Lü Xiaoju. Instead, she headed for the iron gates of Beichuan.
Before entering, she ducked into a secluded alley to transform. She swapped her school blouse for a crisp white shirt and stepped into sturdy Martin boots a style far too modern for this town, but perfect for projecting an aura of “someone you shouldn’t mess with.” She let down her long bangs and tied her hair into a high, sharp ponytail.
Using the soot from a charred stick, she darkened her eyebrows and traced a sharp line around her eyes, making her gaze look fierce and cold.
So when somebody look at her they will thought, look at her! Is that a girl or a young master from the city? Those boots shine like mirrors—she must have a powerful background.
She arrived at the towering iron gate with the same attitude. Where an old man sat , his face look like a withered walnut. Lin Ying leaned in, deepening her voice to a husky tone, and gave the secret signal:
“Isn’t it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?”
The old man didn’t look up. He simply shoved the heavy gate open.”Uncle,” Lin Ying whispered, “where do I find a stall to sell?”
“Inside, turn right. Find the table,” he grunted.
Lin Ying stepped through. Inside, the atmosphere shifted. It was a world of hushed whispers and “sleeve-trading”[a silent way of bidding by squeezing fingers inside long sleeves to keep prices secret from onlookers].
She walked four hundred meters until she saw a large umbrella. Beneath it sat two men who looked like they stepped out of a pulp novel. One was thin and wiry, a blade of grass dancing between his teeth; the other was a burly man in a simple white vest, a fierce tiger tattooed across his brawny arm.
[Rank Detail: These are the “Enforcers.” The thin one is Bai Ge (White Pigeon), a scout and talker. The muscular one is Hu Zi (Tiger), the physical muscle of the operation.]
They were the trusted hands of Lu Qingyuan, the second male lead of this world. While the main hero was a pillar of justice, Lu Qingyuan was a man of the “grey” world—a roguish power player who protected the market with a mix of charm and iron fists.
Lin Ying straightened her shoulders. To survive the night, she had to play the part of a wealthy, dangerous stranger. She stepped toward the table, her Martin boots clicking firmly against the dirt.The summer heat was a heavy, physical weight, making the air shimmer over the dusty ground of the market. Hu Zi (Tiger) looked as though his soul was drifting into a midday nap. Without even opening his eyes fully, he droned, “Five cents a day. Market closes at eight. I’ll get you a wooden token.”
Lin Ying gave a small, firm nod. “Fine.”
Hu Zi didn’t spare her another glance, slumping back into his drowse. But Bai Ge (White Pigeon) was sharper. He eyed the bag slung over her shoulder; it looked light, nearly flat.
“What are you here to trade?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he took in her clean white shirt and those expensive-looking boots. He figured she was a pampered daughter from a wealthy family playing at being a rebel. “Let me warn you—don’t bring junk in here that nobody wants. This isn’t a playground.”
Lin Ying felt a flicker of secret satisfaction. It seems my disguise worked; even these seasoned street-dwellers think I’m someone with a powerful background.“Gold,” she said, her voice clipped and cool.
At that single word, Hu Zi’s head snapped up. The sleepiness vanished, replaced by a predatory gleam of interest. “How much do you have?”
Lin Ying didn’t flinch. “How much do you want?”
The two men exchanged a quick, meaningful look. Bai Ge leaned forward, his voice dropping to a smooth, persuasive hum. “Gold is tricky. Too much, and no one has the cash to touch it. Too little, and we’ll be haggling over pennies until the sun goes down. It’s getting dark soon—why not just hand it over to us? We’ll take the lot off your hands.“I’ll give it to you,” Lin Ying replied, her eyes tracking their movements, “but at what price? And besides… can you two actually make a decision like that?”
She knew Lu Qingyuan, the big boss, had his own code of honor, but these two underlings? They were wild cards.
Bai Ge stiffened, his pride stung. “How do you know what we can and can’t do? You’re a newcomer. You should learn a little humility.”
Lin Ying let a small, knowing smile play on her lips. “In this sweltering heat, anyone who actually has power would be indoors eating chilled watermelon and popsicles, not sweating out here under an umbrella.”Hu Zi blinked, looking genuinely baffled. “Actually… that makes a lot of sense.”Bai Ge sighed, defeated by his partner’s honesty. He had no choice but to lead her toward a small two-story building tucked away at the edge of the lot.
Inside, the air was marginally cooler. They found Lu Qingyuan exactly as Lin Ying had imagined. He wore a black short-sleeved shirt that strained against his broad, muscular chest.
[Attire Note: A black short-sleeved shirt in this era was often the mark of a ‘Big Brother’ or a man of the streets—practical, intimidating, and different from the drab blue or green uniforms of the factory workers.]
He was indeed eating a popsicle, a metal bucket overflowing with watermelon rinds sitting by his feet. He had sharp, sword-like eyebrows and a high bridge to his nose. He looked fierce—the kind of man who could end a fight with a single look.
“You’re the one offering gold?” he asked, his voice deep and raspy. He had heard that a big buyer was looking for high-purity gold recently. If this girl’s stash was good, the profit from reselling would be handsome.
Lin Ying nodded. Since she was dealing with the boss himself, she felt safer. She decided she could part with ten beads today without drawing too much heat.“How much?” he asked.
“Give me your price first,” she countered.Lu Qingyuan let out a short, dry bark of a laugh. “You’re just a young girl, aren’t you? Scared of taking a loss?”
“My gold is real, and the purity is high,” she said, her voice steady. “Check it yourself.”
She reached into her pocket and handed him a single golden bead. Lu Qingyuan caught it, his large calloused fingers rolling the metal. He bit down on it—the old-fashioned test—and examined the luster from every angle. A slow, genuine smile spread across his face.
“Good gold. High quality.”He named a price that was surprisingly fair. Lin Ying did the mental math quickly; it was a solid, honest rate for the black market.“Deal,” she said.
Hu Zi scrambled to bring over a small set of scales, carefully weighing the beads while Bai Ge clicked away on an abacus.
“You’re a straightforward person,” Lu Qingyuan noted, watching her with a newfound respect. “I like that. No games. Bai Ge, pay her.”
“Wait,” Lin Ying interrupted. “Can I exchange some of the cash for coupons?”
Lu Qingyuan looked relieved. “That’s actually easier for me.”
[Cultural Note: In this era, the Liangpiao (Grain Coupons) and other supply coupons were often more valuable than cash. Without them, you couldn’t buy cloth, meat, or even basic soap, as everything was rationed by the state.]
By the time she stepped out of that building, Lin Ying felt a delightful weight in her pocket. She had a thousand Yuan in crisp bills and a thick stack of life-saving coupons: grain, cloth, tea, sugar, meat, and even specific ones for cigarettes and menstrual belts. She felt like the richest person in Beicheng.
She was ready to slip away into the shadows when a familiar figure caught her eye near the gate. It was the female lead, Su Beibei.
Suddenly, a notification pinged in her mind.
[Gossip Task: Observe Su Beibei’s dispute scene. Reward: Three card draw opportunities!]
Look at that! Even when Su Beibei just stands there, trouble follows her like a shadow. They say she once accidentally tripped a thief just by dropping her handkerchief!
Lin Ying’s eyes lit up. A triple reward? As expected of the “Main Character” bonus. She adjusted her bangs, smoothed her white shirt, and blended into the crowd, eager to see what kind of drama was about to unfold.As Lin Ying adjusted her disguise and moved closer to a dense circle of onlookers. In the center of the clearing, Su Beibei was trapped. A man had a bruising grip on her arm, his face twisted in a mask of artificial outrage.
“If this isn’t settled today, you aren’t going anywhere!” the man roared, his voice echoing off the brick walls. “Coming here without a stall, peddling junk… this thing is a fake!”
Su Beibei’s expression remained stony, though her heart was sinking. In her previous life—before she transmigrated into this world—she had been a seasoned adult, but here she was just a student in a simple floral blouse. She hadn’t known about the Tan Wei Fei [Stall Fee: A small tax paid to the local ‘bosses’ for protection and a designated spot to sell]. She had simply spread her cloth on the dirt, hoping to sell the wild ginseng she’d found while walking home from school.
She had been so relieved to find a buyer for two hundred Yuan. She desperately needed that money for an introduction fee to a matchmaker; while her family wasn’t poor, her own pockets were bone-dry. But no sooner had the man handed over the cash than he had come charging back, screaming for blood.
“What exactly do you want?” Su Beibei asked, her voice like shards of ice.
“Tenfold compensation!” the man screamed, playing to the crowd. “This ginseng is for saving lives! Selling a fake is as good as murder! Look at her—just a slip of a girl with a heart as black as coal! Where would a peasant like you get real ginseng? You probably stole it!”
Can you believe the nerve? That’s ‘Old Pockmark’ Liu. He does this every month—buys something, swaps it for a fake in the alley, and then comes back to extort the seller. He thinks because she’s a young girl, she’ll cry and hand over her life savings.
Su Beibei tightened her grip on her cloth. She wasn’t sure if the root was real, but she wasn’t about to admit defeat. “Since you say it’s fake and I say it’s real, fine. I’ll give you your money back. The deal is off!”
“No way! You’ve insulted me!” the man barked.
The commotion finally drew the “big guns.” Hu Zi lumbered over, his tattooed arm flexed. He looked at the withered root, then at the girl. He wasn’t an expert on herbs; the black market was flooded with fakes, and usually, it was “buyer beware.”
“Is this thing real or not?” Hu Zi asked Su Beibei directly.
Su Beibei looked him in the eye. She knew if she faltered, she’d have to pay a fine she didn’t have. If she lied and got caught, she’d have to run. It was a fifty-fifty gamble. “It’s real,” she stated firmly.
Before the man could shout again, the crowd parted like the Red Sea. Lu Qingyuan approached, flanked by Bai Ge. The air seemed to grow colder in his presence. Even the loud-mouthed extortionist shrunk back, his voice dropping an octave.
“Master Lu,” the man stammered, “I didn’t mean to cause a scene on your turf, but this girl is a liar…”
“Enough,” Lu Qingyuan cut him off, his gaze lingering on Su Beibei for a second longer than necessary. He turned to Bai Ge. “Go find Bai Daifu [Doctor Bai: A local physician and herbalist who frequently traded in the market]. Let him settle this.”
Minutes later, an elderly man with the scent of dried herbs clinging to his coat arrived. He adjusted his spectacles, peered at the ginseng, and bruised a small piece of a rootlet to smell it.
“It’s genuine,” the doctor announced. “And high quality, at that.”
The extortionist deflated like a punctured tire. Su Beibei didn’t waste a heartbeat. She snatched her two hundred Yuan back from the man’s hand. “Give me my ginseng. I’m not selling to a scoundrel.”
“Now wait a minute,” the man hissed, trying to shove the root into his pocket. “I bought it, it’s mine!”
He tried to bolt, but Lu Qingyuan’s hand shot out like a viper, grabbing the man’s collar and hoisting him nearly off the ground. “Give. It. Back.”
The man trembled, shoved the ginseng at Su Beibei, grabbed his money, and vanished into the darkness of the alleys. As the crowd dispersed, Lin Ying watched from the shadows. She saw Su Beibei thanking Lu Qingyuan, whose usually fierce face looked uncharacteristically awkward—perhaps even a little flushed.
But the drama wasn’t over. A man with slicked-back hair and a sharp, tailored suit stepped out from the gloom. He looked like an official or a high-level manager. He approached Su Beibei with a polite smile.
“Excuse me, Comrade. Would you consider selling that ginseng to me instead?”
Lin Ying stayed back. She couldn’t hear the exact numbers, but she saw the man hand over a thick roll of bills and a slip of paper—likely his contact information. Su Beibei nodded, her eyes bright with success, and disappeared into the night.
[System Notification: Mission Successful! 3 Card Draws granted.]
Lin Ying smiled. She’d save those for a “Ten-Draw” later to maximize her luck. Now, she had a different goal. She needed to turn her black-market wealth into a “legitimate” life.
The next day at school, Lin Ying found her best friend, Lü Xiaoju.
“Xiaoju, can you do me a favor? Find out if the Ji Qi Chang [Machinery Factory] is hiring. I want in.”
Lü Xiaoju stared at her, eyes wide. “You’ve finally come to your senses? You’ve spent weeks saying you wanted to be an artist!”
Lin Ying leaned in, whispering with a playful wink, “It’s not that. I’ve come into a bit of a fortune, and I need a place to belong so people don’t ask questions.”
Xiaoju didn’t pry. Her family was well-off, and she assumed Lin Ying had just found a clever way to trade some old family heirlooms. “Alright! I’ll ask my dad tonight. Imagine—working together every day, walking home together… it’ll be just like school, but we’ll be getting paid!”
Lin Ying nodded, but her mind was racing. She remembered the plot of the book: when Su Beibei joined the factory, she was the only one hired. It had sparked a wave of nasty rumors about “backdoor deals” and “casting couches.”
If the factory isn’t officially holding a mass recruitment, then how did Su Beibei get that spot? If I try to squeeze in now, am I jumping into a pot of boiling water?
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