Chapter 13 Little Girl, Run Quickly, the United Squad Is Coming

After the stall owner finished introducing the clothes, he winked at Xu Lin with a look that said, “You know what I mean.” Xu Lin certainly understood. Not only had she lived through this special era in her past life, but she had also once been sent to a similar time period for a mission.

She knew how coveted imported goods were at this time, but also how strictly they were monitored. If someone was caught wearing clothes with foreign words on them, there would be no end of trouble; being noticed by the wrong people would spell disaster.

Of course, Xu Lin wasn’t worried about being duped with second-hand clothes disguised as new ones. She could tell the difference at a glance. No need to ask—her metaphysical abilities were top-notch. Forget a piece of clothing; even a person standing before her could be read like an open book with a little time. Still, Xu Lin rarely used such skills—spying on others’ privacy would harm her karma. Unless the other person consented, she would avoid using her abilities.

Seeing Xu Lin’s insistence on buying, the stall owner didn’t try to dissuade her further. There was no reason to turn away business delivered to his door. Just giving her a heads-up was enough to satisfy his conscience.

“Young lady, you can see the quality of these clothes for yourself. I don’t quote fake prices. This cotton jacket is forty-five, this one forty-seven, this one… The top and pants together are seventeen. Altogether, it’s five hundred eighty-nine. I’ll round it off for you—just give me five hundred eighty.”

Hearing a deal worth five hundred eighty-nine, the other vendors nearby stared at Xu Lin with blazing eyes. My goodness, a little tycoon!

“Five hundred fifty,” Xu Lin countered, her attempt at bargaining making the neighboring vendors cringe. They thought she didn’t know how to haggle at all—if it were them, they’d have tried to slash the price in half.

The stall owner stared into Xu Lin’s eyes for a moment, then suddenly grinned. “Alright, five hundred fifty.”

Xu Lin was silent for a moment, feeling she could have bargained harder. But then she remembered the stash of cash in her space and suddenly didn’t care. She wasn’t short on money; shopping was for her own happiness.

Soon, Xu Lin and the stall owner settled the transaction, and she walked away carrying a bundle of clothes.

After a few more steps, she noticed an old man approaching with a basket on his back. Xu Lin slowed her pace.

“Miss, would you like to buy a chicken? Home-raised old hens, fed on insects, still laying eggs,” the old man said, his face showing embarrassment. “My grandson has suddenly fallen gravely ill and urgently needs money for treatment. That’s why…”

He looked at Xu Lin with pleading eyes. In truth, the chickens were easy to sell, but he couldn’t afford to wait—he needed money right away.

Xu Lin saw the anxiety and unease on the old man’s face and asked, “How much?”

“The supply co-op sells for one yuan thirty per jin. I don’t need ration tickets; just give me two yuan per jin. Is that alright?”

It was pricier than the co-op, but that was normal—rice on the black market went for ten times the official price. Xu Lin could tell the old man wasn’t overcharging.

She agreed readily. “Alright, but you have to sell me the basket for one yuan as well.”

“Deal, deal—the basket is yours for free!” the old man said, rubbing his hands in delight. “These two chickens have been weighed at home. One is four and a half jin, the other four jin eight liang. I’ll count them as nine jin two liang together. Does that sound fair?”

Xu Lin could see his honesty. To encounter such a straightforward person on the black market was rare.

She completed the transaction quickly, and after receiving the basket, Xu Lin hesitated, then leaned in to whisper in the old man’s ear: “Your grandson isn’t ill from disease—someone has disturbed your family’s ancestral grave, angering your ancestors. When you get home, dig three meters northeast of the third grave—your great-grandfather’s. Unearth and burn whatever foul thing you find, then bury some Five Emperor Coins to suppress it. Your grandson’s illness will disappear without treatment.”

The old man was dumbstruck by her words. When he regained his senses, he looked around to ensure no one was paying attention, then whispered, “Should I use large or small Five Emperor Coins?”

“Either will do, though the large ones are more effective. If you can’t find large ones, the small will suffice—it won’t make much difference. It’s not a big deal,” she replied breezily.

The casual tone made the old man’s mouth twitch. Not a big deal? This concerned the feng shui of ancestral graves! Though superstition was officially discouraged, millennia of tradition couldn’t be dismissed so easily.

Moreover, the fact that Xu Lin could pinpoint the owner of the disturbed grave left the old man with no choice but to believe her.

Seeing Xu Lin about to leave, he hurriedly tried to return the money for the chickens. “Master, I know this isn’t much, but I really can’t afford more. Please don’t take offense.”

His voice was sincere, his eyes full of apology, which amused Xu Lin. She had only meant to offer a kind word of advice.

Still, it was customary for the recipient to pay—if the client didn’t pay, the practitioner would have to pay themselves.

Xu Lin thought for a moment, pulled out a single yuan note, and smiled. “This is enough.”

The old man looked anxious, wanting to say more, but Xu Lin just smiled and shook her head, turning away with an easy grace.

The old man clutched the money, his eyes reddened with gratitude. Truly, a capable and good-hearted person.

The black market in the capital had no shortage of good things. Xu Lin walked along, buying as she went. Money came easily and was spent just as freely.

It didn’t take long before word spread through the black market of a “rich and foolish young lady.” Her ostentatious behavior quickly drew the attention of those with ulterior motives.

But before Xu Lin could leave the market, a whistle sounded at the mouth of the alley.

At once, everyone sprang into action—some seized their stall corners and bundled up their goods to run, some slung baskets on their backs and fled, while others in the middle of a transaction, one having taken the money but not handed over the goods, tried to escape as the buyer clung on.

With no other choice, they ran and traded at the same time. Someone passing by Xu Lin, who was still standing there dumbly, whispered a warning: “Run, miss—the Joint Team is here.”

At the mention of the Joint Team, Xu Lin remembered. The Joint Team was much like the Red Armbands she’d encountered in the seventies of an alternate world. Only, in Dragon Country, the Red Armbands were called the Joint Team, the Revolutionary Committee was the Thought Committee, and the police were called Enforcement Officers.

Different names, but exactly the same functions.

Getting caught by the Joint Team was no joke!

Once Xu Lin understood, she immediately joined the rush. Though she started late, her speed was nothing to sneeze at. She did feel a bit regretful—she hadn’t finished shopping yet.

Dashing through the maze of alleyways, Xu Lin soon lost most of the crowd; only a few people trailed behind.

She wanted to reach an empty alley to stash her purchases, but when she sped up, those behind her sped up as well. When she turned, they turned too—following her relentlessly.

A flash of displeasure crossed Xu Lin’s face. What was the meaning of this? Were they after her?

If so, they had only themselves to blame if she didn’t go easy on them.

Xu Lin thought, “If you dare target me, don’t blame me for overturning your plans.”

Turning at a crossroads, Xu Lin ran a few steps deeper into the alley and then, in a blink, slipped herself and her belongings into her space.

She first stored her purchases in the big warehouse, arranging them on the shelves, and then observed the situation outside.

With one look, Xu Lin noticed something was off.