"Shh, let's talk about this when we get back, okay?" Gu Shichu hurriedly stopped her. Doing things like this requires keeping a low profile, otherwise if someone reports it, you'll be in big trouble.
Zhang Weihong showed an expression of understanding, her face became stern, and she did not mention the matter again, but they already had an idea in their minds.
Gu Shichu suddenly remembered that it was already 1971 and the college entrance examination would be resumed in five years, so she asked Zhang Weihong: "How old are you now? Have you finished junior high school or high school?"
Zhang Weihong was very proud when she talked about her education: "I graduated from high school when I was 18! My grades in school were among the best!"
Gu Shichu showed an expression of admiration and amazement, and said, "Wow! You are so amazing. You must like reading very much. Did you bring books with you to continue studying when you went to the countryside?"
"Of course I brought all my high school textbooks with me. I plan to read and review them when I have time. My dad wants me to be more active while working so that I can be recommended to go to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University. I have never given up studying." Zhang Weihong said proudly. A high school diploma is already very high now, but she is a person with aspirations and she still wants to go to college. Naturally, she has to review her knowledge from time to time, so as not to fall behind others after entering college.
Gu Shichu was delighted and immediately said, "You are indeed a diligent and studious person. You will definitely be able to successfully go to university. By the way, can I borrow your book to read?"
She said to Zhang Weihong with an embarrassed look on her face: "I only went to junior high school for one year and then I ran out of money to continue. I envy you for going to high school. The knowledge in high school must be different from that in junior high school. It must be much more advanced, right? It's a pity that I don't have the blessing to continue studying, so I thought it would be nice to take a look at the high school textbooks, so that I can be considered someone who has some connection with high school..."
Gu Shichu spoke so sincerely that Zhang Weihong was instantly moved by her "sincerity and seriousness" towards learning and knowledge. She immediately patted her chest and said generously: "Since you have the spirit of pursuing knowledge and continuous learning, of course I will lend you the textbook! If you don't understand, I can still teach you."
She was so enthusiastic and sincere in wanting to help him that Gu Shichu even felt a little guilty that his purpose was not as simple as she imagined.
"Thank you. I will take good care of your books and ask you for help if I have any questions." Gu Shichu said to her with emotion. Thinking that Zhang Weihong was so sincere to her, she would remind Zhang Weihong in advance when the college entrance examination was about to resume so that she could have more time to review, which would increase her chances of getting into university.
Naturally, Gu Shichu also had to take the college entrance examination. She couldn't stay in Zhoujia Village as a country girl all her life, and taking the college entrance examination was the most convenient and reliable way to enter the city in this era.
Only in a big city can Gu Shichu live like a fish in water, free and without so many constraints.
Although the original owner did not go to high school, she completed elementary school and one year of junior high school. If she asked Zhang Weihong for extra lessons, it would be shocking for her to be admitted to university, but it would not be so suspicious.
Originally, Gu Shichu was worried that she would not be able to find her high school textbooks, but she didn't expect that Zhang Weihong already had them, which saved her a lot of trouble.
Having planned his study tasks for the next few years, Gu Shichu was in a very happy mood and even walked with extra energy.
More than an hour later, they arrived at the county town. Gu Shichu and the aunt who also brought eggs went to the supply and marketing cooperative, returned the eggs to the cooperative, and then parted ways.
She found a remote and deserted place, entered the companion space and disguised herself as a thin middle-aged man with a beard.
Gu Shichu had not yet forgotten his previous tracking and investigating skills, and he quickly followed the trail and found the secret black market.
People in the black market are very alert, and the bargaining voices are kept very low. Everyone is on guard at all times.
Gu Shichu stood on the roadside holding the fish in the bucket, waiting for interested customers to come and ask the price.
Soon a middle-aged woman in her thirties saw the fish jumping around in her bucket and asked in a low voice, "How much do you sell this fish for?"
Gu Shichu had learned about the prices at the supply and marketing cooperative, so he replied, "80 cents a pound."
"So expensive? It's only 50 or 60 cents per pound in the supply and marketing cooperative!" said the middle-aged woman in surprise.
"The supply and marketing cooperative requires meat coupons, but I don't need them. Of course they are more expensive. Besides, my fish are grown so well, with little fat and few bones! They are also highly nutritious and most suitable for the elderly and children at home." Gu Shichu promoted his product.
The middle-aged woman hesitated and murmured, "This is too expensive... Can it be cheaper? 70 cents a pound?"
Gu Shichu flatly refused: "No! I have no problem selling these fish."
Seeing that she refused so firmly, the middle-aged woman had to grit her teeth and said, "Then buy me a small one."
Gu Shichu borrowed a scale from the vegetable seller next door and weighed a fish for her: "Five pounds and three ounces, just give me four dollars and twenty cents." The middle-aged woman paid the money with a painful heart and left quickly with the fish.
It didn't take Gu Shichu long to sell the remaining fish. She also took out some mountain products such as black fungus and shiitake mushrooms that she had picked earlier from the companion space to sell. These things were durable and therefore very popular. Before long, Gu Shichu had earned nearly a hundred yuan.
With the money, she immediately changed from a seller to a buyer. There were quite a lot of things sold in the black market. Gu Shichu looked at the stalls one by one, bought whatever she wanted, and was straightforward and generous. So everyone started to sell their things to her.
"Do you want the defective cloth, big brother?" A man in his twenties held Gu Shichu's arm and asked in a low voice, "It's just that the color is not dyed well, it won't affect the use. It's blue, and it's very resistant to dirt and wear when made into clothes."
Gu Shichu stopped and asked: "Can you show it to me?"
The young man then pulled her into a secluded corner and showed her the cloth.
Gu Shichu took a look and found that the cloths were indeed not dyed properly and the patterns were blurred, but there was no problem using them.
Although Gu Shichu wanted to dress better, the space she had was not able to do so, and she only had the cloth coupon given by Ji Mingtao. She had no way of buying enough clothes or fabrics, so she had to adapt to the local customs and buy these defective cloths to make her own clothes.
"How to sell it?" Gu Shichu asked.
"Two dollars a foot!" said the young man.
"This is too expensive! It's a defective cloth, not a normal and intact one. Can't it be cheaper?" This time it was Gu Shichu's turn to bargain.
The young man rolled his eyes and said, "Brother, this doesn't require coupons. How can you expect it to be cheaper? I took a big risk to sell it."
Gu Shichu was speechless. She felt that things have changed over time and now it was someone else's turn to say this to her. After bargaining to no avail, she had no choice but to buy four feet of cloth at the price of two yuan per foot.