In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Wang Xingguo explained, "Master Twenty-One, I didn't know these things before either. I only learned how to distinguish them by asking my colleagues. A market with one red lantern is a ghost market, open only from 2 AM to 6 AM. A market with two red lanterns is a general merchandise night market, open from 7 PM to midnight. A market with one yellow lantern is a place that buys and sells hard currency, and it's open all night. A market with two yellow lanterns is a black market that both buys and sells hard currency. A market with two white paper lanterns is a mobile black market with someone watching over it. A mobile black market with one white paper lantern is one without anyone watching over it."

Another cousin, Wang Xingwen, who had just returned from military service, exclaimed in surprise, "I never imagined that reselling things could be so complicated. This is truly an eye-opener."

Wang Xingguo said with a smile, "Actually, there are specific distinctions. For example, what you tie to the lantern represents what goods you sell inside. If you tie water plants and reeds, you sell aquatic products; if you tie thin rope and straw, you sell grains; if you tie oil paper, you sell meat; and if you tie candy wrappers, you sell tobacco, alcohol, tea, and candy. We don't tie anything to the lantern, but we still hang two yellow lanterns, which means we do both buying and selling. The fact that the lanterns don't have any markings means that we have everything."

Wang Xingguo had no idea about these rules!

I got all of this from Er Gouzi. Because Er Gouzi climbed up from the very bottom, he's a true veteran of the underworld.

It was because of his competence that he caught the eye of his powerful backer. He used to be a gofer for a boss, but he gained the favor of his backer and climbed up the ranks step by step.

Therefore, Er Gouzi is different from many other people in the underworld. He is very sensible in his actions and keeps his promises very well.

This is not only because he cares about his reputation, but also because if he breaks his promises, his backers will lose trust in him, and then he will be unable to continue working.

Everyone has their own shackles, and isn't Wang Xingguo also carrying shackles?

How can he tell whether the people who come to buy things are from the neighborhood?

There's no way to tell them apart, so as long as the person who comes isn't a capitalist or someone from the previous dynasty, he can't overcharge them.

As for how to differentiate them, he does business with acquaintances. The big client he had someone bring over tonight will be his main client in the future!

Some individuals who know the rules are also treated as major clients.

Another relatively easy way to distinguish them is by the clothes the visitors are wearing. See if they are wearing cadre uniforms, because cadres' family members also generally wear these two types of clothes, while people from the previous dynasty and lackeys of capitalists do not have cadre uniforms to wear.

If such a person really appeared, Wang Xingguo would accept selling the goods at a low price.

Trading in bills on the black market is a crucial way to make money, but he can't do that business. Also, fine grains are the most profitable, but he can't do that either.

He actually has quite a few constraints, but because he has his own space, fish, and eels, he doesn't care about losing so many profitable businesses. In fact, unless someone is wealthy, the prices of goods have to be lower.

This was a rule set by that person for Wang Xingguo, which he had to abide by. Moreover, no tribute was required from him; he considered the money he earned less as a way of showing respect to that person.

At 8 p.m. sharp, everyone started opening the doors and hanging lanterns!

Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the front gate.

To Wang Xingguo's surprise, the first customer to arrive was Qian Sihai, and he brought five other clients with him!

Wang Xingguo bowed respectfully and said, "Brother Sihai, welcome, welcome! Please come inside!"

Qian Sihai returned the greeting with a smile, "Haha, Brother Wang, I heard you're having a grand opening today, so I came to show my support. I wish you booming business and a constant flow of wealth!"

Since Qian Sihai had such an attitude, Wang Xingguo naturally couldn't be impolite and warmly welcomed the six people in.

After a brief introduction, the customers brought by Qian Sihai went to look at the goods on their own.

With Wang Changshun and Wang Yongli helping to collect the money tonight, Wang Xingguo doesn't need to worry about it.

From now on, Wang Yongli will be in charge of the head manager. He is good at math and can calculate simple accounts without an abacus.

Moreover, there aren't many people in the clan who are knowledgeable about things like jade, gold, and silver dollars, but Wang Yongli is one of them.

His father, Wang Changqing, was in charge of managing the clan's assets, essentially acting as the clan's accountant. As a result, Wang Yongli learned about these things quite well from a young age.

Wang Xingguo showed Qian Sihai the goods in the store and promised, "Brother Sihai, as our store's first customer, I guarantee you a preferential price when you come to buy goods from me in the future."

Qian Sihai nodded in satisfaction and said, "Then thank you very much, Brother Wang. Putting everything else aside, I must support your business tonight. Give me two hens; I need to help you get off to a good start."

Wang Xingguo smiled and nodded, then told someone to give Qian Sihai two hens, charging him only seven yuan.

With everyone showing such support, Wang Xingguo was only offering the hens that originally sold for four yuan and fifty cents each for three yuan and fifty cents.

This is the first sale, and we can't say we won't take the money if we want to make a good start, otherwise it will be bad luck.

Qian Sihai brought the two chickens tied with straw into the living room, found a place to sit down, and Uncle Wang Yonghao, who was in charge of serving tea and water tonight, made Qian Sihai a cup of tea.

Just then, someone came to inform us that Wang Xingguo's guests had arrived at the west gate of the Central Court. Wang Xingguo apologized to Qian Sihai and quickly went out to greet his guests.

The man who came was nicknamed Fatty Wang. He was a black market boss in the East District. Most of the industrial goods and miscellaneous items that Wang Xingguo brought back were traded with him.

He also brought three people with him, one of whom was his younger brother, and the other two were major clients.

Wang Xingguo greeted them warmly, but wouldn't personally take the big clients to see the goods, because whether to buy or sell was up to them. Once inside the market, they could look for what they wanted to buy themselves; arranging for someone to take them to see the goods was against the rules of the black market.

Just as they escorted Fatty Wang into the living room, another group arrived. Wang Xingguo apologized and went to greet the new guests, leaving Fatty Wang to be entertained by Wang Changshun and the others.

More and more people came, and Wang Xingguo was so busy that as soon as he received someone, another guest would arrive.

Qian Sihai set a good example, and the people who came after him also brought things with them. They sold more and more things. Wang Changshun and his group collected money by taking notes and stamping them. They could go out without taking anything, but if they had something, they could go out with a stamped note and the date written on it.

There's no need to worry about this being inappropriate, because most black markets do it this way; otherwise, how would anyone know if you've paid for the items you have?

Master Niu brought about ten big clients over. Half of the cigarettes and alcohol were sold out, and more than twenty high-priced water buckets were sold. Because live fish are a rare commodity here, many of the clients who came bought water buckets and wanted to buy some live fish to take back.

Er Gouzi was not to be outdone, bringing eight customers as well. However, this guy was a bit cunning, bringing customers who lived far away from his establishment.

The ingredients kept being bought up. Dog meat was the first to sell out, followed by mutton, then chicken, then pork, and finally duck.

Nearly four baskets of chicken and duck eggs were sold in one night, the vegetables were completely sold out, and a lot of all kinds of goods were sold!