Back to the 60s: The Struggle Career of a Charmed Wife
Chapter 953 - 0953 Capital Chronicle 1

Chapter 953: Chapter 0953 Capital Chronicle 1

The situation in the Capital was more dangerous than in Shanghai, yet the Forbidden City Museum was well protected, and the Cultural Relics Bureau was also spared, allowing a large number of cultural relics to be preserved. Most of the damage was likely from items confiscated from people’s homes.

Valuable cultural artifacts and paintings in the homes of people like Wen Ruyu, Jin Ruochu, and Huang Qinghong had long been destroyed right in front of them.

Such fine treasures could never be retrieved.

Therefore, all Lu Jiang and Feng Qingxue could do was wander through the large and small scrap yards, scavenging as many cultural relics as possible. Constantly changing their appearance, they visited different scrap yards every day without arousing anyone’s suspicion.

After five days of hard work, Feng Qingxue realized when sorting and recording that the number of cultural relics found in the Capital’s scrap yards was in fact less than in Shanghai’s.

Of course, that didn’t count the items they had stolen from the cultural relics department.

"It’s quite normal." Having understood the situation, Lu Jiang had been prepared, "Most of what’s sent to the scrap yards are broken pieces of metal, furniture, porcelain, and the like. Gold and silver items would have been turned over to the state, and things like books and paintings that could be burned were instantly turned to ash."

There were particularly many large households in the Capital, with the belongings of over a hundred thousand households—a vast amount.

Feng Qingxue heaved a sigh, "Even though I was prepared, I’m very sad to think of the fate of those cultural relics and paintings that couldn’t be found in the Capital’s scrap yards compared to Shanghai’s. Let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s go to the black market and the second-hand market, then to the military to see if we can meet Tianjun."

Even new soldiers had some time to rest; they couldn’t be living every day in training and study.

Feng Qingxue specifically checked the date; tomorrow was the weekend, and they could make the trip then.

Lu Jiang gazed at her indulgently, "Good, we’ve visited nearly seven or eight out of every ten scrap yards, so let’s try the black market and see if there’s anything to buy. I’ve brought quite a bit of money, and I might be able to buy you some jewelry."

"Bring some food too. Some people don’t want money; they only want food," Feng Qingxue was all too familiar with the black market scene.

In the dim light of the evening, the couple happily slipped into a nearby black market.

Feng Qingxue, having lived in the Capital for some time, of course knew the location of the black market.

Whether buyer or seller, most were on their own, all alert and watchful. Many people carried nothing on them, obviously planning to negotiate here and then move to a secluded spot to make the transaction.

Lu Jiang asked Feng Qingxue in a low voice, "Is it always done like this?"

He couldn’t help but feel cold sweat on Feng Qingxue’s behalf for her past transactions in the black market. What would she do if she encountered villains?

Feng Qingxue thought for a moment, "Not entirely, some people who want to sell food will still carry it with them; otherwise, how would anyone know they have food to sell? Who would approach them to discuss a deal?" It’s all about the know-how.

Seeing through Lu Jiang’s thoughts, she whispered with a laugh, "Ajiang, I’m not that foolish. I’m very cautious during trades, always on my guard. I either choose elderly grandmas or elderly grandpas for transactions, and I often pick the place to trade. Sometimes, I’ll hide and watch if the person who comes is the one I’m supposed to meet. If several strong men or such arrive, I won’t show up. However, as everyone really wants to buy food, they all abide by the rules of the black market."

Lu Jiang said quietly, "Don’t come to the black market alone in the future, but the second-hand market is fine." The latter was open and aboveboard, whereas the black market was a speculative trading spot strictly forbidden by the state, conducted in secret and thus not fully trustworthy.