Wealthy Beauty in the 60s
Chapter 56 - 55: Encounter

Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Encounter

Gao Guoqiang’s words clearly showed disapproval of Gao Jiazhi being with Teacher Wang; he probably did not have a good impression of the teacher.

"Jiazhi, you still want to study, don’t you? You can go back to school and finish Gao Er next year, and then take the college entrance examination the year after," Zheng Xianghong said immediately.

Gao Guoqiang nodded, "Your mother is right. You should go back to school."

Gao Jiazhi shook his head, "No, I don’t want to study anymore. It’s been so long since I touched a textbook, I’ve forgotten everything. I’m not in the mood to study now."

"What do you want to do then?" Zheng Xianghong looked at Gao Jiazhi.

"Work in the production team farming." As soon as Gao Jiazhi finished speaking, Gao Guoqiang commented, "Ambitious."

"Anyway, I’m not studying anymore. It would just be a waste of money, and I wouldn’t be able to get into university." Gao Jiazhi truly did not want to study anymore. He knew his own capabilities; he had neglected his studies for too long, and picking them up again would not be easy. Besides, supporting Jiaxing’s education was already difficult for the family. Now that Jiaxing was doing well in his studies, let him continue. Gao Jiazhi’s heart was no longer in it.

Gao Jiaxing returned to his room, lit a kerosene lamp, and pulled out a rusty iron box from under the bed. He opened it and counted the money and tickets inside.

These were the earnings Gao Jiaxing had split with Ge Lai and others when they went hunting and let Ge Lai sell their catch on the black market.

Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong were unaware of this money, and Gao Jiaxing wouldn’t bring it out. Whenever there was a little money in the house, Old Lady Gao always kept an eye on it, always borrowing it for various reasons.

Gao Jiaxing understood the family’s situation and wouldn’t foolishly bring out the money.

Late in the evening, when Gao Jiazhi was already asleep, Gao Jiaxing nudged him, "Brother, wake up."

"Jiaxing, what is it?" Gao Jiazhi asked.

"Tomorrow, Ge Lai and the others are going hunting at Nanhua Mountain; are you coming, brother?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Jiazhi immediately woke up and sat up from his bed, "What? Going to Nanhua Mountain? No way."

"Brother, it’s not like we haven’t been there before," Gao Jiaxing said.

Gao Jiazhi disapprovingly looked at Gao Jiaxing, "Have you forgotten how you were internally injured by a bear last time? Now that you’re healed, you’ve forgotten the pain."

"That was just carelessness. We’ll be careful this time," Gao Jiaxing was unconcerned.

"No, if mom and dad find out, they definitely won’t agree," Gao Jiazhi still disagreed.

"Then we just won’t let mom and dad find out. We’re so financially strapped, there’s hardly any money at home. The meat on the black market is selling for a fortune now. I heard that a radish is selling for one yuan." Gao Jiaxing said. Last time, they caught two snakes; one was given to the production team, and Gao Jiaxing kept the other for Zheng Xianghong to make snake wine. Otherwise, Gao Jiaxing would have sold it on the black market.

"What, you went to the black market too? You really are bold," Gao Jiazhi was shocked by Gao Jiaxing.

"What’s the big deal?" Gao Jiaxing was indifferent.

"Don’t you know how chaotic the black market can get? What if someone robs you? This could end up costing lives," Gao Jiazhi said.

"Who would dare rob us? Moreover, Ge Lai has connections in the county. Just let him sell it. We’ll give him a share—we don’t have to show our faces. We just need to catch the game," Gao Jiaxing was still keen to make money.

"Nanhua Mountain is still too dangerous. So many people have lost their lives there," Gao Jiazhi shook his head.

Gao Jiaxing, seeing this, no longer tried to persuade him, "If brother isn’t going, I will go, but don’t tell Mom and Dad."

As he spoke, Gao Jiaxing added another sentence, "If I get some money, I’ll share some with you."

Gao Jiazhi, seeing that Gao Jiaxing was heedless of his advice and intent on going to Nanhua Mountain, could only say, "Alright, I’ll go with you."

Gao Jiaxing had originally wanted to bring Gao Jiazhi along, so the brothers could hunt and earn money together, but seeing that Gao Jiazhi had finally agreed, he became worried and immediately said, "Brother, maybe you should stay at home."

"Do what?" Gao Jiazhi looked at Gao Jiaxing discontentedly.

"Nanhua Mountain is so dangerous, if something happens to me, you’ll still be there to look after Mom and Dad. If something happens to both of us, who will take care of them?"

As soon as Gao Jiaxing finished speaking, he received an eye roll and a smack from Gao Jiazhi, "You know it’s dangerous, don’t you?"

"Yes, fortune comes with risks, and who doesn’t want to live a better life? Farming merely provides enough to eat, but supporting a family is a problem. Our family is like this, Dad is the head of the production team, and life is still tight. In the future, we’ll need to get married and have children, can we really let our wives and children live a life of hunger and cold?"

These words moved Gao Jiazhi. Indeed, farming all year round was hard and barely sustainable, with little money in hand. Although the black market was pricey, it was indeed a way to make money.

The next day, as soon as it was light, the Gao brothers left home early.

Xia Xiao went early in the morning with Wang Aihua and others to apply fertilizer in the fields. By noon, after finishing, she returned to the Youth Point, and using the excuse of seeking Zheng Xianghong, she slipped into a space.

Like always, on her first stop, Xia Xiao went to the Nanhua Mountain Bear Cave but found the Black Bear family warily watching the entrance. Seeing their expressions different from usual, she did not dare to go inside.

However, upon seeing Xia Xiao, the bear couple seemed relieved and presented her with a wild rabbit.

Xia Xiao quickly took it, placed it in a cage, and put it into the space. She hadn’t expected the Black Bear to give her a honey jar as well.

"There might be many people coming into the mountains to hunt recently, be careful," Xia Xiao advised before she entered into the space.

In the city, dressed as usual, she went to a young woman’s house, but after knocking for a long time, no one answered.

Xia Xiao originally wanted to ask the young woman if she wanted the rabbit, but since she was not home, Xia Xiao had no choice but to wander through the black market.

As soon as she arrived at the black market, Xia Xiao ran into Ge Lai, which startled her, and she left quickly, only to run into the Gao brothers as soon as she left.

Oh my god, Xia Xiao quickly found a place to hide. It was not her lucky day—either it was Ge Lai or the Gao brothers, both too dangerous.

Soon after, Xia Xiao saw the Gao brothers stop, and Ge Lai and Hong Xing came out; they seemed to be dividing money and soon left.

They must have gone to the black market to sell something. Xia Xiao paused; they must have been selling game. They had gone into the mountains that morning, so that’s why the Black Bear couple was so wary when they saw her.

With that realization, it all made sense to Xia Xiao.

Because of Ge Lai and the Gao brothers, Xia Xiao didn’t dare stay in the county town anymore, and after entering the space, she immediately went back to the production team.

This was too frightening; it seemed the black market should be avoided for now. Judging by Ge Lai and Hong Xing, it wasn’t their first or second time; an encounter would really be troublesome.

For the next few days, Xia Xiao didn’t see the Gao brothers, and even when she asked Zheng Xianghong, she didn’t know where the two had gone off to.

Xia Xiao was even more certain that the Gao brothers were out hunting with Ge Lai. However, she hadn’t seen Liu Haiguo; perhaps after their last encounter, Ge Lai deemed Liu Haiguo unreliable.