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People were already going hungry even when they have jobs. Now, no longer having any income, these people can only exchange valuable items at home for food and necessities. Stalls and black markets have emerged as time goes on.
Only a handful of people managed to keep their jobs. Soon, Su Han also became a member of the unemployed army.
At noon on day 7, the lady boss made an announcement after lunch, “I’m going to close the noodle shop. You guys go find some other ways to make a living.”
‘The days of freeloading are over?’ Su Han was a little disappointed. These 7 days in the instance, she didn’t have to worry about food or housing because she worked in the noodle shop. Not only did she not have to eat anything from her warehouse, she even saved up a bit more rations (milk, brown bread, soap bought with her salary).
Even when the noddle shop provided one less meal, Su Han still didn’t have to eat anything from her warehouse – the daily consumption of satiety is about 50, and two bowls of noodles were enough to fill the level back to 100.
‘Now that I don’t have a job, what should I do for the rest of the day?’ Su Han sank into contemplation.
Without saying anything, the cook quietly went back to the kitchen to pack up.
Seeing Su Han not moving, the lady boss sighed and said in a sad tone, “Sorry, there’s nothing I can do about it. The noodle shop really can’t go on, I also have to leave a way for myself.”
Su Han was stunned, she smiled and said, “It’s okay, I understand.” In fact, she was very surprised to be able to stay in the noodle restaurant until the 7th day.
Waving goodbye, Su Han left without taking anything from the shop.
*****
After thinking about it, she decided to go see what people are selling in the stalls. Maybe someone is willing to take out some valuable materials in exchange for food?
On the way, Su Han witnessed three robberies in just ten minutes.
The first robbery, a middle-aged man with stubble on his face snatched a lollipop from a little girl that looked like she’s in kindergarten, he then turned around and ran away.
The second robbery, an old man in his seventies was walking down the road when he was suddenly pushed to the ground. The robber rummaged through all the pockets on the old man’s body. After taking the money, the robber yelled at the old man and swaggered away.
“Crazy, everyone’s going crazy.” Su Han muttered. She had underestimated the degree of danger outside. Su Han began to avoid suspicious people and stayed on the main street. But even so, she was still targeted.
*****
Su Han silently looked at the woman and two men that surrounded her. A young girl walking alone on the road looked too conspicuous and they blocked her way thinking she was easy to bully. The only woman among the robbers grinned, “Take out everything you have. I will let you go if you hand everything over obediently.”
Su Han obediently reached onto her pocket… and actually took out the slingshot and steel beads from the warehouse.
The female robber was initially overjoyed, thinking that the prey would give up her things compliantly, who knew in the next second, she actually pulled out a slingshot and shot a steel bead at them. With a “clang”, a hole broke through the can of coke in one of the robber’s hands, and the drink splashed everywhere.
The three were dumbfounded.
Su Han slowly took out another steel bead and said, “When I hit people, I always like to hit them right in their face.”
The female robber’s face turned blue.  A steel bead that can pierce a can of coke, if it hit her face…. “Go!” As she spoke, she took the lead in running away. The men followed behind. The three of them ran away speedily, not even daring to turn their heads back.
Su Han put everything back into the warehouse, “I have to find a way to get a backpack. There’s no free slot in the warehouse anymore.”
The bag of steel beads, once opened, are counted by beads, not by the bag. In other words, it occupied one more slot in the warehouse.
“If there’s a backpack, I can put these steel beads inside.” Su Han continued to move towards the market, full of expectations.
Perhaps other robbers saw what happened just now and realized she was not easy to provoke, no one else approached her on the way to the market.
*****
Soon, Su Han reached the market. This “market” is just people selling their belongings in makeshift stalls everywhere in a small park.
“Candles, useful candles! Don’t miss them when you pass by!”
“Matchbox, lighter, flint and more! come and take a look if you’re interested!”
“Super thick quilts, very warm! Interested buyers come check it out!”
“Nylon backpack! Extremely durable! I bought it less than half a month ago, at least 90% new!”
‘Nylon backpack?’ Su Han followed the sound and saw that the stall owner was negotiating with a customer, “Nylon material, absolutely wear-resistant, and it’s particularly light to carry! Has good elasticity and doesn’t smell easily.”
The customer asking about the bag was obviously moved but he hesitated, “The two pieces of bread for the bag is too expensive! I will buy it if you’ll sell it for one piece of bread.”
The stall owner was anxious, “How is it expensive? I spent more than a hundred coins to buy this bag! How much can two loaves of bread cost?!”
“You can’t calculate it like that.” The customer was not worried at all, and he righteously said, “Look at the times we’re living in now, besides, if the backpack is more valuable would you be taking it out to exchange it with bread? Nowadays, gold has a price, but food is priceless!”
Su Han took a glance at the nylon backpack, it looked really new so she butted in, “Two loaves of brown bread for this backpack, right? I’ll buy it.” The stall owner was taken aback, and then he was delighted, “I knew there would be someone who can tell it’s value!!”
The costumer that was haggling with the stall owner turned his head looking rather displeased, “Suddenly interrupting when others are in the middle of a transaction, aren’t you being rude?”
“Then why don’t you pay two loaves of bread; I won’t snatch it from you.” Su Han was not polite at all, “You kept bargaining but you look like you don’t have any intentions to buy it, so I spoke out.”
“Yes! That’s right! He was bargaining desperately, but he had no intention of buying the bag at all!” The stall owner nodded and tried his best to agree with this potential customer, “Miss, do you want to buy it? The price is not expensive, as long as you pay two loaves of bread, this backpack is yours.”
The other costumer was upset. He was certain he could get the backpack for only one loaf of bread, who knew someone would jump out to make trouble.
The customer, with a look of realization, looked back and forth between Su Han and the stall owner, he then said with a sneer, “You two are in this together, right? You’re trying to trick people into buying this bag for two pieces of bread?”
Su Han was speechless, then she said “You’re overthinking things.”
“Alright, then you buy it, I will give you this opportunity.” The costumer took the initiative to hand her the backpack with a mocking look, “I’m not going to be fooled, this backpack’s worth no more than a pieces of bread!”
With a smile, the stall owner looked at Su Han cautiously, “Then this bag…”
“I’ll buy this bag since he doesn’t want it.” She quickly took out two loaves of brown bread from her pocket and handed them over. The stall owner was ecstatic, “Okay, here’s your backpack!”
Su Han smoothly put the backpack on her back then walked away to check out other stalls.
The other costumer was completely rendered speechless, he stood there with his mouth hanging open for a long time.
*****
After exchanging the last piece of brown bread with five candles, Su Han walked to the next stall and asked, “How do you sell these lighters and flint?”
The stall owner was thrilled ‘This is a rich master! She can take out several loaves of bread without blinking her eyes!”
He passionately said, “This customer, you have a great vision! There are limited edition lighters, they’re very expensive!”
She replied with an indifferent expression, “Cut it out. I am buying a lighter for ignition, it doesn’t matter if it’s a limited edition or not.” The limited edition might be good-looking and commemorative, but it doesn’t contain much fuel.
The stall owner: “…”
“Normal lighters are fine, name a price. In addition, if you have flint, I want it too.” She added lightly.
Flint is a good thing. If you use it with a magnesium strip, it’s easy to start a fire. The lighter is good, but it has less fuel and can only be used a few times. A flint stone on the other hand, can be used many times.
The stall owner moved his lips and asked, “It’s not impossible to sell you a flint stone. The question is, what can you pay in exchange?”
“What do you want?”
Although she has a lot of materials in the warehouse, she doesn’t want to blindly guess the price and got slaughtered like a fat sheep.
“You tell me what you have first.” The stall owner insisted.
Su Han replied, “No, you tell me what you want first, and we’ll continue our discussion if I find the price suitable, if not I can go somewhere else.”
Can go somewhere else… These words were too hurtful. The stall owner has squatted here for half a day, but not even one person expressed interest in his lighters and flint stones.
In fact, when exchanging goods, people don’t pay much attention to the original price of these things anymore. It’s easy to get a good price for things that are in demand like food and necessities. For things like gold and jewelry, no matter how valuable they originally were, no one wants them now, so they’ve become worthless.
The stall owner wet his lips and said the price he thought was reasonable in his heart, “I’ll give you 5 ordinary lighters, 1 flint stone, plus a magnesium strip, for two loaves of bread, no bargaining!”
Su Han checked her warehouse and felt a little helpless, “I don’t have brown bread.” She still has buttered bread, but she doesn’t plan to take those out to exchange.
‘Then why are you asking what I want!’ The stall owner rolled his eyes.
She went on to say, “Is one bar of soap and one bottle of milk all right?”
‘Soap?!’ The stall owner suddenly widened his eyes. He knew that the value of soap in the black market is very high, one bar of soap can be used to exchange two or even three loaves of brown bread!
“Deal!” The stall owner eagerly agreed.
When the deal was concluded, Su Han put everything into her backpack, and then left the market.
Of course, her extravagant shopping spree has attracted the attention of some people. These people secretly followed her in an attempt to find a hidden place to snatch her stuff.
*****
Su Han walked slowly, with a smile on the corner of her mouth. She, of course knew that wealth turn heads, and she also knew that in today’s world, food and daily necessities are more precious than money.
A normal girl would have avoided attracting attention and go to different markets to gather the goods one by one to not leave a trace. It just so happens… she is not a normal girl.
She knows self-defense, knows how to use a slingshot, has a vest line, and often goes out camping in the wild. In short, Su Han considered herself a tough girl.
She stayed too long in the noodle shop, most of the customers she met were living in good conditions, she couldn’t use them as reference.
It’s time to find (catch) some individuals to chat and ask about the conditions of people at the bottom (of the pyramid).