Volume One, Chapter 13: The Meeting of Enemies

The next morning, as Sun Yaqin and her elder brother were about to head out, Qin Xiangdong came looking for her.

“Are you two getting ready to go out?”

“Yes, my brother and I are taking these things to the market.”

Qin Xiangdong glanced at the items on the ground. “I happen to be heading in that direction. I’ll accompany you.”

Before Sun Yaqin could protest, Qin Xiangdong snatched the bag from her hand and slung it over his shoulder.

“Uh… Commander Qin, there’s a motorcycle. You can just hang the bags on it.”

Qin Xiangdong smiled sheepishly and placed the goods on the motorcycle. He patted the snow on his clothes and said, “I came to talk about the case. Chen Zhe was indeed on night duty the day the statement was stolen, and upon inquiry, Yang Mingli did go that day as well. All the evidence will be reprocessed. The conviction of Yang Zhigang and his wife is certain, and Yang Mingli’s theft of police investigation files will also result in a sentence of up to three years in prison.”

Sun Yaqin turned her face up to the morning sun. Decades of suppressed emotions finally poured out. When she turned back to face Qin Xiangdong and her brother, her usual coquettish smile returned.

“Thank you, Commander Qin. When you have time, I’d like to invite you to dinner.”

Qin Xiangdong wanted to decline but his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own. “Okay, I’m free the next few days.”

Sun Liancheng, standing nearby, felt grateful but also suspicious of Qin Xiangdong’s intentions toward his sister. He couldn’t help but think, This brat is quite bold.

“Then let’s meet at 6 p.m. at the Yingbin Restaurant at the south end of Beibin Road.”

Qin Xiangdong nodded. “Alright, see you at six. I won’t keep you now.”

Sun Yaqin smiled and nodded.

After Qin Xiangdong left, Sun Liancheng looked at his sister. “Little girl, you still haven’t made any money but you’ve already learned how to invite people to dinner.”

Sun Yaqin shot him a sideways glance. “What’s there to be afraid of? If I haven’t earned money, you’re still here. Besides, how do you know I won’t make any today?”

“You little rascal, you’re treating your big brother like a cash box.”

Sun Yaqin jumped onto the motorcycle’s back seat and urged, “Let’s go, big brother. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely fill that cash box of yours to the brim someday.”

It wasn’t a weekend, so the market was mostly filled with middle-aged and elderly folks, not too crowded.

“Brother Xu Tao!”

Sun Yaqin’s clear and sweet voice immediately caught Xu Tao’s attention.

He soon recognized her; such a pretty young lady was a rare sight.

“Sun! Yaqin!”

“It’s me! I’ve brought the goods to you today.”

Sun Yaqin waved to her brother, and Sun Liancheng brought over several bags from the motorcycle.

“Brother Xu, take a look!”

“Wow! So much! And it’s not even the minor New Year yet, and you’ve already come.”

Xu Tao opened a few bags to inspect them.

When he saw the largest bag filled with pork, his eyes widened. “Is this wild boar meat?”

Sun Yaqin playfully patted Xu Tao’s shoulder, no longer the gentle girl. “You’ve got good taste, Brother Xu.”

Xu Tao let out a soft whistle. “You little girl look small but you’re strong. Wild boar meat is hot stuff. Near the end of the year, even if hunters catch one, they’re reluctant to sell. Where did you get this?”

Before Sun Yaqin could answer, someone nearby joined in, “Wild boar meat? How much?”

Sun Yaqin smiled warmly. “Sir, it’s two yuan per jin.”

“Two yuan? That’s expensive.”

“Sir, it’s not expensive. Go check the state-run stores. Pork prices have risen a lot by year’s end, and supply can’t keep up with demand. Even with meat coupons, you might not get any. We only have this much wild boar meat now; in a few days, only roe deer and hill partridge will be left.”

The older man said nothing, but an auntie from the crowd pushed forward. “Miss, I’ll take a piece.”

“All right, Auntie!”

While Xu Tao stood stunned nearby, Sun Yaqin had already begun selling. More and more people gathered.

“How much for roe deer meat?”

“One yuan eighty.”

“Wasn’t it one yuan fifty a few days ago? Why the increase?”

“Auntie, it’s the end of the year. Not just here, even state-run shops have raised prices. Roe deer meat makes excellent meatballs!”

Sun Yaqin was articulate and sweet-talking, much better at selling than the usually gruff Xu Tao, who was now helping Sun Liancheng as a runner.

Word got out about wild boar meat for sale at the market, and many people rushed to buy. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to shop at state stores, but those required lining up early and often sold out before their turn.

Sun Yaqin hadn’t expected such good business; it was beyond her wildest hopes.

“Make way! Make way! Let me in to take a look!”

“Why are you pushing? Go queue at the back.”

A short woman in her forties squeezed through the crowd.

“Give me ten jin of pork!” The woman’s shrill voice was typical of a busybody gossip.

Sun Yaqin recognized the voice instantly. In her previous life, it belonged to someone who had often caused trouble for her family—none other than her Third Aunt.

“Third Aunt, what are you doing here?” Sun Liancheng greeted Yang Guizhi somewhat cautiously.

“Liancheng, what are you doing here? Hurry and pack ten jin of pork for me.”

Sun Yaqin’s expression darkened. “Third Aunt, if you want to buy, go queue at the back. It’s freezing, and these aunties and uncles have been waiting a long time.”

Hearing Sun Yaqin, the crowd grew fond of the young girl and spoke up in her defense. “Yes, go queue at the back.”

Though angry, Yang Guizhi couldn’t argue with so many against her and slinked to the back.

Sun Liancheng whispered to Sun Yaqin, “Leave some meat for Third Aunt. We don’t want her bothering Mom later.”

“You call her Third Aunt, but I don’t. If she wants to buy, she can queue like everyone else. No one is forcing her.”

Sun Yaqin didn’t want to indulge her nemesis—the very person who had been responsible for her parents’ deaths in her previous life. She knew Yang Guizhi well: no matter how much she cursed today, if she needed help tomorrow, she would pretend nothing had happened and beg humbly.

Sun Yaqin didn’t let Yang Guizhi’s presence spoil her mood and continued selling. By the time Yang Guizhi’s turn approached, the wild boar meat was sold out.

“Everyone waiting for wild boar meat, please don’t queue anymore; it’s sold out. But we still have wild chicken and roe deer meat.”

Sun Yaqin’s announcement thinned the crowd.

“We waited so long and didn’t get any. You owe us an explanation! Isn’t that right, everyone?”

Yang Guizhi expected support, but instead, people sided with Sun Yaqin.

“That little girl made us queue fairly. No one can buy more than five jin. Even you, as an aunt, weren’t allowed to cut in. What are you shouting for?”

People stepped forward to defend Sun Yaqin.

Yang Guizhi was a master provocateur. Usually, she could rally others to criticize the girl, but today she failed.

Her eyes darted as she hatched a scheme. “You all don’t know. That little girl is heartless. You’ve heard about the murder in the city recently, right? It was her own sister who seduced men everywhere, ruining a young girl’s life!”

The murder case had caused a stir, and everyone listened intently to Yang Guizhi’s gossip.

Just as she was getting into it, a loud slap landed squarely on her face. Yang Guizhi’s ears rang from the blow.