Using a tomb as a black market really took a special kind of genius, but the ancient Chinese weren't stupid either. Big figures always had good fengshui for their burial grounds, and their chosen sites were even better. By the fourth year of the apocalypse, this place had already avoided earthquakes and floods thanks to its high ground. Even the muddy water barely got in.
It really was a treasure of a location.
When the smell of grilled meat drifted over, warm light and flickering fire showed up around a corner along with low chatter. Jing Shu knew they'd arrived.
Her field of vision opened up. A few people were crouched near the entrance, fanning their grills while roasting skewers made from compressed mixed meat. Just from the smell alone, it wasn't bad. And after four years of the apocalypse, it was rare to catch the scent of chili powder. The capital really was full of good stuff. It made her look forward to tonight's black market.
"Qiangzi, you're here. Want some? Thirty virtual coins a skewer. At least help me hit the minimum sale." The middle-aged uncle jumped up, grabbed three skewers of multicolored meat blocks, and held them out.
Fan Jianqiang wrinkled his nose. "Come on, Uncle Lu, who knows where you guys get that mixed meat you compress. It tastes good, sure, but last time I bit into a finger segment. Almost threw up."
"A mistake, that was a mistake. Something slipped in, you know we don't eat that stuff. I swear it's clean, approved meat. Hey, you brought guests. Here, try some, smells great right?"
He pushed the skewer even closer with an awkward smile. It was his usual tactic. Most people who came to the black market weren't starving, but being able to eat meat regularly, especially something as fragrant as this, wasn't common.
Fan Jianqiang swallowed hard. It did smell amazing, but the memory of that finger sent a shiver down his back. Still, he had to give this uncle some face. Maybe he'd hit the minimum sale to help him out. He glanced at Jing Shu and Song Bin. "Want me to treat you two?"
Jing Shu's palate had been spoiled long ago, and Song Bin was traumatized from hearing about the finger. They both shook their heads. "We already ate, but thank you."
"Fine then, let's go. It's starting." Fan Jianqiang shrugged. Saved himself some money.
But Jing Shu stopped and asked Uncle Lu, "No cumin? A little cumin would make it smell even better."
Uncle Lu gave a bitter laugh. "Seasonings are way too hard to find. The meat isn't the costly part. It's the salt and chili powder for marinating. Don't even mention anything more complicated."
Jing Shu nodded thoughtfully. Looked like the spices she brought today were going to be worth a lot. The black market crowd wasn't short on basic food or daily necessities, judging by their clothes and body shapes. None of them were the skinny, starving faces on the streets. They looked like normal people before the apocalypse.
Jing Shu and Song Bin followed Fan Jianqiang all the way into the tomb's central chamber. Fires burned along the walls, and fenced-off areas formed several sections. The middle platform was stacked with items of all kinds, and more things were being pushed in on carts. It was dazzling, like there was everything imaginable.
After Fan Jianqiang greeted ten or so people he clearly knew, he swaggered over to the area for Silver members.
This tomb, or rather the black market, had five entrances. Must be how they managed class differences. Silver members like him had to hunch down and enter from the back, while people kept coming through the main hall's wide red-carpeted front gate.
"Only Gold members and above can use the main entrance. They get round tables, snacks, tea, even a resting area. We'll just stand here." Fan Jianqiang looked at the big shots with envy.
"Are there limits on what you can trade? Like, Silver members can't deal in high-value stuff?" Jing Shu asked. Jun Bao had said it was safe to trade here and they'd be protected. She wasn't from the capital anyway. She'd be heading back to Wu City soon. She wasn't scared, just worried she might find something she liked and then be unable to make a deal. That would suck.
Fan Jianqiang snorted. "High-value goods? As long as they like what you're offering, nothing's off limits. Of course, the pricier the trade, the higher the taxes. And that tax isn't something you can pay with a few skewers of meat." He sounded proud.
Couldn't blame him. Jun Bao didn't explain much, just casually told him to bring someone here to look around. Since it was "looking around," he assumed they were just here to broaden their horizons. He'd heard one of them was from the countryside of Wu City, maybe one of Jun Bao's old flings? He turned and squinted at Jing Shu again, but his face-blindness made her features blur into generic shapes. All men looked the same to him, all women too.
Long ago, he and Jun Bao had been teased as the disabled duo.
Forget it. Jun Bao sent them, so he'd show some face. He told Jing Shu, "Silver members have a minimum spending of two hundred virtual coins or equivalent items. If you see something you want, tell me. I'll cover it."
Look at him acting like some big spender. Jing Shu watched him lift his chin proudly, practically saying, "Tonight, the whole place is my treat." He really had that vibe.
"What's with people in the capital? Do they all act like this?" Jing Shu murmured.
Song Bin whispered, "They love face. Big show-offs."
Jing Shu held back a laugh and nodded politely. "Then thank you."
At last, it began.
Gold members settled in. Diamond members sat behind their decorative screens.
"Hello everyone, I'm Gong Huwei, president of the Yage Trading Guild. Ladies, call me Lao Gong. Gentlemen, call me President Gong." The middle-aged bald fatty grinned, his voice warm and humorous.
"I hate it when he does that."
"I think you love it."
Lao Gong held a loudspeaker and showed everyone the items displayed on the shelves so they could get a sense of today's offerings.
Jing Shu expected an auction or price calls to start next, but instead Gong Huwei invited the Diamond members behind the screens to go first. "We can't let our distinguished guests wait too long. Let's begin by hearing what the Diamond members are looking for."
Huh. Jing Shu thought they'd start from the Bronze level.
Wasn't the climax always supposed to be last?
This black market was throwing the big stuff in right away.
Well, it made sense. Couldn't leave the big shots waiting.