In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Time quietly slipped into October 1948.

Autumn was deepening in Beiping, and the sky was always overcast, with few days of clear skies being a rare treat.

The autumn wind whips up withered yellow leaves, swirling them in the alleyways and bringing a chilly, desolate feeling, as if foreshadowing an exceptionally difficult winter.

What's colder than the weather is the state of mind in the market and the increasingly harsh reality of survival. A suffocating panic, like murky air, permeates every corner of the ancient city.

The so-called "currency reform" and "price control policy" launched by the Nationalist government in mid-August showed signs of complete failure by early October.

Nationwide shortages of supplies are a chronic problem that cannot be solved by administrative orders. Economic laws, like an invisible yet incredibly powerful hand, ultimately forced open the fragile and man-made barriers.

In early October, the authorities were forced to negotiate prices for some important commodities such as gauze and flour, which was tantamount to publicly acknowledging the failure of price controls and effectively allowing price increases.

Once this outlet was opened, prices, which had been forcibly suppressed for more than a month, burst forth like a flood that had been trapped for a long time and finally found an outlet. With the power that had been accumulating for too long, the floodwaters surged and swept in with an even more ferocious and frenzied momentum!

Prices of all daily necessities in Beiping (Beijing) began to rise at an astonishing rate, often changing several times a day, with prices varying drastically in the morning, noon, and evening.

The purchasing power of money, like ice and snow under the sun, melts away at a visible rate.

"Crazy, really crazy!"

Landlord Mr. Shen stood in the front yard, holding the newly delivered newspaper, shaking his head repeatedly. Behind his glasses, his eyes were filled with worry and a sense of helplessness.

"In just a few days, the price of rice has doubled again! At this rate, the gold yuan I have will probably be worthless in less than a month! It won't even be enough to wipe my butt!"

Similar sighs, curses, and desperate mutterings filled every corner of Beiping, from grand mansions to ordinary alleyways, leaving no place untouched.

The buying frenzy is intensifying.

Before dawn, or even in the middle of the night, long queues would form in front of various well-known grain stores, coal shops, and department stores that were rumored to be receiving goods.

People clutched the rapidly depreciating gold yuan notes, their faces filled with panic and urgency, their eyes vacant yet carrying a final hint of madness.

As long as they can buy something, no matter what it is or how high the price, they will cling to it like a lifeline.

Order becomes fragile in the face of immense survival pressures, and arguments, shoving, and even fights over a small space have become the norm every day.

Human dignity, under the threat of hunger and cold, has been eroded to almost nothing.

Ordinary citizens and public servants who rely on fixed salaries are in dire straits.

The meager income is far from keeping up with the soaring prices. Often, a month's salary can only buy a bag of flour when it comes in, but by the time you get off work and go to the market, it might only be enough to buy half a bag of grains.

Living standards plummeted, and a sense of despair spread silently among the people like a plague, eroding their last remaining hope for the future.

Although Yang Guangming's family did not face the same panic of running out of food as most families because he had the resources in his spatial storage as a trump card, the crazy, apocalyptic atmosphere outside still inevitably affected their newly settled home.

That invisible tension seeped in through the courtyard walls and through the words and actions of family members.

The weather is getting colder day by day, and you need to wear a light jacket in the morning and evening to ward off the bone-chilling cold.

Looking at his family members wearing only thin summer clothes, Yang Guangming knew that the plan to buy autumn and winter clothes and bedding was urgent and could not be delayed any longer.

To avoid arousing suspicion, he had only bought a few necessary summer clothes for his family bit by bit, making it seem like he had saved up by scrimping and saving.

Nowadays, it takes a lot of money to buy enough warm clothes and bedding for five people to get through the winter.

He had to find a reasonable explanation for the source of this "huge" expense in the current climate, so as not to make his parents feel bad about the money or have any doubts—they were honest, but not stupid.

He still had several thousand yuan in gold notes that he had taken from the Sihai Society's stronghold last time.

This money is depreciating at an alarming rate, like sand in your hand. If you don't spend it soon, it will probably turn into a pile of worthless paper with words printed on it, completely useless.

Currently, most people are focusing their panic buying on essential commodities like food and coal, which are absolutely necessary for survival.

While the demand for clothing and bedding materials such as fabrics and cotton was also extremely strong, the intensity was relatively less intense – after all, when faced with the choice between hunger and cold, people would instinctively and cruelly prioritize filling their stomachs first.

Even so, the market is mostly characterized by "high prices but no buyers".

Ordinary people, in order to exchange their gold yuan notes for any tangible and storeable goods as quickly as possible and minimize their losses, bought almost anything they could get their hands on. Fabric and cotton were also in short supply, and it was not easy to buy enough for a family.

Yang Guangming thought of Manager Zhao, who lived in the backyard.

He had worked in the fabric business for most of his life. When his neighbors needed to buy fabric, they would usually ask him for help, hoping he could use his connections to do them a favor. If they could buy it at the "list price," it would be a huge favor.

That evening, after a simple dinner—still just steamed buns, thin porridge, and a plate of stir-fried vegetables—Yang Guangming said to his parents, "Dad, Mom, I'm going to the backyard to talk to Manager Zhao about something." He then got up and left the east wing.

Arriving at the east wing of the central courtyard, they knocked on the door of Manager Zhao's house.

The person who opened the door was Manager Zhao himself. He was wearing a slightly worn dark blue long gown, and his face showed a hint of fatigue from dealing with customers, bosses, and soaring prices all day long. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed to be deeper than they had been a few days ago.

He was somewhat surprised to see Yang Guangming, but still politely invited him into the house.

Shopkeeper Zhao's home was furnished like any other ordinary working-class family, simple yet meticulously organized.

His wife was sitting under the lamp, mending a child's clothes in the dim light, while their two teenagers were studying at a small table in the inner room by the light of a little lamp oil, muttering to themselves.

"Mr. Yang, please have a seat. Is there something you need?" Manager Zhao poured Yang Guangming a bowl of water and asked directly.

Nowadays, tea is a luxury, and serving guests plain water is the norm.

Yang Guangming sat down in the chair and, without much small talk, went straight to the point: "Manager Zhao, I apologize for bothering you. It's like this, the weather is getting colder, as you can see, the adults and children in the family are still wearing only light clothing, and they haven't even had winter blankets yet."

I thought to myself, I can't wait any longer. I need to quickly buy some fabric and cotton to make some autumn and winter clothes for the whole family, and also get some new bedding.

Shopkeeper Zhao nodded, picked up the old pipe on the table, but didn't light it. He just stroked it, indicating his understanding: "Yes, the weather turns cold so suddenly. Every autumn rain brings a layer of chill. It's time to prepare."

In this day and age, everything is getting more expensive; even the price of fabric and cotton changes daily, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening.

"Mr. Yang, how much do you need? If it's not a large quantity, I'll go to the store tomorrow and see if I can find a way to get you a portion at the store's list price."

He spoke conservatively, but his tone still carried the warmth of an old neighbor willing to help.

Yang Guangming hesitated for a moment, then said, "The amount might be quite large. There are five people in my family, and with winter clothes and blankets, plus spares, I'm thinking of stocking up at once. Who knows if the price of fabric will skyrocket or something?"

He paused, then took out a prepared cloth bag from his pocket, opened it, and inside was a thick stack of gold yuan notes of varying denominations.

"Here's five hundred yuan." Yang Guangming pushed the money in front of Manager Zhao, his tone calm. "I want to exchange all this money for cloth and cotton. I'll buy as much as I can."

Five hundred yuan!

Manager Zhao gasped, his eyes widening instantly, and his hand holding the pipe froze in mid-air.

Although he was the owner of a fabric shop and handled a lot of money, he was still shocked when Yang Guangming took out a huge sum of five hundred yuan to buy fabric at one time, during a time when an ordinary family's monthly income might only be a few dozen yuan.

The gold yuan had just been devalued and was still quite valuable; this was almost half a year's income for an average worker!

He couldn't help but take a closer look at the young man in front of him. He was dressed plainly, but his eyes were calm and exuded a composure that was beyond his years.

A look of extreme difficulty crossed his face. He put down his pipe and gently pushed the money back a little in front of Yang Guangming.

"Mr. Yang, it's not that I don't want to help."

Shopkeeper Zhao explained with a wry smile, lowering his voice as if afraid the children in the inner room would hear, "If it's a small purchase, like buying a few yards of cloth or a few kilograms of cotton, with my connections, I can talk to the boss and get some of it at the normal price, no problem."

But you... you want to buy 500 yuan worth of things at once, that's too much.

The store isn't out of stock right now, but the owner is very reluctant to sell. If it sells slowly, the price can go up the next day, and the owner can make even more money.

I'm just an employee, not the boss. There's no way the boss would agree to order such a large quantity of goods at the list price.

"I don't have that much face..." He shook his head, full of helplessness.

I anticipated this might happen even before the sun came out.

He calmly asked, "What if... I'm willing to accept a premium? As long as I can spend this money as soon as possible and exchange it for goods, I can accept a higher price."

"Manager Zhao, how much of a premium would you need for the boss to agree?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Zhao leaned forward slightly, pondered for a moment, glanced at the five hundred yuan, and then cautiously replied in an even lower voice:

"If you are open to negotiation, then there is room for discussion."

Based on today's off-market prices and the owner's intentions, I estimate... it will have to be at least 30% overpriced.

In other words, the goods you can actually buy with your 500 yuan, based on the previous normal price, are only worth about 380 yuan.

Even so, I still have to bite the bullet and try to negotiate with the boss; whether he'll even sell is another matter. In this market, stockpiling is all about making money.

His last sentence was filled with deep emotion.

A 30% premium!
This percentage is quite high, meaning that more than 100 yuan of purchasing power has been lost out of nowhere.

But Yang Guangming did not hesitate at all. The most important thing now is that the window of opportunity to exchange the constantly depreciating paper money for physical goods is very short. If he hesitates for even a day, the loss may be even greater.

He has no shortage of supplies in his space, but what he lacks is a legitimate way to take these supplies out and a way to get rid of this "dirty money" as soon as possible.

"Row!"

Yang Guangming nodded readily, without any hesitation, "Just as you said, Manager Zhao, a 30% premium."

Please do your best to help me get this done as soon as possible. Please accept this small token of my appreciation.

As he spoke, he took out another twenty gold coins from his pocket as a reward for Manager Zhao. He knew that bribing a middleman was essential.

Shopkeeper Zhao hurriedly refused, his face showing fear: "Mr. Yang, this is unacceptable! Unacceptable! It's only right for neighbors to help each other out, how can I accept your money! This is improper!" He was an old-fashioned man, valuing neighborly relations. Yang Guangming insisted, his tone sincere but leaving no room for refusal: "Shopkeeper Zhao, if you want to pull strings, it will take a lot of effort, and you might even have to use your own connections. I can't let you work for nothing. If you don't accept it, I'll feel bad, and I won't have the face to buy the cloth from you. Just consider it as giving me peace of mind."

After several refusals, seeing Yang Mingming's sincere and resolute attitude, Manager Zhao finally had no choice but to accept the twenty yuan. His face became more solemn, and he felt the banknotes in his hand were heavy.

"Since Mr. Yang has put it that way, it would be unreasonable for me, Lao Zhao, to refuse any longer. Don't worry, I'll talk to the boss as soon as I get to work tomorrow and will do my best to get this done!"

“There’s one more thing,” Yang Guangming added. “With so much stuff, how are we going to get it back? Things aren’t safe outside right now, and I’m a little worried about carrying so many scarce supplies on the road.”

His concerns were not unfounded. Hunger and cold breed theft; people are willing to risk their lives for a bite to eat, let alone so much cloth and cotton.

Manager Zhao had obviously considered this as well. He said, "There are quite a lot of things, but if the cloth is bundled up and the cotton is packed tightly, a large bamboo basket plus a burlap sack for the cotton should be enough to hold them all."

You can have Master Liao go with you; he's strong and can carry you back.

However, just to be on the safe side, Mr. Yang, you'd better come along too. Also... it would be even safer if you could invite the two Jiao brothers from the front yard as well.

With those two brothers around, even three or five ordinary people wouldn't dare approach, so their safety is basically guaranteed.

It wasn't the most eye-catching grain, but with tough guys like the Jiao brothers guarding it, it could indeed deter most people with ill intentions.

Yang Guangming felt this arrangement was very sound. Liao Dazhuang would provide the labor, the Jiao brothers would act as bodyguards, Manager Zhao would handle the connections, and he himself would take charge; the division of labor was clear.

“Okay, we’ll do as you say. Tomorrow morning, I’ll call Master Liao, Brother Jiao, and Second Brother Jiao, and we’ll go to the shop together.”

Once the matter was settled, Yang Guangming got up to take his leave.

Manager Zhao saw him to the door, watching his tall, straight back as he left, and sighed inwardly:
This Mr. Yang is so young, yet he is so experienced and thoughtful in his work, with a keen eye and generous spending. He seems to be a truly capable person, not someone to be underestimated. His future is limitless. In this chaotic world, perhaps it is precisely this kind of person who can carve out a place for himself.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and leaden clouds hung low, the Yang family got up. Lord Chu Yuan had already prepared cornmeal porridge and steamed cornbread.

After breakfast, Yang Guangming went to the front yard, found Liao Dazhuang who was stretching in the yard, explained his purpose, and asked him to bring a bamboo basket.

Upon hearing that there was work to be done and that he could help the Yang family, Liao Dazhuang readily agreed, a simple smile spreading across his dark face: "Mr. Yang, don't worry, I'm strong enough to carry it back safely!"

Then, Yang Guangming knocked on the Jiao family's door again.

Jiao Da and Jiao Er had just finished practicing their skills, their foreheads still covered in fine beads of sweat, and their bodies radiating heat.

Upon hearing that Yang Guangming wanted to ask the brothers to help with guarding the area and to buy cloth and cotton, the two brothers agreed without hesitation, their voices booming.

"Mr. Yang, don't worry! With us brothers here, we guarantee that everything will be transported back safely, not a single thread will be missing!" Jiao Da said in a loud voice, patting his chest with his large, fan-like hands.

"That's right! Anyone who dares to have any crooked ideas will have to ask my fists first!" Jiao Er echoed in a gruff voice, shaking his fist, which was as big as a bowl.

Yang Guangming was deeply grateful, knowing that the two men genuinely wanted to repay him, and quickly thanked them, saying, "Then thank you very much, Brother Jiao and Second Brother Jiao! As for the wages..."

“Mr. Yang, please don’t mention wages!” Jiao Da immediately interrupted him, his eyes wide and his face showing urgency. “We haven’t repaid your great kindness to our family yet! If we were to charge money for such a small errand, would we still be human? If you mention money again, you are looking down on us brothers!” Jiao Er nodded heavily from the side, his eyes full of stubbornness.

Seeing that the two were adamant, Yang Guangming stopped insisting.

At this moment, Manager Zhao, having finished tidying up, came out from the backyard wearing a clean long gown and carrying a cloth bag in his hand.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, he said, "Let's go early and try to be the first to get things done as soon as the door opens, so that there won't be too many people and any unexpected problems."

The group of five—Manager Zhao leading the way, followed closely by Yang Guangming, Liao Dazhuang carrying an empty bamboo basket and standing like an iron tower, and the Jiao brothers on either side like two guardian generals—left the courtyard and disappeared into the cool and tense morning mist of Beiping.

The streets were still filled with an atmosphere of tension and panic.

Long, crooked queues had already formed in front of some grain stores. People hunched over, hands tucked in, their faces showing a mixture of numbness and anxiety, their eyes staring blankly at the closed doors.

Occasionally, military and police patrols would pass by with their guns on their backs, their heavy footsteps and shouts adding to the oppressive and uneasy atmosphere.

When we arrived at the silk shop where Manager Zhao worked, the door wasn't fully open yet, but a line had already formed in front of it, and a sleepy-eyed shop assistant was putting down the door panels one by one.

Manager Zhao asked Yang Guangming and the other three to wait outside the door, straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and went in first.

Yang Guangming and the others waited outside the door, and could vaguely hear the conversation between Manager Zhao and another person with a slightly high-pitched voice inside, sometimes earnest and sometimes arguing.

The Jiao brothers stood guard on either side of the sunlight, like two gatekeepers, causing passersby who wanted to peek to give way. Liao Dazhuang silently checked the ropes of the bamboo basket to make sure they were secure.

Not long after, about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Manager Zhao came out with a relieved smile on his face. He nodded almost imperceptibly to Yang Guangming and whispered:

"Mr. Yang, it's done! The boss has agreed. We'll go with the price we discussed last night. Come in quickly to select the materials and complete the formalities. Before we officially open for business, it'll be easier for the people in the warehouse to help out."

With a firm resolve, Yang Guangming followed Manager Zhao into the shop.

Liao Dazhuang and the Jiao brothers followed the instructions and stood guard outside the shop.

The shelves in the store weren't very stocked, making it seem somewhat empty, but the selection was fairly complete.

Yang Guangming wasn't picky. On Zhao Zhanggui's advice, he quickly selected two kinds of thick and durable dark twill cotton fabric, suitable for his father and himself to make long coats, and also for making clothes for other family members; he also selected some brightly colored plain weave fabric with small floral prints to make cotton-padded jackets for his sisters; and he bought some plain white fabric for the lining.

Next, enough cotton was weighed to make five thick quilts and several cotton-padded jackets and trousers.

While instructing his assistant to fetch the goods, Manager Zhao rapidly manipulated the abacus, calling out constantly changing prices, which the assistant quickly recorded with a pen.

The abacus clicked and clacked, and finally the numbers settled.

With five hundred gold yuan notes, at a 30% premium, the corresponding amount of cloth and cotton was purchased.

The worker quickly rolled up and tied the cloth tightly, and also pressed the cotton firmly into a large bale.

Liao Dazhuang walked in, smiled憨厚ly, put the cloth bag at the bottom of the large bamboo basket, placed the huge cotton bag horizontally on top, tested its weight, found it wasn't heavy for him, and steadily carried it on his back, his back straight.

After the money and goods were settled, Manager Zhao greeted and thanked a thin, middle-aged man with a shrewd face wearing a silk jacket behind the counter.

The boss merely raised his eyelids, grunted an "Mmm" through his nose, and then continued fiddling with his abacus.

The group immediately left the silk shop and began their journey home.

On the way back, Jiao Da and Jiao Er stood one in front and one behind, protecting Liao Dazhuang and Yang Guangming, who were carrying goods, in the middle.

The two men had sharp eyes and upright postures, exuding an inviolable aura forged through life-and-death battles.

Pedestrians on the street turned their heads to look, and some who might have been eyeing them with greedy glances quickly withdrew after meeting the cold, wary, and warning looks from the Jiao brothers, not daring to make a move.

The trip went surprisingly smoothly.

Before nine o'clock, the group returned safely to the east wing of the courtyard house.

The chill of the early morning had not completely dissipated, but the east courtyard felt warmer because of their return.

When Liao Dazhuang placed the heavy bamboo basket on the floor of the main room with a dull thud, and Yang Guangming took out the cloth and cotton inside one by one, Yang Huai Ren and Chu Yuan Jun in the room were stunned. Jing Wan and Jing Yi, who ran out from the inner room upon hearing the noise, also widened their eyes.

Looking at the piles of brand-new fabric and fluffy white cotton, Chu Yuanjun was so excited that her hands trembled slightly. She stepped forward and carefully stroked the thick cotton cloth.

The rough yet firm texture brought her immense peace of mind, and she murmured, "So much... so much cloth and cotton... enough to make clothes and bedding for the whole family..."

Yang Huai-ren also circled the pile of things twice, his face showing both joy and worry, his brows relaxing and then slightly furrowing:
"Guangming, this... this was really bought with those five hundred gold coins? Just this little bit? Prices... these are really skyrocketing..."

These things, a month ago, probably wouldn't even be worth thirty yuan..."

He felt dizzy and powerless in the face of the changing situation.

"Dad, Mom, this is the current market situation."

Yang Guangming explained calmly, trying to downplay the impact of the matter, "Money held in your hands for even a day will only be lost more; only exchanging it for something real is true wealth."

"With these, our whole family won't be afraid of the cold this winter, and Jingwan and Jingyi will have warm new clothes to wear." He looked at his two younger sisters.

Following her son's gaze, Chu Yuanjun saw the brightly colored floral fabrics and imagined her daughters wearing new cotton-padded jackets, their little faces flushed from the cold but no longer shivering. Her eyes welled up with tears.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, nodded repeatedly, and said in a slightly choked voice, "Yes, yes, it's better to exchange them for practical things... It's a waste to keep them in our hands... I'll hurry up and make the winter clothes and quilts these next few days! I'll make sure you're all warm and cozy!"

When Jingwan and Jingyi heard "new clothes," they finally snapped out of their shock and cheered, rushing over like two happy little birds.

Her little face was pressed against the cool yet comforting floral fabric, her expression radiating unprecedented joy and anticipation as she chattered excitedly about which piece of fabric was prettier.

"Thank you, brother!" Jingwan looked up, her big eyes sparkling with dependence and gratitude.

"Brother is so good!" Jingyi hugged Yang Guangming's legs, buried her face in his pants, and said sweetly. Her voice was muffled, but it was very heartwarming.

Seeing his family's joyful and relieved expressions, Yang Guangming felt that the money was well spent, and all the twists and turns and risks were worthwhile.

He invited Liao Dazhuang to sit down and rest, and have a drink of water.

Chu Yuanjun hurriedly went to pour water, repeatedly thanking Liao Dazhuang and the two Jiao brothers: "Master Liao, Brother Jiao, you've really worked hard! Thank you so much!"

Liao Dazhuang smiled憨厚ly and waved his hand, saying, "Auntie, you're too kind. It's no trouble at all, it's my duty!"

The Jiao brothers didn't even drink water. Seeing that the goods had been delivered safely, they bowed and took their leave, saying that they had things to do at home. They then disappeared nimbly outside the moon gate.

After seeing the group off, Yang Guangming looked at the room full of fabrics and said to his mother:
"Mother, making clothes and bedding is a big project. You can't manage it all by yourself. Don't strain your eyes."

I think we could ask the sister-in-law of Master Liao in the front yard, or the aunt of Manager Zhao in the back yard, for help; they are both very skilled.

If we pay them some wages, it will help them supplement their household income; it's a way of helping each other out.

Chu Yuanjun thought about it and felt that his son made sense, so he nodded in agreement: "We should ask someone for help. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it in time by myself. It will be too late when it gets cold."

The Liao family's daughter-in-law is skillful, and the Zhao family's younger brother and sister-in-law are also efficient. I'll go ask them later to see who's free.

She had already begun to consider in her mind how to pay the wages appropriately, so that her neighbor wouldn't be taken advantage of, and her own family wouldn't appear too ostentatious. (End of Chapter)