Courtyard House: Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) Traded for an Aircraft Carrier, the Whole Count

Inside the system space, a frenzied "Double Eleven" shopping spree is underway.

With over 2000 transaction points that had just been deposited into his account, Jiang Chen lavishly swept through the basic resources section of the system shop.

For Li Yunlong in the "Bright Sword" universe, what is the most precious thing?

Not gold, not antiques, but food to fill your stomach, medicine to save your life, and salt to give you the strength to fight!

"Purchase 50 boxes of 21st Century Military Compressed Biscuits (Beef Flavor), deducting 100 transaction points."

"Purchase 100 boxes of [Dehydrated Vegetable Packages], deducting 50 transaction points."

"Purchase 1 ton of refined iodized salt, deduct 200 transaction points."

"Purchase 500 boxes of [Powerful Antibiotics (Amoxicillin/Oxytetracycline)], deducting 300 transaction points."

These things would be dirt cheap in later generations, but in the war years when resources were extremely scarce, each box was a hard currency that could be exchanged for half a regiment's worth of equipment!

Especially those compressed biscuits, one of which can provide a strong man with a day's worth of calories, and they are small in size and easy to carry, making them a perfect tool for guerrilla warfare.

After a series of purchases, Jiang Chen's system warehouse was piled high with goods, but he was not in a hurry to trade them to Li Yunlong immediately.

In business, you need to be mindful of long-term growth and, more importantly, pay attention to "packaging".

He took out some compressed biscuits and refined salt, tore off the plastic packaging that was printed with "Made in 2024", and replaced it with kraft paper and burlap sacks, which were common in this era.

After finishing all this, Jiang Chen checked the time; it was already three in the morning.

It was the busiest time of year for the pigeon market.

He changed into an inconspicuous dark blue work uniform, put on a baseball cap, pulled the brim down, and carrying a heavy black leather bag, before disappearing into the night once again.

This time, instead of going to the small stalls where individual vendors gathered, he turned into a secluded courtyard deep inside the pigeon market, a place he knew exactly where to go.

This is the largest black market distribution center in the entire East City, and it's also the place he scouted out last time.

Several burly men were standing in the courtyard. When they saw Jiang Chen enter, they immediately surrounded him warily.

"What are you doing here? You don't look like anyone here," the scarred-faced leader asked in a cold voice.

Jiang Chen didn't waste any words and simply threw the leather bag in his hand onto a broken table next to him.

"Bang!"

The briefcase slammed onto the table with a dull thud. A corner of the zipper had burst open, revealing neatly stacked compressed biscuits and several bags of fine, white salt inside.

"I'm looking for your boss to discuss a big business deal." Jiang Chen's voice was hoarse and deep, exuding an undeniable domineering aura.

Scarface glanced suspiciously at the contents of the bag, then picked up a pinch of salt and put it in his mouth. His expression instantly changed.

It has no bitterness, no impurities, and a pure, unadulterated saltiness, even with a hint of sweetness. This is the finest refined salt! A hundred times better than the coarse salt sold in supply and marketing cooperatives!

He picked up another compressed biscuit, smelled it, and the strong aroma of beef flavoring made him swallow hard.

"Just wait!"

Scarface gave Jiang Chen a deep look, then turned and ran into the inner room.

A moment later, a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit and gold-rimmed glasses came out. He looked refined and scholarly, like a schoolteacher, but his eyes revealed the shrewdness of a businessman and the ruthlessness of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the underworld).

This is the black market boss of this area, known as "Ghost Hand Zhang".

Ghost Hand Zhang picked up a compressed biscuit, broke off a small piece, put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully, his eyes becoming brighter and brighter.

"Great stuff," Ghost Hand Zhang exclaimed. "The taste and calories are even better than the imported stuff in the Friendship Store. Brother, where did you get this?"

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask," Jiang Chen replied coldly. "This is the only batch of military rations that the Friendship Store is dealing with—originally intended for export but now being sold domestically. Can they handle it?"

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!" Ghost Hand Zhang knew his stuff; in this era of oil and meat shortages, this kind of thing was a lifesaver. If he took it out, the rich kids and other wealthy people would absolutely scramble for it. "Brother, what price do you want? Cash or ten dollars?"

"I don't want money."

Jiang Chen shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on Ghost Hand Zhang. "Money is a hot potato. I need tickets."

"Tickets?" Ghost Hand Zhang was taken aback.

"Yes, all kinds of coupons that are valid nationwide, including grain coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons, industrial coupons, as well as bicycle coupons, sewing machine coupons, watch coupons... I want any kind of coupon."

In this planned economy era, money, while useful, was not omnipotent. Often, even with money, without ration coupons, you couldn't buy even a pound of pork. Ration coupons were the true hard currency, the key to a "free life."

Although the gold and US dollars in Jiang Chen's possession were valuable, they couldn't be used openly or directly. The safest way to launder money was to exchange the system's resources for legitimate receipts through a "barter" system.

Ghost Hand Zhang laughed: "Brother, you're a smart guy. Alright, I have plenty of tickets."

He waved his hand, and his men immediately brought over a tin box. When they opened it, it was full of colorful tickets and certificates—the wealth they had accumulated over the years through their dealings.

After some haggling, Jiang Chen exchanged two hundred catties of compressed biscuits and one hundred catties of refined salt for a whole box of receipts.

If all these vouchers were converted into physical goods, it would be enough for an average family to live comfortably for ten years!

The transaction was completed. Jiang Chen, carrying a leather bag full of receipts, left the courtyard under the respectful gaze of Ghost Hand Zhang.

As we left Pigeon City, the sky was already beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, feeling great.

With these tickets, his logistical problems in this era were completely solved. From now on, whether it was helping his underlings, winning people's hearts, or improving his life, he could do so openly and extravagantly without worrying about having his water meter checked.

When I returned to the courtyard house, the gate had just opened.

As soon as Jiang Chen arrived at the Intermediate People's Court, he saw Xu Damao squatting at the door of his house with his neck hunched over, peeking out excitedly.

Upon seeing Jiang Chen return, Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he rushed over like a lapdog seeing a bone.

"Brother! You're finally back!"

Xu Damao lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "There's been some progress on the matter you asked me to keep an eye on yesterday! That guy... just sneaked out like a ghost!"