Siheyuan: Fighting against Japanese Aggression in Beijing

Twelve o'clock in the evening.

Li Kangri put on his tattered clothes, then went out to put his bicycle into the Shejitu, and quietly walked out of the courtyard. Yes, he wanted to see the legendary Pigeon Market.

During the day, he had asked Xu Damao about the nearest Pigeon Market, which was located at the junction of urban and rural areas in Xicheng District.

After a while, he rode his bike to a dilapidated residential area, which was full of broken and ruined buildings. He found a deserted place, put his bicycle away, and then took out a mask that he had prepared long ago and put it on.

Then he walked towards a place where there was faint light. When he arrived at the door, Li Kangri saw several people guarding the door.

"Are you here to buy something?" asked a dark-skinned man after seeing that Li Kangri had nothing in his hands.

"Yes, shopping."

"Pay one cent for the purchase!" the man said casually.

After hearing what the man said, Li Kangri obediently handed over 10 cents to the man and asked, "How much do you pay for selling things?"

"You have something?" the man asked doubtfully.

"Haha, let me ask. People in my village have some wild chickens and mountain products at home from time to time. Let's see if we can sell them for some money to supplement the family income." Li Kangri said naively.

"If it's less, I'll charge 20 cents. If it's more, I'll charge 50 cents!" the man replied.

"Thank you, brother. I'll go in first!"

After saying thank you, Li Kangri walked in. After entering, he saw the light of lanterns and flashlights everywhere. Beside each light there were more or less a few people gathered, seemingly bargaining.

So Li Kangri also started wandering around, looking here, asking there, and soon he had toured most of the pigeon market.

"Hello, do you want a ticket?" Just as Li Kangri was walking out, a sudden voice reached Li Kangri's ears.

Hearing the voice, Li Kangri immediately turned around and saw a tightly wrapped little man looking at him with a smile.

"What tickets do you have?"

"I have all kinds of tickets. I can find whatever you want," said the little man.

"Do you have a meat ticket?"

"Yes! One pound for one dollar and eighty cents!"

"Is it so expensive? A pound of meat is only 78 cents, but this ticket costs 1.8 yuan?" Li Kangri asked in surprise.

Hearing Li Kangri calling him expensive, the little guy was very calm. He had seen many people like Li Kangri saying this. "Brother, is this your first time here?"

"Yup!"

"Haha, that's right. Everyone knows that meat is 78 cents a pound, but you need a ticket. Don't you know what the situation is now? There is a shortage of food! Anything related to food is expensive. Some people want to buy it but can't!" explained the short man.

"Is that so?"

"That's right. Pork here costs three yuan per pound without a ticket. You may not be able to buy it even for this price!"

"Yes, food is the most important thing these days. Give me five pounds first." Li Kangri agreed.

"Okay!" the short man said happily, "Since you're so straightforward, I'll give you the change." As he said that, the short man took out a few tickets and handed them over.

After receiving the ticket, Li Kangri asked, "Brother, these five tickets are worth nine dollars in total. How much is the change you put in?"

“Ah!” The little guy quickly calculated, then said embarrassedly, “Hehe, I’m used to it. I’ll let it go this time. Next time, I’ll definitely make up for the difference for you.”

Without arguing with the little guy, Li Kangri handed him nine dollars and asked, "Brother, can I ask you something?"

"What's the matter?"

"Let's have a cigarette first." Li Kangri handed a cigarette to the little man, and then he lit the cigarette with a match and asked, "Brother, to be honest, I came here to explore the way. I have some things I want to sell here. Is it safe here?"

"Hmm? You got something to sell?"

"Yes, a few fish, caught from the river. Life is tough at home, isn't it? I want to earn some money to support the family!"

"Is it a lot? If so, you can buy some for me. Although the price may not be as high as buying them individually, it is more convenient and safer." The little man said immediately.

"Not much, about two bags, about 200 kilograms! How much is one kilogram?"

Hearing that there were two hundred catties, the little guy immediately asked with a gleam in his eyes, "The money is easy to negotiate. Outside, fish sell for thirty cents a catty, but you need a ticket. Here, fish sell for about ninety cents without a ticket. I have to make some money, so how about I give you seventy-five cents?"

Li Kangri really didn't know the price. He had never bought it, nor had he seen anyone selling it. However, since it was a no-cost business, he didn't care much, so he said, "Deal, but how about half the money being converted into food coupons?"

"No problem, I'll give you a cheaper price then." The little man said with a smile.

"Okay, you wait here. Some of my fellow villagers are waiting for me outside. I'll go get the fish."

After saying that, Li Kangri went out for a while and came back in carrying two large bags of fish.

Seeing Li Kangri holding a big pocket in each hand, the little guy was also surprised, "Brother, have you practiced it?"

"Haha, that's right. I have been practicing since I was young. Ten ordinary people together can't get close to me." Li Kangri said.

In fact, he did it on purpose. This pigeon market is a mixed bag, and it would be bad if someone is so blind as to cause trouble for him, so it is necessary for him to flex his muscles appropriately.

"Haha, you're awesome, brother. I'll ask someone to bring a scale over right away."

After a while, the short man brought a few people to weigh the fish. After weighing and adding up, it was about two hundred and twenty kilograms.

"Well, two hundred and twenty is almost right, so I'll charge you two hundred and twenty. And since all your fish are big carp, I'll increase the price to eighty cents. Is that okay, brother?" said the short man.

……

Soon the two of them completed the transaction, and when Li Kangri was about to leave, the little man quickly stopped Li Kangri, pulled him to a corner and said, "Brother, next time you have goods, come to me, I guarantee safety. You can tell at a glance that this fish is not caught in the river. Where can such a big fish come from in the river these days? But don't worry, I know the rules. I will just take the fish and don't ask where it comes from. What do you think?"

"Well," Li Kangri pretended to hesitate.

"Do you think the price is too low? Brother, this price is really not low. I don't make much profit." The short man said anxiously.

"Okay, I'll find you next time I have something to sell."

"Okay, next time you can't find me, just ask the two people guarding the intersection. Just say you are looking for the little mouse and they will notify me." said the short man.

"Okay, I'll leave first. The people outside must be waiting anxiously."

After leaving the black market, Li Kangri rode his bike back to the courtyard. When he was almost at the gate, Li Kangri took out a bag of cabbages and a tightly tied wild boar that he had prepared in advance from the map of the country and tied them to the bicycle.

When he returned to the gate of the courtyard and pushed it, it seemed like the door was locked. However, this did not pose a problem for Li Kangri. He jumped in, opened the gate, and quietly pushed the cart into his own yard.