Black Market Boss: His Beloved Wife's Lazy Life

The next day, Shang Yanfang learned during a meal that two people had been killed by snowstorms the previous night.

The news was brought by Li Zhaodi and the others, and she froze while eating.

Looking at Gao Jianguo with lingering fear, she said, "It's okay, don't be afraid." Gao Jianguo sensed his wife's distress and calmed her down.

The atmosphere in the village was somber that day, and Grandpa Chen was not as energetic as before.

The elderly in the village are most afraid of winter, fearing that they will not survive it.

Shang Yanfang was also affected by this atmosphere and was sullen all day.

Two more days passed before Shang Yanfang's mood improved slightly. Today, she made plans to go to the market with some friends.

"Yanfang, be careful when you walk. It's okay if we go a little slower," Liu Yan said, looking at Shang Yanfang's belly.

"Okay, hurry up and don't forget to save some for me if you see anything good." Shang Yanfang didn't want to be a burden to her friends.

"Okay." The group responded, but they didn't walk too fast, keeping a distance from Shang Yanfang.

"Honey, what do they sell at this market?" Shang Yanfang had never been to a market before, so she asked with great curiosity.

"There are many things at the market. Some families who know how to make tofu come out to sell it, others sell their own free-range chickens, and there are also roasted melon seeds and such. It's very lively," Gao Jianguo described to Shang Yanfang based on his previous experience at the market.

"Then let's walk a little faster, what if we get there and there's nothing left?" Shang Yanfang said anxiously.

The two silently quickened their pace slightly, but Gao Jianguo still held Shang Yanfang firmly in his arms.

After walking for a while, they finally saw a dense crowd ahead. Shang Yanfang breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down.

"Honey, there are so many people!" Shang Yanfang couldn't help but exclaim.

"Be careful, there are a lot of people." Gao Jianguo held his wife tightly, afraid that she would be pushed around by the crowd.

Shang Yanfang didn't know if she heard or not, and she squeezed her way to the side of the stall area.

"Tofu~ Selling tofu~"

"Vermicelli~ Selling vermicelli~"

"Chicken~ Egg~"

"Sugar~Maltose~"

The vendor's enthusiastic voice echoed in the background, making Shang Yanfang feel as if she were back in a modern food market.

After wandering around for a while, Shang Yanfang saw a shoe stall. Unlike other stalls that were bustling with activity, this one was quiet and deserted.

Only a thin mother and daughter were standing there, and they didn't shout out like the other vendors.

"Comrade, hello, how much are these shoes?" Shang Yanfang asked, picking up a pair of cloth shoes embroidered with plum blossoms.

"Three dollars, not two dollars." The woman was probably a little nervous, not expecting anyone to buy her shoes.

"May I try it?" Shang Yanfang asked politely.

"Sure." The woman, fearing she wouldn't sell a single pair of shoes, readily agreed.

Gao Jianguo picked up the pair of shoes his young wife had chosen and knelt down to help her put them on. Shang Yanfang supported Gao Jianguo's shoulders, cooperating fully with his actions.

Passersby noticed the two of them and their eyes kept glancing in their direction.

"What kind of person is she! How can she let a man put shoes on her?" The old woman shook her head as she watched, but only muttered a few words before leaving.

Shang Yanfang ignored them, and Gao Jianguo continued to put the other shoe on his young wife.

"Shang Yanfang, you're here to buy shoes!" Someone from the same brigade greeted her warmly.

"Auntie, what would you like to buy?" Shang Yanfang asked politely.

"I want to buy some tofu." The aunt didn't hide anything and opened her basket to show Shang Yanfang what she had bought.

"Honey, it's alright. Walk around a bit and see if it fits." Gao Jianguo helped Shang Yanfang put on her shoes and stood up.

The auntie said something rather suggestive, "Let's go take a look over there," and then left.

Shang Yanfang felt that the cloth shoes she was wearing were more comfortable than the ones she had worn when she arrived.

She's noticeably gained weight due to her pregnancy. Her feet are also wider than before; her old shoes are fine for occasional wear at home, but they hurt when she walks.

"It's quite comfortable," Shang Yanfang praised sincerely.

“Then let’s buy these. Is there anything else you want?” Gao Jianguo said, pointing to rows of exquisite embroidery.

"No need, let's just buy a pair of shoes!" Shang Yanfang wasn't particularly interested in the embroidery.

“Okay,” Gao Jianguo replied, paid the money, and threw the shoes he had taken off into the basket on his back.

The two wandered around, searching for He Lingling and her group, and finally found them in front of a stall selling juggling and other entertainment.

Shang Yanfang looked at the crowded variety show stalls but didn't plan to go in. She pulled Gao Jianguo along and continued strolling around.

There are also many snack stalls inside, selling candied hawthorn, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted corn, roasted sausages, scallion pancakes, and so on—you name it, they have it.

Shang Yanfang browsed and bought things, while Gao Jianguo's hands also accumulated more and more.

The two enjoyed the market trip very much. In the end, they followed the crowd and bought ten catties of tofu and a jar of homemade wine before heading home with the rest of the villagers.

As soon as Shang Yanfang entered the room, she lazily lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed). She had been truly happy all day, but she was also very tired.

When Gao Jianguo came over to ask Shang Yanfang what she wanted for lunch, his wife was already asleep.

Gao Jianguo tucked his wife into the quilt and covered her up before leaving the room.

As the New Year approaches, the village is becoming more and more lively.

Shang Yanfang was really looking forward to spending the Spring Festival here. She even took a break these past two days so she wouldn't have to study. (Purely because she was too lazy to study.)

Shang Guokang was even happier than Shang Yanfang, playing with several other children his age from the village. Shang Yanfang was unaware that her younger brother was playing with other children his age from the village.

On that day, on a whim, she took the sweater she had knitted for Shang Guokang and went with Gao Jianguo to the educated youth settlement to find Shang Guokang. They heard a commotion in Shang Guokang's room.

When Shang Yanfang opened the door, she saw three or four young men sitting together playing cards.

Shang Yanfang felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Could it be that Shang Guokang would really become a petty hoodlum like in her dream?

Gao Jianguo had been observing Shang Yanfang closely since he noticed her expression was about to change. He successfully caught her when she experienced dizziness, preventing her from falling.

Shang Yanfang took several deep breaths to calm herself down. She was pregnant now and couldn't afford to get so emotional.

The moment Shang Guokang saw his sister open the door, he was filled with fear. Seeing his sister almost faint, he was terrified.

"Sister, sister. Are you alright!" Shang Guokang threw down the cards in his hand and ran to the door to check on Shang Yanfang.

The other boys looked at Shang Guokang, bewildered.