Chapter 590 Entering the Black Market

The dim street lights flickered weakly at the entrance of the black market, stretching the figures of Zhao Dakuo and Wang Jianguo from time to time. The surroundings were filled with a unique smell mixed with dampness, stench and the flavor of urban life.

Zhao Dakuo had just dealt with the burly man guarding the gate, and there was still an trace of embarrassment on his face. The corners of his mouth turned down slightly unnaturally, his eyes were a little evasive, and the dense beads of sweat on his forehead sparkled in the dim light.

He leaned slightly to the side, his movements a little awkward, his eyes filled with a little helplessness and expectation, he glanced at Wang Jianguo, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke:

"Brother, I am here purely to accompany you. You know in your heart that I am not well-off. The management fee for entering the black market... this money should be paid by you."

The tone was not high, and there was a cautious tremor at the end of the voice, as if he was afraid that this sentence would break the delicate window paper of "cooperation" between the two of them.

Wang Jianguo's heart skipped a beat. In fact, ever since he decided to come to the black market, he had been secretly thinking about how to get rid of Zhao Dakuo, this "tail-chaser", without anyone noticing.

At this moment, when he heard what Zhao Dakuo said, his eyes lit up instantly, and he was secretly happy:

This is truly a godsend!

But on the surface, he remained calm, his brows were tightly furrowed into the shape of a "川" character, and an expression of extreme sorrow instantly appeared on his face. His eyes were full of helplessness and despair, as if he was a person who was in dire straits and had no way out.

He raised his head slightly, his eyes met Zhao Dakuo's for a second and then quickly looked away, as if he didn't dare to face the other's scrutiny. Then he sighed, his voice trembling a little, and he said in a crying tone:

"Brother Zhao, you are really pushing me into a desperate situation. Look at my current situation. How can I have any money?"

As he spoke, he subconsciously patted his empty pockets hard with his hands, making a rustling sound, as if he wanted Zhao Dakuo to truly feel the emptiness of his pockets.

"I have been wandering all the way here, and I have spent all my money to find relatives and make a living. Now I am almost out of money to eat. If I had this much money, would I have come here to sell things?"

The more Wang Jianguo spoke, the more excited he became. His eyes unconsciously turned slightly red, as if he was about to cry in the next second. Anyone who saw him would feel heartbroken.

After a pause, Wang Jianguo seemed to have a sudden inspiration, his eyes lit up, and then he said:

"How about this, Brother Zhao, you are such a good person and have helped me a lot along the way. I will always remember it. You wait for me outside now. I will go in by myself and come back to find you as soon as I finish my business."

"Don't worry, I, Wang Jianguo, am definitely not an ungrateful villain. When I sell the things and get the money, I will definitely give you all the benefits I deserve, not a penny less!"

As he spoke, he patted his chest to assure himself, his eyes revealing great determination, trying to dispel Zhao Dakuo's doubts.

In fact, Wang Jianguo had other plans in mind. He just wanted to venture into the black market alone, act according to his own plan, and avoid all the troubles and variables that Zhao Dakuo might bring.

After hearing what Wang Jianguo said, Zhao Dakuo's face became more hesitant. He knew in his heart that Wang Jianguo was indeed penniless at the moment, but he was worried that if he let him in alone, there would be complications.

What kind of place is this black market? It is a place where good and bad people mix together and undercurrents surge. If you are not careful, you may fall into an irretrievable place.

But looking at Wang Jianguo's pitiful appearance, and remembering how she had promised to help him, she swallowed the words of refusal back when they came to her lips.

Seeing that Zhao Dakuo was still hesitating, Wang Jianguo took advantage of the situation and explained to Zhao Dakuo:

"Oh, what are you afraid of? Our luggage is still in the guesthouse. I can't fly away even if I grow wings. I definitely won't run away. Wait."

"I went in to sell the things, and I will give you every penny I owe you. If both of us go in, won't we just waste 5 cents? This 5 cents is life-saving money for me now, so I'll save as much as I can."

Wang Jianguo's tone rose slightly, with a bit of urgency and sincerity, his eyes staring straight at Zhao Dakuo, as if he was making the most sincere oath.

Zhao Dakuo still looked at Wang Jianguo with distrust, with all kinds of thoughts intertwined in his mind: on the one hand, he didn't want to easily let go of the potential benefit fee.

On the other hand, he was really worried that Wang Jianguo would never come back. Finally, he gritted his teeth, nodded reluctantly, and said:

"Okay, brother, you better hurry up. I'll wait for you here. Don't get into any trouble. If anything happens, come out to me in time."

Wang Jianguo nodded as if he had been pardoned:

"Of course, Brother Zhao, don't worry!"

Zhao Dakuo stood at the entrance of the black market. The dim and flickering lights made his figure appear long and short, making him look a little vague.

He frowned slightly, weighing Wang Jianguo's words again and again in his mind, his eyes unconsciously looking towards the shadowy and mysterious interior of the black market in the distance.

There was a faint noise in my ears, mixed with the muttering of people bargaining in low voices and the occasional muffled sound of goods colliding, as if it was the unique background music of the black market.

After a moment, he seemed to have finally figured it out. He turned to look at Wang Jianguo, and the expression on his face changed from hesitation to a hint of helplessness. He said:

"Okay, brother. I'll wait for you here. Go quickly and come back soon."

As he spoke, his eyes revealed some concern and some worry, and he raised his hand and gently patted Wang Jianguo's shoulder.

"You know the rules of the black market, right? This place is different from the outside world. There are all kinds of people here, and it's a mixed bag."

"When we go in, just sell your own stuff. Don't ask too many questions or say too much. Don't cause yourself unnecessary trouble. Got it?"

The tone was like that of an experienced veteran teaching a novice the ways of survival; his speech was not fast, but every word was spoken with emphasis, revealing an unquestionable seriousness.

Wang Jianguo felt a little warmed when he saw Zhao Dakuo kindly reminding him, and nodded in response:

"I understand, I understand. Don't worry, Brother Zhao."

As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and fumbled around in it for a while before pulling out a crumpled 5-cent bill.

Because the banknote had been crumpled for a long time, the corners had curled up, the color had become a little dark, and there was some sweat from Wang Jianguo's palms on it.

He carefully smoothed the money, handed it to the two strong men guarding it, and said with a smile on his face:

"Thank you for your hard work, brothers. This is the management fee."

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