When people who cannot afford to feed their families even with a job lose their job, without an income, the public can only take the expensive objects they have at home and use them to exchange for things to eat or use. Markets and black markets are bound to emerge to meet public demands.
Lots of people were losing their jobs, and those still working were a part of the minority. Soon, Su Han turned into a member of the great army of unemployed.
After lunch in the afternoon of the 7th day, the proprietress announced, "The noodle restaurant is closing down. Please go and make your living somewhere else."
Is there no more free food to be provided? Su Han was slightly disappointed. The free meals the restaurant provided were the reason that not only had she not touched the supplies in her space, instead, she even managed to stock up (milk+black bread+soap she bought with her salary).
Even if the three free meals a day changed into two, it still wouldn't require her to eat her own— about 50 satiety points are consumed a day. After eating two meals, she would immediately recover to full health.
Su Han successfully solved her daily consumption problem by slightly adjusting her meals times with one meal at 8 am and the other at 3 pm.
Now that she was jobless, how should she live her remaining days? Su Han couldn't help sinking deep into her thoughts.
The chef didn't say anything and just silently returned to the kitchen to pack up.
Seeing Su Han sitting on her seat, not moving, the proprietress sighed. She apologized despondently, "I'm sorry, I've no choice. The noodle restaurant can't stay open any longer, I've to leave a way out for myself too."
Su Han was stunned for a moment before chuckling. "It's okay, I can understand." In reality, staying at the noodle restaurant until the 7th day already made her very delighted.
Waving in goodbye, Su Han didn't bring anything and left just like that.
After some consideration, she decided to go to the market and shop around. Who knows if there'll be someone willing to take out their family inheritance in exchange for some food?
However, after walking on the road for a mere ten minutes, Su Han witnessed a total of three robberies.
The first time, it was a middle-aged man with some stubble on his face snatching a lollipop away from the hands of a kindergartener. He immediately turned and ran with the lollipop in hand.
The second time, an elderly man in his seventies was walking on the road when he was suddenly pushed to the ground. When the robbers searched all the older man's pockets and found a stack of money, they immediately left swearing.
"They're crazy, they're all going crazy." Su Han found that she'd still underestimated how dangerous the outside world was. And so, while walking, she started to try to walk on the main roads as much as possible.
However, even so, she was still targeted.
Su Han silently stared at the one woman and two-man surrounding her. She thought, being an alone young lady was probably too eye-catching. She probably got stopped because she looked easy to bully.
"Do you have food with you? Hand it over and we'll let you go." The only female in the robber gang demanded.
Looking to be silently fishing in her pockets, in reality, Su Han was taking out a metal ball and a catapult from her storage space.
The female robber was delighted at the sight because she thought that her prey would obediently hand it over. Who would've known that at the very next second, her prey pulled back the catapult and fired the metal ball?
With a 'clang,' the coke can in one of the robber's hands had a new hole in it, and the coke started gushing out.
All three of them were amazed.
Leisurely taking out another ball, after Su Han finished, she said, "I like aiming at the face when hitting someone."
The female robber's face turned pale. If the metal bead that can put a hole into an aluminum can hits her face…
"Let's go now!" She cried out, fleeing.
The men immediately followed after her. The three bolted without taking another look back.
Su Han loosened the catapult and placed the metal beads back into her space. She muttered, "I've got to find a way to get a backpack. The storage space is about to be filled up."
There were 100 metal beads per pack. The moment it got unpacked, they could only be counted by bead, not by the pack. In other words, it was going to occupy an extra box.
"If I had a backpack, after opening the packaged metal beads, I'd be able to put it straight into the bag." Su Han continued on her way to the market with much anticipation.
Perhaps, it was because other robbers saw the process of her defense just now and knew that she wasn't good to provoke. However, anyways for the remaining way of her journey Su Han didn't meet any idiots blocking her way.
Soon, Su Han arrived at the market.
This was a small park, and there were people everywhere setting up stands and peddling.
"Candles, handy candles! Don't miss it!"
"Matchboxes, cigarette lighters and flints, I have all you need! All I want is to exchange it for some food. Come take a look!"
"Extra thick cotton-wadded quilt, very warming! All who are interested come here quick!"
"Nylon backpack! Very long-lasting! I got it less than a month ago, it's at least ninety percent new!"
Nylon backpack? As Su Han headed towards the sound source, she saw the stall owner having a back and further with another person. "It is made of nylon, very very lightweight and convenient to use! It's also got good flexibility and doesn't leave the smell of sweat behind."
The buyer was moved. However, he was still rather hesitant. "Two loaves of bread is too expensive! One, one and I'll buy it."
The stall owner instantly grew anxious. "How is it expensive? Back then I spent over a hundred to buy it! How much are two loaves of bread even worth? Not even twenty right?"
"That's not how the market price goes now." The client was not fooled at all. He spoke very assertively, "What times are we in now? If the backpack is worth even more money, would you take it out to exchange it for bread? Gold has got a price, but not food!"
Sweeping her gaze over the nylon backpack, Su Han thought that it looked pretty new. And so, she interrupted, "Two loaves of bread is it? I'm buying it."
The stall owner was stunned for a moment before he realized what she meant. He was delighted, "I knew there would be someone who knew what's what!!"
The client turned his head around rather unhappily. "I don't think it's nice to interrupt when people are discussing things."
"Alright then, you pay the two loaves of bread. I'm not going to fight with you." Su Han was very calm. "You kept bargaining and didn't seem too sincere, that's why I said something."
"Exactly! He kept bargaining and isn't sincere at all!" The stall owner nodded, echoing after her. "Miss you're buying it now, right? It's not expensive, just two ;oaves of bread will do."
The client was secretly offended. He was certain that he'd be able to get the backpack with one loaf of bread. Unfortunately, out came someone who messed things up.
Suddenly, he thought of something, and his sight started darting back and forth between Su Han and the stall owner. A moment later, he snorted, "Wow, I know, this woman is a support right? Why, do you guys know each other?"
Su Han was speechless. "You're overthinking."