Chapter 188 (1/2)
Chapter 188: Ghost Market II
Do you believe in a biological clock? I do because I get up exceptionally early on Thursdays .
I don't like setting alarms so on other days, I would usually wake up at 12 noon when the sun is already s.h.i.+ning its brightest .
On Thursdays, however, I would wake up at two in the morning without fail .
What I have most at home wasn't straw material, but tea leaves .
Before I started this business, my parents were in the tea business .
It was an accidental discovery that I could soak my materials in tea to make them appear old .
I would soak 25 dolls and a cloth in tea before getting breakfast . I leave home at 3:30 and reach the market in ten minutes' time .
Business wasn't very good today, but I'm accustomed to it .
I've only sold one and it's already 4:30 .
I saw an old lady looking over at me . She had actually been looking at me since the opening of the market at four in the morning .
After the crowd around my area has dwindled, she finally came over to me .
The market consisted mostly of youngsters and those in their 30s and 40s . Any individual older than 50 was rare .
The old lady squatted down in front of me and pointed out, ”You're selling dolls?”
”Voodoo dolls, 1 for 30,” I said since she really didn't look like a wealthy lady . I could tell that her cloth shoes had been mended before .
”Exchangeable?” she asks .
It is a rule that barter trading is allowed . However, since youngsters dominate the crowd, there would seldom be people who bring items along to exchange for other goods .
”Sorry, only for sale,” I answered .
She placed a pouch in front of me . ”Not even this?”
It's a very black pouch and something within flashed under the street lights .
It's something yellow . Gold? The old lady didn't seem like she has anything valuable to offer so why would she exchange gold for a 30-dollar doll?
”Do you know what this is for?” I questioned .
”Yeah,” she responded, raising her head .
She looked rather scary and there was even a deep scar on her face .
”Are you seeking revenge?”
”No questions . Focus on buying and selling . Rules,” she said with an eerie smile .
”Oh… what's that in your hands, then?” I continued .
”Touch it . It's old stuff . You have two dolls left and I want both . ”
I picked the bag up and found it surprisingly heavy .
Just from the weight alone, it seemed that I won't lose out . It might just be a gold plate, but even a fake one would be more valuable than my dolls .
Frowning, I said, ”This is a one-off deal, Granny . No going back on your words after the exchange . ”
She nodded . ”Does this really work, though?”
”Yes . It's in your hands so whatever you want to do is up to you . ”
She handed me the pouch and stashed the dolls away in her pocket .
I closed my hands over the pouch and smiled . ”Deal's done . ”
She got up and said, ”What you have now is even more extraordinary . ”
She walked off without a backward glance .
Dahai turned to me and asked curiously, ”You exchanged something? Did you finally made an exception?”
”Yeah, feels like it's good stuff,” I explained, opening the pouch . It contained a golden pocket watch .