Chapter 266: Crushing the Black Market

In the autumn of 1961, the wind already carried a distinct chill, swirling the fallen leaves on the ground and adding a touch of desolation. Inside the Steel Rolling Mill, the machines' roar seemed a bit more sluggish than usual, as if the heavy year had slowed its rhythm.

Li Ping'an was in the Security Department office reviewing recent factory patrol records when a rapid footfall sounded outside the door. A clerk led a middle‑aged man in a white police uniform, his expression solemn, into the room.

"Li Chief, sorry to disturb you. I am Deputy Chief Lao Zhang of the Dongzhimen Police Substation," the newcomer saluted, his voice resonant.

Li Ping'an rose to return the salute and invited him to sit: "Chief Zhang, what is it?"

Chief Zhang did not bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point: "Li Chief, the situation is urgent; I'll be brief. We have received orders from higher‑ups to eliminate a fairly large black‑market nest outside Chaoyang Gate. Those people are too cunning and mobile; our Police Substation lacks manpower. The directive is to request the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department for support in a joint operation!"

A black market? Li Ping'an's brows twitched. In these times, supplies are extremely scarce, and any trade outside the plan is deemed "speculative profiteering," so a black market naturally emerged.

Although the risk is huge, some still take the gamble to obtain food and necessities. Cracking down on the black market both preserves market order and indeed yields a cache of rare supplies.

"What is the mission objective? How many of us are needed?" Li Ping'an asked in a low voice, weighing the options quickly in his mind.

"The goal is to completely destroy the nest, capture the key personnel, and confiscate all illegal goods!" Chief Zhang said firmly. "We hope the Security Section can send fifteen to twenty elite members to cooperate, mainly handling the outer blockade and rapid arrests. The operation is set for tomorrow night at dawn."

Li Ping'an paused briefly. The Security Section's daily training had been suspended due to famine, but the core members still retain their foundation, so carrying out such a mission poses little problem.

Moreover, as the informant noted, after such an operation the seized goods… by regulation most must be turned over, but the participating units always get a share to improve meals and replenish consumption—a customary, unwritten practice. For the Security Section brothers whose bellies lack oil and water, this is undoubtedly a huge temptation.

"No problem!" Li Ping'an replied immediately. "The Security Section will resolutely cooperate with the public security forces! Wang Dahu!"

"Ready!" Wang Dahu, who was stationed at the doorway, straightened his chest and responded.

"Immediately select fifteen skilled, tight‑lipped core members, get ready, and lead the team tomorrow night, following Chief Zhang's command at all times!"

"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!" A flash of excitement crossed Wang Dahu's face. He, of course, understood what that meant.

Seeing Li Ping'an so agreeable, Chief Zhang relaxed and, after detailing some operational specifics and rendezvous methods, hurried away.

The news spread within the Security Department in a small circle; the selected clerks each rubbed their fists, eyes full of anticipation. Those not chosen envied them, urging, "Brother Hu, when the time comes… heh heh, you know!"

Wang Dahu laughed and scolded, "Keep your mouths tightly shut! If the news leaks, we won't even have the northwest wind to drink, let alone rotten meat!"

The next night, the moon was dark and the wind high. At one o'clock in the morning, at the Steel Rolling Mill's back gate, fifteen Security clerks gathered silently. Everyone had changed into dark civilian clothes, wielding not firearms but sturdy wooden sticks and ropes. Li Ping'an came personally to see them off.

"Dahu, remember, the operation must be swift and ruthless! Watch safety and protect the comrades!" Li Ping'an patted Wang Dahu's shoulder, whispering, "Take what's ours without hesitation."

Wang Dahu nodded heavily: "Chief, you can rest assured!"

The squad, like a blade in the dark night, merged silently with the Police Substation comrades and surged toward the desolate riverbank in the east of the city—that spot was the exact location of the black market.

Li Ping'an returned to his office without resting. He stood by the window, staring at the pitch‑black factory grounds, while his Divine Perception quietly spread outward. Though it could not reach that far, an inexplicable sense let him roughly gauge the operation's progress. He could "feel" the distant commotion, shouts, footfalls, and… a restless excitement tinged with the promise of loot amid the chaos.

The operation went smoother than expected. Though the group was alert, under the prepared joint raid of the public security forces and the Security Section, they barely mounted any organized resistance before being wiped out in one sweep.

When Wang Dahu led the squad, escorting a few dejected men and hauling the heavy "spoils" on several handcarts back to the Security Department's small storeroom, the sky was already turning a pale, fish‑belly white.

"Chief! A complete victory!" Wang Dahu, though weary, had a gleam in his eyes as he lowered his voice in excitement to report, "We captured seven leaders; the rest scattered. Guess what? Those bastards actually had quite a lot of good stuff…"

In the storeroom, a kerosene lamp was lit. Several burlap sacks and wooden crates sat on the handcart. When opened, even the well‑read Li Ping'an was slightly moved.

The burlap bags held bright white rice! Though a bit stale, it is a rarity these days. There was also half a slab of pork frozen solid, its fat layer weighing a hundred‑plus jin! In the other crates were ruby‑red hawthorn, golden persimmon cakes, and even a few bundles of decent‑looking rice noodles and a small barrel of rapeseed oil!

These are fine goods that ordinary citizens could hardly obtain even with ration tickets!

"Great haul!" a young clerk beside him swallowed hard, "This will improve how many meals for us!"

According to regulations, most of these supplies must be logged and turned over to higher authorities. Yet as participating units, the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department and the Police Substation each received a share of "hard‑work pay" and "loss compensation".

Finally, after negotiating with Chief Zhang, the Security Section received fifty jin of rice, twenty jin of pork, and a portion of hawthorn, persimmon cakes, and rice noodles. That already constituted a huge "windfall"!

Li Ping'an immediately ordered: "For the pork and rice, the department keeps half as reserve for future duty and emergencies. The other half, together with those mountain goods, is to be divided among the brothers who took part, proportionate to their contribution! Remember, take them home quietly, no fanfare!"

"Understood!" the crowd suppressed their exhilaration, replying in low voices.

That day, the Security Section buzzed with a festive atmosphere. The clerks who received meat carefully carried a bit of "oil and water" home in cloth bags or lunch boxes after work. Though the portions were modest, they were enough to delight families and add a rare richness and aroma to otherwise plain meals.

That evening, Xi Kua Yuan also unusually wafted the scent of rice and the oily aroma of fried meat. When Li Ping'an handed a small strip of meat and two jin of rice to Lin Xueqing, she widened her eyes in surprise: "This… Ping'an, where did it come from?"

"It's a reward from the factory mission; the brothers performed well," Li Ping'an vaguely explained.

Lin Xueqing asked no further questions, deftly slicing the meat thin, stir‑frying it with cabbage, and using the precious rice to simmer a small pot of rice.

Although each person received only a small half‑bowl of rice and a few slices of meat, the genuine scent of rice and meat seemed to dispel much of the lingering gloom and hunger. Little Li Yaozong ate with his mouth slick with oil, chattering happily.

Li Ping'an watched his family's satisfied expressions and felt a measure of reassurance. This operation not only struck down illegal activity and trained the squad, but more importantly, it tangibly benefited the brothers and their families. In these hard times, even a modest material improvement is the most effective tonic.

Nevertheless, he knew that black markets could not be eradicated; the root cause lay in the extreme scarcity of goods. Eliminate one, and another will surface.