Chapter 9: A Backpack Brimming with Gold, Silver, and Jewels

Lin Meng, my teammates and I have gathered some gold, silver, and jewels; take a look and see if these will do?

Lin Meng had just entered the space when she heard Ye Heng's voice, and at the same time saw the backpack placed on the 38th Parallel.

That pack looks old, yet it's bulging—just how much gold, silver, and jewels must be stuffed inside?

Lin Meng appeared calm on the surface, but inside she was already beside herself with excitement.

She carefully opened the backpack, and in an instant was dazzled by its brilliance, taking a moment to recover.

Fortunately it's the apocalypse, so gold, silver, and jewels are worthless; otherwise they couldn't have been preserved.

Inside there are not only genuine gold ornaments, but also quite a few jade pieces and some jewelry that looks extremely luxurious.

"Ye Heng, your efficiency is too high; I really need these things. Once I exchange them for money, I'll immediately buy more supplies for you."

"You can also make a list; as long as it's not especially hard to obtain, I can help you purchase a batch in the next two days."

Lin Meng thought of something else, and without waiting for Ye Heng to thank her, she continued:

"Right, our trade can continue like this; the more valuable goods I have, the better—we each take what we need."

Ye Heng was delighted to hear that.

"Lin Meng, is what you said true? Are you willing to long‑term provide us with survival supplies? That's wonderful—don't worry, I and my teammates will keep searching for gold, silver, and jewels for you."

The two hadn't spoken long when the teammates returned, and Ye Heng had to cut off his mental link with the space.

"Team Captain, what should we do next? I heard that near the 13 Special Zone there will soon be a supplies trade fair—should we go check it out and exchange some high‑grade crystal cores for medical supplies?"

"The 13 Special Zone is relatively generous; its exchange goods aren't shoddy. Lately we have several pregnant women in our camp about to give birth, so we really need to stock some medicine just in case."

Ye Heng thought for a moment, then nodded: "Sun Hao, take a team over—it's not far to the 13 Special Zone—and the rest continue with me searching for valuables; we'll split into two groups…"

He said that, but Ye Heng had already made up his mind: the next time he finds more gold, silver, and jewels for Lin Meng, he will try to ask for some medical supplies—her era should be able to manage that…

Lin Meng wasted no time, sorted the gold, silver, and jewels in the backpack into categories, then pulled her suitcase out the door.

White Ridge Town still has limited conditions; she must go to Yun Cheng to sell the goods.

The journey from Lin Jia Cun to the city is far, but fortunately there is a privately contracted bus that goes straight through without strict security checks—perfect for Lin Meng.

The trip to Yun Cheng will take at least three to five days to return; before leaving, Lin Meng bowed three times before the ancestral tablet, swapped in fresh offerings, then departed.

Since the uncles have already returned the property deed, there's no need to worry about them causing trouble in the short term.

She carries the deed with her; even if they harbor ill intent and ransack her old home while she's away, they won't find anything valuable.

Lin Meng set off for Yun Cheng with peace of mind; as soon as her front foot left the village, her back foot had villagers telling the Lin family uncles that she was dragging her luggage out of the village.

"She must have gone out to work for money; with her abilities, what big money could she make? I'd like to see how she pays off those debts!"

"Just wait and see; the creditors aren't running a charity, they won't let her drag it out too long—they'll make her suffer a bit, and in the end they'll still demand payment from us."

"…"

After riding for over three hours, her buttocks numb from the jolting, Lin Meng finally arrived at Yun Cheng.

As a second‑tier bustling city, Yun Cheng's liveliness goes without saying.

When Lin Meng graduated, she had originally planned to develop in Yun Cheng, but a twist of fate took her to Charming Magic City; she ended up leaving because the competition was too fierce.

That place is where many young people's dreams begin, and at the same time where dreams shatter into a heartbreaking land.

By comparison, Yun Cheng's pace of life is still slower.

Lin Meng contacted a gold shop with good reputation on her phone, then dragged her suitcase inside.

"Boss, what's the price for recycling gold?"

The shop assistant glanced at Lin Meng's attire, then snorted and replied in a dismissive tone:

"Nine hundred per gram—how many grams do you plan to sell?"

Gold prices have surged lately; anyone short of cash comes to sell gold. He sees girls like Lin Meng all the time—each visit they sell a tiny bit, make a few thousand, spend it, then come back for more.

A thin little chain could go back and forth several times; he was speechless—couldn't she just sell it all at once?

The shop assistant didn't hear Lin Meng's answer, so he lifted his head and stared at her with contempt.

"I've seen plenty of girls like you who come to the city to work, have a bit of gold jewelry and want to sell it at a high price but can't bear to part with it, going back and forth repeatedly. If your stuff is small, I'd advise you to just sell it all at once—instead of splitting it into batches, you won't find it bothersome, but I resent earning such paltry money."

The shop assistant looked down on people with dog‑like eyes, his mouth as foul as feces, and his words were sharp and venomous.

Lin Meng narrowed her eyes to size him up—a big‑faced, unsavory type—and her goodwill toward the reputable shop vanished instantly; she turned to leave.

She could have shouted back at him, but her principles wouldn't let her stoop to the level of a dog.

Let him bark; this money won't let him earn it—may he regret it to his death.

Who would have thought the shop assistant wouldn't let up, actually getting up to follow Lin Meng and continue mocking her.

"Don't go—take out your goods and have a look; our shop offers the highest recycling prices around, you won't get this rate elsewhere."

Lin Meng stopped in her tracks, turned back, and gave him a sharp glance.

"You look down on us petty little customers, don't you? So why are you chasing after us?"

Having said that, Lin Meng walked away without looking back.

The shop assistant spat at Lin Meng's back, his eyes rolling in utter contempt.

"Who knows where her money comes from—no one cares."

Girls like her who are pretty and young—whose income might not be clean—could have earned gold chains and bracelets by smiling, drinking, and sleeping with a few wealthy patrons.

Many young women who come to his shop to sell gold are certainly of that ilk.

The shop assistant thought this way, feeling ever more superior and looking down on these youngsters.

Yet curiosity or compulsion drove him to stare at Lin Meng; seeing her turn into the rival gold shop, he hurried after her.

"Miss, are you looking to have jewelry made?"

As soon as Lin Meng entered, the shop clerk greeted her warmly.

"No, I'm here to recycle gold jewelry; what's your purchase price?"

Lin Meng had just finished speaking when the foul‑mouthed shop assistant rushed over, speaking in a sarcastic, tone‑mocking way:

Xiao Sun, this person is simply not here to sell goods in good faith—just that little bit of stuff and they're still being stingy. Don't bother her; who knows where they got that gold from, maybe they're someone's mistress. Watch out, the real owner might come looking for trouble.

Lin Meng heard that and couldn't help doubting her own ears—where did this person get such malice? Even if life isn't going well, one wouldn't be this spiteful, right? She instantly lost her temper.

You like being cheap, huh? I held back from scolding you just now, yet you're still unsatisfied and came after me to get scolded?

You damn wretch, do you really think you got the upper hand just now?