Whitaker Scarlett swept up two large bags of goods.
Sanders Wren, possessing exceptional strength, helped her carry them to the guesthouse. Whitaker Scarlett’s first haul consisted mainly of sweaters and trousers; she didn’t dare bring in too many coats, as good coats were expensive, and the winters in Duskhaven were colder than those in capital. Thin coats wouldn’t suffice, so Whitaker Scarlett planned to stock up on thicker coats on her next trip.
She had brought 900 dollars and spent over 500 in one go.
After deducting travel expenses and accommodation, she had no more than 300 dollars left. Whitaker Scarlett planned to use the remaining money to buy two better woolen coats; although the cost was high, the profit margin on each coat would be greater.
Whitaker Scarlett wanted to treat Sanders Wren to a meal. The girl initially refused, but Whitaker Scarlett insisted, so Sanders Wren accepted a cheap bowl of rice. She was to share a room with Whitaker Scarlett that night and explained:
“Sablewick can be quite chaotic at night. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing a room, I can sleep in the next room.”
Sanders Wren had to stay with Whitaker Scarlett until Kay arrived.
Whitaker Scarlett would never chase her away. “Wren, it’s good to have you here to keep me company.”
After scouring the wholesale stalls, Whitaker Scarlett was exhausted. The guesthouse was modestly furnished, but the hot shower was incredibly relaxing. She was also curious about how Sanders Wren knew Kay, only to find that Sanders Wren had never heard of him before.
“My brother asked me to pick you up and take care of you, so I came.”
Sanders Wren’s family had run a martial arts school in the old society. Her brother was serving in the army in the north, leaving her as the sole supporter of their household. Now that people had abandoned martial arts in favor of meditation, Sanders Wren had no means of making a living, so she switched to selling fruit.
She showed no disdain for individual entrepreneurs, as she was one herself.
“Wren, you’re amazing!”
Sanders Wren shrugged. “Whoever messes with me, I’ll beat them up. Whoever has the stronger fists has the right.”
Whitaker Scarlett was selling clothes, a task Sanders Wren felt she couldn’t help much with. If Whitaker Scarlett were selling fruit, Sanders Wren was confident she could get the cheapest goods. Sanders Wren hadn’t been reborn or time-traveled; she was a native Sablewick girl. The atmosphere in Sablewick was more open than in Duskhaven, and there were many individual entrepreneurs like Sanders Wren.
Money was easy to make in the 1980s. As long as you weren’t scammed, were hardworking, and had a bit of common sense, you couldn’t lose.
However, despite her successful fruit business, Sanders Wren’s greatest pride was her brother in the army: “He’s been promoted. All he needs now is a wife. I’ll work hard to make money so that when my brother gets married, his future wife’s family won’t look down on him!”
Well, she was a devoted girl.
The limitations of the times prevented Whitaker Scarlett from explaining. Whitaker Scarlett believed that people should live for themselves first, while Sanders Wren found greater happiness in devoting herself to her brother. Whitaker Scarlett didn’t try to correct her… As they chatted, Whitaker Scarlett drifted off to sleep.
The next day, accompanied by Sanders Wren again, Whitaker Scarlett visited several wholesale markets in Sablewick.
The dazzling array of goods was overwhelming. More profitable than clothing were electronic products, from small items like watches and calculators to larger ones like radios and televisions—you could find anything you could imagine in Sablewick. The rationing system was virtually nonexistent in Sablewick; the markets were flooded with “smuggled goods.” Ships smuggled goods from other country every day. While customs seized most of them, some still slipped through.
If you had connections, you could buy anything at a low price from the customs inspection warehouse.
Confiscated smuggled goods weren’t destroyed but sold cheaply to those with connections… Electronic watches, for example, were sold by the crate, as were washing machines, televisions, and refrigerators. With a little more money, you could even buy a confiscated smuggled car.
Whitaker Scarlett was bold; she dared to buy anything others dared to sell.
But she lacked capital!
Looking at the boundless business opportunities in Sablewick, even more prosperous and open than Zoriville, Whitaker Scarlett’s heart ached.
She didn’t even want to stay in Sablewick anymore. She had already chosen her goods, and the guesthouse cost money every night—all for a meeting with Kay in Sablewick? She could have waited for Kay in Greenfield County.
Unfortunately, there were no cell phones yet; even “Big Brother” phones didn’t exist. Beepers were just emerging in Zoriville. Landlines were the fastest means of communication, followed by telegrams… Either party had to be stationary to use them.
Who knew where Kay had driven to?
…
Kay ran into some trouble.
