Lin Wenbin had indeed been busy these past few days. Seeing that Li Yunlan and the three newborns were well taken care of, he turned his attention to dealing with Cheng Mingyue. He wasn't one to procrastinate or delay revenge.

He wanted Cheng Mingyue dealt with immediately. He hoped that by the time Li Yunlan finished her postpartum confinement, this woman and her family would be gone from Beijing for good.

After returning home, Cheng Mingyue was left guessing. What did Lin Wenbin really mean? Had her actions been discovered? Although she hadn't played a major role—only helped start that fire—she'd gotten scared and sent her son back, staying at the hospital with Lin Hongyan out of cowardice.

When nothing seemed to happen by daytime, she took Lin Hongyan to see Li Yunlan, only to be turned away by Lin Wenbin before even setting foot inside.

During the New Year period, Cheng Mingzhong's home was constantly filled with guests. Every visitor asked why Cheng Mingyue had come to Beijing for the holiday, which made Li Jing's expression grow darker each time.

Tired of enduring Li Jing's displeasure, Cheng Mingyue decided she had to see Lin Wenbin again. She'd heard he taught at Peking University Medical School and lived in the faculty dormitory there.

On the evening of the fifth day of the New Year, she discussed it with Lin Dalong and Lin Hongyan.

Lin Dalong, who had a bit more sense, felt it was useless. "He won't give us the time of day. Lin Wenbin is close to Li Yunlan. If she's said anything bad about us, he definitely won't help."

Lin Hongyan agreed. "Mom, do we really have to beg Li Yunlan and Lin Wenbin? Can't my brother just retake the college entrance exam?"

Lin Dalong wasn't having it. "It's not that easy. Why don't you try taking it? Besides, how did Lin Xiaoxiao get first place? Is her brain not human? Does she have a photographic memory? Her grades used to be worse than mine."

Their arguing gave Cheng Mingyue a headache. She massaged her temples. "Enough, both of you. No matter what, Dalong must go to university. Our family needs a college graduate.

Hongyan, you should study hard too. You've seen Beijing—it's much better than our hometown. Only by studying well and getting into Peking University can you work here someday."

Lin Hongyan fell silent. Her own academic performance was far from impressive.

Cheng Mingyue turned to Lin Dalong. "I know Lin Wenbin may not help us, but who else can we turn to? Your uncle might assist with other matters, but he has no influence when it comes to university admissions."

Lin Dalong frowned. "So what's your plan?"

Cheng Mingyue clenched her jaw. "Money. If we spend enough, we can make it happen."

On the seventh day of the New Year, she went to see Lin Wenbin. To her surprise, he was quite polite and even invited her into his dorm room. This gave her hope. During their conversation, Lin Wenbin remarked somewhat wistfully that while China had much to offer, it was impossible to buy a television or stereo without special purchase tickets.

Reading between the lines, Cheng Mingyue felt he was subtly hinting for a gift. After returning, she thought it over and decided to buy a high-priced TV voucher on the black market.

That evening, she cautiously asked Li Jing where she might find such a market in Beijing.

Li Jing was curious. "What do you need from the black market? I know there's a 'ghost market' near Panjiayuan—they call it that because it operates late at night with very little light. It started with people secretly trading food and grain vouchers. What are you looking for?"

Not wanting to reveal her plans, Cheng Mingyue waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing, really. I was just curious. I've heard you can find anything there, so I thought I'd take a look."

Li Jing nodded. "That's true. They have everything, and the prices aren't bad. You can buy things there that aren't available in stores. I've been wanting a Meihua wristwatch. I heard they're ten yuan cheaper on the black market than in the department stores. But your brother refuses—says it's run by shady people."

She frowned, though her eyes gleamed with desire.

Cheng Mingyue pretended not to notice. She'd already spent plenty on Li Jing and her children during her stay—expecting her to buy a watch too was pushing it.

She smiled vaguely. "I'm just going to look around. I didn't bring much money with me this trip anyway—probably can't afford anything even if I wanted to."

Li Jing pursed her lips but still offered a warning. "Be careful if you go. That place is full of all kinds of people. If they think you have money, they might rob you outright or pick your pocket."

Cheng Mingyue nodded repeatedly. "It's fine, I won't have much cash on me. I'm not buying anything—just looking. No one will target me."

That night, not feeling entirely secure, she brought Lin Dalong along. If anything happened, his size alone might make people think twice.

The ghost market was under a bridge, dimly lit with kerosene lamps at each stall. People moved through quietly, hardly speaking. The eerie, secretive atmosphere truly felt like a market for ghosts.

Cheng Mingyue had been to black markets in Longbei before to buy food, but those were just hidden alleys where people traded discreetly. This felt far more ominous.

Nervously, she gripped Lin Dalong's arm. "Dalong, let's just ask around. Don't say too much. If it doesn't feel right, we leave immediately."

Lin Dalong, however, found it exciting. "Don't worry, I'm not stupid."

As they walked, shadowy figures approached offering Overseas Chinese Certificates, television vouchers, even U.S. dollars. Cheng Mingyue didn't dare respond, but she was desperate to secure Lin Wenbin's help.

Finally, when someone whispered, "Need a TV voucher?", she gathered her courage and asked, "How much?"

The man looked her up and down, judging whether she could afford it, then named a price.

Cheng Mingyue gasped. "A television doesn't even cost that much! Two hundred sixty yuan just for the voucher? That's robbery!"

The man glared, his eyes cold. "Listen, lady, you might afford the TV, but can you get the voucher? If you can't pay, don't waste my time."

Reluctant to spend so much, Cheng Mingyue walked away with Lin Dalong. But after asking around, she found that vouchers for TVs and refrigerators were all similarly expensive. Some sellers said they wouldn't have stock until next month.

Supplies were limited. If she didn't buy now, who knew when another chance would come?

Standing on the roadside, Cheng Mingyue wrestled with her decision before finally resolving to go through with it.

She led Lin Dalong back into the ghost market, unaware that across the street, Lin Wenbin stood leaning against a wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, hands in his pockets, watching them with a mocking smile.