Chapter 116
Nowadays, only people with high status could get a few foreign exchange tickets each year. However, they tended to be cautious and usually wouldn’t buy antiques to avoid gossip. Also, buying a foreign exchange ticket on the black market cost around 150 yuan. When considering the cost of the foreign exchange ticket itself, it could discourage many people from making the purchase.
“If you want to go to the antique shop, I happen to have three foreign exchange tickets here,” Jiang Yexun took an envelope from his olive green bag and handed three foreign exchange tickets to Su Xiaoxiao.
These were specially prepared by him for the future parents-in-law and elder brother to buy gifts. However, if little educated youth wanted to buy something, she should be the first to use them.
“Buying antiques with foreign exchange tickets and then having Big Gao help us sell them may incur too much cost,” Su Xiaoxiao bit her lip, showing a hint of concern.
“We can buy these items for our own collection. Their prices will surely rise in the future, and we won’t suffer any loss. However, the cup we just bought from the black market can be sold through him for around 600 yuan,” Jiang Yexun thought carefully before explaining.
After all, antiques sold by antique shops don’t come cheap, with most being worth at least hundreds of US dollars.
“Don’t you like that purple clay teapot?” Su Xiaoxiao was surprised, her eyes wide open.
Jiang Yexun hesitated and replied, “I do like it. It’s quite nice.”
However, he couldn’t deceive Su Xiaoxiao. She understood him better than he did himself.
“Never mind, we can sell it,” Su Xiaoxiao sighed.
People tend to have different preferences at various stages of their lives. Since he would like it in the future, they could wait until then. For now, money was the most important thing.
“However, if we sell it in Harbor City, we should confirm the price with Big Gao. We can’t be as casual as before, selling the big ones for 800 and the small ones for 600,” Su Xiaoxiao said seriously and earnestly.
She wanted to make big money, even if she was selling ordinary collectibles. She would never undersell them.
“Okay,” Jiang Yexun nodded, then said warmly, “Big Gao is still trustworthy. He was just annoyed before, so he didn’t pay much attention to the prices in Harbor City. You should be able to find out the approximate market price from there if you can confirm the age and quality.”
“That’s settled, then,” Su Xiaoxiao said happily, her eyes sparkling like a sky full of stars.
Jiang Yexun gently rubbed her soft, fluffy head, which pushed his heart and mind to the brink of self-control. But the young girl next to him seemed completely oblivious and clung to his arm. Her soft touch on his arm, even through several layers of fabric, stirred his emotions.
Soon, she said cheerfully, “Since we have some time left, let’s visit an antique shop. Even though we don’t have money right now, it’s okay to look around.”
It didn’t matter that they didn’t have money now. She could visit the antique shop and then go buy the ingredients for making the whitening and moisturizing pills. Even if they didn’t make much, they could probably earn a few hundred yuan. Hopefully, she would find something she liked.
“I still have over 2,300 yuan here. If you find something you like, you should be able to buy it,” Jiang Yexun reassured her while ruffling her fluffy head.
He had sold four antiques just to have some extra money to buy good things for little educated youth and her brother. Since it was meant for little educated youth anyway, she could decide how to use it.
“No worries, we can make money these days,” Su Xiaoxiao blinked with determination and hope in her eyes.
Jiang Yexun immediately understood what she meant, and a sense of hope welled up inside him. When they left the room, Su Xiaoxiao reluctantly let go of him, but she hugged his arm.
Losing the sudden softness and warmth left both of them with a sense of emptiness in their hearts.
Jiang Yexun led Su Xiaoxiao to the entrance of an underground passage. They saw a sign painted in bright red on a wooden signboard above that read “Subway.”
This was the end of 1974, and did their country already have a subway? It seemed much more advanced than she had imagined!
Jiang Yexun turned around and saw the surprised look on little educated youth’s face. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “This is the only subway line in the country. It’s like a short-distance train running underground. We learned how to build it from the other countries in 1969, and it was only completed in 1971. The total length is not very long, with just six stations. We’ll get off after three stations.”
Su Xiaoxiao was pleasantly surprised to learn that their country had developed much faster than she had imagined. She marveled at this new development in her heart.
At this time, subway tickets cost one penny, which was twice as expensive as taking the bus. However, the subway was much faster. They reached their destination after just a short conversation.
When they reached the surface and crossed an arch bridge, they could see a two-story building that stood out prominently at the roadside. The wooden sign at the entrance read “Antique Shop” in beautifully written calligraphy. Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun entered the shop, where there were already other customers. A man in a navy blue parka was accompanying a well-dressed foreigner in a suit. They were looking at a scroll laid out on a table.
“This is just a replica from the Qing Dynasty. No matter how good the craftsmanship is, it’s still a replica. Mr. Wales is willing to offer fifty US dollars, which is already quite high,” the man spoke condescendingly.
The shop assistant, however, didn’t feel insulted and continued to smile. He looked at the spread-out painting with hesitation. “But this price is really too low. Our manager said this painting should be sold for at least a hundred US dollars. I’m not in charge here and can’t set the price.”
The man’s face immediately turned impatient. However, before he could speak harshly, Su Xiaoxiao stepped forward.
The man furrowed his brow and glanced at her and Jiang Yexun. One looked young, and the other appeared to be a rural commoner. He didn’t take them too seriously.
“It’s a replica from the Qing Dynasty, which means it’s a fake painting. You’re trying to sell a fake painting for a hundred US dollars, which would damage your reputation,” the man scolded impatiently.
“A thousand, I’ll take this painting,” Su Xiaoxiao declared.