Chapter 57

He had originally wanted to persuade Jia Jia Zhangshi to build a good relationship with Cao Cao Weiguo so they could seek help from him in the future.

Who would have thought he would hear Jia Jia Zhangshi's vicious curses outside the door. ===== CHAPTER 102 =====

Beixinqiao

After getting off work at the steel mill, Cao Cao Weiguo pedaled his bicycle like a whirlwind to a trust store.

A trust store is different from a pawnshop; its business is mainly agency-based, acting as a bridge for both consignors and buyers.

Unlike the peddlers of the old days who walked the streets buying old goods, the trust stores of this era were state-run and wouldn't desperately drive prices down, but would offer a relatively fair price.

If the price was low and the final selling price was higher than the purchase price, they would even compensate the customer with a portion of the money.

Besides fair pricing, people who bought things at trust stores could feel at ease because the origin of the goods was clear, and buying things at trust stores didn't require coupons.

In this era of scarce supplies and coupon-based supply, one can imagine the purchasing power.

When people couldn't afford to shop at large stores that required coupons, trust stores became the first choice.

Additionally, browsing trust stores was a hobby for many; sometimes not to buy, but just to browse.

Some sharp-eyed folks could often find "treasures."

Cao Cao Weiguo hurried to the trust store just to hunt for "treasures."

After parking his bicycle, Cao Cao Weiguo inspected the place with great interest.

The items in the store were varied, from cameras, handicrafts, and watches to clothing, furniture, and pots and pans—everything one could expect.

It was probably close to closing time, as there were only two young men and one middle-aged woman in the store.

The woman was leisurely eating melon seeds, and the two young men were cleaning.

Cao Cao Weiguo walked to the counter for pots and pans and spotted a blue and white bowl.

"Ma'am, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a look at that blue and white bowl."

The woman glanced at Cao Cao Weiguo and took the bowl down.

"This bowl isn't cheap, so be careful not to break it."

Hearing the woman's words, Cao Cao Weiguo said with a smile, "Thank you, Ma'am."

Examining the blue and white bowl carefully, the light in his eyes grew brighter: "Ma'am, how much for this bowl?"

The woman said coldly, "Two ten-Brother Yuan notes."

Whoa!

That price was really not low!

In this era, the average daily wage for a worker was around one Brother Yuan, and a farmer's daily work points were worth between fifty cents and one Brother Yuan.

Twenty Brother Yuan was not a small amount; it was enough for a family's food for a month or so.

This bowl was a decent antique, but it couldn't be eaten or drunk.

For the common people of today, it wasn't as practical as a cornmeal bun.

It was precisely for this reason.

This large Qing Dynasty Qianlong blue and white "Farming and Weaving" bowl had been sitting here for a long time without anyone buying it.

In this day and age, people couldn't even get enough to eat; who had the mind to collect cultural relics and antiques?

Seeing Cao Cao Weiguo didn't speak, the woman said impatiently, "Don't just stand there, looking at it for a moment is enough to satisfy your curiosity."

"I'll take it!"

In the next second, Cao Cao Weiguo caught the woman off guard.

The two young men who were cleaning also looked over in surprise.

Cao Cao Weiguo took out a stack of money with a pained expression and tremblingly pulled out two ten-Brother Yuan notes.

The woman's eyes lit up: "Young man, you really want to buy it!"

Cao Cao Weiguo said with a bitter smile, "Since I need to use this thing to ask for a favor, I have to buy it even if I have to go hungry."

Cao Cao Weiguo produced his identification and completed the purchase registration.

Only then could the money and goods be exchanged.

Before leaving, Cao Cao Weiguo took five White Rabbit creamy candies from his pocket and stuffed them into the woman's hand.

"The price of this bowl isn't low, but the quality is truly excellent. Sorry to trouble you today, Ma'am."

"Oh my, this is White Rabbit! Thank you, young man."

Not only did she sell her relative's bowl, but she also got a few rare creamy candies.

This made the usually "aloof" woman beam with joy.

The person who consigned this blue and white bowl wasn't an outsider; it was a relative of hers.

Without some connections, this item would either go to the black market or be sent to a cultural relic store.

Black market transactions were too risky, and it wasn't easy to find a buyer.

If sent to a cultural relic store, getting a dozen Brother Yuan would be considered decent.

But by placing it here, if they encountered someone who loved it, they could exchange it for much more money.

Cao Cao Weiguo didn't know the story behind it and left happily with the bowl.

Halfway there, he put the Qing Dynasty Guangxu blue and white "Farming and Weaving" bowl into his storage space.

This bowl wasn't a particularly precious cultural relic, just something with a little collection value and appreciation potential.

Based on current and future prices, Cao Cao Weiguo might have actually lost money buying this bowl.

But he couldn't help himself—he saw something he liked, and he had the money, so he bought it on a whim.

At the same time, it was also to test the waters at the trust store and familiarize himself with the environment.

He would come by to browse when he had free time in the future; he couldn't waste his master-level appraisal skills.

Although the probability of finding treasures at the trust store wasn't high and the prices were expensive.

It was safer than the pigeon market or the black market, and it felt more secure.

After leaving the trust store, Cao Cao Weiguo stopped by the Xinhua Bookstore on the way.

He spent over two Brother Yuan to buy two copies of the "Little Red Book" and a few comic books for leisure.

Commonly known as "little people books."

Not only did children love them, but adults loved them too.

The reason was that these books weren't just text; they were mostly pictures, making them easy to understand.

And the stories depicted had a beginning and an end, were clear, and became more interesting the more one read them.

Most people in this era had been oppressed in the old society and had neither the money nor the opportunity to study, so many were illiterate... These comic books were easy to read and good to look at, so everyone liked them.

It was just that the country's strength was still recovering, and even daily necessities were very scarce.

Spending the price of dozens of eggs to buy a comic book was something many people wouldn't even dare to imagine, let alone be willing to buy.

So when Cao Cao Weiguo returned home with the comic books, he was given a good lecture by the thrifty Song Song Yulan.

Cao Cao Weiguo said aggrievedly: "They don't allow us to buy radios, and it's really boring at home. These comic books aren't expensive, and reading them in my spare time is both educational and fun."

Song Song Yulan said angrily: "Not expensive? The money for one comic book could buy over ten jin of cornmeal, enough to steam several pots of buns."

Cao Cao Weiguo held Song Song Yulan's hand and said: "Good wife, these books can be read for a long time. Once I'm done, I can let our children read them too; it's not a waste at all. At worst, I won't buy any more in the future, so don't be angry."

Song Song Yulan wanted to laugh: "You, you even brought up the children for the sake of a few comic books. It's not that I don't want you to spend money, but you can't be so extravagant. Can't you just buy one at a time?"

Cao Cao Weiguo hurriedly flattered her: "My lady's lecture is correct, I will definitely listen and correct myself. Let's eat quickly; the food you made today is so fragrant, it's making my stomach growl."

Song Song Yulan pouted: "You, you just have a silver tongue. Let's eat." ===== CHAPTER 103 =====