Chapter 178 Earning Foreign Exchange for the Country

The publication of "Farewell My Concubine" in the United States was finally negotiated successfully with the joint efforts of Guowen Publishing House and WS department. The royalties of 15,000 US dollars were settled in one lump sum via international wire transfer.

It only took two days for Lin Weimin to receive a huge amount of 15,000 US dollars in royalties.

But Lin Weimin was not happy about receiving the royalties.

The royalties were in foreign currency, and private individuals are not allowed to hold foreign currency in China at this time. If he wanted to withdraw the royalties, he could only exchange them into RMB.

One is the official exchange rate of 1:1.x, and the other is the private exchange rate of 1:8. Thinking about the difference between the two, Lin Weimin shivered with heartache.

This time Lin Weimin plans to take action.

He came to Yan Wenjing's office and sat down with a sad face.

"Didn't you just receive your royalties? Why did you do this to me?"

Lin Weimin glanced at Yan Wenjing and said, "Leader, I can't withdraw this money!"

"Why can't I take it out?"

“It has to be converted into RMB.”

Yan Wenjing immediately understood what Lin Weimin meant, "What do you want to do?"

Lin Weimin came over with a flattering look on his face, "Let me make a deal with you. Can you see if I can exchange this money for foreign exchange certificates?"

"Don't you have a few foreign friends?"

Lin Weimin said, "Isn't it risky to find someone to do this privately, and the amount is so large? I thought I could ask you to help me write a report. After all, I am earning foreign exchange for the country, so it's not too much. I can just exchange the money into foreign exchange certificates."

"I still have some legal awareness."

"You make it sound like I've violated the law. I'm a soldier under your command. With this foreign exchange of more than 10,000 yuan, I have at least earned one hundred thousandth of it for our country, right? Even if I don't have any merit, I've worked hard..."

Yan Wenjing waved his hand, interrupting his nonsense, "Okay, got it."

Lin Weimin was overjoyed, "Thank you, leader! Thank you!"

"Think about earning more foreign exchange for the country in the future," Yan Wenjing joked.

"That's a must!"

Lin Weimin walked out of Yan Wenjing's office with brisk steps.

Two days later, Lin Weimin received the largest amount of royalties in his life - 22,500 foreign exchange coupons - in Yan Wenjing's office.

The face value of the foreign exchange coupons is 10 yuan, and there are more than 20 stacks placed on the desk, which is still very shocking.

After signing and sealing the agreement, Lin Weimin received the more than 20,000 foreign exchange coupons.

"This time we are handling a special matter. Let me warn you, reselling foreign exchange certificates is illegal, so be careful," Yan Wenjing warned.

Of course, he knew that Lin Weimin wanted to convert foreign currency into foreign exchange coupons because he didn't want to suffer a loss, and he might very well plan to resell these foreign exchange coupons and make a profit.

"Leader, who do you think I am? I want to exchange for foreign exchange certificates simply because I don't want to suffer a loss. I am not short of money, so it would be great if I could keep the foreign exchange certificates."

Yan Wenjing then smiled and said, "You are a sensible boy."

"I'm thinking of finding two people to accompany you after get off work later."

"No, no one knows what's in my bag."

When Lin Weimin went to Yan Wenjing's office, he came empty-handed, but when he came back, he had a black briefcase, which immediately aroused the curiosity of his colleagues in the office.

In the past two days, the news that "Farewell My Concubine" was published in the United States and Lin Weimin received a sky-high fee of 15,000 US dollars for the manuscript has spread widely in the Guowen Publishing House and is also spreading to various units in Yanjing City.

Lin Weimin knew that he could not hide the fact that he asked the president Yan Wenjing to exchange the royalties into foreign exchange coupons.

So when everyone asked him about it, he told the truth, "I exchanged all my royalties into foreign exchange certificates, and the president helped me write the report."

Everyone's eyes widened, "All changed?"

"Yeah, all changed."

He Qizhi asked: "What is the ratio of rice knives to foreign exchange certificates?"

“1.5.”

"That's twenty-two thousand five?"

hiss~

Everyone gasped.

Looking at Lin Weimin's ordinary black briefcase again, his eyes were filled with shock and fear.

More than 20,000 foreign exchange certificates, this has exceeded everyone's imagination. Their first reaction is not even jealousy and greed, but fear.

"Weimin, we will all take you home after get off work." Zhu Changsheng suddenly said.

Lin Weimin waved his hand, "Everyone calm down, there's no need."

Rong Shihui said: "It is necessary. Just listen to us on this matter. This is more than 20,000 foreign exchange certificates!"

Everyone looked extremely serious, as if they were facing a matter of life and death.

Lin Weimin was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry, but at the same time, he felt a little warm in his heart.

After get off work, on the streets of Yanjing.

A Yamaha 125 was riding in the middle, surrounded by seven or eight bicycles, which surrounded the motorcycle in the center, as if the county magistrate was going out on the street, and the only thing missing was to sprinkle water on the street.

Lin Weimin was riding a motorcycle surrounded by his colleagues' bicycles. The motorcycle could only move at a snail's pace of ten kilometers per hour. Countless people on the street cast strange and curious eyes at their team.

His shame is about to explode!

This is even more terrifying than social death!

"I'm telling you, that criminal didn't have any thoughts about me originally, but after you guys did this to him, he started to have some thoughts about me!" Lin Weimin said with a wry smile.

"We call this being cautious. You should hurry in. The sooner you save it, the sooner you can feel at ease."

"Okay, I'll go in first."

Lin Weimin walked into the People's Bank carrying a briefcase.

The domestic bank safe deposit box business has existed since the Republic of China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, with the advancement of GM business, the safe deposit box business lost its market and was merged into the People's Bank of China in 1958. In 1960, under the supervision of the judicial department, all unclaimed safe deposit boxes were broken into and handed over to the national treasury, and the domestic safe deposit box rental business was completely ended.

Then, in the past two years, as China implemented reform and opening up, the People's Bank of China once again started the safe deposit box business.

Lin Weimin went into the bank and explained his purpose. He wanted to open a safe deposit box to deposit something. He asked what he wanted to deposit. When the bank staff heard that he wanted to deposit more than 20,000 foreign exchange certificates, they directly called the bank's top boss over.

Two or three bank leaders, together with four or five security personnel, surrounded Lin Weimin, and he once again enjoyed the same treatment he had just received on the street.

Lin Weimin took out the certificate that Yan Wenjing had issued him and explained the situation for a long time before he finally understood the situation.

After figuring out where Lin Weimin's 20,000 foreign exchange coupons came from, they realized that they were royalties from the publication of other people's novels abroad. Everyone couldn't help but respect Lin Weimin.

This is a talent who can earn foreign exchange for the country!

Besides, for his works to be published in the United States, he must be a very great writer!

"I'm so sorry, Writer Lin." The man held Lin Weimin's hand and said apologetically.

"It's nothing, it's all your responsibility, I understand."

After completing the formalities, Lin Weimin deposited 20,000 yuan of foreign exchange coupons into the safe deposit box, leaving 2,500 yuan of foreign exchange coupons for emergency use.

After Lin Weimin left, the bank leaders and security guards still gathered together. The mental shock brought to everyone by Lin Weimin and his huge royalties needed to be resolved by gossip.

On June 22, starting at 5 p.m., the entrance to the Capital Theatre became lively. In the past, the entrance to the Capital Theatre was deserted at this time of day, and only gradually became popular after 6:30 p.m.

At the main entrance of the theater, there is a huge poster with images of several leading actors and performance information of "Farewell My Concubine".

Lin Weimin arrived late, at almost half past six. While he was waiting for someone at the door, he was stopped by a young man with a sly look.

"Hey buddy, you want a ticket?"

"What ticket?" Lin Weimin was stunned.

The young man came over and whispered, "Tickets for Farewell My Concubine."

Lin Weimin was surprised, "You have this? Didn't they say that it's hard to get tickets for the premiere?"

"Of course I can't get tickets for the premiere, but I have tickets for the next show! How about that?"

"How much?"

"That depends on which seat you want!"

The young man took out a few tickets from his pocket and said, "Look, the seats are different in location, so the prices are naturally different. Look at the tickets for the first few rows, 20 yuan each, and the tickets on the second floor are about the same as the front rows. The ones further back are cheaper, 10 yuan, 5 yuan, 2 yuan..."

Lin Weimin chuckled and asked, "You are being a bit unfair. The cheapest ticket at People's Art Theater is 60 cents, but the starting price here is 2 yuan."

The young man had a proud look on his face. "That depends on whether you can buy it! I'm not kidding you. This is just a show..."

The young man pointed at the poster at the entrance of the theater and said, "That was written by the great writer Lin Weimin. Do you know Lin Weimin? He is Mr. Wan's last disciple. The old man only accepted this one disciple in his life. The script was written by him at the request of the People's Art Theater. I don't know if you have read the novel, but it has sold millions of copies. I am not exaggerating, but in the past two years, apart from those famous works by famous authors at home and abroad, which other book has sold so many copies!"

The young man said this, and then he covered his mouth and leaned close to Lin Weimin's ear, "There is one more thing, please don't tell anyone!"

Lin Weimin listened quietly. He lowered his voice but said in an exaggerated tone: "Other people's "Farewell My Concubine" has been published in the United States to make money. The royalties earned are all foreign currency, tsk tsk tsk tsk ..."

The young man said with envy, "Tell me, for such a writer and such a work, I want you to pay 2 yuan for a ticket. Is that expensive?"

Lin Weimin nodded, "Not expensive!"

The young man was delighted, "Then you want two?"

Lin Weimin pulled out a ticket for the premiere from his pocket and shook it, "What a pity, I can't use it."

The young man realized that he had been fooled and glared at Lin Weimin fiercely, "Why are you making trouble when you have the ticket?"

Lin Weimin grinned and said, "If it weren't for the fact that you speak so nicely, I would have asked someone to kill you."

The young man failed to make a deal, so he ran to the next store to solicit more customers.

Lin Weimin squatted on the side of the road and observed for a while. The young man didn't stop anyone. He was engaged in speculation and profiteering, so he had to be cautious. He only stopped young people like Lin Weimin.

People like them usually go to the drama just to fall in love, and they are the easiest to take advantage of.

Lin Weimin watched the young man carefully soliciting business and chatting with him, and he felt a little amused. The young man on the other side also noticed his idle behavior, and was frightened by his gaze. He subconsciously looked around, wondering if the Industrial and Commercial Bureau and the Public Security Bureau were here to arrest him.

We were nervous for a long time, but except for the audience entering the venue, everything was calm and it was just a false alarm.

The young man was upset and was about to come up and argue with Lin Weimin when he saw a strong man waving at Lin Weimin from a distance.

"For the people!"

Lin Weimin stood up and said, "Brother Zilong, why did you come here just now?"

“Taking the bus is a bit slow!”

"The show is about to start, let's go in quickly."

"Hurry up, hurry up!" Jiang Zilong looked anxious.

He came all the way from Tianjin to Yanjing specifically to watch the premiere of "Farewell My Concubine", and he had managed to coordinate the tickets through the Tianjin Literary Association.

The two of them went up the stairs together.

The young man with a rat-like face looked at Lin Weimin's back and sneered, "Weimin? Are you worthy of calling me that?"

"Teacher Lin! Teacher Lin!"

A middle-aged man hurriedly passed the young man and ran quickly towards Lin Weimin in front.

Lin Weimin turned around and said in surprise: "Teacher Ni? What a coincidence!"

"What a coincidence, let's go in together!"

A few people entered the Capital Theatre chatting and laughing.

The young man with a rat-like face was dumbfounded. "Lin...Lin Weimin? So young?"

I'm sorry, I failed elementary school math and brought shame to my teacher. I have corrected it.

(End of this chapter)