Chapter 151: The Emperor's Jade Finger
Lin Sanqi was not angry even though he was despised.
For a professional player like Lin Dongdong, whether a car is valuable depends on whether it has collection value. For example, that Cadillac, I believe it can create value far more than 300 yuan in his hands.
But an old Jiefang truck and a broken jeep like the one used by the gendarmerie in spy war dramas can only be used as props in Hengdian at best and have no collection value at all.
So Lin Dongdong thought that his little cousin was crazy, so he would give up his good car and play with a broken car?
When you marry in the future, you won’t also like an old widow, right… huh? …
Thinking of this, Lin Dongdong looked at Lin Sanqi with not only contempt, but also pity and confusion in his eyes:
"Ahem, Qizi, let me tell you, even though people in the north say that nothing tastes better than dumplings and nothing is more fun than your sister-in-law, that's just talk. When we in the Lin family marry, we still have to find a daughter from a good family with a clean family background, otherwise even Grandpa won't be able to pass..."
Lin Sanqi had a face full of question marks:
"Brother Dong, I don't quite understand. I was talking to you about cars, why are you talking to me about women?"
Lin Dongdong smiled awkwardly: "Well, it's all the same. We're all driving anyway. You have to remember what my brother said. Talk about cars, talk about cars. By the way, how are you going to modify this car?"
Lin Sanqi doesn't know much about cars, but these cars are related to his life, so he must take them seriously.
"Brother Dong, I don't know how to modify it, but I want a complete overhaul. Except for the exterior, everything else should be modified. Don't be afraid to spend money. I want top-notch performance and it won't break down easily."
"Oh, there are so many things that need to be modified, the engine, chassis, brakes, intake and exhaust, tires, etc. This will cost a lot of money. I think there is nothing in your car that can be kept. Everything needs to be replaced."
Lin Dongdong opened the engine compartment, then lay down under the car to take a look around, and gave a pessimistic answer.
Lin Sanqi also understood that there was nothing so attractive about an original old car.
But he couldn't do anything about it. If you drove a Volvo truck in 1959, it would be advanced and the handling would be top-notch, but you'd probably be arrested before you even left the village.
"Brother Dong, I have a use for these two cars. Just modify them to the best configuration for me. No matter how much it costs, it's not a problem."
Lin Dongdong nodded. "Alright, you're the client, so you can modify it however you want. But I have to be frank. I think the cost of this modification is enough for you to buy a few new cars."
Lin Sanqi shook his phone and asked, "Is 3 million enough?"
At the same time, I thought to myself: This old man Fu is such a good person. Buy two get one free, and he even helped him make back the cost of the modification. I should give him more food in the future.
"Damn, you're crazy. 3 million to modify two broken cars? Leave the car with me. I'll let you know when it's ready."
"Thank you, Brother Dong."
Lin Sanqi waited for 10 days in 2013, and the car modification was finally completed.
Lin Sanqi drove a large truck and a jeep for a tour and was very satisfied.
Not to mention how much more powerful it is, the handling is countless times more comfortable.
Although the steering wheel of the original Shanghai 58 Jeep was heavy, it was still drivable.
But the steering wheel of the Jiefang truck is as heavy as a millstone, and every time you change gears, you have to use all your strength.
Two feet is definitely doom in this old Jiefang truck.
Since the starter switch control is also placed at the accelerator position, the right foot not only controls the accelerator and brake, but is also responsible for controlling the starter when the car starts.
The starting operation not only requires the right foot to control the accelerator, but also to step on the starter switch. The result of poor coordination between the two feet is that the car cannot be started.
Now, after the modification, the accelerator, brake and clutch are in line with the driving habits of modern drivers, which is very simple and easy.
Lin Sanqi was very satisfied with the modifications to the two cars. He laughed as soon as he got off the car. The most difficult traffic hurdle in 1959 was finally overcome.
"Brother Dong, your technology is absolutely first-class. I am very satisfied. I will transfer the total amount to you."
Lin Dongdong was still frightened at this time:
"Don't come here to modify a car this old in the future. It nearly cost my technicians their lives. My god, this car is too shabby. As long as you are satisfied, it costs a total of 600,000 yuan. Don't worry, I use the best parts and guarantee that it will not break no matter how you drive it... Well, except for the shell..."
Lin Sanqi transferred the money readily. 600,000 yuan was used to buy two cars, which meant that Lin Dongdong really didn't make any money.
"Thank you, Brother Dong. Here, this is a box of Cordyceps sinensis. Take it back to Uncle and Aunt San for nourishment."
Lin Dongdong took the box and took a look. He found that it was filled with large Cordyceps sinensis, and he was very happy.
"Wow, Qizi, you're so generous! This is all Cordyceps King-level. Okay, I'll ask Brother Dong for any modifications in the future. But listen to my brother's advice again, second-hand cars are better, and my wife still wants an original one, you know..."
Lin Sanqi thought, "I don't know shit. What's wrong with this cousin? Why does he always mention women?"
Lin Sanqi got the car and traveled back from 2013 to 1959 again. Ten days passed in just one night.
Lin Sanqi didn't dare to drive in broad daylight. These days, there was no private car on the road. The emperor's foot was under strict inspection, so Lin Sanqi didn't dare to take the risk.
So in the middle of the night, Lin Sanqi drove a Shanghai 58 jeep to Dongsi 3rd Street, to Mr. Fu's house.
Old Man Fu looked at the bags of flour and half a pig, feeling both moved and guilty, as he felt he had slaughtered a "good brother".
Lin Sanqi didn't take it seriously and took a few more things out of the car:
"Here, old man, this is a bag of sugar, 30 kilograms, and this is a box of Fenjiu, for you."
When Old Man Fu heard this, he was about to cry. Since the liberation, the old people like them who were once the most powerful people have become the jinxes that everyone avoids.
The royal palace that was once bustling with people is now deserted. There is not even a servant in the house, and people have to take care of everything from cooking to sweeping the floor by themselves.
At such a critical moment, Lin Sanqi's timely assistance was even more precious, and it moved Old Man Fu deeply.
The Manchus were originally a group of dandies. If they liked you, they would naturally be open and honest with you. So Old Man Fu immediately took off a jade ring from his finger and put it in Lin Sanqi's hand:
"Brother Lin, I won't say anything more. You will be my good brother from now on. I don't have anything good to give you. This jade ring is an heirloom. It was Emperor Qianlong's most beloved item back then. I'm giving it to you."
Lin Sanqi was shocked when he looked at the white jade ring with patterns and inscriptions on it.
"Grandpa, this, this is too precious. I can't accept it."
When Mr. Fu saw that Lin Sanqi knew what he was talking about, he was even happier. This gift was worth it.
"Boy, you have good taste. Emperor Qianlong even wrote a poem for this Hetian jade thumb ring: 'A galloping horse flies like the wind behind my ears, a floating elk counts its ribs with no space between them. 'It is said that engraving jade is a good omen, the feathers are released and the strings are struck in unison.' He was referring to the thumb ring in your hand. Look, there are two words 'Yu Tong' engraved here."
Even the most ignorant person knows that antiques used by ancient emperors and with clear provenance are cultural relics and are priceless.
Lin Sanqi looked at the bag of sugar on the ground. He exchanged the sugar for an antique used by the emperor?
At this moment, Old Man Fu sighed heavily:
"Take it, don't be shy. This jade ring was worth a fortune back then, but now it's worthless. If I take it to the black market, I'll probably only get a few pounds of dried sweet potatoes. Our time is over~~~"
Lin Sanqi didn't dare to refuse. This was a great treasure. If he really wanted to be polite, what if Old Man Fu really didn't want to give it to him?
But Lin Sanqi was a man who knew how to repay a favor, so he naturally wanted to express his gratitude after receiving someone else's treasure:
"Old man, please don't close the door. Wait for me for half an hour. I'll come back in half an hour."
After saying that, Lin Sanqi drove away in his small jeep.
Half an hour later, the car returned with a pile of cloth, cotton, rice, cooking oil, tea, and even a 50-year-old wild ginseng...
The next day, Purchasing Department.
Lin Sanqi took the letter of introduction from Section Chief Kong and put it aside indifferently, which made Section Chief Kong frown repeatedly.
"Xiao Qi, you must keep this letter of introduction carefully. It will be troublesome if you lose it while you are away."
Lin Sanqi thought to himself, last time I made a fake letter of introduction, I had the official seal template, but I just lacked the letter paper of this era, so he chuckled:
"Chief, this letter paper is nice. Can you give me some to use as drafting paper for my nephews and nieces?"
Section Chief Kong was delighted when he heard this. "You kid, you're still short of this little bit of paper. I can only give you half a dollar. The paper supply is tight right now."
Lin Sanqi took the half-piece of letter paper and looked at the red letterhead "Capital Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine" on it, thinking that now it was good, the fake letter of introduction was foolproof.
Section Chief Kong took out another 3,000 yuan in cash from the drawer:
"Xiao Qi, your purchasing mission this time when you go to the three provinces in southern China is quite heavy, and the amount of medicines you need to purchase is also quite large. I'm afraid of some accidents along the way. Losing money is a small matter, but losing people would be a big disaster.
So I will give you 3,000 yuan in cash first. Part of it can be used as purchasing fees, and part of it can be used as your travel expenses. Of course, this money is not enough for this purchasing task. For the safety of national property and your personal safety.
Our Capital Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has already made arrangements with the Provincial People's Hospitals in Hujian, Dongguang, and Guangqi provinces. If you're short on funds, you can go to these hospitals first to withdraw them. Here are the hospital addresses, the department, and the name of the person handling the matter. You can withdraw the funds with your letter of introduction."
In the 1950s, banks did not provide long-distance cash withdrawal services. If it was a public-to-public transaction, checks could be used, which solved the problem of large-scale transactions.
However, since hospitals have to deal directly with farmers or rural cooperatives for purchases, they need to use cash, otherwise the farmers will not recognize it, which creates a problem.
The style of the fifties was unity within the same system.
When Lin Sanqi needed money, he would first go to the local hospital to borrow money, and then the Capital Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine would repay the local hospital through public channels, which solved the trouble of carrying cash over long distances.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
