Lin Sanqi's eyes rolled around, and he suddenly thought of the antique shop he passed by when he went to Dong'an Market to drink mutton soup.
"Boss, I remember there are several antique shops in Wangfujing. I tried to go in last time but was turned away because they said they don't accept Mainland Chinese visitors. How about this? Since you guys are opening antique shops to exchange currency anyway, can I just buy directly with US dollars?"
"Antique shop?"
Leader Jing usually doesn't pay attention to this kind of store. After thinking for a long time, he picked up a phone and dialed it.
"Old Tian, do you know the antique shop in Wangfujing?"
The person on the other end of the line was Minister Tian from the Ministry of Culture:
"Antique shops? Yes, there are five in Wangfujing. They're a joint venture of 88 antique and collectibles shops in Peking. Lao Jing, what's the matter? Are you suddenly interested in antiques?"
Leader Jing also joked:
"Yes, my chamber pot is broken. I want to dig out some antique tiger pots. It would be so comfortable to pee in them!"
Minister Tian laughed out loud:
"Then your dream won't come true. The cultural relics store is only open to foreigners, and only foreign currency can be used to purchase. You should go to the supply and marketing cooperative and think of a solution."
Leader Jing understood that this cultural relics store was the same as the "Overseas Chinese Store". All transactions required foreign currency or Overseas Chinese coupons. RMB was useless. No wonder Lin Sanqi was not allowed to go in and take a look at the excitement.
"Old Tian, I have good news for you. I have a large sum of foreign currency, but I need to exchange it for things from China. I thought of your antique shop. How about I summon the God of Wealth to you? How do you thank me?"
When Minister Tian heard this, he stood up instantly and asked in surprise:
"Lao Jing, do you have foreign exchange? What currency? Is it from patriotic overseas Chinese, or from which delegation? How much is it?"
This was before the reform and opening up, and every unit had the task of earning foreign exchange. However, all officials at that time knew the value of foreign exchange, so everyone consciously wanted to earn foreign exchange and contribute to the country.
Leader Jing glanced at Lin Sanqi and said with a smile:
"10 million US dollars, is it enough?"
Minister Tian slammed the table hard:
"$10 million? Holy crap, where's the money? Where's the people? I'll have the antique shop open overnight, so foreign visitors can choose whatever they want! As for you, Old Jing, I'll give you an antique night-penetration teapot used by Emperor Wu of Han. How about that?"
Leader Jing covered the microphone and said to Lin Sanqi:
"Consider the supplies on the list as an exchange for your two million penicillins. I won't touch the $10 million. You can use it all at the Antiques Store. How's that? Am I being loyal?"
Lin Sanqi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, thinking that the rotten meat was all in your pot, so it was just a matter of your two hands messing with it.
"Okay, I'll listen to the leader."
Leader Jing then said into the microphone:
"Old Tian, notify everyone immediately and have all the antique shops in the palace open and clear out the area. I'll bring people and money over right away. As for how much foreign exchange you can keep, that depends on your ability."
Leader Tian shouted excitedly: "I'm going to the cultural relics store to wait in person now. Come here, come quickly."
After both parties hung up the phone, Leader Jing stood up and said, "Come on, I'll take you to the antique shop."
Lin Sanqi also stood up excitedly: "Leader, please make another call and arrange for military vehicles, the more the better, and then carry my antiques to Tianjin Port overnight.
Leader Jing smiled and nodded at Lin Sanqi:
"Okay, it looks like you're going to make another big purchase today. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything, no matter how much you purchase or how many trucks you need!"
"Leader, what are you waiting for? Let's go!"
After leaving the General Logistics Department, Lin Sanqi drove to the Chinese Medicine Hospital and found Tang An at the Chinese Medicine Pharmacy.
"Master Tang, let's go. I need your help."
When Old Man Tang saw that it was Lin Sanqi, he immediately nodded and bowed, smiling and stepped forward:
"Dean Lin, you're looking for me."
Lin Sanqi approached and whispered:
"Lao Tang, I'm going to the antique store to do some shopping later, but I don't know much about antiques and my taste is not good. Can you help me keep an eye out?"
When Old Man Tang heard about this matter, he thought it was a professional match. Moreover, all his children were in the infectious disease hospital, so he naturally would not refuse:
"Okay, Dean Lin, don't worry. I can spot real antiques and fakes. I promise to make them beautiful for you."
Lin Sanqi excitedly patted Old Man Tang's shoulder and said, "Okay, I'm glad you said that."
…
…
Wangfujing, in front of a cultural relics store.
Minister Tian and Leader Jing were chatting enthusiastically, and a row of store managers and sales clerks were waiting nearby. On Wangfujing Street, there were already 10 green Jiefang trucks waiting.
Leader Jing glanced around the store and asked, "Is everyone here cleared out?"
Minister Tian replied, "It's all cleared out. We're just waiting for your VIP. How about it? Now, who is this amazing person who gave away $10 million in one go?"
Leader Jing chuckled and said:
"Hey, they're not foreign guests, they're just one of us. Even if you haven't seen them, you must have heard of them. Do you know Lin Sanqi, the Infectious Disease Hospital and the Timely Rain?"
Minister Tian was slightly surprised:
"Hey, I know Lin Sanqi. He's the guy who invented the tuberculosis drug and the youngest director of a department in the country. Where did he get so many US dollars? It's strange. He's the director. Shouldn't the hospital hand over the US dollars it receives?"
Leader Jing said helplessly:
"The situation was special. When the higher authorities established the Infectious Diseases Hospital, they required Lin Sanqi to operate independently and be responsible for its own profits and losses. As the director, Lin Sanqi not only had to find all the medicines and medical equipment himself, but also had to personally pay for the wages and food of hundreds of employees.
The $10 million he obtained this time was clearly organized, with $5 million coming from a bet he won with an American doctor. Another $5 million came from a red envelope given by Nanxiang Saburo, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association.
Minister Tian was a little surprised: "A dean made a bet of such a large sum with a foreigner, and you didn't do anything about it? And he even accepted red envelopes from Japanese people. Aren't you afraid there might be something fishy going on?"
Leader Jing waved his hand:
"There's nothing wrong with this red envelope. Nanxiang Saburo's wife was terminally ill, and Comrade Lin Sanqi cured her. So they gave her $5 million as a token of gratitude. Comrade Lin Sanqi plans to keep the dollars in China and exchange them for some domestic supplies."
Leader Tian still couldn't understand, thinking that this was just like the capitalists, doing things recklessly.
But then I thought again, no matter whether it is illegal or not, US dollars are real money, I should get the US dollars first and let my superiors worry about the rest.
"Why hasn't Comrade Lin Sanqi come yet?"
"Here he comes! Look at that speeding jeep over there. That's him. He's the only car in the country that goes that fast."
Inside Wangfujing and Baoxinglong stores.
After Lin Sanqi entered, the door of the antique shop was closed and all visitors were refused.
Leader Jing gave a round of introductions:
"Comrade Sanqi, this is Minister Tian from the Ministry of Culture, and this is Comrade Guan Liangzhe, the manager of Baoxinglong."
Lin Sanqi quickly extended his hand and said politely, "Hello, Director Tian, Hello, Manager Guan, thank you for waiting for so long."
Minister Tian said with a smile, "The God of Wealth has arrived. What's the point of waiting? If I could get $10 million worth of business every day, I would rather turn into a stone lion in front of my store and wait every day."
Hehe, everyone started laughing.
Everyone was greeting each other, but no one recognized Tang An, which made Tang An feel relieved. He was afraid that if he was recognized, all the ugly things he had done before liberation would be exposed.
Since no one recognized him, Tang An started to look around the store in advance.
The customs manager over there was still introducing enthusiastically:
"President Lin, our Baoxinglong currently has three floors. The first floor is for Ming and Qing furniture, miscellaneous items, etc.; the second floor is for porcelain, bronzes, ancient coins, etc.; the third floor is for calligraphy and paintings, ancient books, etc.
In addition, there are jade, gold and silver wares, bamboo and wood wares, ivory and horn wares, glass wares, lacquer wares, enamel wares, purple clay teapots, snuff bottles, inkstones, ancient ink, seals, jadeite, amber, coral, crystal, pearls, agate, fruit core carvings, etc.
I wonder what Lin Sanqi is interested in?"
Lin Sanqi looked at the Ming and Qing furniture in front of him and said with a smile:
"I know a little about furniture and have bought a few sets of Qing Dynasty rosewood furniture, but I don't really know what they are called, and I don't know which one is more valuable."
Manager Guan smiled and said:
"Furniture is definitely valuable if it comes as a set, and if it's made of red sandalwood or huanghuali, it's even more valuable. Dean Lin has a good eye. But the furniture in our antique shop is called antique because each piece has a history.
Dean Lin, please move over. This is a large, box-topped cabinet from the Qing Dynasty, featuring high-relief nine-dragon passionflower patterns. Next to it is a Qing Dynasty rosewood throne with passionflower "longevity celebration" patterns. Both items are from the Forbidden City and were used by Emperor Kangxi. Therefore, they are extremely valuable."
Lin Sanqi stepped forward and was secretly surprised at the huge wardrobe with intricate carvings and luxurious textures. It would be easy to hide more than ten of the neighbors' Mr. Wang in this set of furniture.
He didn't recognize the others, but he recognized the five-clawed dragon. It was indeed used by the emperor.
Lin Sanqi secretly looked at Old Man Tang, who nodded slightly, meaning that the item was open to the public and guaranteed to be authentic. (End of this chapter)
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