Seeing this, Ning Yuan quickly rummaged through the pile of cotton rags in the black cloth bag to protect herself from falling.
The next moment, she took out a porcelain bowl that was almost identical to the Qing Dynasty Yongzheng enamel famille rose bowl in Uncle Qiao's hand.
After Ning Yuan's analysis and reminder, those around them immediately and subconsciously looked at the newly pulled-out bowl.
Sure enough, it was immediately obvious – this was the real deal!
"This bowl is the enamel bowl I saw so many times at his stall! He really switched it!"
Uncle Qiao, supporting Ning Yuan's arm, excitedly pointed at the bowl and shouted.
This situation now completely proves that the vendor was a con artist who swindled people out of antiques.
Antique vendors are not uncommon for scams, but resorting to violence when exposed... that really breaks the rules.
None of the surrounding stall owners spoke up for the vendor.
Ning Yuan knelt down in front of the pale-faced vendor, smiled with her large eyes crinkling, and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear—
"You can admit your mistake, or you can not. I'll make sure someone sees you every time and then smash up your stall."
Since everyone was disregarding martial ethics, she readily accepted their advice.
The antique vendor trembled when he saw Ning Yuan's appearance.
She was clearly a smiling girl, yet there was a hidden murderous aura and ruthlessness in her voice.
He could tell that her threats were not just empty words.
In addition, the man beside her had just attacked with murderous intent and ruthlessness, almost always using moves that could defeat an enemy in one strike, something that ordinary thugs and hooligans could not do.
He's probably messed with someone he shouldn't have!
The vendor nodded emphatically, his face pale, "Yes...it was me who broke the rules. You can have that bowl...I don't want the money, consider it an apology."
But Ning Yuan chuckled and said, "You said you'd buy it for 150 yuan, so it's 150 yuan. We're all law-abiding people."
Uncle Qiao's square face was also serious: "That's right, that's exactly it. I would never accept things from just anyone. I said it's cash on delivery!"
The vendor reluctantly got up, packed up his stall, and helped his companion slink away.
Uncle Qiao breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the bowl. He looked at Ning Yuan with gratitude in his eyes and said, "Thank you so much, Ning Yuan. I'll treat you to lunch today!"
The average monthly salary is 40 yuan, and his salary is only 80 yuan a month, which seems quite high. He also has to eat at the company cafeteria, but he still has a large family to support.
But I happen to have such an expensive hobby as collecting antiques.
Ning Yuan didn't refuse, and brought Aheng along, smiling at him: "Uncle Qiao, then I won't be polite."
The two went together to a small, privately owned restaurant nearby that specializes in yellow croaker noodles.
Uncle Qiao ordered the food, paid the bill and paid the ticket, then carefully put away his bowl and looked at Ning Yuan: "Xiao Ning, how's your injury? Do you want to go to the hospital after you finish eating?"
Ning Yuan rubbed her shoulder, showing a slight expression of pain: "It's okay, it just hurts a little, but I can move my shoulder, so it's not a big problem."
Uncle Qiao said with a look of self-reproach, "It's all my fault, I caused you to get hurt!"
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "It's alright, I'll help those in need!"
Uncle Qiao smiled bitterly: "If it weren't for you today, all the savings I've accumulated over the years would be gone, and I'd be mistaken for a swindler. I've worked diligently and conscientiously for so many years since I joined the army at sixteen until I was discharged, and I've never been so humiliated."
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "That's how it is with street vendors. Everyone sells goods, and some people will cheat as many people as they can."
She thought for a moment: "If there is a business license and management personnel patrolling every day, there won't be so many cases of market manipulation and swindling. Consumers can report anyone who cheats by looking at the business license!"
Listening to Ning Yuan's words, Uncle Qiao looked at the three bowls of yellow croaker noodles on the table and sighed: "Yes, but business licenses can't be issued just like that. There are too many things involved, and there are a lot of controversies. There are rules for how to issue them."
While slurping her noodles, Ning Yuan muttered, "Fujian and Guangdong provinces have responded positively to the reopening of the private sector. The only reason we in Shanghai are afraid that if problems arise after opening up the private sector, we won't want to take responsibility."
So, even now, in May, after the meeting of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in March, it's still so difficult to get a business license.
Uncle Qiao paused for a moment, losing his appetite for the delicious noodles, and said indifferently, "Nobody wants to cause trouble and affect people's livelihoods. It's right to be conservative and conduct more research and investigation."
While slurping her noodles, Ning Yuan muttered under her breath, "I think the leaders of the industrial and commercial units are cowards, always looking back and forth. It shows that Shanghai is still conservative. No wonder they want to go to Shenzhen and Guangzhou to open up. Their style is much more open!"
Uncle Qiao was taken aback, then suddenly asked, "You've been to Shenzhen and Guangzhou? What were you doing there?"
Ning Yuan wiped her mouth: "My grandpa and grandma support me by doing business. I use my holidays to go to Guangzhou to resell goods and earn some living expenses. The atmosphere there is really vibrant... They started opening up the private market there in 1979, and the industry and commerce are under unified management."
Uncle Qiao looked at her thoughtfully: "The situation over there is different from ours..."
"What's the difference? Aren't we all human? Since the higher-ups say it's open, of course we have to have the spirit of 'showing our swords' and overcome all difficulties to respond to the call!" Ning Yuan snorted.
Uncle Qiao chuckled: "What 'Bright Sword Spirit'?"
Ning Yuan clenched her fist: "Faced with a powerful opponent, even knowing that we are no match, we must still draw our swords. Even if we fall, we must become a mountain, a ridge! Even if we encounter insurmountable difficulties, we must face them bravely. Failure is not terrible; what is terrible is not having the courage to face it!"
That's right, isn't it? She remembers that in her past life, local TV stations liked to broadcast the anti-Japanese war drama "Bright Sword" during summer vacation. Li Yunlong's classic line was this, right?
Uncle Qiao paused, his chopsticks still holding the noodles. He muttered in a daze, "...Failure is not terrible; what is terrible is not having the courage to face it!"
Ning Yuan nodded and said seriously, "Yes, some leaders take so long to study even a license, worrying about this and fearing that. Where is the courage of our predecessors who fought against the Japanese and never gave up? This is why we lost to our allies in Guangdong and Fujian provinces on the front of reform and opening up!"
Uncle Qiao fell silent, his mind churning with a sudden realization, and even the noodles in his bowl lost their flavor.
Ning Yuan seemed completely oblivious and continued eating her noodles.
Ah Heng had already ordered his third bowl.
After they finished eating, Uncle Qiao asked Ning Yuan somewhat cautiously, "Come visit my house next week. My aunt is a very good cook, and I'd also like to ask you to take a look at some of the little things I've collected, is that alright?"
Ning Yuan hesitated for a moment: "But something has happened at my family, and my grandparents are very upset..."
Uncle Qiao frowned: "What happened at your home?"
Ning Yuan forced a smile and shook her head: "It's nothing, Uncle Qiao, let's talk about it when I come next week."
Seeing that the little girl looked preoccupied but wouldn't say anything, Uncle Qiao could only say, "Alright."
Ning Yuan and Aheng turned around and rode away together. She could still feel Uncle Qiao standing there, watching her back with reluctance.
Ah Heng was a little puzzled: "Hey, with such a good opportunity, why didn't you agree to go to his house as a guest? You didn't even mention the business license earlier."
It's not like I'm doing anything illegal. I just want to ask the supervisor why the business license has been under review for so long and hasn't been issued yet.
Ning Yuan shook her head: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate. I just hope Uncle Qiao can figure some things out. If we rush things, Uncle Qiao will think we're playing him for fools."
Uncle Qiao and his ilk aren't very bright, how could they possibly be in those positions? Do they really think they're idiots?
Ah Heng didn't understand, and just shook his head: "You and the captain are both cunning guys."
...
Watching Ning Yuan and her "boyfriend" leave, Uncle Qiao sighed, got on his old bicycle, but instead of going home, he went straight to his workplace.
As soon as he entered the compound gate bearing the sign of the General Administration of Industry and Commerce, the security guards greeted him: "Director Qiao! It's Sunday today, what brings you here?"
Uncle Qiao nodded absentmindedly and got off his bicycle: "I want to look at some more materials."
The spirit of "Bright Sword"... He was also a soldier. Is he really too old to face difficulties and "Bright Sword" anymore? Are we really going to lose to those two coastal provinces?
...
When Ning Yuan and Aheng returned to school and were parking their bicycles, she couldn't help but clutch her shoulder and gasp softly, "Hiss!"
Although I avoided the full force of the punch, I still felt a bit of pain after being hit.
Seeing this, Ah Heng immediately picked her up and muttered, "I knew it, the self-inflicted injury trick doesn't work that well."
Ning Yuan panicked a little and muttered irritably, "You're just like your brother, always hugging people without asking."
Aheng raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Really?"
Seeing Ning Yuan's puffed-up round face, Aheng suddenly lowered his head and gave her a quick kiss: "Who told you to be so cute!"
Curly-haired rabbit spirits are just to her liking!
Ning Yuan was annoyed and reached out to pinch her cheek: "...You dare to take advantage of me!"
If this guy weren't a woman, she would have slapped him!
Ah Heng smiled smugly and carried her to his dormitory: "If the captain can kiss me, so can I!"
"What are you doing!" A chilling male voice suddenly rang out behind the two men.
Ning Yuan turned around and saw a handsome and tall familiar figure appear behind them.
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