The Song Dynasty poet Wei Ye wrote a poem: "Only after burning to ashes can jade be discerned; only after sifting through mud and sand can gold be found."
Later, it evolved into terms like "gold rush" and "Taobao" (a Chinese online marketplace).
What is Taobao?
Finding treasures amidst the chaos, and then separating those treasures—that's Taobao.
In this era, everyone's wallet is not full. How to spend the least amount of money, do the most things, and buy the most cost-effective items? That's Taobao for you.
The old Huai Kingdom provides an excellent place for people to find treasures.
Why do I say that?
Because all the goods in the old Huai Kingdom didn't require coupons!
In this era where you need a ticket to buy anything, you don't need one here!
Huaiguo not only openly sold confiscated goods belonging to landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, bad elements, and rightists, but also acted as an agent for customs-confiscated goods, factory surplus products, and expired pawned items from units or individuals...
Because the goods are not sold through official marketing channels, no voucher is required to purchase them!
Besides these, it is said that Huaiguo Old Shop alone has nearly a hundred senior purchasing agents who travel all over the country to purchase goods. They have excellent eyesight and make precise purchases.
If people in Beijing consider visiting the Beijing Department Store fashionable, then people in Shanghai love to visit the Huaiguo Old Town.
Feng Yucai pointed to the surrounding mahogany furniture and porcelain vases and jars, "Xiang Dong, don't you like to hunt for junk and antiques? Your Dongfang City is such a small place, and there aren't many rich people. What good stuff could you possibly have? If you want to find treasures, you have to come to Shanghai!"
Li Xiangdong nodded, agreeing with what he said.
"Let me tell you, many people are struggling to make ends meet, so they come here to sell the antiques they've been hoarding. There are several old masters from Huaiguo who are in charge of buying them!"
"You can buy things here with peace of mind; there are definitely no counterfeit products!"
The old master was convinced of the antique
After Feng Yucai finished speaking, he looked around with his hands behind his back, hoping to buy something nice and inexpensive to apologize to Zhao Di and Cheng Fen.
As for who he wants to be with, he hasn't decided yet.
Or rather, he didn't intend for either of them to be together for long.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out ahead. Li Ping looked over and said, "Second Brother, what are those aunties and grandmas fighting over there?"
"Something good is definitely coming! Run!"
Feng Yucai ran ahead first, and Li Xiangdong felt a chill run down his spine when he saw the wall of flesh in front of him.
Taking advantage of his small size and agility, Li Ping quickly squeezed in and out, calling out, "Second Brother, Brother Feng, they sell yarn inside!"
Yarn is a wonderful thing; when knitted into sweaters and pants, it can be worn by men, women, young and old.
However, Li Xiangdong was not interested in this. He was used to wearing soft, warm clothes. Sweaters and long johns felt itchy and uncomfortable on his body, especially when it got hot!
The three of them went to the section selling mink and fox furs. Behind the counter, on the shelves, hung black mink pelts, pure white fox pelts, fiery red fox pelts, amber-colored mink pelts...
However, these are all ready-made garments, in various sizes and lengths.
There were also fur hats, fur scarves, leather boots, and so on.
Ginseng, mink fur, and Ula grass are known as the three treasures of Northeast China. Mink fur is even known as the "king of furs" because it has the characteristics that "the fur gets warmer when the wind blows, the snow melts when it falls on the fur, and the fur doesn't get wet when it rains."
Mink fur is a type of fine fur, with excellent leather, being light, soft, and strong, with thick fur and a lustrous color. Fur garments made from mink fur look very elegant and luxurious.
Among mink furs, sable fur from Russia is the most precious, as it is extremely rare and expensive, making it a symbol of wealth.
Li Xiangdong quickly spotted one he liked. "Comrade! I'd like to see this sable coat!"
The saleswoman was a short, plump woman in her fifties with curly hair and smiling eyes. Upon hearing this, she deftly took the sable coat off the hanger and laid it flat on the soft cushion on the counter.
"Young man, you have a good eye! Is this for your mother? This is top-quality Russian sable fur, soft as a feather, light as a feather, smooth as silk, and exceptionally warm."
Listen to what this salesperson says; their professionalism is truly remarkable.
The sable presented as tribute was reserved for the emperor during the Qing Dynasty; at that time it was called black sable.
Sable was also exclusively for the Tsar in Russia; ordinary people had no right to wear it.
Now it's actually appearing in shops where ordinary people buy things; it's truly a case of "the swallows that once graced the halls of noble families now flying into the homes of ordinary people."
Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, illuminating the sable coat and making each hair shine with a soft, lustrous sheen.
The silver needles were glossy black, shimmering with a white light under the sun.
Although it's called "silver needle," it doesn't mean it's white. Silver needle refers to the long hairs on the surface of fur, which are thicker and longer than down, hence the name "silver needle."
Judging from the size of the clothes, Zhao Sufang should be able to fit into them.
"Comrade, how much is this shirt?"
The sales clerk smiled and held up one finger, "1000 yuan!"
Li Ping and Feng Yucai gasped in shock. So expensive!
Li Xiangdong was alright; genuine sable is expensive to begin with, and this sable was particularly intact with few seams.
Can you make it any cheaper?
"Young man, we're a state-owned enterprise, no bargaining!"
Li Xiangdong asked the sales clerk to wrap up the clothes, then picked out a sable coat with a starry sky pattern for his master for 1200 yuan, a white Northeast mink fur coat for Li Zhen for 380 yuan, and a fox fur coat for Li Ping, Li Yan, Li Jiabao, and himself. He spent a total of 510 yuan.
Li Ping and Li Yan had snow-white fox fur, while he and Li Jiabao had black fox fur.
In the blink of an eye, 3090 yuan was spent!
Feng Yucai was numb; this kid seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of money.
Li Ping was particularly fond of his little fur coat, touching it affectionately again and again. "Second brother, aren't you going to buy one for Dad?"
Li Xiangdong nodded and bought Li Jin a pure black rabbit fur hat.
With their hands full, the three of them went to other counters and bought a Parker gold pen that was 60% new, a Citizen watch that was 80% new, and several yards of fine cotton cloth from Songjiang, wool blankets, and other rare items not commonly found in Huichuan County.
Li Ping, clutching his fox fur coat, asked Li Xiangdong, "Brother, is this wool blanket a wedding gift for you?"
Li Xiangdong slapped his forehead; he'd almost forgotten!
According to the tradition in Huichuan County, younger siblings, even if they are not married, do not need to give monetary gifts, but they still need to buy some pillowcases, quilt covers, tea trays, etc. as congratulatory gifts.
"How about we buy a washbasin for my older brother?"
Li Xiangdong looked up and saw rows of enamel basins on the opposite shelf.
Finally, Li Ping chose a pair of pink phoenix washbasins and a pair of red spittoons with mandarin ducks and lotus flowers, totaling fifteen yuan.
"It's both festive and beautiful!"
Li Xiangdong expressed his satisfaction, saying, "Consider these two items a gift from us, along with my third and fourth sisters!"
Li Ping said, "Okay, okay! I just don't know if my older sister is coming back."
Pink Phoenix Enamel Basin
Mandarin Ducks and Lotus Double Happiness Spittoon
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