Chapter 35 Exchange money
After listening to the opera, the two children Renchun and Yichun came back and Wang Deming took 20 yuan from Yan Baozhen to pay the bill, spending a total of 14 yuan.

Yan Baozhen asked with a little concern: "Deming, there are less than 10 yuan left in the cash box in your room. It's only the beginning of the month. Don't worry about the money for the apprenticeship gift to Shaguoju tomorrow. I have already paid it in advance."

Wang Kui immediately added with a smile: "Deming, you two are really sisters. You usually buy rice, flour, grain and oil for your family without saying a word; your sister also quietly settles the bill for Shaguoju in advance."

Wang Deming smiled but didn't answer. He counted out 15 bills and handed them to the waiter. "No need to change."

The waiter immediately shouted, "Room No. 4000, the honorable guest's reward is !"

Immediately, voices of thanks and rewards were heard from the waiters in every courtyard.

Putting the remaining 5 yuan in his pocket, Wang Deming waved his hand nonchalantly: "Sister, the coins outside are all my change for daily expenses. I have other places to hide my money."

"I'm not trying to protect my family. I just read in the newspaper recently that there was a thief stealing things everywhere."

When I arrived at my sister's house, Old Man Chang's family of three and my brother-in-law Chang Youguang were not at home as usual, and no one knew where they had gone.
Wang Kui took her two nephews to sleep in the west room of the main house, while Wang Shuqin and Yan Baozhen were chatting in the central hall.

Wang Deming went back to the room and took out his watch from the cabinet and put it on. He looked at the time and it was only 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After thinking for a while, he moved the camphor wood cabinet away.

This watch was an 1945% new Datejust Rolex he bought at Hendry, with a 100 Jubilee Oyster clasp commemorative watch strap, which cost him about $.

Moving the camphorwood box, lifting the square bricks, and opening the iron box, Wang Deming carefully picked out 20 ordinary Yuan Datou coins from the third year of the Republic of China.

He put the Yuan Datou in his lower pocket and patted it. It made a rustling sound and he felt the weight. Then Wang Deming went to the south room and pushed the carriage and prepared to go out. Yan Baozhen came out from the central hall and asked, "Deming, why are you going out again?"

"Well, I went to see Boss Yin. Didn't I miss the trip before the holidays because I was short of time?"

"Okay, then come back early."

Wang Deming came out of his sister's house and first walked east along Gulou East Street, then walked south to Dongsi North Street, and finally arrived near Dongsi, at the intersection of the east-west Chaoyangmen Street and Zhushi Street.

Why is it called Dongsi? Because there are several four-pillar, three-door and three-story archways here. Because it is located in the east of the imperial city, it is called Dongsi Archway, or Dongsi for short.
The place names here also come from this, such as Dongsi Toutiao and Dongsi Sishitiao.

There are large characters on the archway. The "Lu Ren" archway faces west, and the Jingshan Wanchun Pavilion can be seen through the archway.
The "Xingyi" archway faces east, and the Chaoyang Gate Tower can be seen in the distance;
At the middle door of the northern archway of "Da Shi Jie", there is a tram, whose bells ring from time to time; while cars, rickshaws, No. 3 buses and bicycles pass through the archway doors on the left and right sides.

There are many rickshaw and tricycle drivers on both sides of the road on both sides of the archway. Most of them are wearing patched coarse cloth jackets with a front opening and black cloth shoes waiting for work.

At the intersection, there were some people in long-sleeved gowns and suits constantly wandering around, chatting with passers-by from time to time, and showing their palms in secret.
After arriving, Wang Deming carefully observed the area, then parked his bike next to a middle-aged man with a 3:7 hairstyle and a long silk gown, and asked in a low voice: "What's the price of a Yuan Datou today?"

The middle-aged man in the suit saw that Wang Deming was a teenager and rode a scooter, and he was delighted. Hey, it seems that you should ask me to make money today? The man who might have secretly taken out the money from home to exchange for money also looked around cautiously and replied in a low voice: "Today's market price is 10 yuan."

"I can round it up to 11 yuan. Will you take it?"

"Okay, okay, since we haven't opened yet, let's make friends and just pay the money, little brother, follow me."

Wang Deming was also very skilled and bold. He pushed his bicycle and followed the middle-aged man. In the alley next to Yong'antang Pharmacy on the south side of Chaoyangmen Street, he found a hidden corner. Wang Deming took out 20 yuan, shook it in his hand and handed it to him. The middle-aged man blew on the yuan one by one, put it to his ear and listened. Then he looked at the date on the yuan carefully: "Hey, it's my bad luck. They are all from the third year of the Republic of China."

Wang Deming kept smiling faintly, thinking: With the craze for collecting in later generations, even dollars have become antiques. Some people even specially marked out several rare dollars, and the most expensive one can be sold for millions.

Although I didn't remember the specific name and appearance of the million-dollar dollar, I could always go wrong by exchanging the ones I collected with the largest dates and categories for money.

Moreover, judging by the appreciation in later generations, ordinary ocean croakers, large yellow croakers and small yellow croakers of this era had no great collection value.

Not to mention anything else, just the Rolex watch I am wearing now, which was produced in 45, cost me hundreds of dollars at the time. In later times, it would only be worth 2 or 3 yuan according to the exchange rate of dollars to RMB. However, if the watch is sold according to its collection value, it can be sold for at least millions, and it can be sold at the same price not only in China, but also abroad.

I also asked Henry Watch Shop to help me keep an eye out for Swiss watches such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. Although Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin are rarely circulated, as long as I come across them, I must buy them!
Although I don’t know much about watches, I still know some famous Swiss watch brands such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Rolex and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Watching the money dealer pretending to lose money, Wang Deming counted out 220 yuan with great pain and did not say anything irrelevant. After receiving the money, he carefully checked each bill in the sunlight.

"Hey, man, how many years have we, Old Zhou, been exchanging money here? There has never been any problem. I have been following my father to open a money exchange shop here since the Republic of China. Although the government has banned it now, we have to exchange money secretly for a living. But our moral character is still there."

Wang Deming folded the money, carefully put it into his jacket pocket, buttoned it, and clasped his fists to him, saying with respect: "Excuse me, Mr. Zhou, I didn't expect you to be from a money exchange shop before liberation."

He explained briefly: "If I were to exchange money myself, I wouldn't have to be so careful. I'm only exchanging money for a few families, so I can't afford to make any mistakes."

The man in the suit also bowed in return: "Oh, I see, either he is an old bannerman or a cultural person, right?"

"I'll exchange the money later. Please continue to take care of my business."

"That's for sure."

The "Huamao Women's Clothing Store" where Wang Deming made money by repairing and inspecting sewing machines was located at the intersection of Bamiancao and Ganyu Hutong.

From Dongsi Pailou, go south along Dongsi South Street, then turn right at Ganyu Hutong and go straight to the end to Bamiancao.

However, Wang Deming did not go directly to the clothing store. Instead, he rode his bike past Ganyu Hutong and Xitangzi Hutong, and then turned right into Jinyu Hutong.

Goldfish Alley is well-known in the hearts of Beijingers. Previously, this entire alley was occupied by the houses of Na Tong and Na Zhongtang, who were from the Imperial Household Department in the late Qing Dynasty. It was a big house! Only last year, the Air Force spent 3500 pieces of cloth to buy a yard on the east side.

Going west along Jinyu Hutong, you will reach Wangfujing Street. To the south of Jinyu Hutong is the north gate of Dong'an Market.

Wang Deming entered the north gate of Dong'an Market, bought some snacks, and then walked along Jinyu Hutong-Bamiacao to the clothing store.

"Hey, Deming, you're here! Have you harvested the wheat at home?"

(End of this chapter)