My own war game

Chapter 159 Flea Market
Early morning at the Pasadena City College Flea Market, California.

This is the largest second-hand items trading center in California. The market has about 400 stalls and is open once a week. It provides a variety of antiques and collectibles trading services, including military memorabilia from World War II. It is a popular place for collectors.

He Chi and Lola walked casually on the street, looking at the exhibits on the cabinets, old military uniforms, vintage pocket watches, medals. More than half of the items here were related to the military.

Of course, since the history of the United States is so limited, many items are only seventy or eighty years old.

He Chi came here to look for bazooka accessories that might be circulated on the market. Things like this should now be kept by military fans or antique shop owners, but after searching for a while, he found nothing.

On the contrary, Lola, who came along to make a fuss, was in a good mood. She was particularly interested in anything related to weapons.

"He, come and see, this thing is great!" 16-year-old Lola, wearing a belly-baring dress, picked up an old-fashioned long-handled revolver from a stall and kept playing with it in her hands.

This revolver looks a bit old, with a long barrel and a wooden handle.

"Hey, man, your girl has good taste. This is an 1875 Remington revolver. It feels great and it even still fires." The boss kept bragging beside him.

He Chi took the gun from Lola's hand, turned it twice and felt that it felt really good, so he asked casually.

"how much is it?"

"The price is $3000. Take it directly. I'll give you a certificate and bullets."

Huh? It's not that expensive. The United States has a history of less than 300 years. If this pistol was really produced in 1875, it can definitely be called an antique.

As a pistol with antique attributes, the price is only three or four times that of ordinary pistols, which is definitely a bargain price in the antique market. He Chi has no financial pressure now, so he is considering whether to buy it.

"Luo, Lola, is that you?" A slightly nervous voice sounded behind him.

The two looked back and saw a boy with glasses and freckles on his face standing nearby on a bicycle with some undelivered newspapers in the basket.

"Hi, Sean, why are you here?" Laura looked at the boy opposite with some surprise, waved to him, and then introduced him to He Chi, "He is my classmate."

The boy named Sean blushed and said, "My home is nearby. My grandfather runs a second-hand goods store on the other side of the street."

Then Sean thought for a moment, glanced at He Chi, and seemed to muster up the courage, "Student Laura, you, you, do you want to come to my house to visit?"

"Hey?" Laura was a little stunned by this sudden invitation. Before she could say anything, He Chi took over the conversation and said, "Okay, let's go and take a look."

Then he picked up Lola and left.

"Hey, man, you haven't mentioned the gun yet. If you think it's too expensive, bargain for it!" I heard the boss's voice behind me.

"Sorry, we met an acquaintance. Let's talk when we get back." He Chi made a gesture, pulled Lola up and followed the bicycle boy away.

"He, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I haven't finished looking at it yet." Lola started complaining as she turned the corner.

"Then you should ask your classmate. He stared at you on the street corner for a long time until we wanted to buy the gun and then he came up to you and spoke." He Chi looked at the shy boy beside him.

"You're following me?" Laura turned around and looked at her classmates.

"No, I didn't...Okay, yes." Then Sean immediately explained, "But the gun is fake, I was afraid that you would be fooled..." "How do you know it's fake?" Lola asked curiously.

"I often come into contact with these things at my grandfather's place. The grip of that gun is made of oak, but in fact, in 1875, the American oak forest suffered a serious insect plague, which caused a large-scale reduction in production. Therefore, the Remingtons produced that year all had basswood grips and the inscription E. Remington & Sons. There is also a problem with the writing method..."

When the antique pistol was mentioned, the boy seemed to have changed. His face lit up and he started to talk nonstop.

Laura stared blankly at her classmates who were completely different from those in school.

"Oh, sorry, look at me..." The boy finally realized that he had said too much, wiped his hands on his clothes, and introduced himself, "I'm Bruce Sean, yes, I'm Laura's classmate.

He Chi also stretched out his hand, “He Chi is considered a tenant of Laura’s family.”

On the way, the boy led the way to his home, and from time to time he threw the newspaper in his hand into the mailboxes or doorsteps of various houses.

This situation made He Chi have a good impression of the boy. In California, children can apply for community recruitment of newspaper deliverymen (also known as paper routes) after they turn 14. This job can bring children an income of 200-500 US dollars a month.

The number is not large, but only children with a good reputation in school and community can pass the interview.

The fact that the boy could deliver newspapers in this place showed that, at least within the community, his neighbors had a good reputation for him.

Later, through conversation, He Chi also confirmed his idea. Sean never caused trouble. His grades in school were average except for history. He did not participate in any radical activities. Even at the age of 16, he still went home on time.

Therefore, Lola privately nicknamed him "Shaun the Sheep"

But seeing Sean sneaking glances at Lola whenever he had nothing to do, He Chi felt a little sorry for the boy opposite him.

The two people have too different personalities. Unless there is a special fate, Lola's personality will not allow the other person to catch her eye.

"It's right in front. My grandpa is at home today." Sean pointed to the end of the block in front and pushed his bicycle to lead the way.

Walking around a corner, a small shop came into view. He Chi looked up at the sign above.
“The Resell Room”

The name of this store is a bit too straightforward.

After entering the store, He Chi looked around. There were many strange things in a large display cabinet, including medals, American engineer shovels, old pocket watches, and even a bottle of Coca-Cola marked as produced in 1939.

There were a lot of old photos on the wall. He Chi took a look and saw that many of them were group photos of pilots. One of them looked about 60% like Sean, and he was probably his elder.

Ding-ling~ The wind chimes at the door rang and someone walked in.

Sean turned around and said, "Grandpa, I've brought guests!"

The old man who came in was very old, with wrinkles on his face like badly worn tire marks. He was wearing an old American military shirt and walked into the house with a stern look on his face.

"Sir, I remember I wrote a notice on the door." The old man knocked on a small blackboard with his cane.
"Japanese visitors are not welcome in this store!"

(End of this chapter)