Exciting 1979!

Chapter 93: I can’t spend it all. I can’t spend it all! (at least 1 update)
In order to make the performance more realistic, Wei Ming and Melinda held hands and did not separate after entering. The service staff also thought he was just a foreigner with yellow skin and white heart.

Among the numerous commodities, Wei Ming immediately noticed several motorcycles displayed in the center of the hall.

He dragged Melinda over to take a look. Most of the brands were Japanese brands like Honda and Yamaha. There was only one American brand, a Harley, which was not as good-looking as the later ones and had a low cost-performance ratio.

"You like this? Haha biker guy."

"It's just a means of transportation, but it can save time. I like efficiency." Wei Ming took a look at it, looked at the price and gave up. It is also sold outside, and it is cheaper in RMB. He can afford it if he saves some money.

There was nothing they wanted on the first floor, only food, drinks and daily necessities. If they wanted to see arts and crafts, they had to go upstairs.

As soon as he went up, Wei Ming was attracted by a blue and white porcelain vase, which was painted with auspicious patterns such as deer, cranes, and pine trees. Although it was covered with glass, it was not for sale and there was an introduction and price next to it.

Melinda fell in love with it right away. She poked Wei Ming and said, "It's from the Ming Dynasty!"

She also knows some Chinese history and estimates that this bottle has a longer history than the American one.

Wei Ming: "I know, but I advise you not to buy it. Although 800 US dollars is a drop in the bucket for you, porcelain is fragile and I am afraid you can't bring it back to the UK safely."

The waitress next to me spoke English. When she heard this, she came over enthusiastically and said, "Don't worry, customers. We will provide shockproof packaging. It will definitely not break."

But Melinda was still willing to listen to Wei Ming and looked away: "What about this one? It's made of jade."

This is a lotus-shaped incense burner carved from white jade. The shape of the vessel is very beautiful. The service staff introduced: "This is a work from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It seems to have come from the palace, and it only costs 500 dollars."

The other party was very enthusiastic, and Wei Ming even felt a little regretful. Why did he brag so much?

Melinda fell in love with it immediately and whispered, "I'm sure I can sell this for a high price!"

Wei Ming: "Why is there blood in this jade? It can't be a funerary object. It's unlucky."

Waiter: This foreigner is so knowledgeable, is he really a foreigner?
"What about this snuff bottle?" Melinda saw another small thing.

"I know an old man who can make this thing. It costs two hundred dollars. Even the ones from the Qing Dynasty are not good enough."

Melinda thought everything was good, so Wei Ming quickly pulled her to the calligraphy and painting area.

"I'm telling you this because I consider you my true friend. Don't think these paintings are cheap now. In the future, one of them will be worth as much as the bottles and jars we just saw, and they won't get scratched easily."

"Among these people, I only know Qi Baishi. I don't know the others," Melinda looked at the signatures and said to Wei Ming, "Please introduce them to me."

Wei Ming: "It's good that you know Qi Baishi. Qi Baishi has many works, and many people make a living by copying his paintings, so it's possible that you bought fakes..."

Although Wei Ming himself does not collect paintings, there are always some elderly people who are interested in this, so he also passively learned some knowledge about it.

Among these modern and contemporary works, Qi Baishi's paintings are relatively expensive. After all, he has passed away. The cheapest ones cost at least $50, and those with good quality and large size can cost two or three hundred dollars. Of course, in thirty years, they should be able to be sold for two or three million dollars easily.

However, it is impossible to see Qi Baishi's large-scale masterpieces that will be auctioned for tens of millions or hundreds of millions in the future. Early holders also know that selling these things now would be a low price, and they are all waiting for a higher price.

Wei Ming helped Melinda select a group of shrimps, a pair of cicadas, and a bird standing on a loquat tree, spending a total of $410. The paintings were not particularly large, but they were all works from her peak period that were nominated and stamped, and most importantly, they also met the aesthetic taste of Melinda, a foreigner.

Wei Ming then helped her pick out a few works by contemporary painters whose prices had not yet gone up.

"This Mr. Li Kuchan is Qi Baishi's great disciple. I attended the National People's Congress a while ago and saw his paintings and himself in the Great Hall. I think his price will go up soon."

Melinda: “Buy, buy, buy!”

The key is that it’s too cheap!

You can buy a large painting for just a few dozen dollars, while some are only a dozen dollars!

Wei Ming: "This Mr. Li Keran is also a disciple of Mr. Bai Shi..."

"Buy, buy, buy!"

Wei Ming: "This Mr. Wu Zuoren is the president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, he..."

"Buy! Buy!"

"Huang Binhong..."

"purchase!"

"Guan Shanyue..."

Finally, looking at the pile of scrolls, Melinda asked, "How much did it cost?"

Wei Ming: "About 500 pounds."

Melinda was helpless, the money was too much to spend.

Wei Ming: "Why don't we stop here today? A box won't even fit. I'm afraid you won't be able to take it when the time comes."

Melinda nodded, then looked at the inner-painted snuff bottle again: "But I still want that one, it's so beautiful, and the painting is inside, it's amazing!"

Wei Ming pushed her away directly: "Isn't it just an inner painting? I'll give you one later."

A-Long's grandfather was not only good at comic strips, but also a master of inner painting. Hengzhou's inner painting is very famous. Since the Qing Dynasty, a large number of Hengzhou inner painting masters have supplied snuff bottles to the capital.

Because I bought so many things, the Friendship Store said they could deliver the goods to my door, even people.

Melinda: "Can we pick it up later? Darling and I are going to have dinner first."

"Of course ma'am."

Since Melinda still had so much money left, Wei Ming borrowed some and bought some imported films and chocolates on the first floor, and then returned her the RMB.

Melinda felt that she had suffered a loss, but she did not expect that after leaving the house, Wei Ming directly paid her back according to the black market price, which made Melinda feel relieved.

"What do you want to eat? Just choose whatever you want. It's my treat!" She said, patting her chest.

Nonsense, of course you treated me. I felt like I had been a guide for a whole day, and I was suffering. I needed to make up for it. He thought for a while and said, "Let's go to the barbecue restaurant."

There are two famous barbecue restaurants in Beijing, one is Kaorou Wan and the other is Kaorou Ji.

The former specializes in beef, while the latter specializes in mutton. Wei Ming wants to eat beef again.

Because of Melinda's foreign face, they were given a private room on the second floor even though there were only two of them. Otherwise, they would have to stay in the lobby on the first floor, where other customers would be eating or watching people.

Although this old brand often receives foreigners, Melinda looks too flashy.

After ordering, Wei Ming asked, "Is this your first time here?"

Melinda nodded and said curiously, "I've had hot pot before, but not this. How do you make it?"

This way of eating barbecue is called Zhizi barbecue. There is a large hot iron plate in the middle of the table for two people, with charcoal fire underneath. On the table is a seasoning bowl filled with soy sauce, vinegar, minced ginger, cooking wine, braised shrimp oil, shredded green onion, and coriander leaves. Dip the beef slices in the seasoning, put them on the iron plate and grill them. When the color changes, you can eat it.

Wei Ming often ate it in his previous life: "Let me show you how."

He took a pair of long chopsticks and flipped the grilled meat slices deftly. Soon the aroma came out and Melinda began to swallow her saliva.

"This is too delicious!"

"Then why are you still standing there? Go ahead and clamp it."

"I'm waiting for you to feed me." She smiled and tied her long curly hair with a rubber band.

Then Wei Ming's chopsticks arrived. Because they were long enough, he passed them directly from the other side of the table to this side, holding the meat steadily.

Melinda held her chin and quickly tasted it, praising it highly: "Delicious!"

This scene happened to be seen by the waiter who was serving the food. His face turned slightly red and his heart was surging.

This man is so amazing. He actually dates a foreign woman. He must have some strengths!

In addition to the barbecue, they also ordered two refreshing side dishes.

Then the two of them ate and chatted.

"Melinda, do you think my novel would be viable if it were translated into English?"

Melinda thought about it, then shook her head. "I've actually read your Duck Prophet and Two Bulls. I can understand them, but I'm afraid foreigners won't be interested in them. And because of the slang and dialect usage, many translators will be discouraged. Your works are obviously more popular in the local area."

Wei Ming: “I have other works.”

"The poems?"

Wei Ming shook his head: "Actually, I have another pen name, which is for writing fairy tales."

"Oh?" She was indeed interested.

After a hearty meal, Melinda came across a newsstand and asked, "Are your works available here?"

Wei Ming asked: "Master, do you have the latest edition of Children's Literature?"

"Sold out."

Wei Ming smiled and said, "I have a copy in my dormitory. I'll give it to you when I get back. I'm on the night shift today."

"it is good."

The two then returned to the Friendship Hotel and rechecked all the goods against the detailed list to make sure there were no problems before allowing the store to load the goods.

Wei Ming and Melinda also went back with their car. As for the two bicycles, they would send someone to ride them over.

In the car, Wei Ming briefly explained the story outline of "The Magic Book". When Melinda heard that it was a classical theme and involved gods and monsters in heaven, she felt it was difficult.

When they arrived at Peking University, their colleagues were envious when they saw Wei Ming and Melinda coming back together in a car.

Mei Wenhua was only worried, where is my car? !
"The people from the Friendship Store will ride back."

Next, Wei Ming helped Melinda deliver a box of paintings back to Shaoyuan.

When she came back, she saw Mei Wenhua holding her little pigeon and she was about to cry: "That old lady weighs nearly 200 pounds, the wheels are about to be crushed!"

Wei Ming: "My condolences, brother."

Wei Ming was just about to go to the dormitory to change into his uniform and get ready for work when his colleague at the gate said, "It's a call from Liu Rulong."

Aaron comes here often, and everyone here knows him.

"Hey."

Liu Rulong just told him: "I have contacted my mother. She is at my grandfather's place in Foshan. She should have taken the train back now."

"Ah That's good."

"I've also received the manuscript fee, 40 yuan," Aaron said excitedly, "Let's split it in half. You did most of the character design."

Wei Ming smiled and said, "How can I have such a great contribution? So, don't ask me for money. Tell my grandfather to make me a snuff bottle. I will give it to a foreign friend."

After hanging up the phone, my colleague said, "There's another letter."

Wei Ming has received fewer letters recently, only about ten a day. He picked one up and pointed at the first one: "Why doesn't it have a stamp?"

"Oh, a child brought it to you."

Wei Ming opened it and saw only a few childish words: Why is there nothing at the end?
(End of this chapter)