50s: Starting with a storage ring

Chapter 3 Check-in at the Oriental Hotel
"A brand new Jiangnan flower-mouthed rifle costs 30 taels of silver. The one I just saw is 8% new. I only want 10 taels of silver. Fixed price."

"Deal." The shopkeeper agreed hurriedly and was about to write the pawn ticket.

"I don't want a ticket, hurry up." As he said this, he impatiently shook the gun in his hand.

The shopkeeper didn't dare to say anything now. He could only obey him and quickly took out a roll of dollars from under the counter and handed it over.

Sun Zhiwei was holding his sister in one hand and a gun in the other, so it was difficult for him to accept the large sum of money. But he didn't care and said to the shopkeeper, "Let go."

The shopkeeper let go as he was told. The moment the silver dollar left his hand, Sun Zhiwei raised his gun and pointed it at the paper package of silver dollars. The roll of silver dollars spun and flew into his right jacket pocket.

Then he fired the pistol in his hand and put it into the space.

What the shopkeeper at the counter saw was that the child below hid the gun in the blink of an eye, and he didn't even realize how the gun disappeared.

Sun Zhiwei picked up the wicker box again, nodded to the shopkeeper, and turned to walk out of the store.

The shopkeeper was quite knowledgeable and knew that people who were skilled in hiding guns were all desperadoes.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he looks like a child. His words and actions are not like those of a child at all. He might be a dwarf in disguise. He is pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.

Only after seeing Sun Zhiwei walk out did the shopkeeper finally feel relieved.

He could have called for help, as the counter was so high he should have been able to avoid it. There were a few thugs living in the backyard, and if there was any movement here, the people behind would be able to come over quickly.

But it was really unnecessary. Making a big fuss over a few dollars was not a good idea. The shopkeeper said he had acquaintances with the patrol brigade, but in reality, it was just a superficial acquaintance. It still cost money to get things done.

This expense is not something that can be spent on a few dollars. In short, it is not worth it.

And they will definitely make money from this deal. There is chaos outside right now, and the prices of all weapons are rising. A Huakou Rifle cannot be bought for 30 dollars at this moment.

The minimum is 50, and for urgent needs, there are also people offering a starting price of 80 or 100.

If he collected 10 dollars, he could earn at least 5 times, which was enough. Being too greedy could easily lead to trouble. He was just greedy just now and that's when he almost got into trouble.

When people become greedy, their minds become unstable. The child's words and actions are no different from those of an adult. There is such an obvious abnormality. Why didn't he be alert just now, but instead became greedy? This is wrong.

The pawnshop owner was reflecting on himself inside. After Sun Zhiwei went out, he turned south and walked from Wanming Road towards Zhuque Gate.

Walk forward two hundred meters and you will reach the Xiangchang intersection, where the Oriental Hotel is.

This was the first large hotel built by the Chinese in 1918. Many celebrities at that time who had a little self-respect would rather stay here than in hotels run by foreigners.

Therefore, the public security here is relatively good, which is why Sun Zhiwei chose this restaurant.

He took his sister into the hotel lobby and came to the counter.

"Excuse me, we need a double room."

The waitress at the counter was very surprised to see that they were two children. She did not dare to receive these strange guests, so she quickly called the lobby manager.

Soon, a middle-aged man came from behind. He came to the brother and sister and began to ask about the situation in a low voice.

"Young sir, are you staying at the hotel? Is there an adult staying behind?"

"The master is away and we're staying for a week. What procedures are required?"

"Um, I need identification."

Sun Zhiwei didn't say anything, but put down the wicker box, reached into his jacket pocket, and took out his family's household registration booklet and handed it to the manager. The manager took a quick look and confirmed that it was real, and the registered address was not far away, and he immediately felt relieved.

He handed the household registration book to the waitress and asked her to register for a room, while he squatted down.

"Mr. Sun, you can sit aside for a while. Registration will take some time."

"Please open a room on the first floor. My sister is young and it's unsafe for her to go up and down the stairs."

"Okay, sir, don't worry." The manager agreed and immediately gave instructions to the waiter at the counter.

Sun Zhiwei nodded, picked up the suitcase and walked to the sofa next to him and sat down. Only then did he have time to check on his sister.

The little girl in his arms had her eyes closed, her eyes were red and swollen, her brows were furrowed, her mouth was pursed, her two little hands were clenched into fists, tightly grasping Sun Zhiwei's clothes, and there was an abnormal flush on her cheeks.

He frowned and called out a few times tentatively: "Nannan, Nannan?"

The little girl didn't answer, but just shrank back again.

Sun Zhiwei touched his sister's forehead with his hand and found it a little hot. He immediately turned around and looked at the lobby manager.

"Manager, do you have a doctor here?"

"Yes, young sir, is this lady ill? I will call a doctor right away."

"Xiao Zhao, go to the back building and call Doctor Feng. There's a little patient with a fever. Ask him to come over right away."

"Yes, manager." Someone responded from a corner of the hall.

In less than two minutes, hurried footsteps were heard from behind.

As soon as Sun Zhiwei turned around, he saw a middle-aged male doctor wearing glasses, wearing a white coat and carrying a medicine box rushing in from the doorway at the back of the hall.

The doctor walked into the hall and scanned the room, his eyes stopping on Sun Zhiwei and his sister.

He walked over quickly, took off the medicine box on his shoulder, and asked, "Who is the patient?"

Although his eyes were already fixed on Nannan, he still had to ask some questions to confirm.

"My sister is sick. Doctor Feng, could you please take a look at her?"

Dr. Feng placed the medicine box on the coffee table next to the sofa, opened it, and took out a stethoscope and thermometer.

Looking at the brother and sister hugging each other tightly, he gently said to Sun Zhiwei: "You need to lay the little girl flat, otherwise, it will be difficult for me to examine her."

Sun Zhiwei tried to put his daughter down on the sofa, but the little one immediately grabbed onto his clothes and held on tighter. He had no choice but to tell the doctor, "I can't put her down. She was frightened and can't leave me. Give me the thermometer and I'll put her down."

Dr. Feng was very skeptical about whether the boy would put the thermometer, but seeing Sun Zhiwei's determined eyes, he handed the thermometer to him anyway.

After Sun Zhiwei got the thermometer, he whispered in Nannan's ear: "Nannan, let's ask the doctor to check. Brother won't leave."

Then he unbuttoned the two buttons on the girl's cotton-padded jacket and gently inserted the thermometer into her armpit and pressed it tightly. At this time, he nodded to signal Doctor Feng to listen to her heartbeat.

Doctor Feng came over and covered the cold stethoscope with his hands for a while. When it was no longer so cold, he put the stethoscope tip to the girl's lungs and listened quietly.

After a while, the auscultation was over. With the cooperation of Sun Zhiwei, Dr. Feng looked at the girl's throat and then retracted the instrument.

(End of this chapter)