Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Zhang Dabiao has found everything: antique croakers, a courtyard, and even someone who appraises antiques. He's been sent to take a look.

The place is located in Dongcheng District, about 20 minutes away from Nanluoguxiang. It is a three-courtyard house, unassuming in appearance and not particularly exquisite inside. However, Master Lei told Zhang Dabiao that although the house looks dilapidated, it is made of solid materials and is durable. Moreover, the house is built with the same gold bricks used in the Forbidden City.

To conceal their presence, another layer of ordinary blue bricks was laid on top, making the gold bricks underneath quite valuable.

The house owner's surname is Jin, and he claims to be a Manchu of the Bordered Red Banner...

Zhang Dabiao didn't care what flag it was. Didn't he have any self-awareness about what year it was?

We just call him Lao Jin. Before liberation, Lao Jin was a pawnbroker. After the public-private partnership was implemented, he was fired from the shop, as the owner himself could no longer make decisions about the shop.

His large family of over a dozen people, mostly former members of the old regime, had no employers to take them in. They simply lived off their savings, occasionally trading in some treasures within their own circle to make a profit, which was enough to get by.

But when this year of disaster arrives...

They really couldn't hold on any longer.

There are three rooms in the backyard, filled with antiques, collectibles, and small yellow croakers. The family has some spare money, but they can't buy food.

All three sons are married with children, indicating that the family used to be quite well-off, but now...

My two youngest grandchildren are currently malnourished and need formula.

The other family members were also pale and thin.

So Lao Jin is prepared to sell his house, antiques, and other valuables, as long as he can provide food.

Let the children rest and recover, then go south to see if there's a chance to go out.

Zhang Dabiao lit a cigarette and asked directly.

"Old Jin, how much grain do you need? Just name your number."

"How much would you like to sell this house, including all the historical artifacts and other valuables, together?" You should give me a price.

Old Jin looked at Master Lei, and when Master Lei saw Zhang Dabiao nod, he explained, "This Master Biao is the famous Zhang Dabiao from a while ago, the old man who donated 10 yuan in overseas remittance certificates."

"I reckon only he can afford to meet your demands."

"Old Jin, as an old friend, I'd like to give you some advice: be realistic and don't ask for too much. Whether Brother Biao buys it or not depends entirely on his mood."

Master Lei didn't say anything more.

When Lao Jin saw Master Lei bringing over a young boy, he instinctively looked down on him.

But as soon as they heard it was Zhang Dabiao, they immediately became serious.

"So it was Master Biao in person. My apologies for not recognizing you in person."

He'd heard of Zhang Dabiao's reputation before. He'd executed nine people! Five were sentenced to life imprisonment, a string of others were sentenced to prison, and even a level 7 worker was brought down by him. There was also a deputy director of a higher-ups who was supposedly demoted because of him. If he could bring down cadres in the ministry, what was this pawnshop clerk compared to him?

Zhang Dabiao nodded. He hadn't expected his reputation to be so great, but he just nodded in a perfunctory manner.

"Brother Biao, my house has three courtyards, it's 5000 yuan. You can ask Master Lei for this price. It's 20% lower than the market price, and I'm definitely not overcharging."

Zhang Dabiao glanced at Master Lei, who nodded. This location and the quality of the house generally ranged from 7000 to 8500. Old Jin quoting 5000 was really giving them face.

"The gold bricks under the house are the same kind of floor tiles used in the Forbidden City. They are old gold bricks from the Suzhou Imperial Kiln. Some are in good condition and have a mark. There are very few in private circulation. The price is mostly 20 to 30 yuan per piece. A very small number with a clear year mark can be traded privately in the collector circle for about 50 yuan per piece."

"I have 120 yuan in total, I'll give you 2000 yuan."

"As for the three items in the backyard—the antiques, calligraphy, and paintings—they're worth over 4000 according to the antique shop. I'll quote you 2000. The total for the yard, the gold brick, and the antiques and calligraphy is 9000. What do you think?"

The discount was already quite good, but Zhang Dabiao didn't agree immediately.

"Old Jin is known in this circle for his sharp eyes and excellent reputation. You can rest assured about that, Boss Biao."

Zhang Dabiao stroked his chin: "Price is negotiable, but I heard from Master Lei that you need grain?"

Old Jin sighed and explained, "To be honest, Master Biao, all the money in the house has been used to buy grain, but at the current price, it's really impossible to buy any."

"Last year and the year before, we could still exchange antiques and collectibles within the circle, but now even the people in our circle can't make ends meet."

"I want to exchange one-third of the money, one-third of the food, and the remaining third, preferably, for remittance certificates."

"Once the children have recovered, we'll head south to find a way to make a living. Our family can't stay in Beijing any longer."

"If Mr. Biao is interested in buying it, we hope we can stay for another month. We'll leave after the Lunar New Year."

Old Jin looked up and around: "After all, this is the old house where I've lived my whole life. If I leave this time, I might not come back."

Zhang Dabiao thought for a moment, then turned to look at Master Lei. Master Lei nodded helplessly, indicating that what Lao Jin said was the truth.

Zhang Dabiao's meaning was—"None of it is real. If any of it is fake, I'll make trouble for you."

Seeing that Master Lei nodded, Zhang Dabiao began to discuss it with Lao Jin.

"I have money, I have grain and remittance certificates, and as for the price, I can afford it."

Upon hearing this, Old Jin's eyes lit up.

"but--"

When Zhang Dabiao said "but," Lao Jin thought he was going to try to lower the price.

"I need someone who understands antique appraisal to help me with my work."

9000 yuan is nothing to Zhang Dabiao now. He has an entire basement of antiques and curios in his Xiangjiang Village house, and six boxes of gold and silver jewelry in his small apartment...

He needs someone to help him with the identification!

Since Old Jin was once a clerk and was admired by Master Lei, he probably couldn't be lying.

This is exactly the person he needs.

Old Jin was stunned, but after thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Biao, as long as my children can recover and go to the south smoothly..."

"I'm selling my life, Old Jin, to you!"

As long as his sons and grandsons have a way to survive and the Jin family has descendants, what does it matter if he works himself to death?

It's just going back to my old job, so what?

Zhang Dabiao nodded approvingly. Old Jin was decisive and had guts when it came to doing things.

"As for the money, I'll only give you 1000."

Upon hearing Zhang Dabiao's words, Lao Jin's expression changed.

What's going on here? Is this a forced sale?

However, he was very shrewd and respectfully cupped his hands towards Zhang Dabiao, saying, "Brother Biao, please continue."

"Here's 1000 in remittance vouchers too."

"I'll give you 1000 jin of grain—300 jin of rice, 300 jin of wheat flour, and 200 jin of coarse grains and vegetables."

Zhang Dabiao glanced at the skinny little children still playing in the open space outside...

"100 jin of cured pork and salted fish, 80 jin of dried noodles, and 20 jin of milk powder for you."

Upon hearing this, Old Jin excitedly stood up: "Brother Biao, you can get your hands on milk powder?!"

Zhang Dabiao waved to him, signaling him to sit down.

"If I say 20 jin, I can get 20 jin."

Actually, Zhang Dabiao didn't take advantage of him. The official price of these grains wasn't high, but unfortunately, you couldn't buy them.

The prices on the black market are even more shockingly high.

"I don't care what happens to your children, but you have to stay and work for me."