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

Zhang Dabiao's pupils lit up; he understood what he meant!

"This is a true national treasure passed down through generations."

"We got a steal at three thousand yuan!"

Zhang Dabiao smiled.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

This is called "spending a fortune to buy bones".

After this news spread, the most valuable national treasures in Beijing would secretly flow to him.

The 100,000 pieces were mostly ordinary cultural relics, inexpensive porcelain from official kilns, the kind that cost only a few dollars each. But if even one or two rare pieces were among them, Zhang Dabiao would make a profit. So he wasn't stupid; he was focused on volume.

With a large enough base, you can make a fortune just by selling a few good items.

------------

a few days later.

Zhang Dabiao took Master Lei to the ghost market to find building materials for repairing the east courtyard.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The two were preparing to leave.

A ragged, down-on-his-luck old man blocked their way.

The old man clutched a dirty, tattered cloth tightly in his hand.

"My lords."

"The characters passed down from my ancestors."

"Give me ten yuan for a meal."

Zhang Dabiao glanced at the rag.

The surface was covered in grime, making the writing completely illegible.

Several middlemen passing by laughed.

"That old man's gone crazy for money."

"Trying to sell a rag as an antique."

Master Lei suddenly leaned closer to take a look.

He subtly touched Zhang Dabiao's arm.

She nodded slightly.

Zhang Dabiao didn't say a word.

He simply pulled out a ten-yuan bill and handed it to the old man.

The old man took the money and ran away as soon as he saw it, afraid that Zhang Dabiao would change his mind.

The surrounding traders all mocked Zhang Dabiao, calling him a great victim.

Zhang Dabiao completely ignored him.

He tucked the rag into his pocket and led Master Lei back to the warehouse.

Old Jin put on his reading glasses.

The dirt on the rag was cleaned little by little with a special medicine.

As the writing gradually became visible.

Old Jin slumped into a chair.

"Oh God."

"The original fragment of Wang Xizhi's 'Ping An Tie'".

"Da Biao, your luck is simply heaven-defying."

Zhang Dabiao was overjoyed.

He remembers this thing very well.

This thing later fetched a staggering 300 million at auction houses. Was it 3.08 million or 380 million?

Ten dollars can be exchanged for three hundred million.

He made so much money from this deal that he wanted to roar to the heavens.

Zhang Dabiao acted swiftly.

He used his small apartment as a transit point for these top national treasures.

All of them were secretly transported to the cellar of a village house in Agongyan Village, Hong Kong, and locked up tightly.

This is the area around Beijing.

Jin Yousheng, the third son of Old Jin, diligently guarded the warehouse rented by Zhang Dabiao.

Old Jin, earning a high salary, helps Zhang Dabiao inspect and accept goods every day.

The Jin family father and son have completely given up on Zhang Dabiao.

Zhang Dabiao used money and favors to tightly bind his subordinates.

They have amassed an absolutely loyal force to prepare for the coming storms.

------------

April has arrived.

The newspapers published the big news that the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project had commenced construction, with the state allocating 38 million yuan to fully launch this great project.

This became a topic of conversation among the people of Beijing, but it had nothing to do with Zhang Dabiao.

He was more concerned about another major event happening right now.

Director Wang from the neighborhood office, accompanied by bank clerks, arrived at Nanluoguxiang and posted notices at the entrance of the alley and the gates of various courtyards.

The second set of RMB ten-yuan banknotes, also known as the "big black ten," will be recalled and destroyed within a limited time starting today.

The reason given was that this version of the banknote was too large and extremely inconvenient for ordinary people to carry.

The moment the notice was posted, the residents of No. 95 courtyard were in an uproar.

The older women rushed home, rummaging through drawers and cupboards, eager to go to the bank to exchange their old black 10-yuan notes for new ones.

The Jia family had suffered such losses before, and they still have a pile of gold yuan notes that they can't exchange.

The old deaf man had done similar foolish things before.

Therefore, the enthusiasm of everyone in the hospital was unprecedented this time, for fear of being taken advantage of.

Zhang Dabiao stood in the front yard, watching the noisy crowd.

His past life memories suddenly awakened in his mind.

In later generations, a single high-quality "Big Black Ten" note could fetch as much as 350,000, making it practically a gold mine.

Zhang Dabiao immediately went to the water trough in the front yard.

He shouted.

"Listen to me, everyone."

"Does anyone have a large black box and find it troublesome to queue at the bank?"

"Come directly to me to exchange it."

"Ten dollars can be exchanged for ten new dollars."

"I'll give you an extra White Rabbit milk candy."

The crowd fell silent instantly.

Everyone stared at Zhang Dabiao as if he were an idiot.

Yan Bugui was the first to jump out.

A calculating glint flashed in his eyes.

"Da Biao, are you serious?"

"Ten dollars for ten dollars, plus free candy?"

Zhang Dabiao pulled a handful of White Rabbit candies from his pocket and slammed them on the table.

"My word is my bond."

Yan Bugui turned around and ran home.

A short while later, he ran back with three of his most prized black coins.

He exchanged three White Rabbit milk candies for the new version of the Great Unity candy, but Zhang Dabiao didn't have many on hand and would have to go to the bank to withdraw them later.

But everyone knew Zhang Dabiao was rich and trusted him, so they registered with him first.

Yan Bugui proudly showed off to Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai.

"See? Zhang Dabiao's brain's gone mad."

"I'm exchanging new money for old money that's about to expire, and I'm even losing money on things. Why wouldn't I take advantage of that?"

Liu Haizhong snorted coldly, his hands behind his back.

"This kid is not only stupid, he's practically insane. He must have too much money to burn."

"The old version of the Black Ten was supposed to be destroyed within a certain period, so why would he keep it?"

Zhang Dabiao listened to the beasts' mockery and sneered inwardly.

He turned around and went to the bank to find Director Lu.

Director Lu had previously helped him with deposit and remittance services, and the two had a good relationship. Zhang Dabiao was a major client.

Zhang Dabiao took a picture of the bankbook directly in Director Lu's office.

"Director Lu."

"I want to collect the Big Black Shi, the one you're supposed to destroy within a certain timeframe."

"As long as it's in good condition, it would be even better if it's a set of Su Sanyuan and Hong Wuyuan coins."

Director Lu's eyes darted around.

"Brother Da Biao, why are you exchanging this money that's supposed to be destroyed?"

Zhang Dabiao smiled mysteriously.

"I have a collecting habit; I just love the design of this banknote."

Director Lu thought to himself that this was a great achievement.

Recycling old currency is a task that banks are currently undertaking.

Give the ones in good condition to Zhang Dabiao.

They can also profit from the situation.

This is a highly profitable venture.

"OK."

"Since Brother Da Biao has spoken, I will definitely get it done."

Then Zhang Dabiao withdrew 5 yuan and returned to the courtyard house.

The news has already spread to several nearby alleys.

Even the aunties from the neighboring courtyard lined up to exchange money with Zhang Dabiao.

Zhang Dabiao sat in his armchair, welcoming all who came.

However, he is very picky and only exchanges items that are in perfect condition.

Xu Damao came home from get off work and saw this scene.

He quickly pulled Zhang Dabiao aside.

"Da Biao, you're crazy."

"This money is going to be wasted soon, why are you keeping this stuff?"

Zhang Dabiao patted Xu Damao on the shoulder.

"Da Mao, just leave it alone."

"This guy has a collecting habit; it makes him feel good to see this big sum of money."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Xu Damao could only shake his head and leave. However, he was cautious. Not only him, but also Yan Jiecheng, Liu Guangtian, and even Director Lu—each of them kept a few good-quality 10-yuan notes. Da Biao must have his reasons for doing this.

If we follow suit, even if we lose money, it's only a few tens to a hundred yuan. But if we make a profit...

The money exchange operation is escalating.

Zhang Dabiao instructed Old Jin and Master Lei to spread rumors in the black market for antiques.

You can exchange a new 10-yuan note for a good condition 10-yuan note, plus a few cents for delivery.

The black market dealers in Beijing were scrambling to get their hands on Zhang Dabiao, all regarding him as a generous spender.

A steady stream of large black coins flowed into Zhang Dabiao's pockets.

Zhang Dabiao pondered...this seems like they've collected a bit too much—

Will this cause the price of collectibles in future generations to collapse?