Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

After much persuasion, Chen Dong finally managed to get Chen Zaiguang and Chen Zailong to come with him to the state-run restaurant. Zhang Yi, carrying an LV bag, came downstairs with Xiao Chenhui in her hand and greeted the two of them.

Chirp chirp!

Chen Dong pressed the switch to unlock, the Maybach's lights flashed, and the two side mirrors automatically unfolded, leaving Chen Zaiguang and Chen Zailong, who were following behind, stunned.

"Big brother, fourth brother, and Comrade Zhao, the three of you sit in the back. I'll put Jimmy's car seat in the trunk first. Honey, you can hold Jimmy and sit in the passenger seat first," Chen Dong opened the trunk and folded up Chen Hui's special car seat.

Upon opening the car door, neither Chen Zaiguang nor Chen Zailong dared to sit inside. The interior decoration of the car was simply too extravagant, and they didn't even dare to sit on the genuine leather "sofa."

"Big brother, fourth brother, it's alright. The car is just a means of transportation," Chen Dong said with a smile, helping the two men sit in the back seat and fastening their seatbelts before walking to the driver's side, opening the door, getting in, and starting the car.

Chen Zaiguang, still marveling at the car, exclaimed, "Dongzi, your car must be very expensive! How did you manage to drive it all the way from America to China?"

"Not expensive, only 180,000," Chen Dong turned the steering wheel and drove the car steadily out. "It was airlifted here by plane, first to Hong Kong, and then entered the country through the Lo Hai border crossing."

"Wow, shipping it by plane, that must have cost a fortune!"

"It's my own plane, it won't cost much," Chen Dong said, and Zhao Zhigang in the back row fell silent.

My own plane!

That's way too extravagant!

What a huge business empire! They even own their own airplanes.

Chen Dong first drove the car to the entrance of Nanshan County Bank and stopped. Zhang Yi opened her LV bag and took out three stacks of green US dollars, totaling 30,000 yuan, and handed them to Chen Dong.

"Comrade Zhao, I'm not very familiar with this place either. I'd appreciate it if you could come with me to exchange some foreign exchange certificates," Chen Dong said, unbuckling his seatbelt and turning to Zhao Zhigang in the back seat.

"OK!"

At the bank entrance, people gathered around curiously as the car, which they had never seen before, pulled up. Seeing people sitting inside, they pointed and whispered with curiosity.

Chen Dong and Zhao Zhigang got out of the car. One was wearing a casual suit, and the other was wearing a police uniform. This unusual combination made the onlookers even more curious.

Chen Dong, clutching his bag under his arm, followed Zhao Zhigang quickly into the bank. At the teller counter, Zhao Zhigang exchanged a few words with the woman inside. Soon after, a woman walked over quickly, nodded to Chen Dong, and led the two into the inner room.

The others still in line immediately started criticizing, "How come these two don't have to wait in line? They just come in and walk right in!"

"Yeah, we've been waiting in line for so long, why can they just get it done right away!"

The woman behind the counter patted the table. "What's all the fuss about? They're using the foreign VIP lane, exchanging foreign currency. Do you even have foreign currency to exchange? Why are you making such a racket?"

"Are you going to process it or not? If not, then leave!"

These days, it's not just restaurant waitresses who are arrogant; the female tellers at banks are just as tough. They can say, "Take it or leave it," and if you dare to cause trouble, they can make things difficult for you with the paperwork.

Inside the room, Chen Dong smiled and shook hands with the man opposite him. Zhao Zhigang introduced him, "President Tian, ​​this is Comrade Chen Dong, an overseas Chinese who returned from America. He wants to exchange some foreign exchange certificates."

"Comrade Chen Dong, it's a pleasure to meet you. I wonder how much you'd like to exchange?" President Tian asked with a smile.

Chen Dong opened the bag he was carrying and placed the three bundles of US dollars Zhang Yi had given him on the table, saying, "President Tian, ​​could you please exchange all thirty thousand US dollars for these?"

"hiss!"

Bank Manager Tian gasped, glanced at Zhao Zhigang, and immediately put on a smile. "Mr. Chen, the amount is a bit large. Please wait a moment while I have someone check the banknotes."

"Okay, please hurry!"

At that time in China, people with 10,000 yuan were not commonplace. Chen Dong took out 30,000 yuan to exchange for US dollars, so Bank Manager Tian had no choice but to treat him well.

Although Nanshan County Bank also has foreign exchange quotas, Nanshan County is a poor and remote area, and the small amount of foreign exchange sent back by people with overseas Chinese relatives in the county is simply not enough to meet any quotas.

The annual targets that we never meet have suddenly turned out to be a great success today, so we have to treat them with great care. Before long, Director Tian returned with a bundle of brand-new foreign exchange certificates in his hand.

"Mr. Chen, this is the foreign exchange certificate you exchanged for 30,000 US dollars. According to the current exchange rate in our country, one US dollar can be exchanged for one foreign exchange certificate. Here is 30,000 foreign exchange certificates. Please count them," Bank Manager Tian said with a warm smile as he placed the bundle of foreign exchange certificates in front of Chen Dong.

At that time, China was in a shortage economy. Many high-quality, scarce, or imported goods, such as brand-name televisions, refrigerators, cigarettes, and foreign liquor, could only be purchased with foreign exchange certificates at Friendship Stores or designated hotels catering to foreigners.

Therefore, foreign exchange certificates had a much higher actual purchasing power in the market than their face value. In the early 1980s, one US dollar or foreign exchange certificate on the black market could be exchanged for 1.5 or 2 yuan.

By the late 1980s, with the deepening of reform and opening up, the number of people going abroad and tourists from abroad increased, and the demand for foreign exchange surged. The black market exchange rate rose all the way up. On the black market, one US dollar or foreign exchange certificate could be exchanged for 5 to 7 yuan, and at its highest, it even reached 9 yuan.

But for someone like Chen Dong, whose net worth exceeds billions, it's really unnecessary for him to risk going to the black market just to exchange for an extra yuan.

Moreover, Zhao Zhigang was always by his side, so even if Chen Dong wanted to, he didn't have the means.

Chen Dong glanced at it once, then smiled and put the foreign exchange rolls into his bag. He smiled and said goodbye to Bank Manager Tian, ​​then walked out of the bank with Zhao Zhigang. Some of the people who were still watching at the door recognized Chen Dong from his clothes and the rumors circulating in the county that an overseas Chinese family had come to the county guesthouse. They knew that this was the man in front of them.

Some scalpers tried to approach Chen Dong to ask if he exchanged foreign currency, but when they saw Zhao Zhigang's stern face scanning them, they immediately avoided his gaze, retreated into the crowd, and hurriedly left.

After Chen Dong got into the car, he handed the bag containing the foreign exchange certificates directly to Zhang Yi, started the car, and headed towards the county's state-run restaurant under Zhao Zhigang's directions. It was already past noon, a busy time for lunch.

Led by Zhao Zhigang, Chen Dong protected Zhang Yi, held Chen Hui's hand, and followed by Chen Zaiguang and Chen Zailong as they entered the bustling state-run restaurant.

The arrival of Chen Dong's family drew curious glances from everyone still eating in the state-run restaurant lobby. Chen Hui, completely unfazed, pointed at the onlookers and said to Zhang Yi, "Mommy, how many people are there? Let's find a seat quickly!"

The hotel waitresses also noticed Chen Dong and his group's arrival and looked them over curiously. Zhao Zhigang walked over and asked, "Hello, comrade, do you have any private rooms available?"