Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"Boss, how much is this?"

Li Yunjing squatted down, casually picked up a "Yuan Shikai silver dollar" that was in relatively good condition, and examined it against the light.

The old man lifted his eyelids, glanced at him, then looked at Lü Ruoxi standing quietly behind him, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring: "Eighty."

eighty?

Li Yunjing sneered inwardly.

This "Big Head" coin is of average condition and its market price is around fifty or sixty. The old man immediately quoted eighty, obviously taking advantage of their youth to ask for an exorbitant price.

"Too expensive."

Li Yunjing shook his head, put down the silver dollar, and picked up a string of copper coins. "What about this one?"

"From the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, in average condition, 50."

The old man quoted a price, but Li Yunjing was unsure whether it was too low or too high.

He didn't haggle, he just nodded, stood up, and pulled Lü Ruoxi into the street.

He noticed that when he asked about the price, several stall owners and shopkeepers nearby glanced at him, exchanging knowing looks.

They then went into two more shops that looked slightly more "formal".

One shop owner was a middle-aged man with glasses, who was very refined, but his prices were even more outrageous than those of the old man selling things on the street. He asked for 120 yuan for an ordinary "Yuan Shikai silver dollar".

The other shop owner was a plump middle-aged woman with a friendly smile, but her eyes were darting around, and the prices she quoted were different from the others.

After going around once, Li Yunjing had a basic understanding of the situation.

The water on this street is deeper than I imagined.

There was clearly some tacit understanding among the shops, with each offering different prices. For these two unfamiliar "easy targets," the prices quoted were either inflated or they tried desperately to lower the price to buy the goods.

It's virtually impossible to trade fairly here.

With so little they have, if they were to make a move here, they would either be ripped off or crushed to the point of vomiting blood.

In short, it's not that easy to get a bargain anymore.

This greatly disappointed Li Yunjing. He realized that the waters of this street were too deep, and he couldn't outsmart these old foxes.

"Never mind, let's go."

As they walked out of the third shop, Li Yunjing whispered to Lü Ruoxi, "This isn't a place we can navigate right now."

Lü Ruoxi also saw through the situation, nodded, somewhat disappointed, but mostly relieved.

The scrutinizing and appraising looks from the shop owners made her very uncomfortable.

The two left without lingering and quickly departed from the antique street, which was filled with a sense of antiquity and shrewd calculation.

Back on the sunny, bustling streets, breathing felt much easier.

I checked the time; it was just past eleven.

There was still an hour until I met my father at People's Square at noon.

"Let's find a place to sit down and get something to eat."

Li Yunjing made the suggestion.

After their battle of wits and running around the streets, both of them were tired and hungry.

They found a decent-looking old restaurant nearby.

The storefront is small, with a wooden signboard bearing four faded red characters: "Bincheng Old Dishes".

Pushing open the door, you see seven or eight square tables inside, and the white walls have turned yellow from the soot.

It was just before lunchtime, and there weren't many people. There was only one waiter wiping the counter.

The two chose a corner seat by the window.

Li Yunjing glanced at the handwritten menu on the wall and ordered two dishes: one of stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers, and the other of mixed seafood. He also ordered two bowls of rice.

While waiting for the food, Li Yunjing took out the wad of money he had just received from his bag, counted it carefully again, and then gave a portion of it to Lü Ruoxi.

"This is your portion."

He said, "We made a total of 179 yuan, and we'll give you 80 yuan."

The thin stack of money mostly consisted of ten-yuan notes, with a few five-yuan notes as well.

Lu Ruoxi took the banknote, her fingers touching the banknotes that still carried Li Yunjing's warmth, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.

This wasn't pocket money or New Year's money given by her parents; it was money she earned through her own "investment."

Although the process was full of uncertainty and even a bit "unconventional", the tangible feeling of holding it in her hands at this moment gave her a genuine sense of accomplishment that she had never experienced before.

"Thanks."

She whispered, carefully putting the money into the small floral fabric bag she carried with her, zipped it up, and held it to her chest.

"No need to thank me, you deserve it."

Li Yunjing smiled, picked up the steaming coarse porcelain teacup that the waiter had just brought over, and took a sip of the slightly bitter jasmine tea. "This can be considered a good start."

"After we get back, we can expand our search and visit more places."

"but……"

He paused, then added, "We need to be even more careful. We specialize in buying treasury bonds, and collect fewer antiques!"

"As you saw in the antique street today, this industry is a murky place; all sorts of people are involved."

"We're young and speak with accents from other places, so we're easy targets."

"Yes, I know."

Lu Ruoxi nodded seriously. After this morning, she had no doubt about Li Yunjing's judgment and ability. "I will follow your arrangements."

The dishes were served quickly.

The dish of stir-fried eggplant, potatoes, and green peppers is glossy and fragrant, while the mixed seafood is fresh and delicious, and the portion is generous.

Both of them were hungry and didn't bother to talk much, so they buried their heads in their food.

The simple meal tasted especially delicious in this unfamiliar corner of the city.

Through the greasy glass window, you can see hurried pedestrians on the street outside, the sound of bicycle bells, and the occasional bus passing by.

After finishing the meal, we paid the bill.

The three delicacies of the earth cost 2.2 yuan, the mixed seafood dish cost 6.8 yuan, and a bowl of rice cost 2 mao. The total cost was 9.4 yuan.

Li Yunjing paid the bill, and the two left the restaurant.

The sun was still strong, but it wasn't as scorching anymore.

Li Yunjing glanced at his watch; it was 11:40.

"Let's go to People's Square and wait for my dad."

The two walked side by side to the bus stop, boarded the bus, and arrived at People's Square at 12 o'clock.

People's Square is the central area of ​​the coastal city; it is spacious and bustling.

The city hall stands in front of the huge square, casting long shadows in the midday sun.

All around are neatly trimmed lawns and flower beds, and beyond that is a busy circular road with a constant flow of traffic.

The square was quite crowded. There were elderly women selling popsicles from carts, young parents playing with their children, and groups of passersby taking a stroll or resting.

As soon as Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi got off the bus, their eyes eagerly scanned the vehicles parked around the square.

Soon, they saw the familiar yellow Dafabet bread truck under the shade of an old locust tree on the east side of the square.

The two walked over quickly.

Before they could even open the car door, the driver's side window rolled down, revealing Li Hongfeng's face, which was reddened by the sun but now shrouded in a distinct gloom and weariness.

"dad!"

Li Yunjing opened the car door and got in with Lü Ruoxi.

The car was stuffy and smelled of smoke, indicating that Li Hongfeng had been waiting there for a while.