Chapter 8

After paying the deposit for the greenhouse, Wang Yong had less than a thousand yuan left. Wang Yong planned to sell the gold brick over the next couple of days. Not wanting anyone to know about this, after some thought, he decided to go to Beijing to find an antique shop and sell the gold brick discreetly.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast, he told his uncle and aunt that he had some business to attend to, which might take two or three days, and asked them to take care of things at home. With his aunt's detailed instructions, he drove to Beijing.

Wang Yong was quite unfamiliar with Beijing, even though it was only a two and a half hour drive from his place. He had never been there, only passing through on his way home from the provincial capital. The brief glimpses he caught on the train were of no help for his current trip to Beijing. Fortunately, Wang Yong had a light brain, an advanced alien technology far surpassing Earth's, which made finding directions a piece of cake.

Guided by the light brain, Wang Yong arrived in the capital smoothly. He got off the Jing Shen Expressway at the Dougezhuang exit and saw that it was already 11 o'clock. It took him nearly two hours to navigate through the crowded traffic in the capital, and finally, he reached his destination—the Beijing Panjiayuan Antique Market.

The Panjiayuan Antique Market, established in 1994, covers 48,500 square meters and is the largest antique market in the country. It is open from Monday to Friday for shops and stalls in zones one and two, and on weekends, all shops and stalls are open, operating year-round with a high level of popularity. It deals in various items such as jewelry, jade, cultural relics, calligraphy, the Four Treasures of the Study, porcelain, and wooden furniture, with over 3,000 stalls. People from 24 provinces and cities in China set up stalls here, and many ethnic minorities sell their own products, making the market a diverse place. It is the cheapest antique market in Beijing and is often referred to as a "ghost market" due to its long history, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.

Seeing the time, Wang Yong decided to get something to eat first. Following the light brain's guidance, he arrived at a restaurant on Songyu South Road called Laogao Donkey Meat Pancake. Wang Yong was no stranger to donkey meat pancakes, a famous dish from Baoding, which he had enjoyed many times in the provincial capital. Seeing a donkey meat pancake restaurant on the map, his mouth began to water.

Donkey meat pancakes originated in Changzhou, Hebei, where cooked donkey meat is placed inside a pancake. The pancake is crispy, and the donkey meat is tender and not greasy, with a rich and lingering flavor. In Hejian, Hebei, there is a similar dish called donkey meat in a pancake, which has a different taste and preparation method but is also well-known. Generally, donkey meat pancakes are divided into two schools: Hejian and Baoding. Most of the shops, about 90 out of 100, serve Baoding-style donkey meat pancakes.

As the saying goes, "Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground," highlighting the high status of donkey meat. Donkey meat is rich in iron, which helps prevent anemia, and its fat content is much lower than that of pork, beef, and mutton, making it suitable for those who want to lose weight while enjoying meat.

The quality of a donkey meat pancake depends on two factors: the donkey meat and the pancake. The best donkey meat is cooked in a seasoned broth that has been simmered for years, using meat from young, free-range donkeys or fatter donkeys. The broth from older donkeys is fragrant, but the meat is not as tender. The cooking process is also crucial. First, the quality of the cooking must be ensured. Donkey meat should not be cooked with nitrate, as it is harmful to health and affects the taste. Second, the cooking time must be well-controlled. Sometimes, the donkey meat in a pancake can be tough and get stuck in your teeth, which is related to the cooking time. Well-cooked donkey meat should be easy to chew, regardless of the condition of your teeth. Finally, the seasoning should be just right. Overly bland or salty donkey meat can affect its flavor.

As for the pancake, Wang Yong's favorite is the Su Family Golden Pancake. The Su Family Golden Pancake is fried, golden in color, and crispy, adding a unique flavor when paired with donkey meat. The crispy texture can be felt as you chew.

The restaurant was doing good business, almost fully occupied. It was already past the peak dining hours, yet there were still many people, indicating that the donkey meat pancakes here must be exceptional.

"Hello, how many people?" the waiter asked warmly.

"Just me."

"Please sit over here." The waiter led Wang Yong to a four-person table by the window. After Wang Yong sat down, the waiter asked, "What would you like to eat?"

"Three pancakes, a bowl of wontons, and a plate of pickles."

"Three pancakes, a bowl of wontons. The pickles are free. Would you like anything else?"

"No, please bring them quickly. Thank you."

"You're welcome, please wait a moment."

A few minutes later, the waiter brought three donkey meat pancakes. Wang Yong took a bite, and the soft, juicy donkey meat mixed with the aroma of the pancake made his mouth water. He ate one after another, quickly finishing two pancakes. The waiter then brought the donkey meat wontons, which were fragrant with cilantro. Wang Yong always had a bowl of donkey meat wontons with his pancakes. While most people and restaurants paired the pancakes with rice porridge, Wang Yong preferred the wontons, finding the combination of the soup and the pancakes superior to porridge. Of course, everyone has their own preferences.

After eating his fill, Wang Yong drove straight to Panjiayuan. He parked his car and, guided by the light brain, headed to the most famous antique shop in Panjiayuan—Xiangu Tang. Xiangu Tang was known for its fair prices and had a high reputation in the antique trade. The three owners of Xiangu Tang were all experts in the field, highlighting the shop's rich heritage.

Following the crowded crowd, it took Wang Yong almost half an hour to reach Xiangu Tang. As soon as he entered, a waiter in a long robe greeted him, "Sir, what would you like to buy?"

"I'm not here to buy anything. I need your help to appraise something. If the price is right, I might sell it to you," Wang Yong said calmly.

"Oh, what is it? Can you show it to me?" the waiter asked with interest.

"Right here?" Wang Yong asked.

"Please follow me." The waiter led Wang Yong to a room decorated in an ancient style. After inviting Wang Yong to sit down and serving him tea, the waiter stared at the backpack in Wang Yong's hand. Wang Yong could tell that the waiter was new to the trade and curious about everything.

Under the waiter's watchful eye, Wang Yong unzipped his backpack and took out the gold brick wrapped in cloth. When he unwrapped it, a golden glow shone through.

"Wow! A gold brick!" The waiter stood up in surprise, staring at the gold brick in Wang Yong's hand. After a moment, he regained his composure and said, "Sir, please wait a moment. I'll go get our owner." He then hurried out without waiting for a response. A short while later, he returned with an elderly man in a Tang-style robe.

The elderly man glanced at Wang Yong and said, "Young friend, do you have something to sell?"

"Yes, sir. Could you please appraise this gold brick and tell me its value?" Wang Yong stood up and respectfully asked.

"Sure, let me take a look."

"Please go ahead."

The elderly man carefully examined the gold brick. When he saw the inscription "Heavenly Kingdom Treasure" on it, his eyebrows raised, and he was clearly taken aback. He then took out a magnifying glass and examined the inscription closely. After about ten minutes, he exhaled and said, "Young friend, this is indeed a gold brick, weighing about ten kilograms. It was minted during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, and there are very few in existence, making it highly valuable for collectors."

"What do you think it's worth? To be honest, sir, I urgently need money. If the price is right, I plan to sell this ten-kilogram gold brick."

"In that case, let me be frank. If this gold brick were auctioned, it could fetch at least ten million yuan. Of course, after deducting fees and taxes, the amount you would receive would be less. If you sell it to us, the price would be even lower. You need to consider this carefully."

"What is the highest price you can offer?"

The elderly man thought for a moment and said, "5.5 million yuan, that's the highest we can offer. We can't do business at a loss."

Wang Yong pretended to think for a moment and then said, "6 million yuan, and the gold brick is yours."

"Alright, let's sign the contract. The transfer will be made after the contract is signed," the elderly man said without haggling.

The waiter quickly brought two copies of the contract and gave one to Wang Yong. Wang Yong pretended to read it, but he had already had the light brain check the content. After receiving confirmation that the contract was fine, he signed it without hesitation.

"Sir, please give me your bank account number, and I'll transfer the money to you."

Wang Yong quickly took out his wallet and handed his Construction Bank card to the elderly man, "I only have this Construction Bank card. Is it okay?"

"Of course, no problem," the elderly man confirmed. He then transferred 6 million yuan to Wang Yong's account via the computer. The transaction was complete.

After bidding farewell to the elderly man and the waiter, Wang Yong left Xiangu Tang. Feeling elated, he walked briskly to a Construction Bank he had seen earlier. After checking his balance at an ATM and seeing the 6 followed by a string of zeros, Wang Yong felt as refreshed as if he had just had a cold beer on a hot summer day. He immediately went into the bank to withdraw 100,000 yuan, as there was a daily limit, and he could only withdraw this much without prior notice, thanks to the 6 million yuan in his account.

Without stopping to explore the great capital, Wang Yong, with the large sum of money, got into his car and hurried home. The obstacle to his business development had been removed, and he was eager to get back and start working hard.

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