National Tide 1980.

The dispute in No. 2 Courtyard of Shaner Hutong is essentially a big clash of different ideas and life attitudes between the older generation and the younger generation.

These old people are really afraid of being poor.

The storms and hardships they have experienced in their lives have made them full of awe for life.

They are afraid that if they are not careful for a moment, their originally stable life will become shaky and turbulent, and their children will also suffer the whipping of fate.

Their hope for happiness is not to become rich and powerful, but to have their loved ones safe and well-fed and warmly clothed.

Just like Old Master Qi in Lao She's "Four Generations Under One Roof", when faced with crises and disasters in life, his most direct reaction was to see if the food and pickles in his home were enough to sustain him for three months.

If the amount is enough, he will feel at ease. If it is not enough, he will find ways to make up for it. This is the instinct of the previous generation when facing signs of instability in life.

Perhaps in the eyes of the next generation who have never suffered from hunger or cold, they seem a little ridiculous and feel that they are out of place.

But as the younger generation, as the masters of the future, the next generation should not laugh at them.

Instead, we should feel sorry for them and be thankful for our own luck.

Because if I were not born in this hopeful era, there would be no government that takes people's livelihood as its responsibility.

With their philosophy of life, how could they possibly laugh?

I’m afraid I won’t even have the chance to become a leek and will just starve to death.

Ning Weimin knew this very well.

It was a bit funny. Even Jiang Nianyun, Ning Weimin's fourth aunt who came from the United States, was panicked by this and Kang Shude hurriedly asked him to come back to discuss it.

Moreover, when Ning Weimin rushed back to Yunyuan from Pierre Caton Company, he came to the courtyard where Jiang Nianyun lived and found that not only Kang Shude was there, but even Shen Cun had rushed back from the office.

Jiang Nianyun was enjoying the argument with Kang Shude, while Shen Cun was in a dilemma, not knowing what to do in the middle of the dispute between the two old men.

"Oh, you are so confused. Hey, Nianyun, what's wrong with you? Why are you following those old ladies on the street and making a fuss? You are an educated person at least. What's more, you came back from the United States and have some experience. Why do you believe everything you hear? Let me tell you..."

"Oh, what's going on outside? You should go out and take a look. I'm not just saying this. Besides, food is a joke?"

"Oh, what are you talking about? The Republic Noodles were what the Japanese did when the capital fell and they were causing trouble for us. How can it be the same as now? You can't compare them like that, they are two completely different things."

"How can they be two different things? As long as the price goes up, it's essentially inflation. Whether it's counterfeit currency, legal tender, or gold yuan coupons, it's all the same. I tell you, even if you're not afraid of anything, you can't not be afraid of price increases. Don't think I don't know. Right? How can you be so sure that it won't happen again?"

"Oh, I can't tell you. You are determined to spend all the money you have saved in this life, right? It's a waste anyway. How about this, if you really have money and don't know where to spend it, you can keep all your dollars with me."

"Don't say such sarcastic words. If I had only US dollars in my hands, I wouldn't be so anxious. I'm anxious because I just exchanged some of my US dollars for 4 million RMB to run Yunyuan. The money is worthless and can't be used for anything, let alone food. Our Jiang family suffered this loss, and 500,000 silver dollars became a small pancake in the end. Besides, I'm not buying food for myself. It's easy for my mother and me to deal with it. At worst, we still have some US dollars in our hands. But what about the people in this garden? When the RMB can't buy anything, what will the employees of Yunyuan do? Only by buying food and distributing it in time can we guarantee everyone's life."

Then he turned to Shen Cun and asked, "Son, do you think this is true?"

Shen Cun felt somewhat embarrassed when his mother asked this question.

He didn't want to embarrass his mother, nor did he want to hurt Kang Shude's reputation, so he could only say carefully, "Uncle, the main thing is that this matter is indeed too fast. To be honest, I am a little worried. I have been wondering if we are really short of food here, but it is hard to tell from the higher-ups. I run a restaurant. If the RMB really depreciates sharply, what will happen to my business? The gingerbread man originally took the route of small profits but quick turnover. How can I operate it in the future? So in my opinion, why don't we do it according to my mother's wishes. I have a ready-made supply channel. Let's buy a few thousand tons of rice, flour, sugar and oil and store them first, just in case. Oh, by the way, I heard from my mother that in the past, Western medicine was also valuable. Do you want me to get a few hundred boxes..."

Having said this, Kang Shude was so angry that he almost laughed.

"Alright, alright, stop getting involved. I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you're more confused than your mother. You're still storing medicine? Do you think this is back in the war? Penicillin is no longer valuable. Here, as long as you're a regular employee in a legitimate unit, you can go to the hospital and get a prescription. It's reimbursed by the government, and you don't have to spend a penny. If you want to get hundreds of boxes, it's really like throwing money into the river..."

Just when Shen Cun was embarrassed and Jiang Nianyun was a little angry about her son being scolded, Ning Weimin came in at the right time to smooth things over.

He arrived at the right time, and with a smile he called everyone "Old Man", "Fourth Aunt" and "Big Brother" one by one, which immediately eased the atmosphere in the room. However, he was soon also drawn into the argument, and Kang Shude and Jiang Nianyun also pulled him over to express his opinion.

To be honest, Ning Weimin would definitely agree with Kang Shude's opinion.

Not only because Kang Shude was his master,

But he couldn't say it so directly, otherwise it would hurt Jiang Nianyun's face, and it might even provoke the old lady's rebellion, which would be bad.

So he avoided answering and became a curious baby, asking Jiang Nianyun, "Fourth aunt, I didn't hear anything else at the door just now, but I heard you say that 500,000 yuan in the bank turned into a small pancake. What's going on? Is it true? It sounds too weird. Are you joking?"

"A joke? You are still too young. Let me tell you, there are many things in this world that sound like jokes, but they are actually true."

"Then tell me what happened today. I really want to know and learn more."

"Okay, then I'll tell you about it." Jiang Nianyun did not shirk her responsibility. She told Ning Weimin about her family's past as if she were talking to her own son.

"This matter has to be traced back to the 38th year of the Republic of China. In the 23rd year of the Republic of China, my father returned from Germany after completing his studies. He had 500,000 silver dollars left on hand, which he deposited in the salt bank of his wife's family. Not long after, the legal currency policy of the National Government was implemented, and 500,000 silver dollars were also 500,000 legal currency. But after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the capital fell and the country was in chaos. The Japanese promoted counterfeit currency, and the legal currency and counterfeit currency were exchanged at a rate of 2 to 1, and 500,000 legal currency was equivalent to 250,000 counterfeit currency. Later, it was the restoration. Then the Japanese left, and the market turned around. It was 2 counterfeit currency, and 1 legal currency. This means that this money was equivalent to 125,000 legal currency. Later, the National Government issued gold yuan coupons, saying that 300 legal currency was exchanged for 1 gold yuan coupon, and the legal currency alloy yuan coupon was 4 cents and 1 cents, and the gold yuan coupon was exchanged for silver dollars at a rate of 2 to 1, and the legal currency was equivalent to 2 cents and 5 silver dollars. Later, it took 300 gold yuan coupons to buy a pancake. Do you think it was 500,000 silver dollars to buy a pancake?"

"Well, is this really true? I say, Fourth Aunt, if that's the case, your family is at a huge loss."

Ning Weimin was so fascinated by what he heard that he was really shocked.

Even though he knew that the Nationalist government was corrupt enough, even though he had seen how investment games were used to cheat people.

But I never expected that in those days, a government would be so shameless as to exploit its people.

This is not just shamelessness, but a desire to kill people.

To be honest, if he lived in that era, he would probably have no choice but to admit defeat.

There is no way, because no one can hide or escape from this financial trap set by the Nationalist government itself.

"Yes, that's what my family experienced. Otherwise, when I went to the United States, I wouldn't have needed to do business to make a living. So I say, in this society, you can be afraid of anything, but you can't be afraid of inflation."

Ning Weimin nodded repeatedly at this time, "Yes, yes, you are absolutely right."

His statement made Jiang Nianyun very happy, but when it came to the issue of whether to buy food, Ning Weimin did not agree outright and expressed his approval.

"Fourth aunt, what you said is enough for me to think about. Just based on your story, I can understand your feelings. However, I have to say that what you said is the almanac of the Republic of China after all. That was the behavior of the National Government. And we have never had such a thing since liberation. The current Republic is a good government that takes people's livelihood as its own responsibility and is responsible to the people. It is completely different from the Three People's Party."

Jiang Nianyun was a little unhappy when she heard this. "It seems that you still stand on your master's side. You agree with his opinion. So what I just said was all in vain."

"It's not for nothing, how can I say that?" Ning Weimin said with a playful smile, "Fourth aunt, I really support you. I can even guarantee that even my master supports you and stopped you from buying food."

"What?" Jiang Nianyun was stunned. She had no idea what Ning Weimin meant by all these repetitive words.

"Think about it, if you are wrong, then the money is wasted. But even if you are right, will you be fine? If there is a famine, will you not be blamed for hoarding so much food in advance? This is not one or two hundred catties, one or two thousand catties, that is thousands of tons. If there is a famine, what crime will you be charged with? To be honest, since I started doing business, the first principle my master taught me is not to touch important materials that affect the national economy and people's livelihood, and not to hoard goods at high prices. You can make money, but don't risk your life."

You know what, these words touched Jiang Nianyun's heart.

She and her son Shen Cun looked at each other, and both felt a chill on their backs, realizing that they had indeed been negligent.

Food is something that absolutely affects the national economy and people's livelihood. Large-scale stockpiling is likely to cause misunderstandings to the government.

This is really hard to explain. Why do you want to hoard so much food? What do you want to do?

"Secondly, you and your elder brother really don't know enough about the government of our republic. That's why you don't believe me. But it doesn't matter. If you don't believe me, I'll take you to see Director Huo. Once you go there, you will definitely feel at ease, because he doesn't even join in the fun. Such a high-ranking official, how should he live? Relying on more than 200 yuan a month, if the money is not worth it, how will his family live? Don't tell me, I know, you think someone else has bought everything for Director Huo and sent it to him? I promise not, because if it is such an assignment, no one is more suitable than me."

After hearing what Ning Weimin said, Jiang Nianyun and her son were surprised, but they also felt more at ease.

After all, in their impression, Chinese officials always take advantage of the situation first.

Under the current situation, even such a high-ranking official has not been touched, so the situation is probably not as serious as she thought.

That’s not all, Ning Weimin also has a reassurance.

"In addition, I have to complain to you, Fourth Aunt, how come you and Big Brother have forgotten that I have cooperation with the Agricultural University. There is also a supply quota for Jingxi rice every year. No matter who is short of food, we will not be short of it. Big Brother's restaurant doesn't have to worry about it, I still have half of the shares. Even if there is really a shortage of something, the worst that can happen is that I can't finish shipping it from Japan..."

That’s right, how could he forget about this? Not only did Jiang Nianyun laugh, but even Shen Cun couldn’t help but reflect on himself.

"Yes, yes. Blame it on me. I was so stupid that I forgot about your granary. It's true. You're in Japan, and I got a lot of seasonings from you. If there's a problem with the supply in the capital, I still have you."

However, that was not all. Ning Weimin's subsequent words not only refreshed Jiang Nianyun and Shen Cun and made them truly admire him, but even Kang Shude could not help but praise his disciple with satisfaction.

"Boy, that's great. You have mastered the business."

what happened?

It turns out that Ning Weimin has thoroughly understood the principles of economics. He did not rely on cheating in time and space in this matter. What he saw in advance was different from everyone else.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to say one last thing: everything will turn to its opposite, and after a hot market, there will be a cold market. Think about it, this rush to buy is sudden, and people are driven by emotions to buy. Our people are all frightened by the price increase. In fact, it is not the economy that can't bear it, but people's psychology can't bear it. Then the question is, everyone has taken out all the money in the bottom of the box and the bank deposits to buy things, what will happen in the future? Ordinary people have limited money. After years of savings, the money will be gone once it is spent. What will the market be like in the future? In my opinion, cash is still king, and wait. When this storm is over, most consumables will not only not increase in price, but may even have to drop in price. So I just advised them at Pierre Caton Company that in view of the current situation, they should not import fabrics anymore. First, the fabric prices have skyrocketed, which is not cost-effective. Second, we need to consider the market's consumption capacity. I think now is the time to clear out the inventory while the people still have money. Sell it now, otherwise you will miss the opportunity. By then, when the people have spent all their money and the merchants have eaten up all the goods, no one will have money. At that time, only a small amount of hard currency can be hoarded to maintain value..." (End of this chapter)