In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 21. The First Stitch of the Web

The price of rhinoceros horn of 120 yuan per gram reported by Ming Pao falls right in the middle of the market price disclosed by Gu Yongkang. It reflects the value of the item but does not reach the upper limit, which would seem excessive.

The key point is that the ticket was valued at 35 yuan, which is significantly higher than the actual market value of the ticket. This was a gesture of goodwill and concession from Yang Guangming, giving Tang Jianhong a huge way out and fully taking into account his face and his urgent need to save his son.

The final total cash amount was 349 yuan, which is also a round number for easy settlement.

Tang Jianhong's facial muscles twitched almost imperceptibly.

One hundred and twenty yuan per gram!
The price was much higher than he had expected; 349 yuan in cash was almost three or four months' salary for him.

His heart was bleeding. But the image of his son's life hanging in the balance flashed through his mind, and Gu Yongkang's appraisal results confirmed the item's value.

Looking at Yang Guangming's young yet unusually calm face, with clear and honest eyes, he knew that the other party had come prepared, and although the price was painful, it seemed to be within the "market rate" and not an exorbitant price.

What surprised and pleased him the most was that the other party actually offered to price those tickets, which were worth between ten and thirty yuan, at thirty-five yuan!
This extra portion, at this critical juncture, felt like a heavy favor, soothing his anxious and aching heart, making him feel that this young man was not only sensible but also knew how to conduct himself.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons. The ticket was valued at thirty-five yuan, which was already a "decent" price from Yang Guangming, and it was acceptable.

The most important thing now is to get the medicine as soon as possible! Money... can always be earned again.

"Sigh!" Tang Jianhong sighed heavily, his face showing a resolute and heartbroken expression of "going all out for his son," but deep in his eyes, the joy at Yang Guangming's voluntary "concession" was also clearly visible:

"Xiao Yang, this price is indeed not cheap! But... we urgently need it at home."

The items are indeed of high quality! Your relative is right; the hard work and dedication of our elders should not be sold off cheaply.

Uncle Tang knows you've taken the initiative to compromise.

Okay! As you say, 121 grams! The voucher is worth 35, cash 349!

He seemed to have made a huge decision, slamming his hand on the table with an exaggerated gesture, but this time it seemed to carry a genuine sense of resolve.

Then he quickly took out a thick kraft paper envelope from his black handbag.

He didn't shy away from the sunlight; he opened the envelope directly, revealing a thick stack of brand-new 100-yuan notes and several smaller denominations.

"Take a look, Xiao Yang."

Tang Jianhong pushed the envelope over, a smile returning to his face. The heartache in that smile seemed to be somewhat diluted by a complex emotion of "the deal was fair," and even a hint of gratitude.

"Three hundred and forty-nine dollars, please count it. These receipts..."

He then pulled out a bulging little cloth bag from his purse, which contained all sorts of colorful coupons. "Fifteen feet of cloth coupon, one shirt coupon, one coat coupon, one leather shoe coupon, you can count them too."

Yang Guangming didn't stand on ceremony, took the envelope, and quickly but carefully counted the contents.

The thick stack of ten-yuan bills was thirty-four, plus nine one-yuan bills, totaling three hundred and forty-nine yuan.

The crisp, new banknotes exude a distinctive smell of ink.

He carefully counted the cloth coupons, clothing coupons, and leather shoe coupons to confirm that everything was correct.

“The number is correct, Uncle Tang.”

Yang Guangming carefully put away the cash and the receipts into his pocket, then solemnly pushed the small wooden box containing the rhinoceros horn slices in front of Tang Jianhong. "Uncle Tang, please keep this safe. I hope Xiaonan gets better soon after taking the medicine." "Definitely! Thank you so much! Xiaoyang, thank you so much!"

Tang Jianhong grabbed the small wooden box and held it tightly in his hand as if he had grasped a life-saving elixir. His expression was instantly replaced by immense joy and eagerness. The pain and complicated emotions he had felt earlier seemed to vanish, and he returned to his initial enthusiastic and even tearful state.

"You've done Uncle Tang a huge favor. Uncle Tang will remember this kindness!"

Don't worry, if you ever need anything at the Red Star Factory, just come to Uncle Tang. I keep my word!

The transaction was completed, and Tang Jianhong seemed eager to return the medicine without wanting to stay a moment longer.

He generously called the waiter to settle the bill, then warmly shook Yang Guangming's hand repeatedly, expressing his gratitude many times, before hurriedly leaving the restaurant, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd at the street corner.

Yang Guangming stood alone at the restaurant entrance, touching the thick wad of brand-new "big unity" bills in his pocket, feeling their solid texture under his fingertips.

Three hundred and forty-nine yuan in cash, plus various scarce tickets worth twenty or thirty yuan, and a "favor" from the head of the personnel department of Dongfang Machinery Factory, which seemed even more "warm" because of the voluntary discount.

This deal was not only successful and lucrative, but it also made a brilliant move at a crucial point.

He took a deep breath; the air was filled with the aroma of food and the scent of the city.

The successful sale of the rhinoceros horn slices brought in the first pot of gold and also initially verified the feasibility of this secret channel.

More importantly, through Wu Hongtao and Tang Jianhong, the first stitch of his delicate network of relationships in Shanghai has been quietly laid.

Stepping out of the Xinfeng Hotel, the warm early summer afternoon sun made the asphalt road surface feel hot.

Yang Guangming subconsciously touched the thick wad of banknotes in his pocket, the crisp texture of brand-new bills beneath his fingertips. Three hundred and forty-nine yuan in cash, plus a dozen or so valuable tickets and certificates, the bag felt heavy.

This weighty feeling is both the joy of the harvest and the potential risk.

These days, carrying such a "huge sum of money" on your person while walking down a busy street is like a child carrying gold through a bustling market.

He glanced around warily, making sure no one was watching him suspiciously, then quickened his pace and turned into a relatively quiet alleyway.

Standing in a dead corner deep in the alley, surrounded by piles of discarded debris, Yang Guangming made sure again that no one was paying attention.

He held his breath, his consciousness sinking into that strange space deep within his mind. A large-capacity double-door refrigerator floated silently, emitting a soft white light.

With a slight thought, the thick envelope in his pocket, along with the bundle of tickets, vanished instantly and reappeared steadily in an empty corner of the refrigerator's crisper drawer.

Watching the banknotes lying quietly under the cold white light, Yang Guangming finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.

A personal safe – that's the safest safe!

Having resolved the issue of money security, he remembered something else.

My eyes scanned the space and soon found my target in the frozen section—a beautifully packaged drunken chicken and a similarly wrapped braised pork knuckle weighing a good two pounds.

These two dishes were specially ordered by him for his parents from a five-star hotel before he traveled through time. The ingredients were exquisite, and the color, aroma, and taste were far superior to those of ordinary delicatessens in this era. Now they came in handy.

(End of this chapter)