Pursued by the Heavenly Dao, first level up in the courtyard.

The subdistrict office issued a notice that Xia Guo is issuing the second edition of banknotes. The old version of 10,000 yuan can be exchanged for the new version of 1 yuan, and the exchange will begin immediately.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui convened a meeting of all the neighbors in the courtyard to discuss exchanging old currency for new currency.

Liu Haizhong took a sip of tea, looked at everyone, and then said, "The reason I've called this meeting today is to discuss the exchange of old currency for new currency. Now, let's invite our esteemed elder to speak."

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's words, Qi Bing was at a loss for words.

Liu Haizhong always wanted to be an old man, but he helped Yi Zhonghai time and time again.

Using the phrase "highly respected and virtuous" to impress others is not creating obstacles for him to rise to power.

Originally, the stewards of the front yard, middle yard, and back yard had the same status, and were responsible for the front yard, middle yard, and back yard respectively.

After discussing it, the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai decided to address each other as "Uncle One," "Uncle Two," and "Uncle Three" according to their age. Liu Haizhong not only did not object, but also agreed without hesitation.

Qi Bing, though somewhat disappointed with Liu Haizhong, remained calm and continued to sit aside and watch the show.

Yi Zhonghai said, "Quiet down, everyone. The reason I called everyone here today is to talk about exchanging money. Old currency for new currency, 10,000 for 1 yuan. What used to cost 10,000 yuan can now be bought for 1 yuan."

Liu Haizhong chimed in, "Uncle is right! This is an order from above, and we must resolutely support it and not hold back. Uncle has done the math; we won't suffer any losses. Don't just believe everything you hear."

Yan Bugui said, "I've calculated the prices. The purchasing power hasn't decreased after exchanging the old currency for the new currency. Before, a pound of pork cost more than 6,000 yuan. After exchanging for the new currency, a pound of pork costs more than 60 cents. Not only have we not lost out, it's also more convenient."

The three old men chatted amongst themselves, explaining to everyone the exchange of old currency for new currency.

Yi Zhonghai took a sip of hot tea and smiled, "When we live, we look at how much money can buy, not how many zeros are on the bills. What ten thousand old dollars can buy, only costs one dollar in new dollars."

Liu Haizhong said, "This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. Our courtyard houses should strive to be the best, and we can't lag behind in the exchange of old currency for new currency."

Zhang Cuihua didn't understand what purchasing power was. In her eyes, ten thousand yuan was ten thousand yuan, and one yuan was one yuan. The more she thought about exchanging ten thousand yuan for one yuan, the more she felt she was losing out.

"Bullshit! It's all a lie! Ten thousand dollars for one dollar? Do you think I'm stupid enough to be fooled? I've lived most of my life and never seen such a rip-off!"

Zhang Cuihua's voice was extremely loud, spittle flying everywhere, and she didn't listen to Yi Zhonghai and the others' explanations at all.

Yi Zhonghai took a sip of tea before speaking up to persuade her, "Sister-in-law, don't be unreasonable. We've all calculated it clearly; there's no difference in purchasing power, so you haven't lost out."

Zhang Cuihua said, "I don't care how you calculate it, but to me, this is a loss, a huge loss! The money I worked so hard to save, after being exchanged for new currency, has become nothing!"

Liu Haizhong reminded her, "Mrs. Jia, the neighborhood committee notified you to exchange your old currency for new currency. No one is trying to scam you. If you don't exchange it by the deadline, your old currency will be worthless. Don't regret it later!"

Zhang Cuihua angrily retorted, "I won't exchange it! The money's in my own hands, I can do whatever I want with it, and nobody can stop me!"

Zhang Cuihua was unreasonable, and Yan Bugui had seen it more than once before. At this moment, not wanting to cause trouble for himself, he kept quiet.

Liu Haizhong snorted coldly: "Fine, if you won't listen to advice, then you'll have only yourself to blame if the old currency becomes invalid!"

Three days later, most of the neighbors in the courtyard took their old currency to the bank to exchange it for new currency.

Millions of old dollars turned into hundreds of new dollars; I feel like I've been cheated.

Fortunately, when they went shopping, the purchasing power of one new dollar was equivalent to ten thousand old dollars, which relieved everyone.

Some goods are cheaper when purchased with the new currency than when purchased with the old currency.

Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The exchange period for old currency to new currency in Beicheng is only one month in total.

Worried that the old currency might become obsolete and also afraid that it would be discontinued, Zhang Cuihua exchanged half of the old currency.

When the exchange period ended, Zhang Cuihua's more than ten million old coins became unusable.

"Good heavens! Why can't I exchange my money? Old Jia, come up here quickly..."

Zhang Cuihua, who had just returned from the bank, sat on the ground in the courtyard and patted the ground with her hand.

"She brought this on herself. She wouldn't listen when I advised her to exchange her old currency for new currency, and now she can't do it even if she wants to."

"Serves you right, you didn't listen to the elders, now you're suffering the consequences."

"No matter how many zeros are on a bill, it can't buy anything. The money isn't money; it's just waste paper."

Zhang Cuihua wailed and cursed at the entrance of the Jia family's house in the Intermediate Court, while a few neighbors whispered gloatingly.

Jia Dongxu sought advice from Yi Zhonghai. For the sake of his retirement plans, Yi Zhonghai took Zhang Cuihua to the neighborhood office to find Director Wang.

"Director Wang, Jia's wife still has some old currency that she hasn't had time to exchange for new currency."

"Zhang Cuihua, didn't you have time to change?"

"Director Wang, I, I, I didn't have time to go to the bank to exchange money."

"I heard that you're unwilling to exchange your old currency for new currency? I heard you think it's too much of a loss to exchange 10,000 for one dollar."

"Director Wang, I was wrong, I admit my mistake."

"The banks in Beicheng have stopped exchanging old currency for new currency. However, many places outside Beicheng still accept old currency for new currency. If you go to other places, you can still exchange old currency for new currency. If you wait too long, you won't be able to exchange it anymore."

Mr. and Mrs. Yi Zhonghai had been taking care of the deaf old lady, and Wang Yunxia came up with this idea out of consideration for the old lady.

Yi Zhonghai came to her door, and she offered a suggestion that wouldn't cause her any loss.

"Director Wang, thank you for your help."

"If there's nothing else, you can go back now."

"Director Wang, we'll be leaving now."

The two bid farewell to Wang Yunxia and walked together toward the courtyard house.

Overjoyed to have found a way to exchange money, Zhang Cuihua laughed and said, "Old Yi, you're really something!"

"You know how capable I am."

"You rascal, I'll be waiting for you in the cellar tonight."

The next morning, Zhang Cuihua took more than ten million old dollars and a dozen new dollars by train to Tianjin.

The train slowly started moving, and the scenery outside the window kept rushing past. Zhang Cuihua's heart was in her throat. She would touch the cloth bag in her arms every now and then to make sure the money was still there, and then she would lean out of the window to look out again, afraid that she would miss her stop.

The carriage was crowded and noisy; some people were talking loudly, some were resting with their eyes closed, and others were walking around.

Zhang Cuihua became increasingly anxious as she looked around, worried that someone would steal her money.

The train arrived smoothly in Tianjin. Zhang Cuihua followed the flow of people off the train, her steps hurried, not daring to linger for a moment. She found the nearest bank and saw people queuing to exchange old currency in the distance, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Cuihua's hands remained protectively wrapped around the cloth bag in her arms, as if she couldn't wait for her turn to receive it.

"Big sister, there are only a few days left to exchange old currency for new currency in Tianjin. You've come at the perfect time; any later and you really won't be able to exchange it."

After receiving over 1,200 yuan in new banknotes, Zhang Cuihua counted them again and again to make sure nothing was missing before leaving the bank.

Zhang Cuihua didn't dare linger, thinking she should quickly buy a ticket and take a bus back to Beicheng to bring the money home safely.

A few minutes later, a muffled thud was heard, and Zhang Cuihua instantly collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

However, Zhang Cuihua was targeted when she was exchanging money at the bank.

The young man who knocked Zhang Cuihua unconscious with a stick reached out and pulled out a money bag.

"Brother Chun, so much money?"

"Let's hurry up and leave before anyone sees us. We'll divide the money once we're in a safe place."

The two left quickly and soon disappeared without a trace.

After Zhang Cuihua collapsed on the ground, someone shouted that something had happened, and someone went to notify the nearby police station.

Zhang Cuihua was shaken awake. After touching herself repeatedly and confirming that the money was gone, she immediately sat on the ground and wailed.