Rebirth of Wu Tong

Chapter 10

Wu Tong had achieved her goal, so she didn't linger in Little Li Village for too long. The next noon, she bid farewell to the enthusiastic villagers and embarked on a train journey to Shanghai. Although the purchase of goods still involved various receipts, the influence of cash had diminished. The era where money couldn't buy anything was long gone. Wu Tong intended to enrich her now somewhat depleted purse.

Despite the current gold exchange rate being meager compared to the golden era that followed, Wu Tong urgently needed funds. Disregarding the lower value, she planned to sell a set of gold jewelry. With over a dozen boxes of gold bars in her spatial realm, parting with a set of jewelry she deemed less aesthetically pleasing didn't trouble her. Yearning for adulthood like never before, she found it ironic to possess a substantial deposit in a Swiss bank account that she couldn't use. The situation was indeed lamentable.

Navigating through the city center, Wu Tong entered a well-established gold shop. Despite appearing relatively young, her dignified attire and imposing aura prevented her from being treated as a frivolous child. After explaining her situation to a clever and discerning shop assistant, she was promptly led to a waiting room. Following a courteous exchange of greetings and a cup of tea, the assistant hurried off to fetch someone with the authority to make decisions.

Comfortably seated in the back room, Wu Tong quietly observed the unique and tasteful decorations of this era. Compared to the future's opulent and dazzling designs, these decorations were far more pleasing to the eye.

"Hello, young lady, how may I address you? I am surnamed Li, the store manager. I heard you wish to sell a set of gold jewelry?" The newcomer, a middle-aged man with black-framed glasses, exuded an ordinary appearance but possessed a refined demeanor that easily garnered goodwill.

"Hello, Mr. Li. You can call me Wu Tong. I do intend to sell a set of jewelry. Would you like to see it now?" Wu Tong gracefully stood up, smiling as she responded. She believed in reciprocating politeness with politeness.

"Oh, yes, please. I need to inspect the items before we can discuss the price..." Mr. Li, with a keen eye, couldn't hide his excitement upon receiving the wooden box from Wu Tong. The current gold market was sluggish, and finding skilled craftsmen was challenging. The delicately crafted and well-preserved jewelry set, from bracelets and earrings to rings and necklaces, was a genuine surprise.

"Don't mind me asking, could you share the origin of this jewelry set?" Despite the quality of the items, Mr. Li remained cautious. He carefully closed the wooden box and inquired with gravity.

Wu Tong appreciated his principled approach and replied with a smile, "This set was left by my grandmother. It was purchased in the Republic of China era in Beijing. I plan to sell it as I need the money urgently." She handed over the relevant documents, knowing that some details were better left unspoken. Wise individuals understood the importance of discretion; probing too deeply was not a commendable habit.

"Do not take offense. We only want to ensure the legality of the source. What is your ideal price?"

"Could you suggest an approximate figure? I'll consider it..." Wu Tong was unaware of the current exact price of gold. Seeing Mr. Li's reasonable demeanor and knowing that gold wasn't as valuable nowadays, she decided to let him take the initiative.

"Well, how about fifty thousand? It's the most suitable price our store can offer. Considering the current devaluation of gold, if it weren't for the exquisite craftsmanship and the fact that these items date back to the Republic era, we wouldn't be able to offer this much..."

This offer exceeded Wu Tong's expectations. Showing a thoughtful expression and pretending to deliberate, she eventually nodded with a seemingly reluctant acceptance. Mr. Li, initially anxious, was relieved when Wu Tong agreed.

Five thousand was a significant sum, especially during that time. Since Wu Tong couldn't open a bank account on her own due to her age, Mr. Li prepared a box of cash for her. Despite an initial moment of surprise, he quickly handed it over. Wu Tong admired his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and avoidance of unnecessary complications. With money in hand and a relaxed heart, Wu Tong's hidden shopping enthusiasm emerged. Over the next few days, she indulged in a spree of purchases.

The current prices were exceptionally low, and the goods were of high quality. Wu Tong didn't miss the opportunity. Exquisite crafts, local delicacies, beautiful clothing (for herself, Chu Qing, Wan Qing, and some other acquaintances), and various unique furniture and daily necessities filled her shopping list. As her spatial realm had become her private abode, she decided to acquire some furniture to enhance its ambiance. Otherwise, sitting on the grass every time would be too rudimentary.

Wu Tong's plans were well thought out. When the bamboo grove in her spatial realm matured, she intended to build a small bamboo house at the intersection of the orchard, vegetable garden, and flower garden. Having inquired about the construction of bamboo houses during her travels to Yunnan's Xishuangbanna in her previous life, she was confident in constructing her own. After furnishing it with the delicate and comfortable furniture she bought, she could even cook inside the spatial realm when she had time. The prospect was delightful.

Of course, Wu Tong didn't forget about the upcoming resumption of the college entrance examination next year. She visited the used book market and found three sets

of textbooks for junior and senior high school, along with some books she liked. When the time came, she planned to encourage Chu Qing and Wan Qing to study diligently. Perhaps, with her assistance, they could attend university together. If someone had told her in the past that Wan Qing, who struggled even with fifth-grade coursework, could easily pass the college entrance examination, she would have dismissed it. However, after half a year of interaction, Wu Tong couldn't help but admire his incredible talent. Some people were true geniuses, and given enough opportunities, they could achieve extraordinary feats. Wan Qing was one such person. With a solid foundation built during their spare time, his learning speed was astonishing. Wu Tong estimated that, given the high school textbooks (she had roughly covered the junior high school curriculum with Chu Qing and Wan Qing in the absence of textbooks), he could achieve excellent results in the exam next year. Knowing that success in this era often required passing the college entrance examination, Wu Tong wouldn't stand by and let her friends and the boy she treated like a younger brother miss this opportunity.