Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 226 Lin Yan Can Only Wear "Custom-Made" Clothes

Lin Yan sat down on the daybed in the north room, where a heated kang bed dispelled the northern chill. Lin San deftly brought over a red lacquered wooden tray with a purple clay teapot and two white porcelain teacups on it. He gently placed a steaming cup of tea on the kang table in front of Lin Yan, then stood respectfully to the side.

Lin Yan picked up his teacup, blew on it to cool it, and asked, "Lin San, what's the situation like in China these past two years?"

Lin San bowed slightly, his face showing a reassuring and gratified expression: "Young Master, the situation is better than we expected. In the past two years, thanks to our black market network, we have been able to have a stable and abundant supply of coarse grains. Except for a few remote mountain villages that are really difficult to access and isolated from the world, which we have not yet been able to fully cover, the food shortage crisis has been basically alleviated in all the towns and villages that we can reach."

He explained in detail: "For those really remote villages, our people have also come up with solutions. We send people to organize collective purchases in the villages, and then use trucks to transport the grain to the nearest main road accessible to oxcarts, and notify them to come and haul it back themselves. Although it's a bit of a hassle, it works very well. Thanks to you, young master, we've basically stopped hearing about large-scale starvation tragedies."

After reporting on the most crucial issues concerning people's livelihoods, Lin San's tone relaxed somewhat as he continued, "Furthermore, due to this ongoing barter system, many unexpected treasures have been found on the black markets in various places. Some are ancestral prescriptions and precious medical books, but many more are various antiques. Lin Er and I communicated through our spiritual imprints, and those he deemed useful, such as the prescriptions and medical books, have been secretly sent to Hong Kong. As for the remaining large quantities of gold, antique jade, calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain, we have all stored them in our spatial warehouse as you instructed, and they've piled up quite a bit."

As Lin Yan listened, a strange feeling stirred within him, and a mysterious intuition quietly emerged. He vaguely sensed that this act of distributing grain at a low price seemed to have gathered some kind of "luck" or "merit," which would bring him indescribable benefits in the future. He nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

At this point, Lin San's tone became somewhat hesitant, and he raised a new problem they were currently facing: "Young Master, there's another situation. Some of our outposts, because there really aren't many antiques or cultural relics to collect locally, have had to accept money. Now we're accumulating more and more RMB. Even... recently, the comrades at the national level responsible for grain and rubber procurement have privately approached me, tentatively asking if large-scale official transactions could also be settled in RMB in the future? It seems that some people on their side are still unwilling to bring out their best treasures to exchange for grain."

Lin San looked up at Lin Yan's expression and added, "I didn't dare agree immediately at the time, only saying that I needed to consult with the master. I estimate that they will definitely come to talk to me again before the end of the year or shortly after the start of the new year. Young master, what do you think about this matter... how should we deal with it? We need your advice."

Lin Yan didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, and the outlines of the key locations—Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shanghai—instantly appeared in his mind, his thoughts racing. After a moment, he opened his eyes, his knuckles tapping lightly on the kang table, producing a crisp sound.

"Take it!" he said decisively. "Why wouldn't you take it?"

He looked at Lin San, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness and calculation: "But, Lin San, remember this. If the official grain and rubber transactions are settled in RMB, then our unit price will have to be appropriately increased based on the current barter system."

He said slowly, "Doing business is all about fairness. Risk and reward must be commensurate, and pricing power can't always be decided by one party, right? If they want to lock in supply with paper money, they have to pay a corresponding premium. As for how much the price will increase, you and Lin Yi should calculate it based on the over-issuance of currency and our costs, and come up with a plan."

Upon hearing this, Lin San's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood. He sincerely praised, "Young Master is brilliant! This way, we can not only solve the problem of RMB stockpiling, but also let the higher-ups know that our advantages are not so easy to take."

"Lin San, remember this regarding the handling of RMB: Before 1979, do not deposit any surplus RMB into banks. Store it all in the space, and you can withdraw it whenever you need it."

He picked up his teacup, his tone resolute:

"After China announced its reform and opening up in 79, all the RMB accumulated over the past twenty years was deposited into state-owned banks with the highest interest rates at the time."

Lin San immediately grasped the deeper meaning: "Young Master is brilliant! Depositing money now not only yields low interest but also attracts attention. Keeping it in our spatial dimension is both safe and convenient for us to manage. We can deposit it when the policy is relaxed, allowing us to fully benefit from the country's reform and opening up. Depositing this huge sum in the bank is itself a direct vote for the new era!"

"It's not just that. I taught you in the materials on modern Chinese history that in a few years there will be a political storm that sweeps across the country. At that time, all the wealthy capitalists in China will be in trouble. Although the Lin family has helped the country, we cannot withstand the fact that some people will be blinded by greed and will use the banner of overthrowing capitalists to confiscate all our property. My decision is also intended to avoid risks."

Lin Yan smiled slightly. This deposit, spanning twenty years, will not only increase in wealth but also serve as a subtle gift from a time traveler to the new era.

With a thought, Lin Yan released Lin Gang, Wang Yuling, and Xiao Qi from his spatial dimension. Xiao Qi rolled over in his arms, her big, bright eyes looking around curiously: "Brother, where are we?"

"Xiao Qi, we're back in China, in Beijing!" Lin Yan ruffled its fluffy little head. "Remember where we stayed before?"

Little Qi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then excitedly tugged at his clothes with her little paws: "I think I remember! Brother also took me to that very beautiful and huge Forbidden City!"

"You have a good memory," Lin Yan said with a smile, lifting it a little higher. "Come on, Xiao Qi, let's go ice skating at Shichahai!"

He instructed Wang Yuling to prepare lunch at home, while he put on his coat, picked up Xiao Qi, and prepared to leave. Lin San, seeing this, naturally offered to accompany him.

Lin Yan carried Xiao Qi and strolled towards East Chang'an Street. Xiao Qi looked at the bustling crowds, the jingling bicycles, and the occasional old-fashioned bus passing by, and excitedly wiggled her body, wanting to get down and walk on her own.

Helpless, Lin Yan took out the leash he had specially prepared for it from his coat pocket and carefully tied it on. As soon as the little guy landed, it took its little legs and curiously sniffed here and looked there.

Before long, Lin Yan keenly sensed something was amiss. Passersby, young and old, men and women alike, seemed drawn to him like a magnet, their eyes fixed on him, turning back for a second glance even after they'd walked quite a distance. Their gazes held curiosity, surprise, and even a hint of scrutiny.

Lin Yan felt uncomfortable being stared at. He pulled Lin San next to him and asked in a low voice, "Lin San, why are they all looking at me? Do I have something on my face?" He subconsciously touched his face.

Lin San smiled wryly, looked his young master up and down, and then whispered, "Young master, it might not be a problem with your face... it's your clothes that are really... really unlike people from around here. Look at the style and material of your wool coat, and those jeans... they're a bit too avant-garde for our area."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan felt as if he had been struck by an invisible arrow. Throughout his two lifetimes, his mind had been preoccupied with either financial data or cultivation; his tastes in clothing and appearance had always been purely practical, lacking any sensitivity. This insensitivity had prevented him from immediately recognizing the vast difference between himself and the environment of this era.

He sighed and said decisively, "Let's go, Lin San, let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a few 'normal' clothes to change into!" As it happened, he still had the savings, pension, and money from the sale of the house left by this body's father in his storage ring, which he hadn't touched. It was time to spend some of it.

Lin San quickly pulled out a stack of cloth and cotton coupons from his pocket: "Young master, I have coupons here."

The two people and their dog walked to the supply and marketing cooperative on Qianmen Street. As soon as they entered, a unique smell mixed with fabric and soap hit them. Behind the counter, a saleswoman with two braids was arranging goods.

Lin Yan walked to the counter and said, "Comrade, could you please buy me three sets of cotton-padded clothes and trousers?" He wanted to have two extra sets to change into.

The saleswoman looked up at the sound of his voice, and the first thing that caught her eye was an excessively handsome face with an outstanding air. Her gaze then involuntarily drifted to his obviously expensive wool coat, which seemed to radiate an aura of wealth. She thought to herself: What kind of family is this? They just ordered three sets of cotton-padded coats!

"Oh, okay, comrade." The sales clerk snapped out of her daze. "What size do you wear?"

Lin Yan had absolutely no idea about sizing these days, so he could only give Lin San a pleading look.

Lin San understood immediately, stepped forward, and said to the sales clerk, "Excuse me, my younger brother is quite tall. I wonder what size clothes he should wear if he's 1.88 meters tall?"

"1.88 meters?!" The saleswoman repeated in surprise; that height was absolutely towering at this moment. She said awkwardly, "Please wait a moment, I need to go ask in the back." With that, she ran into the back warehouse.

An impatient older woman behind them in line complained, "Young man, can't you hurry up? This supply and marketing cooperative doesn't have clothes for you! You should go to a tailor shop and have them made!"

A moment later, the saleswoman ran back, her face slightly apologetic and still flushed. She said to Lin Yan, "Comrade, I asked around, and for your height... we really don't have the right size here. Even the largest size would probably be too short and thin for you. You'd better buy some cotton and fabric and try it on at a tailor shop!"

Lin Yan looked at the sales clerk's helpless expression and felt the curious glances directed at him from all around, feeling slightly annoyed. But then he thought, he was living a carefree life, why should he care too much about these worldly opinions? If he couldn't buy it, so be it. At worst… let them look!

He looked down at his outfit, which stood out starkly against the gray, blue, and green tones of his surroundings. Hmm, compared to the rest of the outfit, he actually looked pretty cool!

"Alright, Lin San, let's go." Lin Yan put Xiao Qi down, re-fastened the leash, and walked back onto the street, their destination—Shichahai Ice Rink!