However, after looking around, Wang Ze was quite disappointed; there wasn't much inside.
He estimated that the current situation was still relatively stable, and there hadn't been any extreme shortage of materials.
These formerly wealthy people were living quite well now, so they wouldn't come to entrust items for sale.
Most of the items here were still second-hand goods for daily use by ordinary people.
It held no meaning for Wang Ze; he wouldn't use such second-hand daily necessities.
Coming from a later era, he simply couldn't accept using second-hand bowls, clothes, or quilts.
As if sensing Wang Ze's dissatisfaction, the master inside smiled and asked, "What are you looking for? We have more in the back, just not displayed."
"I want to buy a watch," Wang Ze said.
"Aren't you satisfied with the ones here?" the master asked, looking at the nearby display case with a puzzled expression.
It wasn't as if there were no watches here.
"These two clearly show signs of repair. Although the master's craftsmanship is good, the parts aren't original, and they look mismatched," Wang Ze said, shaking his head.
"Heh, good eye," the master praised with a smile.
"Do you have any better watches here?" Wang Ze asked curiously.
The master chuckled and said, "Alright, let me show you the watches I've collected."
With that, the master went into the inner repair room and brought out a small box.
As soon as it opened, Wang Ze saw the exquisite watches inside.
He was immediately drawn to a delicate and simple pocket watch nearby and asked, "Master, how much is this watch?"
The master proudly said, "It's a Patek Philippe 715 pocket watch. Seeing as you know your stuff, if you want it, I'll transfer it to you for 1.7 million."
He then added, "If it weren't for my family needing money, I wouldn't bear to part with it."
"Could you make it cheaper? This price is even more expensive than a new watch," Wang Ze said, feigning difficulty.
As for the other party saying his family urgently needed money, he only believed one-tenth of it; a merchant's words should be taken with a grain of salt.
The two haggled for a bit, finally settling on 1.5 million.
Seeing the other party smiling happily, Wang Ze felt he hadn't negotiated well enough.
He got the invoice, paid the money, and received the purchase receipt.
Even after leaving the shop, Wang Ze was still thinking about returning later and bargaining even harder.
He carefully put away the pocket watch; Wang Ze still needed to alter his clothes to sew a special pocket for the pocket watch on the inside.
Riding on the road, Wang Ze admired the ancient Beijing city. At this time, many parts of the capital had not yet been demolished, and the traditional atmosphere was rich.
However, on the way back, Wang Ze suddenly noticed a sign that read "Central Academy of Drama."
Only then did Wang Ze realize why he had heard the vocal warm-ups that morning.
It turned out he lived so close to the Academy of Drama.
Looking at the young people coming and going, Wang Ze's heart immediately became active.
It was just that he was still young now; the students here were all much older than him.
"I'll come back in two years," Wang Ze mumbled, then pressed harder on the pedals and continued riding.
He rode three hundred meters and arrived at No. 95 Courtyard.
"Wang Ze, did you buy a bicycle? Let me see it quickly," Yan Bugui was watering flowers and immediately ran over curiously when he saw Wang Ze pushing the bicycle in.
"Oh, and it's a new one," Yan Bugui looked it over from front to back and also saw the newly installed license plate, his tone momentarily filled with envy.
"After buying this, I've used up all my money. I originally wanted to buy a watch, but I felt a bicycle was more practical. Third Grandfather, you can also buy one," Wang Ze said with a smile, not stopping the other party from touching it.
"I can't afford it. My salary has to support five people; how can I afford a bicycle?" Yan Bugui said.
"Third Grandfather, it would be better to plant some vegetables instead of these flowers; at least you can eat them," Wang Ze said with a smile, looking at the blooming flowers nearby.
He remembered this plot in many novels, and on a whim, Wang Ze also said such a sentence.
"Ah, I just like flowers; raising them makes me happy," Yan Bugui said with a smile.
After Wang Ze went into the middle courtyard, Yan Bugui just sneered disdainfully.
He didn't raise these flowers for himself. Why could he come back right after class? And his salary wasn't the two hundred thousand he claimed, but over three hundred thousand. This was all thanks to sending flowers to leaders.
Many people in the cultural field were very fond of these flowers.
Only those uncultured people would believe his salary was only a little over two hundred thousand. They didn't consider that he had been working for so many years; how could his income be the same as a new teacher?
Moreover, even if he didn't give them away, he could sell them directly. A well-maintained pot could sell for fifty thousand.
However, he disdained discussing these matters with the people in the courtyard. Being poor was good; if he was poor, no one would scheme against him.
The more Yan Bugui thought about it, the more pleased he became, and he picked up his small shovel to tend to the flowers again.
Wang Ze, pushing his bicycle, was the focus of the Forbidden City Courtyard. Many people ran over to watch the excitement.
This was the first bicycle in the Forbidden City Courtyard!
Facing everyone's various questions, Wang Ze had no choice but to repeatedly state what he had told Yan Bugui several times.
He had to let these people know that his money was almost spent.
He had to keep his expenses within a reasonable range.
Even when he saw a radio in the store earlier, he was very tempted but didn't buy it.
That was because it was too ostentatious.
"Heh, Wang Ze, you bought a bicycle. Now, if any neighbors have an urgent matter, they can use it," Yi Zhonghai said with a smile, walking out after hearing the commotion in the courtyard.
"Alright, when the time comes, just pay a few thousand for depreciation and maintenance," Wang Ze said loudly.
Those who were watching the excitement and planning when to borrow the bicycle after hearing Yi Zhonghai's words immediately dispelled the idea of using the car after hearing Wang Ze say that.
Several thousand at once, even two thousand, was too much to afford.
The atmosphere cooled down, and Yi Zhonghai said with a stern face, "Wang Ze, First Grandpa has to talk to you about this. You've just moved in; how can you charge neighbors for borrowing something?"
"Hey, First Grandpa, I can't agree with what you're saying. If I don't charge for depreciation, with so many people using it, it won't be long before it needs repairs. Will you pay for those repairs? If it breaks down in a year or two and needs to be replaced, will you buy me a new one?" Wang Ze immediately retorted loudly.
Although the surrounding people agreed with Yi Zhonghai's statement, they also had to admit that Wang Ze had a point.
"It should cost some money; after all, this thing isn't cheap, and repairs are expensive if it breaks."
"Charging money isn't appropriate; we're all neighbors, how can we charge?"
"Then if it breaks, will you pay?"
For a moment, the onlookers began to argue.
Wang Ze ignored the farce and, without waiting for Yi Zhonghai to speak, directly pushed the bicycle to the back courtyard.
"First Grandpa's first fire was extinguished by you," Xu Damao ran over to gloat after Wang Ze placed the bicycle in the cooking room.
"Anyway, whoever wants to use it just has to pay, it's not like I'm not letting them use it," Wang Ze said.
He had genuinely wanted to say he wouldn't let them use it, but in this era, not letting neighbors use something when it's idle would indeed lead to gossip.
Wang Ze still wanted to visit the Academy of Drama in two years, so he couldn't let his reputation be affected.
