novelslam Chapter 9 Twists and Turns
Chapter 9 Twists and Turns
"Comrade, how much is Fang Jian?"
A middle-aged woman in her forties glanced at Zhang Beichuan's clothes and walked over with a smile.
"4.2 yuan per bottle, want one?"
How many bottles are in one case?
"12 bottles."
Zhang Beichuan did the math: 50.4 yuan for a box, the price of four lighters, isn't expensive at all!
"Give me two cases!"
"Two boxes?" The middle-aged woman was clearly taken aback for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Two boxes is probably not that many. Not many people usually buy this stuff."
"How many do you have here?"
The middle-aged woman quickly went inside to look for something, then ran out and said, "Just enough to make a whole box."
"Okay, give me a case."
After saying that, Zhang Beichuan took out the money from his pocket, counted it, paid the bill, and then walked out with the wine that the supply and marketing cooperative lady had packed for him.
He originally planned to get two cases of wine, one case to take back to Shihe Village for his grandfather to enjoy, and the other case to exchange for money in 2026.
There's only one box left. I can only take it back to 2026 to see if I can exchange it for money, and then buy some nice things for my family from 2026 and bring them back with me.
He was hungry after running around all day, so he went back to have something to eat first.
After confirming that no one was around, Zhang Beichuan disappeared from 1986 and returned to the rented room in 2026.
The alarm clock on the table was stuck at 7:45!
Zhang Beichuan put down what he was holding, and had roughly made up his mind.
Based on these time travels, it seems that time flows slower on the other side of the journey, roughly one hour on one side corresponds to one minute on the other.
Furthermore, he found that although he was still a little hungry, he didn't feel as hungry as he did in 1986; it was more like the hunger he felt when he first woke up in the morning.
Does that mean the status is refreshed every time you travel through time?
After thinking for a while, Zhang Beichuan went downstairs to have breakfast, and on the way, he went to the vegetable market near the community and bought three catties of pork, three catties of ribs, some fruit, White Rabbit candy and other things.
After taking the items back to the rented room, I glanced at the time and it was already 8:30. Then, carrying the Jiannanchun liquor I had just acquired from 1986, I went to a nearby old liquor recycling shop.
The shop is small, with various vintages of baijiu displayed on the walls, and a faint aroma of aged liquor permeating the air.
The owner was a man in his fifties, looking through the ledgers behind the counter.
"Boss, do you buy aged liquor?" Zhang Beichuan placed the cardboard box on the counter.
The boss looked up, pushed up his glasses, and his gaze fell on the cardboard box—a corrugated cardboard box common in the 1980s, with the words "Mianzhu Winery" printed on the front, and the box was slightly yellowed.
"Let me see." The boss stood up and skillfully opened the cardboard box.
When the twelve square glass bottles of Jiannanchun were taken out one by one, the boss's eyes lit up for a moment, but then he frowned again.
He glanced at the production date of March 15, 1986 on the packing list, picked up a bottle, and carefully examined the label on the bottle.
The label is a typical 1980s design, with a white background, red border, and gold lettering. The three characters "Jiannanchun" are strong and powerful, and have a textured feel. The bottle cap is a white plastic screw cap.
He then carefully examined the hidden marks and other identification points on the swords, using a magnifying glass to check the details of the label printing, the plastic seal on the bottle cap, and the characteristics of the bottle cap...
Seeing the boss's brows furrowing deeper and deeper, Zhang Beichuan couldn't help but worry about the boss's professional competence.
"Boss, will you buy this wine?"
"Where did you get this wine from?" The shop owner put down the magnifying glass, his tone probing.
"They were stored by my elderly parents," Zhang Beichuan said without changing his expression. "My grandfather used to work at the supply and marketing cooperative. He bought a few boxes back then and stored them. Now that he's getting old, he wants to get rid of some of them."
This was the explanation Zhang Beichuan had prepared beforehand.
This approach avoids raising suspicion while providing a reasonable explanation for the source of the subsequent wine.
The boss's furrowed brows did not disappear with his explanation; instead, they furrowed even more deeply.
"Do you know how much a bottle cost back then?"
"4...5 yuan, I heard my grandpa mention it once, what's up?" Zhang Beichuan asked curiously.
The shopkeeper nodded. Jiannanchun in 86 was priced the same. After the government opened up pricing for famous liquors in 88, the price of a bottle rose to over twenty yuan.
This box of square swords appears genuine, judging from the labels, packing slips, and other authentication details. There's just one thing that puzzles him greatly.
The 86 Jiannanchun liquor is now 40 years old, but there is no trace of time on the box or the bottle!
"Are you sure this is a bottle of wine your father has kept for 40 years, and not from last week?"
Judging from Fang Jian's appraisal details alone, the packaging technology, packing list, and outer packaging details of this batch of wine are indeed genuine. Even now, no one can perfectly replicate the packaging technology of the state-owned winery in the 80s.
But the bottle and the box showed no signs of age, which he couldn't understand at all!
Zhang Beichuan was bewildered by his words. How could this be fake alcohol?
He just bought it from a legitimate supply and marketing cooperative, and he still has the receipt in his pocket!
Following the boss's gaze as he scrutinized the bottle and packaging, Zhang Beichuan immediately understood why the boss had such a question.
"Uh... Boss, I can guarantee this wine is genuine!" Zhang Beichuan paused, then continued, "Is it possible that my family has preserved it well, making it look newer?"
"That...is unlikely, isn't it?" the boss said tactfully as he stood up.
Seeing that his business of dealing in old liquor was about to fall through, Zhang Beichuan's mind raced. Since the boss hadn't mentioned any problems with the anti-counterfeiting measures, there was only one way.
"Boss, I guarantee this wine is genuine. Why don't you open a bottle and try it? You experts should be able to tell the difference. If it's real, you can name your price. If it's fake, I'll take it right away!"
Looking at the batch of exquisite square swords, and filled with curiosity, the boss agreed to give it a try.
Zhang Beichuan watched as the boss unscrewed the bottle cap, and the room was instantly filled with a strange aroma of wine and grain.
The owner smelled it, poured out a little more wine, tasted it, and his furrowed brows suddenly relaxed.
"It's strange, this wine is smooth and mellow on the palate, with a strong body. It really tastes like the Fangjian wine from the 80s."
Zhang Beichuan's anxiety subsided, and he made a judgment in his mind. It seemed that the way of buying old wine and monkey stamps in 1986 and selling them for money in 2026 was not feasible, or rather, too troublesome.
The traces of time are difficult to explain clearly.
"Boss, since this wine is genuine, what do you think of the price?" Zhang Beichuan said this with a try-it-out mentality.
If you can take it, then take it; if not, take it back for your grandparents to drink.
The boss looked at the box of "exquisitely" preserved square swords and was at a loss.
The wine is genuine; he's tasted it and can't be wrong. The brewing techniques of the 80s are completely different from today's.
The bottles and boxes were all real, but there was one thing he wasn't sure about—the marks of time.
After hesitating for a while, he finally looked at Zhang Beichuan.
"Young man, this wine of yours... to be honest, I quite like it, but it's been preserved so well that it's hard to offer a price."
Zhang Beichuan understood his concerns and said with a smile.
"Boss, name your price. If it's right, I'll pay. If not, we won't make things difficult for each other. I'll just take it home and keep it for myself."
Seeing how readily he spoke, the boss gritted his teeth.
"The 86 Fangjian wine was priced at 5000 yuan per bottle a couple of years ago, but the market has been bad these past two years, and the price has dropped to 1800 yuan per bottle. However, your situation is special, and I can only offer you 1500 yuan per bottle at most."
At 1500 yuan per bottle, this case of wine costs 1.8 yuan!
However, Zhang Beichuan's cost was only a few lighters. Although it was a bit cheaper than 1800, it was still acceptable until he found a new way to make money.
Besides, he could easily buy these kinds of wines in 1986.
"Fine, 1500 it is!"