The two waited for a while longer, but no foreigners appeared. Instead, two people with Asian features emerged from within.
At first, Chen Lishu assumed they were overseas Chinese, but upon approaching and overhearing their conversation, she realized they were speaking Japanese.
Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue had both studied Japanese as their second foreign language. They exchanged a glance, and Chen Lishu stepped forward, calling out to them and offering a greeting.
With Chen Lishu taking the lead, Zhang Xue’s courage also grew. Although their pronunciation wasn't entirely standard, they could manage a conversation.
The two Japanese individuals were thrilled to encounter Chinese people who could speak their language. They inquired extensively about local customs and life. Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue did their best to explain with their limited knowledge. In the end, Chen Lishu exchanged one hundred yuan for 150 yuan worth of侨汇券 (qiaohui quan - remittance vouchers).
"Comrade, would you sell me your remittance vouchers? I can offer one hundred and ten."
As the two Japanese left, the middle-aged man who had previously exchanged vouchers with them immediately approached and inquired. He had clearly seen Chen Lishu count out ten bills when she made her payment.
He had expected the two girls to agree, thinking they would happily make ten yuan in profit, but was surprised when they refused.
Chen Lishu smiled and shook her head. "My remittance vouchers are worth 150 yuan. I'd want at least one hundred and thirty yuan."
The middle-aged man forced a smile. "Comrade, I can get them at roughly the same price by exchanging with those Russians."
The implication was that if she demanded so much, he might as well exchange with foreigners.
Chen Lishu smiled and didn't press the issue.
Zhang Xue, standing beside her, was stunned.
She had never realized that a few words exchanged and a simple handover could result in earning tens of yuan. Her own monthly salary at her previous workplace was only a little over thirty yuan! The middle-aged man had initially thought the two young girls would be easy to trick, but Chen Lishu proved to be quite resolute.
He had been staking out the spot all morning and had only managed to exchange less than one hundred yuan. Regretting that he hadn't mastered more foreign languages, he decided that earning less was better than nothing and grudgingly said, "One hundred and twenty. I really can't go any higher."
Hearing that he was willing to offer one hundred and twenty, Zhang Xue, standing nearby, tugged anxiously at Chen Lishu's sleeve.
Chen Lishu just smiled and remained silent.
She had exchanged remittance vouchers in Shanghai before, at a one-to-one rate. Now, asking for only one hundred and thirty, she was almost certain the man would eventually agree.
Indeed, after a brief stalemate, the man compromised.
"Alright, you are quite something, Comrade. One hundred and thirty it is." The man said, pulling out a wad of bills and counting out one hundred and thirty yuan to give to Chen Lishu.
After the transaction was complete, the man carefully put away the remittance vouchers and then said with a smile, "My name is Zhao Xingwang. If you have any more remittance vouchers in the future, remember to look for me. I'll always give you the best price."
Chen Lishu smiled and nodded. "Okay, I'll remember that."
After Zhao Xingwang left, Zhang Xue finally recovered from her shock. She excitedly took Chen Lishu's hand and said with disbelief, "You made thirty yuan in such a short time? Lishu, you're amazing!"
Chen Lishu smiled and patted her hand. "It's not me who's amazing, it's the knowledge we've learned."
If she hadn't studied Japanese, she wouldn't have been able to earn these thirty yuan so smoothly.
"Regardless, you're still the one who's amazing. If it were me, I would have agreed immediately when he offered one hundred and ten."
After exchanging vouchers with Zhao Xingwang, the two waited for over an hour before they finally encountered another foreigner walking towards them from a distance.
This time, they were fortunate; it was an Englishman. Chen Lishu gave all the speaking opportunities to Zhang Xue, only interjecting to supplement a point when Zhang Xue occasionally struggled to express herself clearly.
Soon, they learned the man's name was Peter. Upon hearing that Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue wanted to practice their spoken English, he enthusiastically offered to help them. Although he was returning home in a couple of days, he assured them they could find him the following two days.
The conversation lasted nearly half an hour before they parted ways.
Over the next two days, Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue met with Peter. The day before he departed, Chen Lishu specifically invited him to the state-run restaurant for a meal and ordered several local specialty dishes. Peter thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and it was a pleasant occasion for both parties.
Despite their brief acquaintance, Peter's erudition and his witty, humorous nature left a deep impression on the two women.
Before leaving, Peter gave them his remaining unused remittance vouchers. Chen Lishu insisted on paying him the equivalent amount in Renminbi.
"Consider it a souvenir. When you come to China again, you can look for us at our school."
After parting ways with Peter, Chen Lishu decided to take Zhang Xue to browse the Friendship Store.
"Didn't you see the guards at the entrance? We don't have an entry card, so we can't get in." Although very tempted, Zhang Xue felt a little apprehensive.
"What's so difficult about that?" Chen Lishu said, leading Zhang Xue across the street to the Friendship Store to find Zhao Xingwang. He indeed had a remittance card.
"We're acquaintances, just take it and use it," Zhao Xingwang said readily when Chen Lishu asked to rent a remittance card, taking one out of his pocket.
He usually charged a few cents per hour to rent it out. However, having been in the area for a while and meeting many people, he knew Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue, who were bilingual, were not ordinary. He couldn't tell if he might need their help in the future, and a few cents meant little to him. After all, having more friends opened more doors.
"We have to pay our way. If you don't want money, we'll have to find someone else." Chen Lishu insisted with a smile.
She certainly wouldn't take advantage of Zhao Xingwang for a few cents; there was no need.
Seeing this, Zhao Xingwang smiled and said, "The going rate is two mao for half an hour. We'll settle the bill according to the time when you two come out."
Chen Lishu nodded, took the remittance card he handed over, and entered the Friendship Store with Zhang Xue.
This was Zhang Xue's first time inside the Friendship Store. The dazzling array of goods immediately made her feel as though her eyes weren't enough to take it all in.
Beautiful clothes and shoes, as well as refrigerators, televisions, bicycles, and everything else that was available outside, and things that weren't.
They carefully browsed all three floors. Finally, Chen Lishu led Zhang Xue to a jewelry counter.
Inside, exquisite brooches were displayed. Chen Lishu's eyes immediately fell on a silver, hollowed-out brooch.
It was intricately crafted, simple, and elegant in style, appearing timeless.
A quick inquiry revealed the price wasn't cheap; it cost ten yuan each.
"You have good taste, Comrade. This one is made of pure silver, and the craftsmanship is fine, so the price is naturally a bit higher."
"I'll buy two."
Soon, Chen Lishu paid, and handing one brooch to Zhang Xue, she said, "Here, a birthday gift."
Zhang Xue hadn't expected her to remember her birthday. She was so touched that she felt like hugging and kissing Chen Lishu. "Lishu, you're so good to me."
Chen Lishu smiled. "Is one brooch enough to be good to you? If I added more money, could I abduct you?"
Zhang Xue waved her hand. "No, no, I'll go with you right now."
They spent a total of forty-odd minutes in the Friendship Store. Chen Lishu returned the remittance card and paid Zhao Xingwang three mao.
As she and Zhang Xue were about to get into a car to return to school, they suddenly bumped into Lu Chengming and Lin Xiaohui, who were turning the corner from the street.
They walked close together, their arms touching. The smiles on their faces noticeably faded upon seeing Chen Lishu.