“More than all of them?
May I know exactly how much?”
Faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Zhu Yihai naturally wanted to seize it.
Amid his great joy, he also understood that whether he could grasp this opportunity depended on whether he could introduce a reliable supplier.
There were many reliable suppliers, but the question was how much did he need?
“About 20 cases!”
If he went to find a seller himself, being unfamiliar with the place and people, by the time he found one, it would be too late.
Moreover, his time was limited right now, and he simply didn’t have time to waste on this.
“What!”
Zhu Yihai widened his eyes in astonishment and said:
“What, 20, 20 cases…”
Looking at the dumbfounded Zhu Yihai, Li Yi’an asked:
“What, is there a problem?”
“There’s a problem, definitely a problem, sir.
Do you know how many cigarettes that is?
One case has 250 cartons, not 250 packs.
Right now, cigarettes in the US also require ration points to buy!
So many cigarettes, so many…”
Looking at the somewhat agitated Zhu Yihai, Li Yi’an said flatly:
“What, is there a problem?”
“There’s a problem, definitely a problem…”
Zhu Yihai said.
“For so many cigarettes, unless you buy up the whole of Chinatown to scrape them together…”
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yihai looked towards the outside of Chinatown, and then lowered his voice and said:
“However, I know someone who definitely has enough stock, but he is not Chinese!”
“Not Chinese?”
“Right.”
“Then is it reliable?”
“Many goods in Chinatown are also obtained from him.
During Prohibition, their family was engaged in the illicit liquor trade, and now they also engage in illicit cigarettes…”
Under normal circumstances, Zhu Yihai would definitely not mention that guy, but now, thinking of the astonishing commission, he naturally wouldn’t hide anything.
“But if you deal with him, you definitely need to pay in cash.
However, before going there, you can sell the things you brought first.”
“Alright, you help me find a buyer first.
What I brought this time are mainly watches, I mean high-end clocks and watches.”
While talking, Zhu Yihai led the way out of Chinatown.
“Mr.
Courville, this is Mr.
Li who came over from Europe.
You can call him Li.”
He took Li Yi’an to a luxury watch shop outside Chinatown and found Philip Courville right in front of him.
“Hello, Li.”
Courville greeted the two warmly.
From the watches displayed in Courville’s watch shop, it could be seen that this was indeed a suitable place.
“Li, you can call me Philip.”
Courville enthusiastically reached out to shake hands with Li Yi’an.
Compared to his enthusiasm, right now, Li Yi’an only wanted to quickly end the transaction, seize the time, and start his subsequent plans.
So Li Yi’an cut straight to the point.
He directly took out a watch from his backpack, placed it on the counter, and said:
“Mr.
Philip, hello, nice to meet you.
This is the watch I brought, please appraise it!”
Almost the moment Li Yi’an took out the watch, Courville’s eyes were already drawn to the watch on the table.
He picked up one of the watches and exclaimed in surprise.
“Longines Flyback Chronograph, uses the 13ZN movement…”
Courville, who was examining this watch, appeared very meticulous.
He even opened the watch case, and then, with the help of a magnifying glass and a small desk lamp, examined it carefully.
Meanwhile, Li Yi’an and Zhu Yihai sat quietly on the side, waiting for him to inspect the goods.
After inspecting the condition of the watch, Courville had a valuation of this watch in his heart.
Although the war had an impact on the luxury goods market, what the war affected was the supply of luxury goods.
After all, the outbreak of the war made it very difficult for Swiss watches to enter the United States.
But even during the war, the rich had their demand for luxury goods, and the demand was even higher than before, because the war…
allowed many people to make a fortune.
“Are you looking to sell it?”
Courville asked.
“If you are willing, I can offer 200 US dollars.
Before the war, a new watch was about this price.
Although this watch of yours is a 1938 watch, it has been maintained very well.”
It’s a war, after all, making many luxury goods rise in price.
“200 US dollars?”
“250 US dollars.
If that’s okay, I have 5 watches of the same model here, and their quality is about the same.”
As soon as his words fell, both Courville and Zhu Yihai looked at him with surprised eyes.
The former thought for a moment and then agreed.
Five watches for 1,250 US dollars!
Actually, this was just the beginning.
Back in London, because he knew that pounds couldn’t be spent in the US and couldn’t be exchanged for US dollars either, Li Yi’an specifically went to second-hand shops to buy some watches and cameras.
In London, countless people sold their family collections to maintain their livelihood: watches, cameras, and even family antiques, famous paintings.
Antiques from prosperous times, gold in troubled times; in London, these things were a dime a dozen.
Like this Longines flyback chronograph, it was a common item among them, not extremely precious, but not cheap either, roughly considered a common item among famous watches, and could be acquired for a mere dozen pounds.
He had a few more Patek Philippes in his bag, but the truly valuable one was a Patek Philippe Ref.
96 “Quantième Lune” wristwatch.
When he took it out, Courville’s eyes immediately lit up.
Production of this watch stopped right after the war broke out, and it couldn’t be bought even with money.
“How much is Mr.
Courville willing to pay for this watch?”
The reason he asked proactively instead of waiting for the other party to offer a price was that Li Yi’an had a deep impression of this Patek Philippe.
Before he time-traveled, he had read a report stating that only seven examples of the same model were previously known, and the wristwatch auctioned in that report was the eighth one, having never appeared on the market before.
And that wristwatch was sold at an auction for a high price of 48.85 million Hong Kong dollars!
If it weren’t for raising funds for inventory, he would have even planned to treat this watch as a family heirloom.
After considering it for a while, Courville spoke:
“1,800 US dollars!
Mr.
Li, this is absolutely the highest price on the market.
There shouldn’t be anyone who can offer a higher price than me.”
“2,500 US dollars.”
Li Yi’an briskly gave his price.
“Deal!”
As Courville readily agreed, Li Yi’an actually said with some regret:
“Well, the family heirloom is yours!”
The moment the words fell, time froze, and the light screen emerged again.
[Completed the first transnational trade.
Sold eleven second-hand watches, obtained funds of 5,460 US dollars, profit: 4,835 US dollars.
Rewarded 2,412 experience points!]
Well, the system reward has come again!