46: Chapter 46 Are Cryptocurrencies More Expensive?

[Today's Intelligence (Red): Wangmin Communications in the second-hand market is selling a 2012 laptop. Back then, its performance and configuration were top-tier.

Although it looks a bit worn out now, it can still be powered on and operated normally.

Most importantly, the data from its previous, previous, previous, previous, previous, previous, previous owner has not been cleared from its memory. A private key is stored in the system drive.

The private key is for a Bitcoin wallet with a balance of 1 Bitcoin, worth 690,000.

The laptop is priced at 900 yuan.]

Zhao Jian opened his eyes and saw today's intelligence.

His first reaction wasn't shock that a single virtual coin was worth as much as 690,000.

But rather that this laptop had actually had seven previous owners.

Are Mining Rigs worth this much?

It was just six o'clock, and the second-hand recycling shops weren't open yet.

He went to the Vegetable Market first.

He found the Tofu Beauty and bought two pieces of tofu.

They hadn't met much lately, and he felt the Woman looked a bit haggard.

"What's wrong, Boss Lady? You've gotten thin from missing me after just a few days of not seeing each other."

He wasn't in a hurry to leave after paying.

Going home would just mean scrolling through videos to look at beautiful women.

He could look at a beautiful Woman here too.

It was the same thing.

The Tofu Beauty bit her lip, her watery eyes staring at him:

"Mhm."

For some reason, she felt a bit aloof.

She used to talk a lot; why was it just a single 'mhm' today?

The Tofu Beauty also realized her answer could easily cause a misunderstanding.

She said softly:

"I did miss you. That day you asked me to help you transport vegetables, and in the end, you gave all those vegetables to me."

As she spoke, she cast a charming glance at Zhao Jian.

"I wanted to cook some for you every day, but you didn't come."

"I didn't see anyone when I went to your house either."

She sounded a bit resentful.

Zhao Jian thought to himself: Of course no one was there; I'm out early and back late every day earning Yuanzi.

"Next time you miss me, just call."

"I was afraid of affecting your work."

"You're allowed to affect it."

After saying that, he shook his phone, indicating she could message him anytime.

Then he turned and left.

He bought some flatbread on the way home.

After a simple meal, he took the bus toward East City.

He was already familiar with the second-hand market.

He soon found Wangmin Communications.

Despite the name "company," it was just a tiny mobile phone shop.

He walked into the shop.

There was only one customer, bargaining with the boss.

Zhao Jian didn't look closely; he went straight to the laptop counter.

A 2012 antique shouldn't be hard to find, logically speaking.

After all, items like this were rarer in the market than prototype units of newly released digital products.

But his gaze swept over the laptops twice.

Nothing!

Could it be in the warehouse, not on display?

That was a possibility.

Just then, the boss and the customer seemed to have reached an agreement.

They were settling the payment.

The Shop Owner smiled at Zhao Jian and said, "Buying a laptop? What specs do you need?"

Not giving up, Zhao Jian looked around the laptop counter once more.

He replied, "I want a cheap one, as long as I can type on it. Preferably one that costs a few dozen yuan. No tablets, just a laptop."

The Shop Owner remained composed upon hearing the request for cheap goods.

As someone selling second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-hand electronics, it was hard for him to stand out in other aspects.

Except for price, which was definitely much lower than new ones.

But a laptop for a few dozen yuan still gave him a shock.

That amount of money could only buy a decent paper diary.

Did he think this was a scrap yard?

"I really don't have anything for a few dozen yuan. If you want, I have a 2014 model I can sell you for 1,200. It has an i3 processor and was a mid-range bestseller back then."

"Is there anything cheaper? A 2012 model would be fine too."

Zhao Jian couldn't help but give a hint.

Hearing this, the Shop Owner's expression actually changed.

He said with a hint of regret:

"You're too late. There really was one just now. Right when you walked in, a 2012 model was bought for 900 yuan."

Bought?

Zhao Jian thought to himself: Someone beat me to my 690,000?

He didn't ask more but sighed and said, "I'll look around some more then. I only have two hundred yuan on me."

Hearing this, the Shop Owner didn't even bother to hide it and openly showed a look of contempt.

Zhao Jian didn't bother to pay him any mind.

Without that laptop from the intelligence, this shop was just a pile of junk to him.

He walked out.

He didn't know what to do next.

Then he noticed a Middle-aged Man nearby holding a laptop, being scolded by a Woman of similar age:

"Are you stupid? Is this piece of junk worth 900? This thing is from 2012. Others have used it for thirteen years and you still bought it! Will it even work once you get it home?"

"When you were choosing a wife, you knew you wanted a brand new one. Why are you buying a piece of scrap that's been used by who knows how many people for your son's computer!"

"Go and return it right now!"

The Middle-aged Man was somewhat submissive.

He muttered something under his breath.

Zhao Jian didn't hear it clearly.

But the Woman heard it.

"Can't return it? Why won't he let you return it? Take the receipt and make him give us our money back, or exchange it for a new one. Otherwise, call the police!"

The Middle-aged Man still didn't move.

He actually knew that if the Woman went to return it, there was a high probability she could get it exchanged.

At least for something better than this one.

But he felt that doing so would be dishonest.

Reputation was his dignity.

Seeing him not moving, the Woman wanted to scold him more.

Zhao Jian approached and said, "Excuse me, are you two looking to sell a second-hand computer? I do recycling, and I pay high prices."

The Middle-aged Man's eyes lit up.

But the Woman just curled her lip.

"High price recycling"—high enough to pay two yuan for a phone and twenty yuan for a computer.

Trading for washbasins and kitchen knives.

This routine had been around for over a decade; she didn't believe it for a second.

The Middle-aged Man believed him.

He asked kindly:

"How much can you give?"

The Woman shoved him and interjected, "What are you talking to him for? At most, he'll give you a few dozen yuan. Now hurry up and go return it, don't waste time."

This guy's life was a bit... hard to judge.

On the plus side, having a Woman stand up for everything reduces the psychological pressure when facing life.

Someone will make the decisions anyway.

But if one isn't truly weak-willed, facing a dominant wife leads to feeling suppressed and frustrated.

He didn't know what the man's mental state was.

But he knew the other party didn't want to return it.

"I'll take it for 900. This computer is a discontinued 2012 model. Occasionally, collectors buy them to display. I'll stock one and see."

This price was the same as what he had paid for it.

Most of the gloom on the Middle-aged Man's face dissipated.

He asked cautiously, "Really? You won't lose money, will you?"

He was a bit of a do-gooder.

The Woman quickly pulled the Middle-aged Man and signaled him with her eyes to stay quiet.

Then she said to Zhao Jian with a fake smile, "We'll sell, we'll sell. Give us the money."

Zhao Jian was a young man, so they weren't comfortable giving him the computer first.

After all, if he ran off with the computer, the two of them wouldn't be able to catch him.

He transferred the money by scanning a code.

The Woman soon received the 900 yuan. She sent the money to the Middle-aged Man. Only after confirming the receipt did she snatch the computer from the Middle-aged Man's hands and hand it to Zhao Jian.

Exciting!

After the middle-aged couple left, Zhao Jian finally couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

One Bitcoin—690,000 was basically in his hands!

He was in no hurry to open it and check.

Instead, he took the computer and returned to his rented room.

There were too many eyes here; there was no need to cause unnecessary trouble.