C5 Experts from Beijing Have Arrived

Curator Zhang was beside himself with excitement, his voice quivering as he pointed at the "Red Revenue Small One Dollar" stamp on the coffee table, his fingers shaking uncontrollably. "This—this is 90% likely to be genuine. The condition is excellent, with the original vibrant red hue, and the overprinted black text is crisp. The design is slightly off-center to the left, the paper pristine white, retaining most of the original gum. Mr. Chu, the Small One Dollar is among the most coveted Qing Dynasty stamps, with only thirty known to exist. With this one, that makes thirty-two."

"One of them, a block of four, is hailed as the rarest gem of Eastern Hemisphere philately, currently in the collection of Lin Wenyan, a Hong Kong philatelist. But a horizontal pair like this has never been seen before—it's an absolute one-of-a-kind!"

The more Curator Zhang spoke, the redder his eyes became with fervor. "So—Curator Zhang, what do you reckon this stamp is worth?" Chu Yunhe swallowed hard. He hadn't anticipated that this seemingly ordinary stamp was not only authentic but also carried such significance. Yet, the pressing question remained: how much was it worth, and could it save his company from its financial woes?

"Ah! Let me put it this way! At the grand auction held last year to celebrate the centenary of our national postal service and the 9th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition, the starting bid for a mint condition stamp of this kind was 1.6 million yuan, and it ultimately sold for 1.8 million yuan."

"But the crucial point is that not only is the value of this Small One Dollar stamp continuously appreciating, but what you have here is a horizontal pair! It's in impeccable condition and priceless—its value isn't simply additive. I'd estimate the starting bid should be no less than ten million yuan!"

Upon hearing Curator Zhang's words, Chu Jun was visibly disheartened, realizing the vast difference between his own assessment and the curator's. Ten million was already a bold estimate from Curator Zhang; the actual figure might even be less!

However, for Chu Yunhe, ten million yuan was a game-changer. Not only could he clear all his debts, but he could also secure the capital for a fresh start. Overwhelmed with excitement, he could barely contain himself as he asked, "Curator Zhang, do you know of any upcoming auctions? I'm planning to put this horizontal pair up for sale!"

"You're considering auctioning it off?" Curator Zhang was taken aback. "This item is a family heirloom. Its value could increase significantly in a few years. You must realize that this particular stamp is sought after in the market for a reason: each one has a well-documented history. When the Qing government initially printed them, there were only fifty in existence!"

Curator Zhang's words left Chu Yunhe blushing. He glanced at Ma Yan and decided to come clean. "Curator Zhang, as you may be aware, there's a financial crisis sweeping across Asia. My company isn't faring well, and I've accumulated a substantial debt. I need the funds to pay my employees."

"I see," Curator Zhang mused, pausing before adding, "Well, the Auspicious Day Auction House is hosting their spring auction until the 15th. They would be thrilled to have your stamp—eager, in fact!"

Chu Yunhe, unable to contain his excitement, grasped Curator Zhang's hand. "Thank you so much, Curator Zhang. If the stamp fetches a good price, I'll be sure to express my gratitude."

"No need for thanks," Curator Zhang replied. "Having the chance to see such a rare Double Helix Stamp is a privilege. But Mr. Chu, just so you know, although this small round isn't classified as an artifact, there are fewer than five in the whole country. One is even housed in the National Stamp Museum—it's incredibly valuable."

Curator Zhang hesitated, then sighed deeply. "It might not be my place to say this, but the Double Helix Stamp is exceedingly precious. Its historical significance is immeasurable. If auctioned, it could end up abroad, and that's part of our national heritage. I shouldn't say this, but I do hope you'll consider the bigger picture and keep the stamp here."

"I'll file a report as soon as I return and see if the higher-ups at the museum can secure this treasured stamp. Rest assured, you will be compensated," he assured.

Noticing Chu Yunhe's uneasy expression, Curator Zhang quickly realized his worry—that the state might expropriate the stamp, leaving him with nothing. He hastened to add a reassuring note.

"Okay then, if that's the case! But Curator Zhang, given that my situation isn't looking good, if there's no word from your end, I'll have no choice but to turn to the auction house."

Chu Yunhe was genuinely concerned about this, but now that Curator Zhang had spoken, he couldn't just snub him. Besides, reaching out to the auction house would take time.

"Don't worry, I'll call you the moment I have any news. I need to report back to my superiors right away!" With that, Curator Zhang hurried off, declining Chu Yunhe's invitation to stay for dinner, and promptly left.

Left to his own devices with his family, Chu Yunhe faced a quandary: "This situation is a mess. These stamps have turned into a hot potato. Son, what do you think we should do?"

The stamps were Chu Jun's find, and his behavior today was oddly mature, as if he had grown up overnight. Chu Yunhe could see a glint in his son's eyes that seemed beyond his years, a calm maturity.

"Dad, since Curator Zhang has suggested we wait, let's give it a couple of days. The state of the company is what it is; a few more days won't make a difference," Chu Jun said, his earlier excitement gone. If the stamps were truly worth only ten million, they'd barely cover his father's debts.

The money left over wouldn't be enough for the get-rich-quick schemes in his head. It looked like he needed to find another valuable find to make some quick cash.

"If the government seizes it, all our efforts will be for naught. I need to get in touch with Jia De Auction House and the newspapers right away. The more exposure this stamp gets, the better for us. Who knows, it might even bring in a little extra!"

Despite the downturn in his business, Chu Yunhe was still a renowned entrepreneur, not due to poor management but the international climate. His mind was sharp, and he quickly came up with the idea of leveraging public opinion as an added layer of protection for their rare double-sided stamp.

After all, even a strong government can't afford to ignore the voice of the people.

Watching his father energetically make call after call in the living room, Chu Jun breathed a sigh of relief. His father's animated state was a clear sign that he had abandoned any thoughts of suicide. Chu Jun then joined Ma Yan in the kitchen to help with the vegetables.

Before he had even finished sorting the celery in his hands, the sound of knocking came again. Chu Jun hurried to the door, only to be taken aback. "Curator Zhang!"

To his surprise, Curator Zhang from the city museum had come back.

"Hehe! Where's your dad?" Curator Zhang appeared slightly sheepish, just as Chu Yunhe came into view from the living room. "Mr. Chu, my apologies. I've been instructed by our superiors to remain here at your home. Experts from Yanjing will be flying in shortly!"