Free Web NovelChapter 9: Chapter 9: Gains from a Past Life’s Museum Trip
That’s it! Intershop!
That was information he had seen in a museum during a trip to Berlin in his past life. freewēbnoveℓ.com
It was funny, really. Germany didn’t seem to have any other attractions; there were museums everywhere.
Berlin was even more extreme. It had a Museum Island, and the entire island was filled with all sorts of museums. As a history enthusiast, he had seen quite a few exhibits from the East German era.
The tour guide had specifically pointed out that Intershop, the international stores in East Germany at the time, were a peculiar anomaly—it was a socialist country, yet it had opened stores that only sold Western goods and, moreover, didn’t accept its own currency.
’If I remember correctly, the East German Government officially announced the opening of these Intershops in 1962,’ Werner quickly recalled. ’It’s March 1961 right now. That means the special store Eva works at is a precursor to the Intershops. On an official level, it’s still in a trial phase. There’s still about a year left until it officially transforms into an Intershop and opens to the public!’
’This matches the information from the system. This has to be it!’
Werner grew more and more excited the more he thought about it.
He remembered it clearly. At first, the Intershops only accepted special foreign exchange coupons issued by the East German Government. Later on, they also started accepting foreign currencies like the West German Mark and the US Dollar. However, you could not use the East German Mark to buy things in these stores.
’At first, they were only for Western tourists, a way to earn their money. Later, East Germans were also able to shop in them.’ Werner’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. ’The key is, once the Berlin Wall is built, these stores will become the only legal way for East Germans to buy Western goods!’
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but marvel at that museum trip from his past life. Who could have imagined that a seemingly ordinary piece of historical information would now become the golden key to wealth?
’A monopoly business!’ Werner’s heart pounded. ’Once the Berlin Wall is built and East Germany is completely sealed off, the Intershops will be one of a kind. Whoever can get their hands on foreign exchange coupons will control the most profitable business!’
But that led to a question—how could he get those foreign exchange coupons?
Werner frowned, deep in thought. He had a bit of money, but it was all in East German Marks.
According to the original owner’s memories, foreign exchange coupons could only be obtained by exchanging foreign currencies like the West German Mark, which ordinary East Germans had no way of getting.
’Wait, when we went to Alexanderplatz, didn’t Fatty Wolf point out a black market dealer to me?’ Werner’s eyes lit up. ’That guy who specializes in buying West German Marks—he must know something!’
"Werner? Werner!" Eva shook his arm. "What are you thinking about? You have such a strange look on your face."
"I was thinking..." Werner began slowly, "Eva, these foreign exchange coupons... where did you get..."
"Shh." Eva quickly glanced around, and after confirming that no one was paying attention, she pulled Werner into a small alley. "This isn’t something to discuss on the street."
Snow was piled up in the alley, and a faded propaganda poster was stuck to the wall: "Build a socialist Germany!" The worker in the poster gripped a hammer tightly in one hand and held a bright red flag high in the other, his face overflowing with revolutionary fervor.
The reality, however, was that the descendants of these workers were now racking their brains just to get a can of Western coffee.
"I work at one of those foreign trade stores, so I occasionally come into contact with... special customers." Eva spoke very carefully. "Sometimes they use foreign exchange coupons to buy our products. But not all the coupons are turned over to the finance department..."
Werner nodded. He was beginning to understand the rules of the game.
"So..." Werner said, thinking aloud, "if someone were able to get a steady supply of foreign exchange coupons, buy goods from those stores, and then resell them to people who need them, then that person..."
"Would be thrown in prison," Eva interrupted. "Werner, are you insane? Private resale of foreign goods is a serious crime. The Stasi would..."
"What would the Stasi do?" Werner retorted. "Would they come after someone for helping his fellow countrymen buy Western goods? Or would they go after the desperate people willing to pay a high price for a can of coffee?"
Eva stared at him for a long time before finally sighing. "You’re really not like an ordinary worker. Werner, who are you, really?"
Werner didn’t answer directly.
His gaze traveled past Eva, landing on the well-dressed Western tourists entering the foreign trade store. They seemed completely out of place in the East German atmosphere.
’Foreign exchange coupons... Those Western tourists, or Germans from West Germany visiting family, would have to exchange West German Marks for coupons at an East German bank before coming to East Germany for spending money. But they probably wouldn’t use them all up.’
’Maybe... I could buy their surplus coupons directly from these Westerners, at a rate higher than the official one.’
"Eva, those Western tourists—when do they usually come, and where do they stay?"
"There are a few hotels near Friedrichstrasse that host foreign guests," Eva replied thoughtfully. "They usually show up more in the afternoon and evening. They like to buy souvenirs before they leave."
Werner nodded. A plan was gradually taking shape in his mind.
"One more thing," Eva suddenly said in a low voice. "Back in the store, I noticed another room behind the counter. The goods in there... they looked more high-end. The clerk said only special customers are allowed inside."
"Special customers?"
"My guess is people with a lot of foreign currency. Diplomats, foreign traders, or..." Eva paused. "Or certain locals with special connections."
Werner’s heart rate quickened.
’What did this mean?’
’Did it mean that this foreign trade store system wasn’t just for earning foreign currency from Western tourists, but was also a kind of... shopping channel for the privileged class?’
A distant church bell rang, announcing that it was two in the afternoon.
The crowds on the street began to swell as workers getting off the early shift dragged their tired bodies by, their faces etched with a longing for a better life.
"Werner," Eva said softly, "if you really want to do this, I can help you. But..." She paused. "But you have to promise me you won’t be reckless. Once you start this game, it’s very hard to stop."
Werner looked at her serious expression and felt the call of destiny.
In this city, soon to be divided by a high wall, in this era of scarcity, opportunity was staring him in the face.
"I promise," he said, extending his hand. "Let’s work together."
Eva took his hand, and their gazes met in the cold February air. Her hand was cool, but her grip was firm, as if sealing an important pact.
Just then, a woman in a long coat walked past the mouth of the alley, her gaze seeming to casually sweep over them for a moment.
Werner caught that glance—it wasn’t the indifference of a normal passerby, but one that carried a certain... assessing quality.
"Eva, we should go," he said softly.
The two of them walked out of the alley and melted into the afternoon crowd. freeweɓnøvel.com
Werner glanced back, but the woman had already disappeared around the corner.
Perhaps it was paranoia, but in this era, paranoia was a prerequisite for survival.
