Chapter 1156: Second Prize
Translator:Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor:Nyoi-Bo Studio
The example the tour guide gave was not quite true. Real estate was immovable property, and its value was closely related to the location. It was not the same as a mahogany bracelet.
However, Li Du knew it was pointless to say so. The tour guide could have used cars as an example.
The second prize was cars, Mercedes Benz and BMW. The first prize was also cars, Porsche and Ferrari. These luxury vehicles often cost millions of dollars in China. However, they were not that expensive in Australia.
Li Du had a nagging feeling that there was something wrong with this lucky draw. Maybe it was because the tour guide had practically forced the people to spend money earlier. Li Du was unimpressed by these tactics.
The woman who won the third prize went up to the stage happily. As the host repeated the prize options, the woman said eagerly, “Needless to say, I choose the 20,000 dollars.”
Laughter broke out and the tourists looked on enviously.
The host smiled and said, “I’m sorry, madam, the third prize cash has been all given out. You can choose another prize. There are a Harley motorcycle, a mahogany furniture set, a set of pearls, red coral jewelry…”
The woman was disappointed. “No money? Why is there no more?”
The host continued explaining with a smile, “Because there are many organizers and many sponsors, who provide the prizes. Each sponsor may choose a different prize…”
“But at the same level, the value of the prizes is largely the same, and some are even worth more than 20,000 AUD. For example this Harley PX has a market value of 24,000 Australian dollars, which is actually more than the prize money…”
The middle-aged woman was still disappointed. “But how would I be able to take the motorcycle with me? I am a tourist.”
“Don’t worry, madam,” said a man dressed like a manager who walked up to the stage. “We can help you. After you pay the tax and do the transfer procedure, we can sign the contract and sell it for you. The money will be yours.”
“Well,” said the middle-aged woman, somewhat pleased, “Which of the remaining prizes is the most valuable?”
The manager took a quick look at the middle-aged woman’s clothes and smiled. “I suggest you choose the Harley PX tropical front. It is the most popular motorcycle in the United States, but it is rare in Australia. Although the market price is officially around 20,000 dollars, it could be sold for 30,000 dollars on the black market.”
The middle-aged woman chose the Harley motorcycle. Li Du, meanwhile, did a quick web search. The price of this motorcycle really was more than 20,000 Australian dollars, but it was common in Australia because it has been on the market for about a year.
Either way, the motorcycle was worth more than 20,000 AUD.
The people who drew lots passed one after another, every one of them gaining something as a prize. Finally Li Du’s father’s turn.
Just as Mr. Li stretched out his hand, his wife stopped him and said, “I’ll do it, your hand has no luck, I’ll bet you won’t win anything.”
She rubbed her hands and her eyes widened when she pulled out the lot. “Oh!”
Unconvinced, her husband asked, “What did you get? You’re lucky, aren’t you?”
“Of course I’m lucky! Look, look, a second prize! Second prize!” Her hands trembled in excitement.
Everyone around them gasped. Li Du’s father was stunned. “Second prize? Second prize, the Porsche and Ferrari? Really?”
Li Du took the lottery ticket and saw that it was really the second prize. It was written in several languages.
Li Du’s mother forgot to draw her own lot as she hurriedly came onto stage. The host congratulated them for a while and then asked what they would like to choose.
Li Du’s mother chose a Mercedes S500, a luxury business car that was worth about $100,000 in the United States.
The car was parked in the backstage. Under envious glances, Li Du’s parents eagerly followed the host behind the stage.
The brand new car had a protective coating on the outside. The manager was waiting next to it. He was happy to see them and held out his hand for a handshake, “Congratulations. You are really lucky.”
Li Du’s father wanted to get into the car. The manager stopped him and said awkwardly, “Sir, you have to pay the taxes before you can open the car because it is brand new.”
Li Du’s mother said, “How much is the tax? We’ll pay it right now.”
“The price of this car is 140,000 dollars in Australia. According to the regulations, you have to pay 12% accidental income tax, which is 16,800 Australian dollars,” said the manager with a broad smile.
“So much?” said Li Du’s mother in surprise.
The manager said, “Don’t worry, madam. We can arrange this so that you won’t have to actually pay the fee..”
Li Du’s father was happy and said, “We have come across a living Lei Feng.”
Li Du was not so credulous. He had spent more than a day or two in a capitalist country and was wary of inexplicable generosity. He did not expect to meet anyone resembling Lei Feng, the legendary altruistic revolutionary.
He was suspicious, and said, “Could I see the procedure contract, please?”
He kept thinking there was something wrong with the lottery.
The manager confidently took out a kraft paper bag with some invoice data. Li Du could not identify the catch.
However, he didn’t have to rely on what he could see. He had the little bug that could turn back time and find out if there was anything wrong with the way the invoices were made.
When he let the little bug out, he let it go into the car first.
If the car was really brand new and had no issues, it could be that he was too cautious. They might have just gotten lucky and met a generous sponsor.
The little bug flew into the car from the front and Li Du saw some new contraptions and accessories, arranged tightly and neatly, looking very beautiful.
However, when the little bug flew into the engine, he saw the problem.
The engine looked bright and shiny, but inside it was a piece of junk. The circuit pipe was clumsily repaired, the engine was rusty, and to cap it all, it was not an original V8 engine, but an ordinary car engine…
In a word, this Mercedes S500 was just an empty shell, and its old and faulty engine made it totally worthless!
Seeing this, Li Du laughed. How would capitalist countries be so selfless, and have such generous enterprises? This was a fraud after all.
There were other prizes backstage, and he sent the little bug into the luxury mahogany furniture.
He had seen mahogany products in storehouse auctions before and was familiar with the fake mahogany case. This set of furniture was fake too. Only the outside was mahogany, while the inside was common poplar tree!
There were other prizes and Li Du scanned them all. All were fake, but looked genuine. Only an ultra experienced connoisseur with professional vision could identify the forgery.
The manager urged them to pay the tax. Li Du guessed that the money would not be sent to the tax bureau. The fraudulent company would keep the tax. They probably made a living by manipulating tax payments.
Li Du’s mother did not have so much money, so she looked at Li Du. Li Du said enthusiastically, “Oh, I did not bring so much money with me, so we will come back to get this prize. We’ll first find someone to send some money over.”
