Percy's expression, which had been full of resentment and hardship a moment ago, turned to utter shock after Basil's explanation.
However, he still couldn't quite wrap his head around it. "The Muggle market is huge, sure. But my dad's salary isn't high, is it?"
Basil smacked his forehead. What a simple wizard!
"Actually, everything I just said? The famous shops in Diagon Alley are already doing it. Take the Secondhand Robe Shop, for example. The 'secondhand' robes are often brand new—just made with Muggle fabrics or directly manufactured by Muggles, then rebranded."
"Safety in this area falls under your dad's department. He could absolutely draft a law. For example: 'Wizards using magic on Muggle items for commercial purposes require a business license.'"
"At that point, would he still be short of money?"
Percy nodded, enlightened.
Basil nodded in satisfaction and asked casually, "By the way, how much is your dad's salary?"
Percy scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
He had completely lost his earlier gloom and stiffness. Now he just looked like the boy next door.
"My dad makes 50 Galleons a week. Not counting bonuses or overtime."
"What?!" Basil couldn't believe his ears.
50 Galleons. That's 250 Pounds.
Based on the exchange rate back then, that's about 1,000 RMB.
And this is 1991! The average monthly salary in China back then was only 195 RMB!
And that's a weekly salary!
"We are wizards. Food and drink can mostly be solved with magic. Even clothes. Your family has 9 people—you wouldn't even spend half of 50 Galleons a week!"
"Wait," Basil thought of a possibility and looked at Ron. "Where do you usually shop in Diagon Alley?"
"Huh?" Ron, who was still immersed in the realization that My dad is actually awesome, snapped back to reality.
"Clothes? Madam Malkin's. Toys? Zonko's Joke Shop. Food and drink? Aside from snacks, we grow or raise most of it in our garden."
Basil began to question his life.
"Those... those are all wizard-made products using wizard raw materials and magical processing."
"Even though they are civilian shops, people who really know the market go to the places I mentioned—like the Secondhand Robe Shop. Or they go straight to the black market, swap Galleons for Pounds, and shop in the Muggle world."
"Even Magic Books can be printed at that print shop at the end of Charing Cross Road, near the Muggle entrance to the Leaky Cauldron."
"The owner is a wizard, so you don't have to worry about the Statute of Secrecy."
Ron and Percy: "You can do that?!" (x2)
On the other side...
Basil's face fell.
He was the clown.
The poor person turned out to be him!
Huh? Wait, that's not right.
Even so, they shouldn't be this broke.
Those were just civilian shops.
The Weasleys got bonuses too!
And overtime pay!
"Where else does your family spend money?" He looked at Percy.
Percy rubbed his chin. "School supplies for Bill, Charlie, me, Fred, and George—wands, robes, books. Brooms for Charlie, Fred, and George. Comic books and toys for Ron. Clothes for Ginny."
"And my dad's hobby spending. Like this year, he bought that scrapped turquoise Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe for 50 Galleons."
"When he gets a bonus, we also go on trips."
By the end of the list, Percy's voice had dropped to a whisper.
After listing it all out, combined with Basil's earlier analysis...
He finally realized: We aren't poor.
We just spend money like idiots.
Percy felt incredibly awkward.
He suddenly remembered that both his father and mother actually came from so-called Pure-blood "Aristocratic" families.
His father's mother was a Black. Although her marriage to a Weasley wasn't approved, she still brought a large dowry. They weren't short of money.
His mother came from the famous Prewett family—generations of Aurors. The Auror Office was practically run by the Prewetts at one point. If Voldemort hadn't wiped out the entire Prewett line leaving only his mother, they wouldn't be in this state.
Growing up in such a background, no wonder they spent money lavishly.
Especially since, as wizards, they didn't really need to worry about basic survival needs like food and drink, which magic could solve.
Basil was also stunned by the Weasley family's luxury spending.
Quidditch was not a poor man's game.
A racing broom in the wizarding world was the equivalent of a sports car in the Muggle world.
The Weasley twins had Cleansweep Fives.
They started school in 1989.
Back then, the Cleansweep Five was the latest model from the Cleansweep Broom Company.
(Even though they didn't join the House team until 1990, when the Cleansweep Six was out, it was still impressive.)
The Cleansweep Broom Company was the pioneer of racing brooms—world-class.
That's equivalent to buying BMWs for two second-graders!
What kind of family is this?!
Let's not even talk about the trips.
In the third Harry Potter movie/book, the Weasleys spent almost the entire 700 Galleon Daily Prophet Grand Prize on a trip to Egypt.
(They did buy Ron a new wand, but still.)
But the car.
As a trust fund kid in his past life, Basil knew cars.
He had a deep impression of this antique car.
A sales lady once spent a long time explaining it to him in the backseat.
Ahem. You remember things learned during "Post-Nut Clarity" very well.
The Ford Anglia was launched in 1959. Bruce Wayne (no wait, Bruce... someone) bought a secondhand one in 1971 for 50 Pounds. (With a slightly broken driver's door).
And now it is 1991!
50 Galleons = 300 Pounds at the official rate!
And this was a scrapped piece of junk!
The Weasleys are poor for a reason!
"Where did your dad buy it? I'd like to sell him some stuff too."
Basil's eyes shone with golden light. He had discovered a path to riches!
Why let strangers make the money? Let him do it!
He was Ron's brother!
His dearest friend!
(Owl Fanta? Don't come out right now. I'm afraid Ron might misunderstand.)
Percy answered awkwardly, "Mundungus Fletcher."
Basil was furious. He instantly abandoned his get-rich-quick scheme.
Painful memories flooded back.
"Him! That despicable liar! That thief!"
"He scammed me once! Me, a child! Even for a single bronze Knut, he'd scam a kid!"
"A Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe, even a complete secondhand one, wouldn't cost more than 8 Galleons!"
Once upon a time, when he was just a simple child without his awakened memories...
At the Leaky Cauldron, Mundungus had tricked him into buying a glass marble for a Knut!
Ron dug his finger into his ear skeptically. "But Mundungus is in the Order of the Phoenix! Rounding up, he's Dumbledore's man!"
Percy narrowed his eyes, looking ready to eat someone alive.
He wanted to find an Auror immediately and arrest the fraud who scammed his family!
His dad bought scrap metal!
Rounding up, his family was scammed out of 50 Galleons!
That was almost a month of his dad's salary!
"He is NOT Dumbledore's man! Or rather, he isn't Albus Dumbledore's man!"
"He's a crony of that goat-obsessed, multiple-times-accused owner of the Hog's Head Inn—Aberforth Dumbledore!"
"I'm writing to my father!"
Saying this, he shoved the stack of parchment into Ron's hands. "Give these to your classmates. It's your timetable for the week! I need to write a letter! Back to the dormitory!"
Ron watched Percy's retreating back. "He must be absolutely furious! I've never seen Percy like this. His voice even cracked!"
Basil nodded. "It is 50 Galleons, after all!"
Counting the 7 Galleons from Old Tom and what he earned at the station...
He currently only had 9 Galleons, 114 Sickles, and 40 Knuts.
(1 Galleon = 17 Sickles. 1 Sickle = 29 Knuts. So 1 Galleon = 493 Knuts.)
Converting it all, he had about 15 Galleons, 13 Sickles, and 11 Knuts.
"It seems... this summer—no, if the world I travel to next is a modern one, I should consider bringing some airplane parts to sell to Ron's dad," Basil mused.
Ron nudged Basil. "What are you thinking about? You're grinning so wide your mouth is touching your ears! Come on, help me hand out the timetables!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Basil nodded vigorously.
His path to riches depended entirely on Ron!
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