Afternoon 1.05 pm.
Xie Huilan asked Dong Xuebing to get on the Audi after leaving Wang Fu Hotel.
Dong Xuebing was sitting in the front passenger seat and took a peek at Xie Huilan. He had a serious expression on his face. Xie Huilan was a beauty, a leader from the Central Government, and had a powerful background. Dong Xuebing did not even dare to smile when he saw her. He was glad and worried at the same time. He was glad that he had saved her life and worried that she knew he had taken her stockings to do something shady.
Dong Xuebing's feelings were complicated!
The car was quiet for a while, and Xie Huilan suddenly laughed. "Xiao Dong, what hobbies do you have?"
Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. "Err … I can't say it's a hobby. I just like to shop at the antique market and watch antique collection programs." Dong Xuebing said something more elegant like playing computer games, watching movies, and chatting on QQ. He felt those hobbies were not suitable to be mentioned in public.
"Oh, what a coincidence. I also like to walk around Liu Li Chang when I am free."
"You also like to collect antiques?"
"Yes. I am just a passerby. I don't know much about antiques."
"You are too humble. I can tell you know about antiques from your looks."
"Are there words stuck on my forehead? How can you tell? " Hahaha … "Xie Huilan held the steering wheel elegantly and thought for a while. Suddenly, she slowed down." I had said I will buy some clothes for you as a thank you gift. Since you also like antiques, let's go to Liu Li Chang for a walk. This year, the Changdian Temple Fair's food street will be moved to Taoran Pavilion, and Liu Li Chang should be open as usual. Pick an antique you like, and I will buy it for you.
Ok? "Dong Xuebing quickly rejected." No need. Didn't you treat me to a meal earlier? "
"How can a meal be compared to a life?" Xie Huilan turned around and drove west. She did not give Dong Xuebing any chance to choose. "Listen to me, ok?"
Dong Xuebing had no choice but to agree. He smiled and nodded.
Two years ago, there would be a Changdian Temple Fair on Nanxinhua Street even before the Lunar New Year. Since then, it had become a pedestrian street. Buses and motorized vehicles had to make a detour. Of course, no one would care if you didn't make a detour, as long as you could walk. To put it bluntly, the Changdian Temple Fair was really crowded at that time. The distance between the people in front, behind, left, and right was not more than a palm's width. It was just that crowded. However, in the past two years, the snack street had moved to Taoran Pavilion Park, leaving only some book stalls. There weren't many people, and cars could drive in.
West Liulichang.
When the Audi stopped, Dong Xuebing, who had unbuckled his seatbelt, jumped out of the car and ran to the other side of the car to open the door for Xie Huilan. He even imitated Guo Panwei's "escort" and placed one hand on the car frame to help Xie Huilan alight.
Xie Huilan shook her head and smiled. "You …"
Over the past two days, Dong Xuebing noticed that Xie Huilan likes to smile. She likes to smile, smile, smile, sneer. She seems to be able to express all her emotions with a smile. She looks like a woman from ancient times, and every smile she gives off a different kind of charm.
After walking into an antique shop, Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing. "Is there anything you like?"
Dong Xuebing does not want Xie Huilan to spend any money on him. But if he does not let her give him anything, Xie Huilan will not agree. So, Dong Xuebing walked around the shop and stopped in front of a wooden shelf. He points to a sandalwood Grasshopper Gourd. He knew this should be the cheapest antique in the shop. The other porcelain, paintings, and even if they were fakes, they should be more expensive than this. "Sister Xie, this is not bad."
Xie Huilan laughed. "It's almost the season to rear Grasshopper Gourd. Can you get a better antique?"
Dong Xuebing smiled. "I like this."
"… Alright then." Xie Huilan asked the shop owner for the Grasshopper Gourd, and when she heard it was 2,000 RMB, she did not say anything else and took out her wallet to pay. After that, she passed the Grasshopper Gourd to Dong Xuebing. "Go and look at other antiques. This gift is too little."
"No need." Dong Xuebing took the Grasshopper Gourd. "This is great. Sister Xie, thank you."
Xie Huilan smiled and shook her head. "I knew you will not be able to pick anything. Sigh … let's go and look around for more antiques." Xie Huilan saw Dong Xuebing was about to say something, and she waved her hand. "I will not buy anything for you. Alright? I will look around myself, and you can give me some advice. "
Dong Xuebing replied. "Ok. But I am not as knowledgeable as you."
"Haha … stop flattering me. Let's go."
Many shops in West Liulichang are closed, and Xie Huilan did not see anything she likes after walking around for a while. After that, they went to East Liulichang. This shop is still fine, and Xie Huilan saw a Tian Huang Stone seal the moment she entered. But when she asked about the price, it is more than 1 million RMB. Xie Huilan shook her head. Of course, she will not buy it. It's not that she doesn't want to buy it, but she does not have that much money.
One hour later, Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing arrived at the junction of East and West Liulichang.
Xie Huilan looked at her watch. "Let's go. I will send you back."
"I don't dare to do that. You had gone to fetch me from your house … I will take a taxi back myself."
"How can I do that? Eh … …" Xie Huilan's eyes landed on a few stalls at the Temple Fair. There were a few stalls selling balloons and cotton candy. There was also a stall full of porcelain vases. Xie Huilan asked curiously. "Xiao Dong, accompany me to look at that stall." Dong Xuebing nodded. "Xiao Dong, accompany me to that stall."
"Ok. Ok." Dong Xuebing followed her.
The stall owner was a young man in his thirties. When he saw Xie Huilan, he was stunned. "What do you want to look at?"
Xie Huilan looked around and saw a small blue bowl. The bowl was embroidered with clouds and a golden dragon. Xie Huilan held the bowl in her hands and looked at the bottom of the bowl. The words "Made in the Qianlong Reign" were engraved on the bowl. It was made in the Official Kiln. Usually, when you see this type of porcelain in a stall, you will know it is a fake. This type of porcelain is rarely seen in auctions. How can you see it on the streets? But there are exceptions to everything. If not, there will not be so many stories.
The stall owner looked at Xie Huilan and said. "I had just bought this bowl from my hometown. It is made in the Official Kiln."
Xie Huilan played with the bowl for a while and turned to Dong Xuebing. "Xiao Dong, take a look at it. What do you think of it?"
Dong Xuebing recognized this bowl. It was called Qing Dynasty Qianlong Blue Bowl with Golden Dragon embroidery. Dong Xuebing knew this bowl was because two years ago, he had worked in an antique shop in Panjiayuan. That porcelain piece was real. Although it was not worth much, Dong Xuebing had studied it several times. Dong Xuebing was eager to show off to the Central Government's leaders. He took the bowl with both hands and looked at it carefully.
Hmmm … this bowl is similar to the porcelain piece he saw before. But it is also very different.
The color of this bowl is brighter, and the color of the porcelain is brighter. But the patterns on this bowl are similar to that porcelain piece. The golden dragon is very smooth and fresh.
Xie Huilan asked. "How is it?"
Dong Xuebing sweated. "Err … I think it has a slight smell, but also no smell. I am not sure."
Xie Huilan turned to the stall owner. "How much is this bowl?"
The stall owner replied. "50,000 RMB."
Xie Huilan shook her head and laughed. "If this is really an Official Ware, I believe you will not sell it for 50,000 RMB. Make it cheaper."
"This is really an old fart. My ancestors from Beijing … …"
Xie Huilan waved her hand and interrupted him. "Let's talk about the price and not the story. Ok?"
The stall owner smiled. "I had bought this bowl for 40,000 RMB, and I can't earn much from it. 50,000 RMB is not a small amount."
"Never mind."
If this bowl is real, it should be worth a few hundred thousand RMB, and Xie Huilan will be lucky to get it. If the other party is only selling it for a few hundred or a few thousand RMB, Xie Huilan will be willing to bet. But the other party is asking for 50,000 RMB. 50,000 RMB is not a small amount, and it is enough to buy a real porcelain. Furthermore, this bowl looks like a fake, and most collectors and experts will be suspicious of counterfeits. That's why Xie Huilan put the bowl back.
"Xiao Dong, let's go."
There are many ways to verify the authenticity of porcelain pieces. But no one in this world will smash the porcelain pieces before doing the verification. Even if it is real, what's the point? The porcelain is broken, and the value … …
Eh?!
Dong Xuebing was stunned when he thought of this!
Damn! How come no one in this world will use the crazy method of smashing porcelain pieces to verify the authenticity of porcelain pieces?
I can do it!!!
The woman had left, but the young man did not move. The stall owner said: "Young man, look at this bowl again. This is a genuine porcelain from the Official Kiln."
"Really?" Dong Xuebing picked up the bowl again. "Let me take a look."
The stall owner chuckled and said, "Go ahead, take a look."
Dong Xuebing nodded and raised his hand. Suddenly, he threw the bowl on the floor in front of the stall owner. Crack! The bowl broke into pieces.
"What are you doing?!" The stall owner was furious.
Xie Huilan, who was behind Dong Xuebing, was also stunned. "Xiao Dong! What do you mean? "
Dong Xuebing calmly replied: "I am looking at the tire."
The stall owner pointed at Dong Xuebing's nose and shouted: "Everyone here saw it! 50,000 RMB! Pay up! Pay up now! "
Dong Xuebing ignored the stall owner and the shocked onlookers. He bent over and picked up a broken piece of porcelain. He was careful not to let it stab his hand. After that, he touched the surface of the broken piece and observed the thickness of the glaze and the fineness of the porcelain.
After a while, Dong Xuebing was shocked. That's right! Everything was right!
The thickness of the porcelain was just right, and the tire was white and smooth. It was not those rough tires used in the modern era. Also, the texture of the tire was exactly the same as the porcelain piece he saw in the past!
It's real!
It's really made from the Official Kiln!
Damn! BACK！！
… …
Dong Xuebing had used his newly accumulated BACK today!
The scenes flashed! It was back to the time when Xie Huilan was discussing the price with the stall owner!
"This is really an old fart. My family's ancestor was from the capital … …"
"Let's talk about the price and not the story, ok?"
"I had bought it for 40,000 RMB. I can't earn much from this. 50,000 RMB is not a small amount."
"Never mind." Xie Huilan put down the bowl. "Xiao Dong, let's go."
Seeing Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan were not buying, the stall owner did not try to stop them. This bowl was bought from his family. But his family's ancestor was not from the capital. He was a garbage collector from the County town. Not long ago, he got this bowl from somewhere, and the stall owner felt it was a good replica. He bought it for 2,200 RMB. His hometown was the birthplace of counterfeiting, and there were many counterfeiting factories. That's why the stall owner did not think this bowl was real. He only wanted to sell it at 50,000 RMB.
"Sister Xie, wait a minute." Dong Xuebing called out to Xie Huilan.
"Huh?" Xie Huilan turned around.
Dong Xuebing whispered to her. "This bowl is real. Hurry up and buy it. It should not be a mistake."
Xie Huilan paused for a second and laughed. "Didn't you say you are not sure? I don't think this bowl is real. The color of the porcelain is too bright. "
"Sister Xie, just buy it. I dare not lie to you."
"Haha, Xiao Dong. 50,000 RMB is too expensive."
Dong Xuebing had wanted to do Xie Huilan a favor to ease the embarrassment caused by the stockings incident. But Xie Huilan did not listen to him. Dong Xuebing smiled bitterly. He knew Xie Huilan is an independent and strong-willed woman. Once she made a decision, she will stick to it. No one will change her mind. That's why Dong Xuebing did not try to persuade her. "If you don't want it, then I will go and buy it."
Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing. "You are so sure?"
"Very sure."
Xie Huilan did not say anything else and nodded.
Dong Xuebing believes in his judgment, unless the counterfeiter had perfectly copied the real thing. But this is almost impossible, as no one has the time to do so. He turned around and returned to the stall. He pointed at the Qing Qianlong blue bowl with a golden dragon pattern. "If you really want to sell it, I'll take it for 40,000. I can't give you any more than that. I don't have that much money on me."
The stall owner heard this and was overjoyed. "Ah … 40,000 RMB is too little. No … 50,000 RMB."
Dong Xuebing replied. "I said I don't have that much money. If you can't sell it, I will leave."
The stall owner quickly asked Dong Xuebing to stay. "45,000 RMB. How about 45,000 RMB?" The stall owner saw Dong Xuebing had turned around and said. "42,000 RMB! It cannot be any lower than that! "
Dong Xuebing hesitated for a while. "Alright. I will withdraw the money for you later."
The ICBC bank was just beside, and Dong Xuebing did not need to make an appointment for 40,000 RMB. He quickly returned with the money and the goods.
The stall owner counted the money happily and passed the bowl to Dong Xuebing. "Keep this at home. It will surely rise in value in a few years." Of course, the stall owner did not think this way. Most of the fake antiques from his hometown would be sold in bulk to Beijing. Why? The people in Beijing are easy to fool. Hehe … look at this kid. He thought he had gotten a good bargain. Why didn't he use his brain?
Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan left the stall with the small bowl.
"Xiao Dong, let's find a place to appraise this?" Xie Huilan laughed. "Haha … To be honest, I don't believe this is the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong era's Imperial Kiln. It only looks like it's real."
Dong Xuebing hesitated. "This …" He was afraid Xie Huilan would be embarrassed if this bowl was real. That's why he does not want to appraise it in front of the leaders.
But Xie Huilan did not give Dong Xuebing a chance to reject. "Let's go to Rong Bao Zhai. It is a big place and has good reputation, ok?"
Dong Xuebing smiled. "I will listen to you."
Rong Bao Zhai was not doing well. Maybe it was Lunar New Year, and there was no one in the lobby. Dong Xuebing looked around and saw a man who looks like an expert. He walked over and asked. "Do you all accept Qing Dynasty's Qianlong Blue Dragon Embroidered Bowl?" Xie Huilan was listening quietly.
That old man looked at Dong Xuebing. "I need to see it. Did you bring it?"
Dong Xuebing placed the small bowl on the table. In the jargon, porcelain is too soft to touch.
The little old man's beady eyes looked up and he was stunned for a moment. Then, he held the little bowl in his hand and flipped it over and over, tasting it. "Young lad, there's no hurry right? I need to look at it slowly. "
Dong Xuebing looked at Xie Huilan.
Xie Huilan smiled. "No hurry."
Dong Xuebing was afraid Xie Huilan was tired and moved a chair for her. "Have a seat. I will go and buy a bottle of water for you."
"No need." Xie Huilan sat down and laughed. "Move a chair and sit down. Don't stand there like a fool."
On the other side, the little old man took out a magnifying glass and other tools from behind and began to study it over and over again. After five minutes had passed, he took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. He then called a middle-aged man down from upstairs and the two of them continued to discuss and study it for another ten minutes.
Dong Xuebing can afford to wait, but the Central Government's leaders' time is precious. He asked. "Is it not done yet?"
The old man and the middle-aged man looked at each other, and the old man asked. "How much are you selling this for?"
Dong Xuebing thought for a while. "1 million."
The middle-aged man shook his head. "This price is too low. Even the auctions cannot afford it."
The old man looked at Dong Xuebing. "This item is not bad, and it is well preserved. But it is not worth 1 million. I can only give you 600,000 RMB."
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes and looked at Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing was overjoyed. Hahaha! I did not make a mistake! It's really an Official Kiln!
Dong Xuebing had asked for too much earlier, and he did not expect it to be sold for so much. Now, he had some confidence and started to bargain with them. In the end, it was 700,000 RMB. This time, Dong Xuebing did not want to use BACK to bid again. After all, the auctions do not allow the seller to bid against him. The last time he auctioned off the pearl necklace, Teacher Sun had used his identity card to register Dong Xuebing's name. After the auction, Teacher Sun had complained to Dong Xuebing. It will not be so easy next time, and Dong Xuebing might as well sell it now.
"Young man, how do you want to pay?"
"Cheque?"
"Sure. Wait for a while."
Dong Xuebing was in a good mood as he walked out of Rong Bao Zhai with the cheque. But when he remembered Xie Huilan was still around, he quickly changed his expression. "Sister Xie, let's split the money equally. If you did not discover that item, I will also not be able to get it." Dong Xuebing knew Xie Huilan will not accept the money.
Xie Huilan laughed. "Xiao Dong, I didn't expect you to be so capable. Huh? How many years have you been collecting antiques? "
"Sigh … I was just lucky. Actually, I am not as experienced as you."
"Haha, don't flatter me. You are willing to spend 40,000 RMB on that bowl, and you should know that it is authentic. I am not as good as you." Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing again and smiled. "If I am going to antique shops in the future, I will bring you along."
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. As long as you don't pursue the stockings, I will go wherever you want.
… …
At 4 pm, Dong Xuebing deposited the 700,000 RMB cheque into the bank. He was shocked by his total assets. 2 million RMB! 2 million RMB!
Dong Xuebing wiped his sweat and immediately called Qu Yunxuan. "Aunt Xuan, I had gotten another porcelain item."
Qu Yunxuan was stunned: "Huh? You got another antique item? How come you are always good at it? "
Dong Xuebing replied: "Hehe, I had earned 700,000 RMB this time. We have 2 million RMB now."
Qu Yunxuan: "… …"
"I thought for a while, and I don't want to keep so much money in my account. What if someone checks … Hmmm … I think it's better for you to keep the money. I will transfer the money to your account later, and it will be the same in the future. I will keep my earnings with you, and you can set up whatever company you want. Let's earn as much as we can, alright?" Dong Xuebing was speechless after saying the last sentence. Why did he pick up Xie Huilan's tone?
"You really made 700,000 RMB?"
"Haha … … You will know when you check your bank account later."
"Idiot! You are really something! I will celebrate with you when I go back tomorrow! "
"Huh? We still need to celebrate at the cinema?"
"Go to hell!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
