Chapter 161: Money is enough to pay, but life is not

In 1982, there was no antique market in Panjiayuan. There were just a few second-hand goods dealers who spontaneously formed a buying and selling bazaar here.

There were more than one market like this in the capital city, each with its own characteristics, and it was only later that most of them gathered here.

Because Panjiayuan was formerly called "Panjiayao", there are many large mounds and puddles of earth caused by digging soil from brick kilns.

Many people, following the principle of "the higher you stand, the farther you can see", set up stalls around a large mound of earth and stand on top of it to keep watch. In case plainclothes officers with red armbands come, they can just run away.

So some people also call this place Jinsong Tupoer.

Since they were ready to run away at any time, there were not many big items in Panjiayuan at the moment, mainly snuff bottles, porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, and small wooden items.

So it is not easy to find a rosewood table and two sandalwood chairs for ten dollars here.

Guan Dasheng rode his bicycle at full speed and arrived at Panjiayuan covered in sweat, then found the stall according to the location that Lao Song had indicated.

The stall owner was a young man in his twenties. He looked at everyone like a thief, and his caution yet a hint of shrewdness revealed itself in his expression.

On his stall, there was a set of colorful flower and bird pots.

Guan Dasheng had learned a lot from his father and knew a little about antiques, so he first picked out some at several stalls nearby, and then seemingly casually strolled over to the young man's stall.

He picked up a tea bowl, squinted his eyes and looked at it carefully, and asked casually: "How much is this set of Ming-style flower and bird pots?"

The stall owner glanced at Guan Dasheng and said indifferently: "I don't have any imitation Ming teapots here, only a set of Ming official kiln teapots. If you want to find imitations, please go somewhere else."

"A pot from the Ming Dynasty official kiln? Oh my, then your ancestors must have been of the third rank."

Guan Dasheng sneered, but he picked up the tea bowl and teapot in his hands and looked at them carefully, and he was becoming more and more surprised.

This set of teapots is very similar to the one he has at home. There are some differences in the details, but if he was not particularly familiar with his own set of teapots, he would not be able to tell the difference.

And this is also in line with the "unique" characteristics of handicrafts.

Handicrafts will not be exactly the same; only industrial products are exactly the same.

The young stall owner looked at Guan Dasheng who was trying to act like a "tough guy" and was too lazy to talk nonsense with him. He just waved his hand and said, "One thousand yuan, no bargaining. If you think it's too expensive, go look somewhere else!"

"Humph, if it's really a colorful flower and bird pot from the Ming Dynasty official kiln, then a thousand yuan is really worth it. But what if it's fake? Then aren't you harming people?"

The young stall owner snatched the tea bowl from Guan Dasheng and said impatiently, "If you want to buy fake ones, go to the stall on the west side. Don't come here to cause trouble."

“Hahaha~,”

The stall owner next to him smiled and explained to Guan Dasheng, "No need to go west, come and take a look at this, authentic Tang Sancai, 80 yuan a pair, and I'll give you a Huanghuali box as a gift."

"Who are you trying to fool with that rosewood box of yours?"

Guan Dasheng left the stall cursing and walked around.

He found that there were only a few items in the entire market that were worth thousands of yuan. Most of them were priced at a hundred or eighty yuan, with a few hundred yuan at most. Even a few items that were obviously unearthed were only priced at one or two thousand yuan.

Could it be that the set of Ming Dynasty official kiln teapots in his house is really not worth that much money?

[No, this is a business, this is an opportunity. ]

Guan Dasheng suddenly had an idea, and the idea of ​​"speculating" immediately came to his mind.

The same item can be sold for several times the price if it meets someone who truly likes it.

[But where does the money come from? ]

Guan Dasheng rode his bike all the way home. It was already past dinner time and the leftovers in his mouth had no taste at all.

【I will eat Donglaishun every day from now on. 】

Guan Dasheng tossed and turned all night, and as expected, he woke up late again the next morning.

Just take another day off and sleep until noon.

In the afternoon, just as my mother, who couldn't bear it any longer, was about to curse, a guest came to the door.

It was still the same man who bowed to everyone he met, and who, according to my dad, was most likely a Chrysanthemum Man. However, this time he was accompanied by the young man who had been here once before.

"Eight thousand yuan, this is the final price, and this is also the last chance I will give you."

Inoue Koji's face was gloomy, and his deep voice was filled with resentment and anger.

Uncle Guan Er said nonchalantly, "Sir, antiques are sold according to market conditions.

Last year, this set of teapots might not even be worth 800, let alone 8,000 yuan, but next year, 20,000 yuan might be considered cheap.”

Koji Inoue was about to speak again, but Naoto Nakamura next to him suddenly stood up, turned around and walked out.

Inoue Koji was suddenly panicked and picked up his bag to leave.

"Eight thousand dollars, deal!"

The decision suddenly announced by Uncle Guan Er made Guan Dasheng, who was listening, unable to believe his ears.

Why did my dad suddenly become cowardly? Didn’t he say a few days ago that the most important thing in the antique business is to keep calm, not be impatient, and be as still as a mountain?

Naoto Nakamura, who had just walked out the door, smiled contemptuously.

Koji Inoue did not bring enough cash, so he just paid a deposit in advance, and both parties agreed to settle the payment and delivery tomorrow.

After the two men left, Guan Dasheng asked his father impatiently: "Dad, why did you agree to eight thousand yuan? This thing of ours is worth ten or twenty thousand!"

But Uncle Guan Er said, "Whether it's worth it or not depends on who has the final say. Look at the people present today, who has the final say?"

Guan Dasheng said, "Of course you have the final say, Dad! If you don't sell it, can they still snatch it away?"

"I don't have the final say," Uncle Guan Er smiled and said, "It's that young man who has the final say! If they leave today, they won't come back."

Guan Dasheng was surprised and said, "Then you said 20,000 that day."

Uncle Guan Er waved his hand and said, "This set of pots is not worth 20,000 now."

“.”

Koji Inoue opened the car door first, helped Naoto Nakamura get in, and then he got in last.

"Nakamura-kun, your method is still effective. These people are too cunning."

"Inoue, if you do business with the China people, you must be decisive and have the courage and confidence to fight with bayonets."

"Hey, I'll try my best."

Inoue Koji nodded to accept the advice, but he was cursing in his heart - you are the boss, of course you can give up at any time. If I give up, won't you fire me?

Naoto Nakamura glanced at Koji Inoue and said softly, "Are you thinking that the price I gave them was too high?"

Inoue Koji quickly shook his head: "No, if I were to negotiate on my own, I would probably pay more."

Naoto Nakamura smiled coldly, and then said: "Money is the catalyst of greed. They got 8,000 today, and they want 80,000 the day after tomorrow.

Today they sell us a set of china, and the day after tomorrow they may be able to produce what we were hoping to find.”

“.”

Koji Inoue looked at Naoto Nakamura in surprise, and for the first time he thought, "This turtle looks a bit like his grandfather."

. . . . . .

After receiving the deposit, Uncle Guan Er went out to buy things with his nephew Guan Dacheng.

My eldest brother's family has lived a hard life these years. Now that they are rich, we should buy them some things, at least a three-wheeled instrument and a bell, right?

Guan Dasheng felt so heartbroken when he watched his father go out with the money.

The gap between 20,000 and 8,000 was huge, and now he has to give 4,000 to others. Who can bear this kind of heartache?

"Eight thousand. If I had known it would be eight thousand, why didn't I sell it to that idiot? idiot."

Guan Dasheng suddenly came up with an idea, and he couldn't stop thinking about it.

He hurried back to his room and found a crumpled note.

"If it works out, it'll be 15,000. If it doesn't, it's still 8,000. It's worth the risk."

. . . . .

After receiving the news, Wei Jiaxian hurried to a hotel in the west of the city.

This is the contact address he left for Guan Dasheng. It can also be regarded as a fishing rod, and those who are willing will take the bait.

"Eight thousand yuan, not a cent less."

"Okay, but will your family agree to sell it to me?"

"Why are you so hesitant? Come with me and I'll give you the money and the goods."

Wei Jiaxian looked at Guan Dasheng with a flickering look in his eyes and shook his head, saying, "Then I can't go to your house to trade. You have to bring the things to me. We can settle the money and goods, and no one can hold us accountable in the future."

"You wait then."

Guan Dasheng rode his bike home in a hurry, and while his parents were not at home, he stole the set of colorful flower and bird pots and gave them to Wei Jiaxian.

This time, Wei Jiaxian didn't hesitate and gave Guan Dasheng all the 8,000 yuan.

After Guan Dasheng left, Old Song quietly showed up.

"Uncle Song, are the Guan family the ones we are looking for?"

"We'll have to wait and see what the outcome will be. Although Hua Erhan has the ability to make the fake look real, fake is fake and can never be real. One day, experts will see through it.

According to the rules, the Guan family will have to compensate the other person with a really good thing. If he can compensate, it is very likely that he is the person we are looking for. If he cannot compensate, then we have found the wrong person."

Seeing Wei Jiaxian remained silent, Old Song comforted him, "Don't worry. The capital is so big, there are many people with the surname Gua. We have only been in the capital for a few months. If we look for him slowly, we will find him eventually."

Wei Jiaxian was silent for a few seconds, then said, "If this Guan family is not the one we are looking for, isn't it unfair for us to do this?"

"What's wrong with this?" Old Song said with a smile, "Buying and selling antiques depends on your eyesight. If those Japanese people made a mistake, it's because they don't have the skills.

If the Guan family is discovered, it is their own fault. Who can they blame?"

Wei Jiaxian pondered for a long time, finally let out a breath, and nodded silently.

But he thought of something else and said, "But we spent 8,000 yuan, isn't it a bit high? Will Li Ye be unhappy?"

"Tsk~, haven't you figured it out yet? Li Ye's thoughts are not much different from ours, otherwise I wouldn't be willing to work for him!"

Old Song chuckled and said, "Besides, we found him two good things these past two days. He won't care about the money."

Wei Jiaxian finally smiled and nodded, "Those are indeed two good things."

. . . . .

Guan Dasheng took 8,000 yuan, rode his bicycle and rushed to Panjiayuan. At this moment, his heart was burning with excitement and anxiety.

When he arrived at the place and saw the stall owner from yesterday and the same set of Ming Dynasty colorful flower and bird pots on the stall, he felt relieved.

"Brother, this pot of yours is quite interesting. Sell it to me for 680 yuan!"

"Three thousand yuan, not a cent less."

“.”

Guan Dasheng was stunned for ten seconds, then he jumped up and glared at me, cursing, "You're playing tricks on me, aren't you? Yesterday you said one thousand, and today I brought the money and you raised it to three thousand? Do you believe I will overturn your stall?"

The young stall owner brushed off his clothes, revealing the hilt of the knife at his waist.

"Go ahead, as long as you have money to pay for it. If you don't have money, you can pay with your life."

“.”

. . . . .

The next morning, Guan Dasheng was anxious, but he watched Inoue Koji pack up the set of teapots worth three thousand dollars as if they were treasures, and his heart finally settled down.

Of course, he is not one to suffer a loss for nothing. Today he plans to go out and find some veterans, spend a few hundred dollars, and take care of that guy.

If you dare to play tricks on the men in Beijing, just prepare to die!

But after Inoue Koji left, Uncle Guan Er smiled and asked his son: "Dasheng, where did you get this set of things?"

Guan Dasheng was so frightened that his face turned pale.

"Dad, did you see that?"

"How can I not recognize the things in my own house? But it's hard to tell whether that set of things is real or fake."

"Then why didn't you say that just now?"

"The buyer didn't see it? Why should I tell you? Didn't I tell you the rules of this business?"

Guan Dasheng hid in the corner before he realized that his father had no intention of hitting him.

But the next moment, Guan Dasheng felt that it would be better to be beaten by himself!

Guan Ciying said to him kindly, "How much did you sell it for? Hand it over, and I promise not to beat you!"

(End of this chapter)