Chapter 94

Manager Wang Zhouheng spoke calmly but with a hint of caution. "If there's nothing else to say, I suggest you don't say these irrelevant things. The boss doesn't like chatter that's just for the sake of building a closer relationship."

"Yes, yes," Manager Wang nodded hesitantly. He was still trying to find other topics. "The main reason is that when I saw you, I felt that you looked very similar to our boss. You both studied abroad, and your artistic temperaments are also very similar. So when I saw you, I couldn't help but want to communicate more."

His words actually made Yang Ye more interested. Although there was still no special expression on his face, the look he cast on Manager Wang was not as sharp as before.

Yang Ye was curious, "Did your boss also study abroad?"

"Yes," Manager Wang nodded, his voice light and cheerful, as if the atmosphere had eased a lot because of her question. "He studied art history in Cambridge, England."

Zhou Yiheng followed up on this topic, asking in a casual tone, "From art history to opening Jinshizhai, the gap between the two is quite large."

Seeing that the topic had been changed and Yang Ye's interest had been successfully aroused, Manager Wang breathed a sigh of relief and began to talk more. "Yes, our President Fu was once a well-known young connoisseur in the UK, but he gave up his generous treatment there and returned to China to start a business. He also wanted to promote artistic exchange between the East and the West."

Yang Ye glanced sideways and saw the white porcelain teacup beside her. Seeing the expired tea leaves constantly sinking and floating in the cup, she said calmly, "It sounds like your boss is a man with ideas. However, ideals are ideals, and business is business. No matter how good the ideals are, they can't all be applied to business."

She said this casually, but the smile on Manager Wang's face suddenly paused. He turned to look at Yang Ye and suddenly realized that the woman sitting opposite him was not the kind of rich second-generation who had studied abroad, knew nothing, and only knew how to spend her family's money. Every word she said was tentative.

Manager Wang quickly suppressed his enthusiasm, and when he spoke again, his tone was obviously a bit cautious. He considered, "Professionalism is certainly necessary, but when opening a store and doing business, you need to consider other aspects besides professionalism. Mr. Fu often tells us to apply what we have learned, so our company recruits only the top talents in the industry. If you plan to sell, our business channels, buyer qualifications, and storage will satisfy you."

Zhou Yiheng nodded, steering the conversation in a more practical direction. "Indeed, especially when it comes to businesses like the repatriation of overseas goods or the export of genuine domestic goods, without reliable channels, ordinary people really can't take it over."

Yang Ye said: "The connections Mr. Fu has accumulated abroad should be of great help."

Manager Wang's face showed a hint of embarrassment at the right moment, and he carefully composed his words. "Our main relationships are in the academic field and the circle of top collectors. Our core business is still identification and evaluation. Selling is just a temporary measure. As for the export business you mentioned, we are not involved in it yet."

Yang Ye tapped the armrest of the chair lightly with her fingers and suddenly chuckled, a hint of sarcasm hidden in her laughter. She looked up at Manager Wang with a sharp gaze, "If things just keep turning around in the same pool and don't go out, then there is no way to reflect their true value."

She sat, leaning slightly forward, an invisible sense of oppression emanating from her body. "You've been in this business for many years, right? You should know that the same item, as long as it can legally and smoothly enter the mainstream international auction market and face global buyers, the price will not be as simple as doubling or tripling."

Manager Wang was shocked by Yang Ye's straightforward and to-the-point words. He hurriedly explained, and at the same time wanted to test the boss Yang in front of him to see what she was planning.

"Boss Yang," Manager Wang said, swallowing his saliva, "of course we understand what you're talking about. The international market does have pricing advantages over the domestic market, but shipping overseas carries risks and costs, and the value and legality requirements for the items themselves are also very high. It's probably out of reach for ordinary collectors."

He paused, carefully observing Yang Ye's reaction. "From what I heard from Boss Yang, you seem to be familiar with the operating rules of the international market. Could it be that you have any high-quality products that are particularly suitable for international markets?"

Yang Ye chuckled and adjusted her posture slightly in the chair, returning to her lazy and relaxed state. Her whole body exuded a boneless laziness, as if those impactful words she had just said were just a joke she had thought of by chance.

Yang Ye gently adjusted his shawl and said calmly, "Whether it's a fine product, worthy of going international, depends on your appraisal results, and whether you can show me your own abilities. I have more than one useless thing like this that takes up space. If I can't even see its basic value, then..."

Yang Ye spread his hands and stopped talking.

Her words were both defensive and defensive. She accepted Manager Wang's temptation, but also explained that she did have some solid goods in her hands, and that all she wanted was the international market. She didn't care about anything domestically. At the same time, she put pressure on Manager Wang and asked him if he had the ability to handle it.

Yang Ye didn't look at him. He turned around and asked Xiao Xiao beside him, "How long will it take?"

Xiao Xiao lowered her head and glanced at the time on her wrist. "It's almost forty minutes."

"Forty minutes..." Yang Ye repeated the number again, then turned to look at Manager Wang. His eyes were cold and filled with obvious dissatisfaction, which made his chest feel stuffy and he felt as if he was missing a breath. "Manager Wang, you just said that it would only take thirty minutes to get the results, but it's already been forty minutes. With such efficiency, I find it hard to believe in the professionalism of your organization."

Manager Wang's heart skipped a beat. He touched his forehead with the back of his hand, wiping away the cold sweat that threatened to break out. He hurriedly forced an apologetic smile and explained, "Boss Yang, this identification requires careful consideration. Teacher Wu will surely want to take a closer look to ensure everything is safe. Please wait a moment while I go take a look."

Before he could finish his words, the door of the lounge was knocked from outside and then pushed open.

Wu Yu came in from outside, holding the brief report that had just been printed out with the temperature on it, and his face was full of excitement.

"Manager Wang, the preliminary appraisal results are out." Wu Yu handed the report to Manager Wang. At the same time, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Yang Ye who was sitting opposite him. His eyes were more serious and scrutinizing than before.

Manager Wang quickly took the report, his eyes quickly scanning the key data and conclusions on it, and he had a rough idea in his mind. He smiled again and handed the report to Yang Ye, "Boss Yang, I guarantee that this result is absolutely accurate."

Yang Ye did not extend his hand, but just signaled Zhou Yiheng beside him with his eyes. Zhou Yiheng took the report and read it quickly and carefully.

Manager Wang took the opportunity to ask, "Boss Yang, these preliminary appraisal results are very promising. What do you think about the next step?"

After reading it, Zhou Yiheng whispered a few words in Yang Ye's ear.

There was still no expression on Yang Ye's face, as if she had expected this result. She stood up, her off-white shawl falling slightly as she stood up, and her posture was graceful.

"Since the results are okay," Yang Ye said, his expression unremarkable. "Then hurry up and do the follow-up work. Detailed reports, market analysis, and what I want to know most is a feasible plan with the greatest practical value. I hope to see all of this as soon as possible."

Manager Wang immediately responded, "Understood, Boss Yang, don't worry, we will arrange the follow-up inspection work immediately."

"Yeah," Yang Ye nodded, his attitude also changed a little, "By the way, if there is a suitable buyer, remember to contact me."

Manager Wang nodded repeatedly, "You can rest assured, we will contact you as soon as possible."

After exiting the Jinshizhai gate, the three of them climbed directly into the black commercial vehicle waiting outside. The vehicle circled several nearby streets, confirming there were no other vehicles following behind. Zhou Yiheng then instructed the driver to follow the navigation system's directions back to the grocery store.

As soon as she arrived at the grocery store and the door closed, Xiao Xiao felt as if all her strength had been drained away. Her calves were cramping and weak, and she almost fell beside the sofa. She could barely reach the armrest of the sofa, staggered two steps, and then fell heavily back onto the soft sofa. She let out a long sigh, her chest heaving slightly, and her face still showing the tension.

"Oh my God," she whispered, her fingers subconsciously grabbing the edge of the sofa fabric, still feeling uneasy.

Zhou Yiheng appeared much calmer than she, silently walking to his usual office chair and sitting down. However, his tightly pursed lips and heavy breathing betrayed his inner panic. Just now at Jinshizhai, every word felt like walking a tightrope; every mistake in expression could ruin everything.

Only Yang Ye was there. She calmly walked to the kitchen and poured out three glasses of water. She placed one on the coffee table in front of Xiao Xiao, gave another to Zhou Yiheng, and finally took her turn. She leaned against Zhou Yiheng's desk and took a few slow sips.

The grocery store was so quiet that the only sounds were the breathing of the two people and the ticking of the old-fashioned clock on the wall.

Xiao Xiao finished the water in her cup and said from the sofa, "Boss, do you think they will believe me? I'm worried about Manager Wang and Mr. Wu, the appraisal expert. Will they figure it out?"

Zhou Yihengye raised his head and looked at Yang Ye. Although he didn't say anything, there was also a questioning look in his eyes.

Yang Ye put down the empty glass of water, and the bottom of the glass made a clattering sound against the wooden tabletop. She glanced at Zhou Yiheng, who was still nervous. There was no trace of doubt on her face, but instead a kind of confidence that she was sure to win.

"They will believe it," Yang Ye said firmly, "It's not about how good our words are, but they need to believe it."

"Think about Manager Wang's reaction. When he heard us talk about the international market and how the price could multiply, there was no doubt or surprise in his eyes, only endless greed and desire. In the three months since Jinshizhai opened, they probably haven't even learned the ropes of the international market or the resources of even slightly reputable collectors. Their words are full of flaws. What they need now is a way to break through or connect them to the international market."

Yang Ye paused, then continued, "What we can give them is not just a collection, but a springboard for them to enter a higher circle. Even if they doubt our identity now, as long as the item we took today is authenticated by them, they will automatically find a reasonable explanation for all our actions."

"So," Yang Ye concluded with a smile, "this isn't a matter of belief or disbelief. They absolutely have to believe it. They want this deal to succeed more than we do. All we have to do now is hold steady and wait for them to come to us."