As Chen Ke entered the room, he said, "It's such a pleasant surprise to meet you here," and extended his hand to Lauters with great enthusiasm.
Lauters felt he had no recollection of the person in front of him, but the other person not only called him by name but also acted as if they were very familiar with each other, which made him a little confused. So he subconsciously reached out his hand as well.
Chen Ke gripped it tightly without any hesitation.
"Ah!!!" Lautes immediately let out a scream.
"What's wrong, Mr. Lauters?" Chen Ke asked with concern and urgency, but his right hand showed no sign of loosening its grip.
"Aww, hands, hands!!" Lautes used his left hand to pry Chen Ke's right hand, but the hand was like an iron claw and wouldn't budge.
Chen Ke: "Ah, what hand? Mr. Lauters, what's wrong with you?" He asked while also grabbing Lauters' left hand with his other hand.
"Aaaaaaah! Let go! Let go! It hurts!"
It wasn't until Lauters pulled his hand back with all his might that Chen Ke suddenly realized what was happening and abruptly let go.
With a thud, Lauters fell to the ground with a thud, letting out a pained scream as his face contorted in agony.
"Mr. Lauters!"
"Mr. Lauters!"
Chen Ke and Manager Li spoke up anxiously at the same time, but their feet seemed to be rooted to the ground, and they didn't move.
"Ouch... Ouch..." Lautes groaned in pain.
Seeing this, Manager Li could no longer stand idly by, so he had no choice but to step forward and help Lauters up.
Chen Ke was extremely anxious.
"Mr. Lauters, are you alright? Look at me, I got so excited that I didn't know my own strength when I shook your hand. Did I hurt your hand?"
Can a grown man admit that his hand was hurt by another man who looks weaker than him?
Lauters was helped up by Manager Li. His hands were trembling with pain, but even though his face was as black as the bottom of a pot, he said, "No, I don't feel anything."
Chen Ke: "...That's good, that's good."
"You are...?" Lautes put his hands behind his back, enduring the pain in his hands and buttocks, and looked Chen Ke up and down. He searched his memory but couldn't remember ever seeing this person before.
Seeing this, Chen Ke very familiarly pulled Lauters to sit at the table. "Mr. Lauters, you really have a bad memory. We drank together at Deputy Commander Bai's party back then. Don't you recognize me now?"
"Deputy Commander Bai?" Lauters searched his memory again, but he had attended too many parties and banquets in Shanghai, and had met countless people even once, so he really didn't have any recollection.
However, the fact that he was able to attend Deputy Commander Bai's party suggests that he must have some kind of background or status.
Lauters then feigned sudden realization, "Oh, so that's what it is..."
"Chen Ke." Chen Ke handed over his name at the opportune moment.
Lauters seamlessly continued, "...Mr. Chen, oh, right, I did meet Mr. Chen once before. I didn't expect Mr. Chen to have such a good memory."
"My memory is average, but I remember people who are handsome and capable very clearly."
Hearing the compliment from another man who was also quite good-looking, Lauters was in an even better mood and happily patted Chen Ke on the shoulder.
Chen Ke avoided the question by pretending to pour water without leaving any trace, and Lauters didn't pay any attention, casually asking, "Mr. Chen, what are you planning to do?"
Lauters thought it was just a business matter, but he didn't expect Chen Ke to immediately act mysteriously and even have Manager Li close the door.
"What's wrong, Mr. Chen?"
Chen Ke looked around in a mock-sounding manner before lowering his voice and saying, "Mr. Lauters, do you remember what I do?"
Lauters: "...I don't remember."
Chen Ke: "Oh dear, look at your memory! Didn't I tell you before that I'm in the antique business? I even own thirteen antique shops in Beiping!"
Lauters gasped in surprise. Thirteen antique shops in Beiping? This man's antique business was indeed booming; he had the means to attend Deputy Commander Bai's party.
Ignoring Lauters' reaction, Chen Ke said in an even lower voice, "Actually, when I went to Shanghai last time, I was planning to open an antique shop there. But you know how it is in Shanghai, you can't catch the eye of those young masters and ladies without some really good stuff. So this time I made a special trip to Shaanxi."
Lauters looked at Chen Ke with a puzzled expression.
Chen Ke cursed the foreigner inwardly for being uncultured, saying that he hadn't understood even after he had said all that. So he could only continue, "I found quite a few good things."
Lauters finally realized what was happening, and his eyes lit up immediately.
Chen Ke: "Do you know about the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' scroll?"
Lauters nodded frantically, looking astonished.
Chen Ke: "It's with me."
Lauters: "!!!"
Chen Ke: "Do you know Emperor Huizong of Song?"
Lauters: "Was he an emperor?"
Chen Ke: "Yes, I have his calligraphy manuscripts."
Lauters' eyes widened.
"There are also countless exquisite Song Dynasty porcelain pieces. You know, Song Dynasty porcelain was all the rage when it was shipped abroad, and now it's become an antique, its value..."
Chen Ke raised an eyebrow, then stopped speaking halfway through his sentence, leaving Lauters free to imagine.
Lauters was so shocked that his mouth dropped open.
Chen Ke was very satisfied; it seemed his imagination had worked.
"May I broaden my horizons?" Lautes had to admit that although this country now appeared weak and vulnerable, its thousands of years of cultural heritage were incomparable to that of their own country. They had many exquisite and priceless treasures passed down to them.
The fish took the bait, but Chen Ke was in no hurry to reel it in; instead, he hesitated.
Lauters's earlier doubts vanished considerably upon seeing Chen Ke's reaction. "What? Mr. Chen, you still don't trust me?"
Chen Ke quickly waved his hand, "Of course not. Mr. Lauters is a prominent figure in Shanghai. How could I not believe you? It's just that I'm traveling alone now, so I certainly can't bring all my belongings with me."
"What did Boss Chen bring?"
Chen Ke stood up as if he had made a big decision. "Alright then, Mr. Lauters, please wait a moment, I'll go get it right away."
A short while later, Chen Ke came over carrying his small leather suitcase.
"Please have Manager Li prop up the table. These are all extremely precious and fragile porcelain pieces, so we must be careful."
Manager Li found a piece of cloth and laid it out.
Chen Ke carefully opened the leather suitcase and solemnly took out the first piece of porcelain.
"This is a white porcelain plate with lotus petal design and copper clasp. Look at the shape and the glaze, it's a masterpiece!" Chen Ke gave a thumbs up.
Lauters didn't understand, but he thought it was impressive.
He nodded in agreement, "It's definitely a masterpiece!"
Chen Ke: "You have a good eye. Let's look at this one next..."
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