Seeing Ning Zhiheng's gaze sweep over him, the old man finally mustered his courage, stood up, and walked towards Ning Zhiheng.
Yamada Nobuyuki and Kimura Maki also turned their attention to the old man, who stopped a few meters away from Ning Zhiheng.
He stammered twice, leaned forward, held the floral cloth bundle in front of him, and finally mustered his courage to say in a trembling voice, "Sir, I have a very good item here. I wonder if you would be interested?"
Seeing that the old man stopped in time and kept his distance, Ning Zhiheng realized that the man was quite sensible and had no ill intentions. He smiled and nodded in agreement, saying, "Sir, if you really have something good, please feel free to take it out. I will definitely give you a good price."
The old man hurriedly nodded and said, "Then please take a look. This is my family heirloom. I would never have taken it out unless I had a real problem!"
After he finished speaking, he placed the floral cloth bundle on a stone platform to the side and slowly unwrapped it. At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on him, including the nearby stall owners and some customers browsing the antique market.
Yamada Nobuyuki, Kimura Maki, and others stepped forward, subtly shielding Ning Zhiheng behind them.
The middle-aged man revealed a sandalwood box from the package, and after unwrapping a thick layer of fine cotton, a flawless white jade Guanyin statue was displayed before everyone.
Everyone's eyes lit up immediately. Ning Zhiheng quickly stepped forward. He didn't reach out to take it, but instead gestured for the old man to remove his hand.
The old man gestured for Ning Zhiheng to proceed, then stepped back to make way for him.
Ning Zhiheng slowly bent down, brought his eyes close to the white jade Guanyin, and carefully observed the jade quality to determine its authenticity.
This white jade Guanyin statue is about 16 centimeters tall. Its shape is no different from ordinary Guanyin statues. It has a single finger mudra, holding a white jade vase and a willow branch, and its face is kind and solemn.
However, ordinary jade Guanyin statues are definitely not this large in size; such a large piece of jade is extremely rare.
After observing it for a long time, he carefully took out the white jade Guanyin from the sandalwood box, raised his arm, and examined it closely in the sunlight.
At this moment, some customers and stall owners nearby were also attracted by the white jade Guanyin statue and moved closer. Kimura Maki quickly waved his hand, and several bodyguards and agents separated the others.
Ning Zhiheng carefully observed for a long time and finally confirmed that the white jade Guanyin was made of warm and delicate jade, a rare and superior type of warm jade. The carving technique was also superb, and the shape was lifelike and vivid.
"Excellent, very good! The sound of the jade is clear and melodious, and the jade quality is pure!" Ning Zhiheng couldn't help but nod in praise.
This white jade Guanyin statue is a rare masterpiece in terms of craftsmanship, jade quality, and size. In terms of carving style, it is at least a work from the early Ming Dynasty.
After a long while, Ning Zhiheng turned to the old man and asked softly, "Sir, I am very satisfied with this white jade Guanyin statue. May I ask how much it costs?"
Seeing that Ning Zhiheng was so fond of the white jade Guanyin, the old man was relieved. He cautiously stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Sir, may I have a word with you in private?"
Seeing the old man's expression, which suggested he was afraid of flaunting his wealth, Ning Zhiheng nodded and said, "That's how it should be."
After saying this, Ning Zhiheng carefully placed the white jade Guanyin into the sandalwood box. The old man stepped forward, put the sandalwood box away, held it in his arms, and followed Ning Zhiheng out of the antique market.
The other customers and stall owners all secretly lamented the loss; such a fine item, only to be seen from afar. They whispered among themselves and discussed it privately.
Ning Zhiheng led the old man to a nearby pavilion. Kimura Maki and his men went forward and chased away the bystanders in the pavilion. Ning Zhiheng sat on a stone bench and gestured for the old man to sit opposite him.
The old man bowed and thanked him, then sat down opposite Ning Zhiheng. He glanced nervously at the many bodyguards around Ning Zhiheng, fearing that they might have malicious intentions and try to steal the treasure in his arms.
Ning Zhiheng couldn't help but find it amusing. The thin old man opposite him, although he appeared cautious and his eyes were darting around, walked with an upright posture and steady steps. There was not a trace of nervousness in his body language. Ning Zhiheng was certain that the other party was not as anxious and uneasy as he appeared.
More importantly, he finally remembered who this old man was!
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