I was unfamiliar with Henan, and with Song Laosan being detained by Ma Quezi, I had no choice but to ally with Qinghuai.
When he asked about Ma Quezi, I didn't deny it: "Ma Quezi has already agreed to cooperate with me. As long as I can get the goods out, I can win him over and make him turn against Su Gouzi."
Upon hearing this answer, Qinghuai's gaze hardened: "How many antique-style replicas do you need?"
I held up two fingers.
Qinghuai raised an eyebrow: "Twenty pieces?"
I shook my head: "Two hundred pieces!"
"Brother, are you fucking crazy? Do you think counterfeiting antiques is a wholesale market? Do you know how many genuine bronze artifacts are produced nationwide each year that are good enough to fool the eye? Even if bronze artifacts are one of the three major areas of counterfeiting, we still wouldn't ask for such an outrageous price, would we?"
Having worked as a hauler, Qing Huai had some understanding of the industry: "We're not in the counterfeit business, so we can't get in touch with the source at all. And these high-quality replicas you mentioned, we have to buy them at market price! The Qing family simply can't afford such a large investment right now."
I compromised: "Then it's one hundred pieces, no less. If I want Ma Quezi to defect, I have to feed him all at once. The reason I need two hundred pieces is because I estimate that he gets about that many pieces from Su Gouzi every year. As the old saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. Since the Qing family wants a bite out of this fat meat, they can't just let us brothers take the risk, can they?"
Looking at my battered and bruised body, Qing Huai pondered for a moment with a helpless expression: "The Qing family has dealt in counterfeit goods before, but at most only three or five pieces. This time you want hundreds of pieces, I... never mind, I'll do my best."
"This is a grand strategy; without sufficient resources, we cannot win."
I corrected him, saying, "What I want is not for you to do your best, but for your words to be law. We are in a cooperative relationship. We have already taken risks to pave the way. Whether this carriage can get on the road next depends entirely on the Qing family's efforts."
Qinghuai slammed on the gas pedal, using the soaring speed to express his emotions: "Holy crap, I've figured it out! Our collaboration with you guys is all about creating a thrilling battlefield!"
...
Although I have reached a cooperation agreement with Qinghuai, the attack I suffered at the Qin Master's Tomb still haunts me.
After parting ways with Qinghuai that night, I didn't stay at the hotel he took me to. Instead, I left through the back door and went to an inconspicuous little hotel near the train station. I used iodine and bandages that I bought at the pharmacy to treat my wounds.
Pain is something that can bring clarity, but it can also be frustrating.
The excruciating pain from the wound made me break out in a cold sweat.
In my search for Duan Jinyan's whereabouts, I've become increasingly entangled in this circle.
Grave robbing, forgery, setting traps... they are becoming increasingly adept at various methods.
Looking at my body covered in bandages, I had a moment of self-doubt.
I've endured so much pain and taken such great risks to find a man who has forgotten what I look like and who abandoned me when I was a child. Was it really worth it?
But when I thought of the Qu and Wei families, who were also in Luoyang at this time, searching for Duan Jinyan with the same tireless efforts as I was, my belief became firm again.
Even if he is truly a heinous person, the one who should be the one to atone for his sins is me.
...
For the next period of time, I stayed near the train station, in unlicensed hotels that didn't require me to register my identity.
Qinghuai acted quickly, gathering the batch of unaged handicrafts I needed in just five days. But I waited another week before deciding to meet with Ma Quezi.
In a small grove of trees on the outskirts of the city, Qinghuai opened the back door of the van: "Everything you wanted is here. See if it passes inspection."
I took out two bronze gu vessels from inside: "Most of the items here are made using the lost-wax casting method, while these two bronze gu vessels are made using the sand casting method. The techniques are different, and an expert can tell the difference at a glance. Apart from these two bronze gu vessels, I took the rest with me."
Qinghuai handed me the van keys: "No problem. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
“Not for now.” I thought for a moment: “Have you heard of any other forces in Luoyang searching for Su Gouzi recently?”
Qing Huai became wary, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "What do you mean? Could it be that someone shares our goal and wants to sabotage us?"
"No, I just want to pay more attention to Su Gouzi's situation so that I can adapt to different situations."
I didn't bring up the matter between the Qu and Wei families to Qing Huai. At the same time, I was thinking about whether I could take advantage of the Qing family's influence in the local area if I broke off relations with the other two families because of Su Gouzi.
...
With these handicrafts in hand, I met Ma Quezi in an industrial park on the outskirts of the city twelve days later.
The place he asked me to meet was in the backyard of Chuanshitang.
In a corner of the courtyard, Ma Quezi stood by the van and picked up a bronze wine cup from inside: "The item is made quite meticulously, but there are absolutely no signs of aging or rusting. What do you mean by this?"
“Master Ma, as I said, our pit has just been opened, and the rust pit needs to be cured for a period of time before finished products can be produced. We brought this batch of samples over just to put your mind at ease and to prove that we have the ability to manufacture bronzes.”
The reason I kept timing it so precisely was to make Ma Quezi believe that we were really producing counterfeit goods ourselves.
Actually, I also considered having Qinghuai purchase a large number of semi-finished products and then process the pit rust ourselves to save costs.
But I'm not a professional after all, and something hastily made is unlikely to fool a professional like Ma Quezi.
When Ma the Cripple heard my explanation, he smiled and said, "You're in such a hurry to bring these things over because you're worried your two friends will be mistreated here, aren't you?"
"Master Ma has been in the antique business for so many years, he has some experience. Although we cheated you out of money, that amount shouldn't be worth getting so angry about."
I said casually, "Actually, the reason I'm in such a hurry is not only because I'm worried about my friend, but also because I want to get the channels open as soon as possible. The market we're targeting isn't just Luoyang, so the sooner my friend is released, the sooner we can expand into other channels."
Ma Quezi is a seasoned veteran who only cares about results. He had no interest in my empty promises: "You can talk about these things when you produce the finished product."
I held up three fingers: "Our first batch of finished products will be unearthed within three months. I just don't know if you can handle such a large quantity, Master Ma."
Ma the Cripple tossed the bronze wine vessel back into the car: "I have a pretty good appetite. How many pieces can you ship this batch?"
I smiled and said, "Conservatively speaking, one hundred pieces."
Even though Ma Quezi was mentally prepared, he was still stunned for a moment after hearing the number I announced.
Seeing Ma the Cripple's expression, I asked arrogantly, "Can't you eat, Master Ma?"
“You overestimated yourself, and I underestimated you.” The cripple patted my arm. “The stuff has arrived. Remember to contact me. Don’t worry about your friends; they’re doing very well.”
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