When Wang Qing heard that I could lure Qu Xuelin out, his face lit up with joy: "Duan Tao, I knew you were the most resourceful kid. Tell me your plan!"
I smiled and said, "When we were interrogating that middle-aged man at the pharmacy, he said that Qu Xuelin had been looking for the Yama's tumor. If we have this, we can lure him out."
"I thought you had some other plan in mind, but it turns out it's just this."
Wang Hong was initially very enthusiastic, but after hearing my response, she immediately looked speechless: "Didn't you hear what my senior brother said before? There are no more than five experts in the whole country who can preserve the Yama's Tumor! And that's just preserving it, it doesn't mean they necessarily have it... Aren't you an antique dealer? Let me put it this way for you, the Yama's Tumor is like the jade burial suit in the antique world, now you know its value, right?"
Wang Qing also sighed: "Duan Tao, your method is really impractical. The Yama tumor is very valuable, not only because it is rare, but also because it is difficult to preserve. Finding the Yama tumor is probably no easier than digging out Qu Xuelin. You don't understand pharmacology, so you think this matter is too simple."
"I may not understand pharmacology, but I understand human nature."
I lit a cigarette and shared my thoughts: "I come from an antique business background. Of the seventy-two traditional trades, the antique trade is the most murky. Why? Because the antique trade is best at forgery, and there are countless fakes that are indistinguishable from the real thing! If antiques can be faked, why can't malignant tumors be faked?"
Without hesitation, Wang Hong replied, "Antiques are faked for playing with, but medicine is used to treat illnesses and save lives, so how can it be fake?"
"No! I'm starting to understand Duan Tao's line of thinking."
Wang Qing blinked, still somewhat puzzled: "But even if we create a malignant tumor, how do we let Qu Xuelin know? Wouldn't it be too fake to just tell him directly?"
I smirked: "Of course it's fake, but we can send it to an auction. That way, once the news gets out, it'll definitely attract him."
Wang Hong rolled her eyes: "Isn't this a joke? Fengmen Village has such a big black market, how could they not appraise the items sent for auction? If we can't even get past the storage stage, what's the point of talking about the auction?"
"As you just said, there are fewer than five people in the entire country who can preserve this 'King of Hell's Tumor,' and even Fengmen Village doesn't have it, which means that not many people have seen it!"
I snapped my fingers: "This is our chance. We can completely seal up the fake Yama's Tumor, making it visible but untouchable, saying that it cannot be exposed to air and will be destroyed once the lid is opened. However, we can allow the buyer to authenticate it themselves and guarantee that it is genuine. We can even promise Fengmen Village that we will hold the auction money as collateral, and if the item is fake, we will not accept the money."
Anyway, the purpose of this auction is to lure Qu Xuelin out. Since he wants this so much, he'll definitely bid! As long as we find a shill to drive the price above the true value of this "tumor of the King of Hell," then the people competing with us will inevitably be those who desperately want this thing!
After I reminded him, Wang Qing lowered his head and thought for a few seconds, then a smile appeared on his face: "This idea is brilliant! No wonder people say there are no good people in your antique circle. You actually came up with such an idea!"
"Hey, what kind of talk is that?"
Upon hearing Wang Qing's words, the monkey's expression immediately changed: "So, we were just trying to help you, and we got scolded instead?"
"Don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant. I was praising Duan Tao!"
Wang Qing chuckled: "There are 360 ​​professions, and every profession can produce an expert. Every industry has its top performers. You are all outstanding individuals who have managed to stand out in the complex antique industry. If my words made you feel uncomfortable, then I apologize for my attitude just now."
Seeing that the arrogant and domineering Wang Qing was now completely convinced of my abilities, I didn't bother with him and changed the subject, saying, "Let's talk about serious business now. Although you don't know where the Yama's tumor is, do you know what it looks like?"
"I have some understanding of it; I've seen a portrait of the 'King of Hell's Tumor'."
Wang Qing nodded and said, "This fungus is spherical with colorful stripes. Its spores are compact and elastic. When it is damaged, it will spray out a pinkish dust that can attract poisonous insects from several kilometers away. However, this only works when it is fresh. Once it dries out, the powder will lose its attraction."
"Knowing what it looks like makes things much easier."
After listening to Wang Qing's story, I left my residence and went directly to Zhongle Casino.
This time, I was facing the same dealer as last time.
Although they were old acquaintances, she still wore a poker face, showing no intimacy whatsoever: "Distinguished guest, let me now explain the rules of Zhongle Casino to you."
"No need."
I waved my hand and asked bluntly, "I want to know where in Fengmen Village can fake antiques be made?"
The dealer flipped the dice, revealing a sign for one million.
Fengmen Village is the largest black market, so this doesn't seem to be a secret.
I pressed the button twice, and after I succeeded, the dealer said, "Go west from the big banyan tree. In the second cave, there is a shop called Tiangong Kaiwu. It is officially run by Fengmen Village and specializes in replicating antiques."
The item I'm making is intended for an official auction house exhibition, so I naturally don't want to use people from Fengmen Village: "Besides the official ones, is there anyone else here who can replicate this?"
The dealer didn't answer me; instead, he readjusted the dice to one million.
"This costs money?"
I was speechless. I spent another three million to buy the dealer's nod.
In this place where everything costs money, I carefully considered my words before continuing, "I want to know about the person with the best skills."
The dealer flipped the dice this time and offered five million, asking me to choose between a one and a six.
This was an extremely difficult choice. I took a deep breath and placed five million pieces of ghost money on my lucky number, number four.
When I saw the dealer flip over the numbers, there were three identical fours (three of a kind). I excitedly slapped the table and exclaimed, "It really is a blessing from heaven!"
"You are very lucky."
Seeing that I had won, the dealer said, "In the southernmost cave, there is a beggar."
"What is his identity?"
After asking that question, I immediately added, "Hey, my question was about knowing someone. We can't be asking for more money!"
The dealer smiled, a rare occurrence: "This man is called Thousand-Hand Buddha. He was once the number one counterfeit master in China. The reason he has fallen to this state is unknown. All we know is that he has been living in Fengmen Village for five years, begging for a living."
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