Chapter 98 - 97: Picking Up Bargains

Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Picking Up Bargains ... Yan Xiaobao burst out laughing immediately. He felt like something like a bottle of wine could fall on his head at any time, and it seemed quite fun. "To set up a Fengshui Formation, I need a few materials." Yan Xiaobao’s tone softened as he told Tang Wenjun, "The most important is a Fengshui Artifact, preferably fish-shaped with a water attribute. Also, natural stones with yin and yang attributes. Additionally, I need treasures related to dragons..." Tang Wenjun hurriedly noted down everything Yan Xiaobao mentioned, "Okay, okay, I’ll ask Mr. Dong to take me to the Antique Street to look around, and I’ll notify Brother Bao as soon as I have news." Yan Xiaobao agreed to help Tang Wenjun arrange the Fengshui Formation, partly because Su Xiaowan asked, but also for Dong Yuqing. Hearing what Tang Wenjun said, Yan Xiaobao hung up the phone, and also walked out of Dexi Hall, hailing a taxi to Antique Street. Su Xiaowan instructed Tang Wenjun to bring Dong Yuqing along to assist Yan Xiaobao. Naturally, Tang Wenjun did not object, and Dong Yuqing, being a Feng Shui Master, was also quite curious about Yan Xiaobao’s Fengshui Technique. Besides, the Fengshui problem at Tang Wenjun’s home was also her responsibility. So, upon learning the various materials Yan Xiaobao needed, Dong Yuqing, familiar with the place, took Tang Wenjun to carefully search for treasures on Antique Street. Entering an antique shop called "Ancient Moon Pavilion", the two were browsing the various antiques on display. A young man, dressed simply and wearing glasses, hurried in, and directly asked, "Boss, do you accept old paintings here?" The owner of Ancient Moon Pavilion, surnamed Hu, sported a pair of mutton chop whiskers and looked shrewd. Seeing the young man’s frankness about his intention, he immediately realized this was a newbie who might be easy to take advantage of. He promptly stepped forward with a smile and replied, "Of course, an antique shop takes famous paintings. Show me what treasures you have." The young man immediately took down a round paper tube from his back, carefully taking out a scroll from it, and laid it out on the counter. Tang Wenjun and Dong Yuqing also came over, curiously looking at the old painting. The old painting was a horizontal scroll, about two and a half feet high and six feet long, a sizable piece. It was a painting of fish frolicking in the water, with delicate and elegant brushwork, appearing quite extraordinary. Boss Hu picked up a magnifying glass, carefully examining the painting from top to bottom, then shook his head, "Although the inscription of this scroll is of Northern Song master Liu Cai, this painting is not his authentic work but a fake copy by someone later. It holds little value for collection..." The young man immediately became anxious, "How can it be a fake? This is a treasure passed down in my family! Boss, you must be mistaken!" Boss Hu rolled his eyes, "I’ve been running this Ancient Moon Pavilion for over a decade. The antiques and paintings I’ve handled are not a thousand but at least eight hundred. How could I be mistaken? If this painting were Liu Cai’s authentic work, I would destroy my own reputation before you could lift a finger!" Although Tang Wenjun was not an antique collector, he came from a wealthy family and had some knowledge about famous old paintings, knowing that genuine ancient paintings are exceedingly rare, especially those from the Song Dynasty. It seemed unlikely that this young man, who appeared not to come from a well-off family, could own a Song Dynasty masterpiece. The young man, seeing Boss Hu’s certainty, believed about seventy to eighty percent and hesitantly asked, "Even if it’s a fake, it shouldn’t be worthless..." "That’s right, among fakes, some could be masterpieces from famous artists and hold considerable value." Boss Hu, feigning indifference, pointed at the old painting, "But this painting was not made by a famous artist, so its value is very limited." Having operated Heavenly Water Pavilion on Antique Street for many years, Dong Yuqing could immediately tell that Boss Hu was actually quite interested in the painting. He was just negotiating for a lower price. Of course, doing business on Antique Street, Dong Yuqing naturally wouldn’t expose him on the spot. "Limited value..." The young man appeared disappointed by Boss Hu’s words, "Then, Boss, what would you offer?" A simply dressed young man suddenly bringing out a family heirloom old painting to sell must be in desperate need of money, eager to cash in. Boss Hu understood the young man’s situation, pretended to be sympathetic, and sighed, "I guess you’re eager to sell, so I won’t shortchange you, I’ll offer three thousand yuan to stock my shop." "Three thousand? That’s too little...no matter what, this was passed down from my great-grandfather, it’s at least a hundred years old." The young man skeptically glanced at Boss Hu, "You’re not trying to cheat me, are you..." At this, Boss Hu seemed insulted and loudly said, "Young man, you’re going too far with these words! Ask around, our Ancient Moon Pavilion always trades fairly, deceiving no one. Open for ten years, we’ve never cheated anyone. I’m offering you a high price of three thousand because I see you’re having a hard time. With someone else, fifteen hundred would be a good offer." "That’s not what I meant..." The young man awkwardly scratched his head, hesitating as he said, "It’s just that three thousand is much less than I expected...how about you add a bit more, five thousand to close the deal?" "Oh! My young brother...I wasn’t even pressing down on your price...you’re simply asking for too much..." Boss Hu, acting very pained, said, "Alright, I’ll add a bit more, three thousand five hundred." "Four thousand and five." The young man continued bargaining. "Ah...my young brother, you’re really putting me in a tough spot..." After some haggling, Boss Hu bought the fake old painting at a low price of three thousand nine hundred, feeling delighted in his heart. The painting is indeed a fake, but it’s at least a century old. Looking at the brush techniques, brushwork, and artistic conception, even if not from a famous artist, there’s little difference. Hanging it in the shop and gradually waiting for a knowledgeable buyer, selling it for thirty to fifty thousand wouldn’t be an issue. Flipping it could easily earn ten times the price, Boss Hu was naturally exhilarated. The young man collected Boss Hu’s money, hurriedly walked out of the store, brushing past Yan Xiaobao who was entering. In life, things are unpredictable, just like this. If he had sold the painting a couple of minutes later, the price could have been different. As he entered the store, Boss Hu was just hanging up the painting of fish frolicking in water. Yan Xiaobao, at first sight of the old painting, immediately said, "I’ll buy this painting." Boss Hu almost burst into laughter. Today really was a turn of fortune; having just bought a good painting at a low price from a newbie, he immediately came across a kid who understood art wanting to buy it. These two kids’ actions simply complemented each other perfectly. Moreover, this kid buying the painting, though he seems to understand art, does not understand business at all. Who directly announces they’re buying before asking the price? Isn’t that giving others the blatant chance to raise the price? freёwebnovel.com ... [Please favorite, recommend, reward, and support!] ...