Inside the Jiyun Pavilion Antique Shop, the light was dim. Four one-person-tall antique display stands were lined up in a circle, as if they were soldiers guarding the shadows. The shelves were piled high with jade wares, bronzes and porcelain shards - genuine and fake mixed together, facing each other in silence.
Qin Hao stood among them, his gaze sweeping over the jade pieces one by one. He had never been sure about their background before.
But it's different now.
Ever since his left eye awakened the "Taotie Eye" - a talent capable of piercing through the real and the illusory and seeing the root cause - he couldn't wait to verify everything.
These antiques will have nowhere to hide in his eyes.
He was just about to take a step when his legs tightened.
He lowered his head, facing a pair of sullen eyes - the fat man's hand was tightly grasping his trouser leg.
Qin Hao was stunned.
Yes, he almost forgot just now
This "gluttonous eye" was awakened after smashing the fat man's so-called "family heirloom".
The fat man's face bloomed, his voice lowered and aggressive: "Kid, you smashed my treasure like this." Now, what do you think we should do?
Qin Hao remained silent.
He hadn't even had the chance to take a close look at the condition of the bronze statue, let alone make an estimate.
If the fat man casually shouts "sky-high price", he has no way to tell whether it's true or not and can only passively bear the loss.
Before he could figure out how to deal with it, a rough shout came from the store entrance:
What's going on? It turned out like this so early in the morning! Qin Hao, do you still want to do it? If you don't want to do it, get out of here right now!"
The sound accompanied the footsteps as a short and stout middle-aged man walked in.
Wu Liang, the owner of Jiyun Pavilion, has a rosy complexion, a slanted scar at the corner of his eye, and a Buddhist prayer bead hanging around his neck.
Wu Liang's reputation in the trade was not decent: cheating and slitting were the norm, and he didn't even spare his only employee. He deducted his salary and commission completely, taking it for granted.
Qin Hao's heart sank.
Now that Wu Liang has encountered this scene, he is likely to be attacked from both sides.
When the fat man saw Wu Liang, he immediately changed his target: "Are you the boss?" Your employee smashed my family heirloom! You handle it."
Wu Liang glanced at the fragments on the ground and his expression suddenly darkened. He crouched down, picked up a bronze fragment the size of a fingernail, and examined it closely in front of him.
A moment later, his figure trembled slightly, as if struck by something.
The rust color is natural, the texture is lustrous and bright, and the layers are consistent... This is Old Rust."
He gently flicked the fragments again.
"Though the sound was soft, it was clear and crisp - a characteristic of the real thing." "
Qin Hao listened, feeling his heart gradually sink into the abyss.
If this is truly an ancient bronze artifact, no matter which dynasty it comes from, he will never be able to pay it all in his lifetime.
The fat man sneered, "How could the family heirloom I'm selling be fake?"
Rage flared up on him, and he lifted his foot to kick Qin Hao.
Wu Liang acted extremely quickly, pulling Qin Hao away and blocking the front.
The voice was deep and cold: "Just get to the point. Don't resort to violence." "
There is a rumor in the community that Wu Liang used to be in the underworld when he was young, and Qin Hao has always taken it as a joke.
It was not until this moment that he felt for the first time that the sense of oppression on the other person truly existed.
The fat man was stunned for a moment, but still roared, "This is a priceless treasure!" He's ruined! Are you going to pay for him? "!"
Wu Liang gritted his teeth, hugged the fat man and wouldn't let him come forward again: "OK." "I'll compensate." "
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Qin Hao was stunned, and so was the fat man.
Wu Liang, this usually mean little boss, would actually take on this for him?
With his back to Qin Hao, Wu Liang continued, "Make an offer." "I'll pay for this bronze ware from the Shang Dynasty." "
The fat man rolled his eyes, glanced at Qin Hao, and stretched out two fingers: "Twenty million." "
Wu Liang exhaled a breath that he thought others wouldn't notice, then turned around and gave Qin Hao a sharp jolt on the back of the head.
What are you still standing there for? Go and get the cheque! I'm really going to be killed by you!
Qin Hao remained silent, watching Wu Liang fill out the check, and then seeing him, suppressing his heartache, hand over 20 million to the fat man.
The fat man beamed with joy, took the check and walked away directly, not even glancing at the fragments on the ground again.
As soon as the store door closed, Wu Liang sat down against the counter as if he had lost his breath, remaining silent for a long time.
A moment later, he waved his hand: "Let's go." Still want a salary? Commission? I'll deal with this mess for you... I can be said to have done my best."
Qin Hao took a deep breath, bent down and picked up a piece of bronze fragment.
The moment the fragment touched his hand, a faint golden light flashed in his left eye.
"Don't touch those fragments!" Wu Liang shouted in a low voice, "This size can still be pieced together and sold!"
Qin Hao stared at the fragments for a few seconds, and his expression gradually became meaningful. He raised his head and his gaze fell on Wu Liang.
"You --"
Wu Liang had intended to stand up, but after seeing Qin Hao's gaze, he felt guilty for a moment instead.
Qin Hao slowly clapped his hands, his eyes sharp like the edge of a knife.
"Not bad, Boss Wu." Your double act... It was performed quite convincingly.