Chapter 7: The Style is Going in the Wrong Directio

After leaving the jade store, Lu Zheng continued to wander around the Treasure Pavilion and found two more shops.

Moreover, this time Lu Zheng learned his lesson and asked each shop to lay out velvet cloth and wear gloves.

His behavior made the owners of both shops laugh, but they all listened to Lu Zheng's requests.

Because both shops charged an appraisal fee.

One charged five hundred, the other eight hundred!

And it wasn't even a specialized appraisal, just a casual look and preliminary judgment.

The result was that the first shop declared Lu Zheng's piece of chicken blood stone to be fake, while the other told Lu Zheng that it was a dyed Xiuyu jade.

It wasn't until the third shop that Lu Zheng's phoenix blood stone seal was appraised for three million.

In the end, Lu Zheng came to Haibaoxuan, a large jade store at the other end of the street.

"The piece is nice, but it's a pity. Although a flaw does not obscure the jade's luster, its value has greatly decreased."

"The color is bright, but it covers too much and does not form natural patterns, which is not aesthetically pleasing."

"There are slight differences in color inside and out, which makes it easy for people to see it as a counterfeit."

"However, our carvers can make some minor adjustments, and perhaps there is still hope."

"Sir, the top-grade chicken blood stones on the market are only worth over a million. This piece still has certain flaws. If you are willing to sell, we can offer five hundred thousand!"

"Sir, those auction information are all internal proxy bidding, a tactic to drive up prices. How many transactions have been completed over so many years? In fact, they are all offline trades."

"If you don't believe me, I can introduce you to an auction house where you can consult on-site!"

"Of course, you can also go through the auction process. It's possible to deduct appraisal fees and handling fees in the end."

"Sir! Sir, don't go yet. We can still discuss the specific price."

"We are very sincere and what we say is true. Other small shops either have inaccurate judgment or many tricks; they are places that devour people without spitting out bones."

"Sir, this is my business card. The mobile number is also my WeChat name. You can add me at any time. I can also invite our A-level appraiser from our store to take another look for you."

Lu Zheng politely and with difficulty extricated himself from Haibaoxuan.

"What era is it now? They still use tricks from over a decade ago; no wonder they have fallen to only doing tourist business."

Lu Zheng looked back at Haibaoxuan with its luxurious entrance at the street corner and walked away without turning his head.

…

At noon, Lu Zheng casually dealt with lunch and then returned to Zhongyuzhai, the first shop he visited in the morning.

"It's said that when people shop around, they always come back to the first shop in the end. I didn't expect that I couldn't escape this routine either."

Lu Zheng silently complained. "Fortunately, the owner of Zhongyuzhai is not a beautiful girl; otherwise, it would feel just like an urban web novel."

Then Lu Zheng saw a beautiful girl.

She wore white rhinestone open-toe high heels and a knee-length sky-blue sleeveless knitted dress. She had a watch on her hand and a bag on her leg. She sat elegantly with a tall figure and long black straight hair over her shoulders. She was sitting on a chair at one side of a round table inside Zhongyuzhai, showing an attentive expression.

As for her appearance, Lu Zheng could only say he had never seen such an exquisite girl before.

When Lu Zheng entered the door, the girl glanced at him from the corner of her eye without turning her head.

Lu Zheng quickly took in her appearance without staring any longer and soon met eyes with Zhongyuzhai's owner.

He also saw another elder.

Gu Pingzhong was not sitting at the counter at the entrance of the shop but was sitting next to another elder at a round table inside. Gu Pingzhong was pouring tea for that elder at that moment.

"Boss!"

"You're here. What? Didn't find anyone who offered higher than me?"

"Two shops said it was fake; one appraised it at three million; another at five hundred thousand."

Gu Pingzhong and Lu Zheng have both made their offers, so there's nothing for Lu Zheng to hide.

"That's because you haven't found the right place. In fact, there are still some sharp-eyed tough characters out there," Gu Pingzhong said with a smile. "Of course, they have to be present."

Many experts, like him, are not always squatting in the store.

"I don't have the energy to visit each one."

"That's millions we're talking about!"

Lu Zheng said as a matter of course, "That's why it's safe once it's in the bag!"

As Lu Zheng and Gu Pingzhong spoke, the old man and the woman turned their attention to Lu Zheng, showing some interest upon hearing about the millions.

"Sit!" Gu Pingzhong gestured to the seats on the side. "I'll call an old friend to come over, and then we'll talk business after I finish this deal."

"I'm not in a hurry. Take your time," Lu Zheng said, shaking his head. Then he tentatively asked, "Can I watch you do business?"

Before Gu Pingzhong could answer, the old man laughed, "We're not doing anything illegal, just trading collectibles. What's there not to see?"

Then Gu Pingzhong made a phone call while the old man sized up Lu Zheng, wondering what good stuff he was planning to sell.

Lu Zheng sat down and seriously looked at the old man for the first time.

Dressed casually, Lu Zheng couldn't make out the brand but it looked comfortable and smooth—probably not cheap.

He had an ordinary face but bright eyes and neat black hair that gave him a strong presence.

He must be a successful businessman.

Then Lu Zheng's gaze moved to a box on the round table.

A wooden box about twenty centimeters square contained a pair of white jade bracelets.

That must be the deal they were talking about.

After Gu Pingzhong finished his brief phone call, he continued speaking to the old man, "That's why Liu Sanye split this twenty-year-old Hetian seed material into three parts. I was there at that time and got one part. I made several pieces of jewelry with it, and the most valuable is this pair of 'Twin Phoenixes Auspicious' white jade bracelets."

"I see. So these bracelets are priced at three million. They are indeed worth it."

"Exactly."

Lu Zheng was speechless. Another deal worth millions? Is this how antique collecting is done?

The two chatted about the story behind this piece of jade while Lu Zheng quietly listened without interrupting, occasionally glancing at the quiet woman who was also listening.

Then accidentally, their eyes met.

They shared a tacit smile and looked away.

Afterward, they finished their tea, transferred money, and concluded the trade in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere. The old man took the jade bracelets and helped the woman take off her watch to put on the bracelets.

Lu Zheng blinked; suddenly feeling that something was off with this scene.

Then he stood up to leave. Gu Pingzhong escorted them to the door where Lu Zheng saw the woman hooking her arm through the old man's arm. They leaned in close together, whispering while walking away as if no one else was around.

Lu Zheng noticed that she quickly kissed the old man on the corner of his lips.

Lu Zheng: ╭(°A°`)╮