Antique Market (Part Two)  

After exchanging a few light-hearted remarks with the group, Man Jun led Fang Yi and the others deeper into the market. They had arrived relatively early, and it was just past eight o'clock; the antique market was still quite empty, as it primarily relied on tourists to generate foot traffic. 

"Brother Man, are these all your friends?" 

The plump man inquired, his mind racing with thoughts. He understood that to establish a foothold in the antique market, one must engage with people from all walks of life and was already contemplating how to befriend those individuals. 

"Friends, my foot..." 

Man Jun scoffed, lowering his voice as he replied, "Little Fatty, just because you see me chatting amiably with them doesn't mean we're friends. Those guys are notorious for their deceitful schemes. You should steer clear of them and refrain from sourcing goods from their hands..." 

In Man Jun's view, the decline of the Chaotian Palace antique market was largely due to such disruptive characters. Although he had built a modest fortune, he felt it unnecessary to antagonize them; he would merely acknowledge them with a nod, never seeking deeper connections. 

"Ah, I thought you and they were quite chummy..." The plump man appeared taken aback by Man Jun's words, with both Fang Yi and San Pao equally surprised. They had witnessed a seemingly brotherly camaraderie, only to hear him speak disparagingly of them. 

"Do you think I present one face to you and another behind your back?" 

Noticing the expressions on Fang Yi and the others' faces, Man Jun shook his head and said, "In this world, if you want to get by, you must speak the language of those around you. When faced with someone you dislike, maintaining a stern countenance will only hinder your progress. You boys should learn this lesson..." 

"We understand, Brother Man..." 

Fang Yi and the others nodded in unison. Though they were simple in nature, their minds were sharp, and while Man Jun's words might initially seem hard to digest, upon reflection, they held a ring of truth. 

"Here we are; this is my shop..." 

Arriving at the entrance of a store, Man Jun came to a halt, retrieved his keys, and unlocked the door. "Step inside; let us enjoy a pot of tea first, and then I'll share some insights with you..." 

"Bo Gu Zhai, what a lovely name..." Fang Yi remarked, gazing up at the sign hanging above the door. "To study the present while appreciating the past—who would have thought Brother Man was such a connoisseur?" 

"What connoisseur?" Man Jun chuckled as he turned back to them. "I couldn't come up with a name back then, so I ended up spending twenty yuan to have a fortune teller, who was also a vendor, name it for me. It's just been in use since..." 

Through their recent interactions, Man Jun had discerned that Fang Yi and his companions had just emerged from rural life, their hearts as pure as blank slates. Thus, he felt comfortable expressing his candid thoughts; had he been dealing with seasoned antique traders, he would have certainly been more guarded. 

"Well, you must have had some good fortune..." 

Fang Yi, upon hearing Man Jun's explanation, found himself at a loss for words. As someone from a Taoist background, he understood that a name could significantly influence one's destiny. A well-chosen name could facilitate smooth endeavors, while a poorly chosen one could lead to obstacles and hinder business success. 

"My luck has been decent; after two years of trading, I opened this shop..." 

Once inside, Man Jun busied himself with an electric kettle while smiling, "I made two sales right after opening, and I've managed to establish some connections. It's been a mixed bag—better than some, worse than others..." 

Man Jun had a laid-back disposition, living a life of contentment, always smiling at everyone he met, which contributed to his good fortune. 

A few years prior, when thefts plagued the antique market at night, seven or eight shops remained unrented. Among the twenty businesses that opened, thieves targeted eighteen, leaving only Man Jun's and one other shop unscathed. 

"Brother Man certainly has remarkable luck..." 

As they settled down, Fang Yi couldn't help but smile. Before entering the shop, he had surveyed the surroundings for feng shui and noted that his shop was positioned diagonally opposite the entrance of the Chaotian Palace, effectively avoiding its negative energy while also drawing upon its auspiciousness. 

"Come, brothers, sample this year's new Longjing tea..." 

Once the water boiled, Man Jun brewed a pot of tea for Fang Yi and the others, saying, "I never used to drink tea, but with all the idle time spent here, aside from drinking tea, I've taken to chatting and joking around. Now, aside from alcohol, I enjoy tea as well..." 

"Brother Man, how could you possibly have nothing to do all day?" 

San Pao asked, puzzled. Upon entering the shop, he was taken aback by the sight of the numerous jade and antique items displayed across the two rows of counters, not to mention the spacious area in the back lined with cabinets filled with exquisite porcelain. Just the arrangement alone suggested immense value. 

"San Pao, don't let the displays fool you; aside from a few genuine pieces of jade in the cabinets, everything else here is a replica..." 

Following San Pao's gaze, Man Jun couldn't help but chuckle. While he indeed possessed a few valuable items, they were hidden away at a different residence, one unknown to the antique community. 

"All fakes?" San Pao was stunned, incredulity evident in his voice. "Brother Man, isn't that deceiving customers?" 

"Deceiving? I, Man Jun, have always conducted my business transparently in this market. I never deceive anyone." 

Man Jun shook his head and clarified, "These items shouldn't be labeled as fakes; they are better described as high-quality replicas. Each piece has an original counterpart, and when customers inquire, I make it clear that they are replicas. I would never mislead them..." 

Jinling, known as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, boasts a cultural heritage that rivals that of the capital and Xi'an. It is home to many scholars and cultured individuals, alongside those who aspire to sophistication. Consequently, antiques, paintings, and bronzes circulate widely in Jinling. 

However, truly authentic antiques, whether in prosperous or tumultuous times, command high prices, often beyond the reach of contemporary scholars and literati. For instance, the porcelain displayed in Man Jun's cabinet, if genuine, could easily represent a professor's lifetime earnings. 

Wealth affords one certain privileges, while those without money have their own means; if one cannot afford the authentic, surely they can settle for the replicas? Thus, high-quality replicas became increasingly popular in Jinling, with Man Jun managing to sell a couple each month when luck was on his side. 

"Only two pieces a month? With such a large shop, isn't that insufficient?" 

The plump man asked, perplexed. He noticed that behind the cabinets was another room, totaling around fifty to sixty square meters. With such a spacious shop, the rent alone must be five to six thousand yuan per month. Selling merely two replica items wouldn't even cover the rent, would it? 

"In the antique business, success isn't solely about selling items in the shop. My store has been open for several years, and I've yet to sell anything worth over ten thousand yuan here..." 

Man Jun took a leisurely sip of his tea and smiled, "There's a saying in the antique trade: 'Three years without a sale, but when you do sell, it sustains you for three years.' While three years is a bit exaggerated, as long as I complete one transaction a year, it suffices to cover my expenses. If I manage two or three sales, then it's profit..." 

Man Jun was eager to guide Fang Yi and his friends along their path, sharing intricate details about the antique trade. For example, he had purchased a fan painting from Sun Lianda for twenty thousand yuan and sold it for sixty-five thousand, easily recouping nearly a year's worth of rent and utilities. 

"Brother Man, what should we do? What steps should we take?" 

Fang Yi's enthusiasm surged at Man Jun's words. Just days ago, he had been impoverished, but now, with a place to stay in the city and twenty thousand yuan in startup capital, he was itching to dive into action. 

"Given your limited resources and unfamiliarity with this trade, I believe we should start with the kind of cultural artifacts that Old Sun mentioned..." 

Man Jun pondered for a moment before continuing, "Cultural artifacts don't emphasize age but rather the enjoyment derived from them. They are generally not too expensive; while the profits may not be substantial, they are still quite decent. You should begin with cultural artifacts and gradually transition to antiques; this approach will be more manageable..." 

"Brother Man, are cultural artifacts like the beads Fang Yi is holding? Where can we source them?" 

As they chatted idly in the shop, the outside world began to fill with bustling tourists, causing the plump man to grow restless. He thought that practical experience was the best teacher; sitting here listening to Man Jun was less beneficial than trying their hand at selling. 

"Fang Yi is holding ebony beads, isn't he?" 

Man Jun was not particularly knowledgeable about cultural artifact beads, and he had mistaken Fang Yi's old agarwood beads for ebony, as he had not been present when Sun Lianda's father sought to acquire them. The price difference between the two was immense. 

"Wooden beads are just one type of cultural artifact; other plant seeds are also highly sought after. For instance, the four major Bodhi seeds include Xingyue, King Kong, Phoenix Eye, and Lotus, all of which fall under the category of cultural artifacts. Additionally, walnuts, gourds, olive pits, amber, and turquoise also qualify..." 

Having spent many years in the antique market, Man Jun, despite not dealing in such items, had a general understanding of them. He recognized that Fang Yi and his companions were rather naïve about cultural artifacts and antiques, so he eagerly shared his knowledge. 

"Brother Man, where do we procure these items? Is it in Jinling?" 

After Man Jun's informative overview of cultural artifacts, Fang Yi, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, honing in on the crucial point: to engage in the cultural artifact business, one must first establish a sourcing channel. 

"Jinling does have a wholesale market for cultural artifacts, located near the Ming Palace..." 

Man Jun considered for a moment before continuing, "However, the prices there can be a bit steep. Many people travel to Beijing's Panjiayuan or Shilihe for wholesale. Since you are just starting out, I recommend you source your items in Jinling for now..." 

"Indeed, sourcing in Beijing would be too costly..." The plump man nodded in agreement, saying, "Brother Man, if you have some free time, could we take a trip to the Ming Palace to explore?" 

Despite Man Jun's extensive explanations, the plump man still felt a sense of uncertainty and was apprehensive about being scammed on his first business venture. According to Man Jun's earlier remarks, being deceived into buying counterfeit goods was akin to taking medicine.