After leaving the jade store, Lu Zheng continued wandering around the Treasure House, checking out a couple more shops.
This time, Lu Zheng had learned his lesson and always asked them to place a velvet cloth and wear gloves.
His behavior amused the shop owners, but they complied with all of Lu Zheng’s requests.
Because both shops charged him an appraisal fee.
One was five hundred, and the other was eight hundred!
And it wasn’t even a professional appraisal, just a casual look and a preliminary judgment.
The result was that the first shop declared Lu Zheng’s Chicken Blood Stone to be fake, while the other told him it was a dyed Jadeite.
It wasn’t until the third shop that Lu Zheng got an estimated value of three million for his Phoenix Blood Stone seal.
Finally, Lu Zheng arrived at a large jade store on the other side of the block, Sea Treasure Pavilion.
"It’s a nice piece, but what a pity. While the flaw doesn’t immediately mar its beauty, its value has significantly dropped."
"The color is vibrant, but it’s too overwhelming, lacking natural patterns and thus not aesthetically pleasing."
"There is a slight color difference between inside and outside, making it easily mistaken for a counterfeit."
"However, our craftsman can do some slight modifications, perhaps it’s salvageable."
"Sir, the top-grade Chicken Blood Stones on the market fetch only around one million, and this one has certain flaws. If you’re interested in selling, we can offer five hundred thousand!"
"Sir, those auction listings are just some internal proxy bids, a tactic to hype up prices. Look, how many have actually sold over the years? It’s all offline transactions."
"If you don’t believe me, I can introduce you to an auction house where you can inquire in person!"
"Of course, you can also go through the auction process, ultimately deducting appraisal fees and service charges."
"Sir! Sir, please wait, we can still discuss the price further."
"We are sincere, and it’s all the truth. Other small shops either lack keen eyes or have many tricks, they’re real rip-offs."
"Sir, here is my business card, the mobile number is also my WeChat ID, you can add me anytime, and I can also invite our store’s A-level appraiser to take another look for you."
Lu Zheng politely and with difficulty managed to extricate himself from the Sea Treasure Pavilion.
"In this day and age, still using tricks from over a decade ago, no wonder they’ve fallen to only dealing with tourists."
Lu Zheng looked back at the Sea Treasure Pavilion, with its luxurious entrance, and walked away without turning his head.
At noon, Lu Zheng grabbed a quick meal, then returned to the first shop from the morning, Zhong Yuzhai.
"Typically, when people buy things, they browse around and end up back at the first shop. I didn’t expect to fall into this cliché as well."
Lu Zheng muttered to himself, "But thankfully, the owner of Zhong Yuzhai isn’t a pretty girl, otherwise it would feel just like an urban web novel."
Then Lu Zheng immediately spotted a pretty girl.
She was wearing a pair of white sandals with diamond embellishments, a knee-length sleeveless sky-blue knit dress, wearing a watch on her hand and a bag on her lap, sitting gracefully, her tall figure and long, straight, black hair hanging down her back. She was seated on a chair by a side of a round table in Zhong Yuzhai, appearing to be listening intently.
As for her looks, Lu Zheng could only say he’d never seen such a delicate girl.
Upon seeing Lu Zheng entering, the girl’s eyes glanced at him from the corners without turning her head.
Lu Zheng quickly sized up the girl with his eyes but didn’t look closely, quickly locking eyes with the owner of Zhong Yuzhai instead.
He also noticed another elderly gentleman.
Gu Pingzhong was not sitting at the counter by the store entrance but rather at a round table inside the shop with the elderly gentleman, presently pouring him tea.
"You’re here, what, didn’t find anyone offering more than me?"
"Two places said it’s fake, one valued it at three million, and another at fifty thousand."
Gu Pingzhong had already made an offer, so Lu Zheng had nothing to hide.
"Then you didn’t look in the right places, there are indeed sharp-eyed experts around." Gu Pingzhong chuckled, "But of course, they need to be present."
Like many experts, they’re not hanging around the shop every day.
"I don’t have the energy to go to every shop."
"But it’s millions of dollars!"
Lu Zheng stated matter-of-factly, "That’s why I want to cash in as soon as possible!"
As Lu Zheng and Gu Pingzhong continued their conversation, the elderly gentleman and the girl turned their attention to Lu Zheng, slightly more interested upon hearing the term ’millions’.
"Take a seat!" Gu Pingzhong gestured to a chair on the side, "Let me make a call to an old friend to come over, and then we’ll discuss this business first."
"I’m not in a rush, take your time." Lu Zheng shook his head, then tentatively asked, "Uh, while you discuss your business, can I watch?"
Before Gu Pingzhong could reply, the elderly gentleman laughed, "We’re not doing anything illegal, just buying and selling collectibles, what’s there that can’t be seen?"
Then Gu Pingzhong took out his phone to make a call, while the elder looked over at Lu Zheng, guessing what valuable item Lu Zheng intended to sell.
Lu Zheng took a seat, then earnestly looked over at the elderly man on the side.
In casual attire, Lu Zheng couldn’t discern any brand, but it looked comfortable, smooth, and fine, probably not cheap.
His appearance was ordinary, but his eyes were very bright, coupled with his neatly kept black hair, giving off a vibe of not being weak.
He was likely a successful businessman.
Then, Lu Zheng’s gaze shifted to a box on the round table.
A wooden box about twenty centimeters square, containing a pair of White Jade Bracelets.
This must be the business deal at hand.
When Gu Pingzhong quickly finished his phone call, he continued speaking to the elderly gentleman, "That’s why Third Master Liu decided to cut the Nephrite Jade he’d kept for twenty years into three parts. I was present back then and even collected a piece, out of which I crafted several sets of jewelry. The most exquisite is this pair of Double Phoenix White Jade Bracelets."
"I see, so these bracelets, priced at three million, are indeed worth their value."
Lu Zheng was speechless; goodness, another deal worth several million, is this how antique collectors play?
The two continued chatting about the story behind this piece of jade, and Lu Zheng sat quietly listening, not interjecting, occasionally glancing at the girl who was also quietly listening.
Then, unintentionally, their eyes met.
They exchanged a knowing smile before each moved their gaze away.
Afterward, the tea was finished, money transferred, and the transaction wrapped up in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere. The elderly gentleman picked up the jade bracelets and then helped the girl remove her watch and put the jade bracelet on her.
Lu Zheng blinked, suddenly feeling the scene seemed a bit off.
Then, he stood up to take his leave, as Gu Pingzhong escorted the two to the door. Lu Zheng saw the girl hook her arm around the elderly gentleman’s, and the two leaned close to each other, whispering as they walked away, oblivious to others.
With keen eyes, Lu Zheng even noticed the girl quickly giving the elderly gentleman a peck on the corner of his lips.