Anling City, East Street.
This was an Antique Street, where architecture oozed with ancient charm. With its orderly scattered green bricks and black tiles, carved beams and painted rafters, this place differed from the modern hustle and bustle, leaning closer to the style of the Republican period.
In the alleyways, there were quaint and elegant antique shops.
On both sides of the street, stands of various sizes were set up, arrayed with a dazzling range of items: porcelain, jade, paintings, and coins were all available. The vendors, dressed in traditional attire, either held pipes or gently waved folding fans, haggling with custors tinkering with antiques.
The little landlady had changed back into a loose white T-shirt and denim shorts, holding Lin Chuan's hand, they arrived at East Street.
"Old Zhang, Aunt Liu."
From a distance, they saw Old Zhang and Liu Qing. The little landlady waved to greet them.
On the way here, Lin Chuan had already psychologically prepped the little landlady, and the mont to test their acting skills was upon them.
Fortunately, with the advantage of surprise on their side, their chances of success were ninety-eight percent.
Liu Qing wore an elegant cheongsam and warmly walked over to the little landlady. Holding her hand, she walked inside while smiling, "Zhang, you've beco even prettier in just a few days."
The little landlady, with her acting on point, returned a smile, "Aunt Liu, you look so dignified in that cheongsam."
"Such sweet talk."
Liu Qing said with a blossoming smile.
She did indeed have a good figure. At the age of thirty-seven or thirty-eight, there was no noticeable fat on her stomach, her skin was white and firm, and the whole person exuded an air of quiet elegance in the cheongsam.
Clearly,
Old Zhang was absolutely helpless against Liu Qing.
The group entered East Street.
Lin Chuan had visited many an antique street in the virtual world. Anling's Antique Street was relatively scattered, and East Street was the biggest one.
Lin Chuan also took an interested glance at the street-side stands.
"Little Lin, those stands outside mostly belong to second-hand dealers, most of them are 'new imitations,' and the rest are just regular goods,"
Liu Qing turned and explained to Old Zhang and Lin Chuan.
New imitations referred to pieces that had been recently manufactured to look old.
Regular goods were works produced in bulk by artists or crafters to et market demand.
Lin Chuan grinned and said like an innocent 'Bai,' "I've read so antique novels where the protagonist picks up a missed treasure at a small stand and then becos incredibly successful overnight."
"A novel is not reality; to really find good pieces, you need special channels,"
Liu Qing laughed.
In her heart, she reconfird 'Lin Chuan = antique novice.'
Afterward, Liu Qing led Lin Chuan and the others through the various antique stands and into an alley, into an antique shop nad 'Ancient.'
"Boss Liu, Boss Zhang, your visit brings light to my humble establishnt,"
The slightly plump owner of Ancient greeted them warmly as he saw Liu Qing and Zhang De, wearing a traditional Chinese long gown and cloth shoes, he ca up to them with a smile and a bow.
Old Zhang also returned the gesture with a bow, smiling, "Boss Gu, your business is thriving."
"All thanks to Boss Zhang and Boss Liu's support,"
Boss Gu laughed heartily.
After so pleasantries, Boss Gu led everyone to the second floor, explaining the stories behind various antiques one by one.
Lin Chuan didn't join in the conversation; he just glanced around the shop and thought to himself, "This place is such a rip-off."
On the first floor of the shop, from porcelain and jade to bronze items, most were inferior products; even the slightly better ones were high-quality fakes.
On the second floor was a spacious hall, resembling a museum, where valuable antiques were displayed in glass cabinets.
But hardly any of them were truly eye-catching.
However, Lin Chuan wasn't there to expose fakes.
Antiques and gambling on stones were alike in so respects, with one rule: let those who are willing to gamble do so without offering unsolicited advice.
Unless it was soone close to him.
Otherwise, when the piece they have their eye on is sold at a high price through the efforts of 'shills,' they would end up resenting the person who advised them against it.
"Zhang, do you prefer porcelain, paintings, or jade?"
Liu Qing asked.
The little landlady shook her head, "I don't know much about antiques; you don't need to buy anything, Aunt Liu, it's too much."
"Don't be so formal with ,"
Liu Qing patted Zhang's hand and then led the little landlady towards the areas with porcelain and jade, "How about this ice-type green jade Guanyin pendant?"
Boss Gu imdiately began to explain, "Boss Liu has a discerning eye. This ice-type green jade Guanyin pendant is a natural A-grade piece from old pits in the Myanmar area, carved by the hand of Master Zhou Quan, a renowned jade-carving master in China. It's a treasure in the jade world, having participated in the Modu Jade Expo. Here are its authenticity certificate and exhibition certificate."
Liu Qing smiled slightly, "Let's try it on."
"Okay."
Boss Gu's eyes lit up as he imdiately took out the pendant.
Taking the ice-type green jade Guanyin pendant, Liu Qing shone a flashlight on it, revealing its through-and-through brightness, the piece was warm to the touch and flawlessly carved. She nodded in satisfaction, "Jade nourishes the wearer. Let put it on you, Zhang."
The little landlady hesitantly nodded in agreent.
"It's truly beautiful!"
After being adorned, Liu Qing exclaid, "I'll get a master to bless it; it'll ensure your safety and well-being."
The ice-type green jade Guanyin pendant against the little landlady's white T-shirt looked quite charming under the shop's lighting.
The little landlady hesitated for a mont, "This is expensive, isn't it?"
Liu Qing then looked towards Boss Gu.
Boss Gu stretched out three fingers, "Not too expensive, twenty thousand."
"That's too much..."
"Put it on my tab, Boss Gu!" Before the little landlady could finish her sentence, Liu Qing had already taken the pendant.
"Aunt Liu, you're being too generous,"
The little landlady pursed her lips and said.
"Let's not talk like we're outsiders. We're one family,"
Liu Qing waved her hand, beaming, "With this Guanyin pendant complented by the Century-Old Red Agate Bracelet, you look too beautiful, Zhang. Eh, why aren't you wearing the bracelet?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)