30: Chapter 30 Picked up a Huge Bargain_1 30: Chapter 30 Picked up a Huge Bargain_1 Editor: Henyee Translations “Porcelain from the Qianlong era, co take a look!”
“Inkstones from the Ming Dynasty, going cheap!”
“Paintings by Tang Bohu, a real bargain if you buy one!”
Stall owners continuously called out.
Hearing these calls, Shen Dong felt sowhat amused.
If they really had such items, they wouldn’t need to shout to attract buyers.
But after giving it so thought, he realized there was nothing wrong with the hawkers’ cries.
They hadn’t said the items were genuine, so it was perfectly fine.
If soone got fooled, it would only an the person was a fool; no one else to bla.
There might still be so good items among the stalls, so Shen Dong went from one to another, looking carefully.
When he saw an antique, the basic information about the piece would appear in his mind.
After visiting most of the stalls, he hadn’t found a single genuine article.
At the last stall, his eyes lit up when he saw one particular item.
Finally, there was sothing worthwhile—a certain inkstone.
It dated back to the Song Dynasty, and what’s more, it was one that Su Dongpo had used.
“Young man, see anything you like?
Rest assured, the items I sell are all bargains,” said the middle-aged stall owner with a goat beard, smiling genially.
“How much for this vase?” Instead of directly asking about Su Dongpo’s inkstone, Shen Dong inquired about an inconsequential vase first.
“This vase,” replied the owner, a sly twinkle in his eyes, “let tell you, this is a Ming Dynasty creation from the ti of Emperor Yongle.
In the Wanli period, it was collected by Zhang Juzheng.
As a fad minister through the ages, his collection has an absolute value of…”
Shen Dong interrupted before the owner could finish, “Please, spare the speech.
Such talk might fool a simpleton, but let’s just get to the point and talk about the price of the vase.”
All that about being a product of Emperor Yongle’s ti, or the collection of the fad minister Zhang Juzheng, was just nonsense.
If it were true, the owner wouldn’t need to set up a stall here.
“Ahem,” the owner chuckled awkwardly, “It seems you know your stuff, young man.
I won’t ask for much—just 100,000 yuan will do.”
Shen Dong rolled his eyes, about to reply, when the owner quickly added, “10,000 yuan will do.
Although the vase isn’t from Emperor Yongle’s ti, nor was it collected by Zhang Juzheng, it was made during the Republic of China period.
I purchased it for 8,000 yuan, you’ve got to give so margin, right?”
Shen Dong snorted, “8,000 yuan?
I bet you it was more like 80 yuan.”
He could tell that the vase had been made just half a year ago.
“Ahem,” the owner chuckled again, “Well then, young man, why don’t you na your price.”
He couldn’t hoodwink Shen Dong.
Shen Dong held up a finger.
The owner asked, “A thousand yuan?”
Shen Dong shook his head, “A hundred yuan.”
The owner gasped in surprise, “Co on, young man, even if I got it for 80 yuan, I can’t sell it for 100 yuan.
That would an making only 20 yuan, not even enough to cover the fuel cost.
You’re being too harsh.
Add a bit more, will you?”
Shen Dong smiled, “I’ll have a look at the other items first.
If there’s sothing else I like, I might add a bit more.
But just to be clear, if you try to fool again, I won’t buy anything.”
The owner nodded repeatedly, “Sure, take a look around.
If anything else catches your eye, I promise to give you the best price.”
Shen Dong glanced over other items, ultimately resting his eyes on that particular inkstone.
“This inkstone is quite nice.
My old man enjoys calligraphy; it would be perfect for him.” Shen Dong picked up the inkstone and examined it closely.
“Little brother, I must say you have a good eye; this inkstone is from the great literary master of the Tang Dynasty…” the shopkeeper began to boast habitually but, seeing the smirk on Shen Dong’s face, quickly stopped himself, “Ahem, never mind, let’s not talk about that.
I purchased this inkstone for nine thousand yuan and am selling it for ten thousand yuan.
You can’t expect not to make a profit.”
He had bought it for a thousand yuan and was selling it for ten tis that.
Anyway, he hadn’t realized that the inkstone was genuine.
He had asked an appraisal expert, who said it was a product of the Republican period.
Naturally, Shen Dong didn’t believe the shopkeeper had purchased it for nine thousand yuan.
This inkstone was worth at least ten million yuan.
An inkstone once used by Su Dongpo, the great literary genius of the Northern Song Dynasty, wasn’t sothing you could find just anyti.
However, he couldn’t just spend ten thousand yuan on it; otherwise, it was very likely that the shopkeeper would sll a rat.
“Boss, let’s be frank, don’t talk about buying it for nine thousand yuan.
For this inkstone and that vase just now, I’ll offer a lump sum of five thousand yuan.
What do you say, deal or no deal?” Shen Dong said.
The shopkeeper hesitated, “Five thousand yuan is too little.
The vase is one thing, but this inkstone…”
Before he could finish, Shen Dong stood up and walked away.
It was a classic case of feigning disinterest!
“Alright, alright, I’ll sell them to you for five thousand yuan!”
Seeing Shen Dong about to leave, the shopkeeper hurriedly got up and grabbed Shen Dong’s arm.
The vase was acquired for eighty yuan, and the inkstone for a thousand yuan.
Selling them both for five thousand yuan would earn him a profit of three thousand nine hundred and twenty yuan—a huge profit indeed, leaving no reason not to sell.
The kid seed shrewd, but wasn’t he still getting fleeced?
Of course, if he knew the inkstone had been used by Su Dongpo of the Northern Song Dynasty, he wouldn’t be thinking this way.
“Alright, wrap them up for ,” Shen Dong responded.
“Sure.” The shopkeeper efficiently packaged the two items.
Shen Dong paid the five thousand yuan, picked up his purchases, and left.
He was thrilled at the good fortune he had stumbled upon.
He continued browsing.
If he could find such great deals at a stall, there might be more waiting in stores.
He had only taken a few steps when an elderly man dressed in a Tang-style robe followed him, “Young friend, may I ask why you bought these two items?
This vase is obviously a contemporary industrial product.
It’s quite easy to tell, while I didn’t see anything special about that inkstone.
Could you share your thoughts with ?”
The old man had been at the next stall and found it odd when he saw Shen Dong purchase the inkstone and the vase, so he ca over to ask.
The vase was definitely a contemporary industrial product, and he couldn’t see anything noteworthy about the inkstone either.
He was eager to find out what made the young man willing to spend several thousand yuan on the inkstone.
Did he see sothing?
“You are…” Shen Dong regarded the elderly man suspiciously.
“Let introduce myself, I am Tang Tongfu, president of the Hai City Antique Association,” the old man said with a smile.
“President Tang, hello,” Shen Dong nodded, not doubting the man’s identity.
He had already noticed the elderly man at the neighboring stall, where the vendor had called him President Tang.
“Young friend, about the question I just asked, could you tell ?” Tang Tongfu inquired.
“This…” Shen Dong turned his head to look at the shopkeeper.
He wasn’t sure what the consequences would be if he spoke about it and the shopkeeper overheard.
“Young friend, you’ve already bought the items; they’re yours now.
Even if it’s a genuine piece, the seller can’t ask for them back.
If you still have concerns, I have an old friend who owns a shop nearby.
Let’s talk in my friend’s shop,” Tang Tongfu seed to understand what was on Shen Dong’s mind.
“Let’s talk in the shop,” Shen Dong decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make friends with the president of the Antique Association and didn’t mind revealing the true worth of the inkstone.
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