Chapter 184: Modern Schemes Are Too Deep, I Want To Go Back To The Great Ming! 【seeking Double Monthly Tickets】
“Explode! Explode! Explode!”
“Explode for me—!”
The void rippled like water again, and this time more things fell out, scattering across the bed with a clatter.
There was the exquisite glass wine set that Li Jinglong had long coveted, shimmering with iridescence.
There were several heavy gold ingots, stamped with official seals.
There were a few jade pendants that looked ancient and felt warm and smooth to the touch.
There were even a few rolls of top-quality Suzhou embroidery silk, smooth and lustrous.
The small rental room was instantly illuminated by these treasures from the Great Ming Dynasty, making it shine.
Zhang Biao stared at the ‘loot’ covering the bed, his eyes wide and his breathing rapid, as if he saw countless red banknotes beckoning him.
“We’re rich! This time we’ve really hit the jackpot!”
He pounced onto the bed, picked up a gold ingot, and kissed it fiercely. Then he carefully caressed the glass wine set, unable to put it down.
After the initial euphoria of striking it rich subsided, Zhang Biao gradually calmed down.
He first looked at the exquisite jade belt in his hand, then at the items he had just extracted.
A practical problem lay before him.
How was he going to turn these things into money?
Sell them directly to an antique shop? They’d surely think they were modern crafts, as these items lacked the patina of age. At best, he’d get the price of the jade material.
Go to a formal auction house? Not only would the process be lengthy, but the most crucial point was that their origin was questionable!
How could he explain the provenance of ‘burial goods’ belonging to a condemned prisoner from the Great Ming Dynasty? Would he claim they were heirlooms?
Would a poor young man renting a room like him seem like someone with such family heirlooms? He’d surely be taken in for questioning in minutes!
He needed to find someone knowledgeable, but not too ‘official.’
After much thought, Zhang Biao thought of someone: his college roommate, Hou Jian, nicknamed “Monkey.”
Hou Jian’s family owned a shop in the antique market south of the city, dealing mainly in small items like prayer beads and decorative pieces. He wasn’t a true expert, but with his exposure, he should have some discernment.
So, he immediately sent Hou Jian a WeChat message, arranging to meet at the KFC in the city center, saying he had something he wanted Hou Jian to take a look at.
However, he didn’t dare to bring the jade belt out directly. Instead, he took over a dozen high-definition photos of it under different lighting conditions with his mobile phone and saved them onto an old USB drive.
He would then show them on his computer to Hou Jian; it was safe and reliable.
The next morning, the KFC was filled with the aroma of fried chicken.
Zhang Biao felt uncharacteristically generous. The family bucket he’d only dared to look at before, he ordered two sets.
Portuguese egg tarts, spicy chicken wings, popcorn chicken – everything was ordered!
He also got a strawberry sundae, which he used to think was prohibitively expensive!
He found a corner seat, looked at the pile of food in front of him, and took a deep breath, filled with a sense of happiness.
He picked up a golden, crispy spicy chicken burger and took a huge bite!
The familiar aroma of fried food exploded in his mouth…
However, after a few bites, Zhang Biao’s brows furrowed slightly.
The taste… it was just okay?
Not as amazing as he had imagined.
The chicken was pre-made, the bun was soft, and the sauce had that standard assembly-line flavor… it always felt like something was missing.
He tried the egg tart again; it was too sweet.
The popcorn chicken had too much flour.
The fries were limp and not crispy enough…
He put down the burger and scooped a spoonful of the cold strawberry sundae; it was sweet.
But for some reason, his mind involuntarily recalled the scene at Duke Cao’s Mansion, where he was with Shen Lang and the others, gathered around a copper hot pot, dipping fresh lamb “audited” from Li Jinglong’s kitchen into sesame paste, sweating profusely as they ate heartily…
That warm, rustic flavor, the atmosphere of the brothers snatching meat and teasing each other…
“Tsk…”
Zhang Biao put down the sundae spoon, clicked his tongue, and inexplicably felt his mouth was a bit bland:
“It seems… it’s really not as good as Wang Mazi’s pig’s head meat, or Li Jinglong’s ham…”
The thought struck him as absurd.
He shook his head, trying to dispel these ‘inopportune’ nostalgic feelings, and forced himself to continue eating this ‘luxurious’ modern feast.
After all, this was something he had longed to eat for a long time.
Time passed slowly, yet also quickly.
“Biaozi! What’s this good stuff, being so secretive!”
Hou Jian arrived in a rush, still looking like a skinny monkey, his eyes darting around with a shrewdness.
“Monkey, help your brother check this out.”
Zhang Biao pushed the USB drive over and plugged it into his portable laptop: “Found some old items at home. See if you can make anything of them.”
Hou Jian casually took the laptop, a straw between his lips.
But as the photos magnified on the screen, his casual expression froze.
Immediately after, his eyes widened, and he leaned closer to the screen to examine them carefully. He even unconsciously traced the patterns and patina of the jade belt on the screen with his hand.
“Holy hell… Biaozi! You… where did you get this?”
Hou Jian’s voice had changed, filled with incredulous excitement:
“This style, this craftsmanship, this jade quality and patina… this is Ming Dynasty early period stuff!”
“And judging by its specifications, it’s definitely not something ordinary wealthy families could afford!”
“Ming… early Ming Dynasty?”
Zhang Biao’s heart skipped a beat, and he deliberately played dumb:
“No way? It looks quite new to me. Could it be a high-quality replica?”
“Replica my ass!”
Hou Jian excitedly slammed the table, drawing glances from those around him. He quickly lowered his voice:
“Look at this wire-drawing technique, the detail of the fine carving, and these natural earth inclusions and signs of wear!”
“Modern machines can’t produce this kind of character! This is definitely an authentic antique! You’ve struck a goldmine!”
Zhang Biao was profoundly shaken by his words.
It was really from the Ming Dynasty?!
He had clearly “donated” it on the execution ground. Logically, it should have been “freshly manufactured” then!?
Could it be that transmigration between worlds came with such hidden benefits?
His heart bloomed with joy, but he maintained a calm facade:
“Oh… so it’s an heirloom from my ancestors. Monkey, this thing… how much is it worth, roughly?”
Hou Jian’s eyes flickered, his earlier excitement subsiding somewhat as he adopted a feignedly composed demeanor:
“Hmm… the item is good, but it’s a single piece, not a set. Jade belts require completeness. And your source… hehe, you know what I mean.”
He then smiled meaningfully and, feigning loyalty, added:
“How about this, Biaozi? We’re brothers, so I’ll give you a fair price, fifty thousand! Cash! I can give it to you right away!”
【How much? Fifty thousand?】
Zhang Biao sneered inwardly.
Although he didn’t understand the market for these things, judging by Hou Jian’s earlier excitement, he knew this scoundrel was trying to get a bargain.
“Only fifty thousand…”
Zhang Biao deliberately drew out his words, picked up a french fry, and dipped it in ketchup: “I’ll think about it. My elders might be reluctant to part with it.”
Seeing that Zhang Biao wasn’t immediately agreeing, Hou Jian thought, This guy’s unemployed, right? Fifty thousand doesn’t move him?!
So, he quickly called out, “Don’t say that, Biaozi! Fifty thousand is a lot! Your item has a dubious origin. Besides me, who else would dare to buy it? It’s too risky!”
“If it’s so risky, why offer fifty thousand?”
Zhang Biao looked at him with a half-smile:
“Monkey, we’re brothers, but business is business. I’ll ask around some more.”
Seeing that Zhang Biao wasn’t biting, Hou Jian pouted sulkily and said a few more things like “miss this village, you won’t find this shop,” but Zhang Biao just vaguely agreed.
After sending Hou Jian away, Zhang Biao became even more cautious.
Even acquaintances tried to rip him off, let alone the monsters and demons outside.
In the afternoon, he changed into inconspicuous old clothes, put on a hat and mask, and, with the jade belt, wandered to several well-known pawn shops and antique recycling stores in the city.
The results were even more absurd.
An old master at one pawn shop looked for a long time, his eyes darting, and finally said:
“Young man, this item… it’s well-imitated. The craftsmanship is quite fine. I’ll take it for three thousand yuan as a handicraft.”
The owner of another shop was even more ruthless, directly saying, “Modern Henan work, fifteen hundred at most.”
Zhang Biao was so angry he almost cursed on the spot.
The schemes of the modern world were too deep, making him want to return to the Great Ming.
However, he also understood that these places saw him as a stranger and were holding a valuable item, clearly intending to drive down the price as much as possible.
They might even try to fool him into thinking it was a fake, seeing that he was young and inexperienced.
With public channels blocked and acquaintances untrustworthy, Zhang Biao was at a loss for a while.
In the end, he made up his mind and went directly to the largest antique market in the city.
But he didn’t rush to find buyers. Instead, he wandered among the stalls like an ordinary tourist.
His ears pricked up like antennas, carefully listening to the conversations between stall owners and buyers, or between stall owners themselves.
“Boss, what’s the price for this Republic of China period famille rose small bowl?”
“Oh, you have a good eye! One price, eight thousand!”
“Too expensive, thirty!”
“Deal! I’ll wrap it up for you!”
“Old Li, how was that batch of copper coins you acquired yesterday?”
“Sigh, don’t even mention it. Nothing good, all ‘scooped from the ground.’ Selling them as a lot.”
“This item is wrong, the bottom mark is too new…”
“Oh my lord, that’s called ‘thief’s gleam.’ It’ll disappear after a couple of days of handling!”
He heard all sorts of jargon and slang, saw all kinds of genuine and fake items, and witnessed how buyers and sellers tested each other, bargained, and even set traps.
He noticed that truly good items were often traded very discreetly.
The buyers and sellers seemed to be familiar faces, completing transactions with a glance and a few coded words.
Strangers with good items were easily seen as ‘fat sheep.’
After observing for a good part of the day, Zhang Biao gradually gained some understanding.
First, he couldn’t show his desperation; he couldn’t let people see he was eager to sell.
The item needed a plausible story, but not too fake.
Second, he had to dare to name a price and know how to bargain; there was a lot of room for negotiation.
Lastly, he couldn’t go to big shops; they would likely overcharge him.
He couldn’t go to overly shrewd acquaintances; they would likely rip him off.
He needed to find ‘insiders’ who had the capability, were reputable, but not overly ostentatious, or to be introduced by an intermediary.
Additionally, he noticed several shops with ancient, grand facades deep within the market, which appeared more legitimate than the stalls outside.
Occasionally, well-dressed individuals went in with items and came out with varied expressions.
At this point, Zhang Biao was chatting idly with the owner of a used book stall, indirectly asking about those larger shops.
The stall owner, a talkative old man, seeing Zhang Biao’s friendly demeanor, did tell him a few things:
“Those few shops, Boguzhai and Yaji Xuan, are decent. The owners have some insight, and the prices are relatively fair, but their commission isn’t low.”
“As for Treasure Pavilion… hehe, they have a strong background and dare to acquire things, but they drive down prices hard. It depends on your luck.”
Zhang Biao silently noted these names.
As evening approached, the antique market began to pack up.
Zhang Biao walked back with tired steps.
Although he had achieved nothing all day and had been quite annoyed, he felt much more at ease.
At least, he was no longer a clueless rookie ignorant of the antique trade in the real world.
He looked at the still clear 【40kg】 mark on his right arm, and his eyes reignited with fighting spirit.
“It seems I need to plan carefully how to reasonably liquidate the remaining ‘burial goods’…”
He touched his rumbling stomach, thought for a moment, and turned towards a fragrant barbecue stall by the roadside.
“Boss, twenty meat skewers, two kidneys, and a bottle of beer!”
He needed to eat something good to compensate for the day’s frustrations.
Not long after, after a meal of sizzling, greasy barbecue accompanied by ice-cold beer, Zhang Biao felt that much of the accumulated frustration from the day had dissipated.
While he gnawed on skewers, he stared at the information about those antique shops he had searched for on his phone screen, his mind racing.
A direct confrontation wouldn’t work; those old foxes were too shrewd.
He needed to find a way to not appear eager, to pique their interest, and to avoid being drastically underpaid.
A bold and ‘clever’ plan gradually took shape in his mind.
After returning to the rental room, Zhang Biao carefully recalled his observations from the day, but he didn’t act immediately.
First, he ‘hammered out’ a few more items from his 【40kg】 allowance.
A piece of cloth from the front of a military official’s robe, thrown by Guo Ying, bearing a fierce tiger head rank insignia. Although old and worn, the embroidery was exquisite and exuded a menacing aura.
A hand-held item, likely from some noble, still bearing a faint stamp, heavy and textured.
And a few scattered jade pendants of good quality.
He didn’t take out all the items, just selected these few representative, not-too-large, but yet ‘high-class’ objects.
He did not take out everything, only selecting these few representative items that were not large but could show ‘class’.
Then, he rummaged through his belongings and found a presentable shirt and a pair of jeans to change into.
Facing the mirror, he tousled his hair a bit, trying to look less like an unemployed person who had just been beaten down by society.
“First step, information overload, creating a false impression!”
He took out his mobile phone and registered a new social media account with no personal information, named 【Seeking Ancient Treasures Master】.
Then, he went to several well-known local collector forums and city trading sections and started posting.
The post titles were designed to be attention-grabbing:
【Ancestral home unearthed a relic from the early Ming Dynasty, possibly related to a Duke from the Hongwu era, seeking appraisal!】
【Cleaning out the storeroom, found a few old items. Those who know, please inquire. If you don’t know, don’t bother. Serious inquiries only!】
【Help needed: What is the current market value of these Ming Dynasty official attire accessories and jade belt?（With pictures）】
In his posts, he included close-up photos of the tiger head rank insignia fabric and the gold ingot. His wording was a mix of classical and vernacular Chinese, giving an impression of having some background knowledge while also conveying a sense of “I don’t quite understand it, but it seems very valuable.”
After posting, he ignored them, letting the potential replies and speculations ferment.
“Second step, testing the waters, precise baiting!”
On the morning of the third day, he went to the antique market again.
This time, he didn’t go to Bogu Zhai or the Treasure Pavilion, but instead entered Yajixuan, a shop rumored to have a discerning owner and reasonable prices.
The shop was quiet. A thin old man wearing reading glasses and a Chinese-style jacket was reading a book behind the counter.
Zhang Biao didn’t take out his items immediately. Instead, he first looked around the shop, glancing at the porcelain and jade pieces displayed in the showcase, before walking to the counter and casually pointing at an inconspicuous jade pendant in the corner, asking:
“Boss, how much for this?”
The old man looked up, pushed his glasses up his nose, and sized up Zhang Biao before saying indifferently:
“That’s not for sale, I play with it myself.”
Zhang Biao gave a soft “Oh” and didn’t press the issue, sighing as if unintentionally:
“Sigh, it’s really hard to find truly good items these days. I used to have a few old things at home, but sadly…”
He trailed off, successfully capturing the old man’s attention.
The old man put down his book and looked at him: “Young man, what good things do you have at home?”
Zhang Biao then hesitantly took out a brocade box from the old canvas bag he was carrying and carefully opened it. Inside was the tiger head rank insignia fabric.
He didn’t fully reveal it, only showing a corner. The ferocious tiger head and exquisite embroidery instantly caught the old man’s eye.
The old man’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately put on gloves and picked up a magnifying glass: “Young man, can I examine this… on the counter more closely?”
Zhang Biao glanced around cautiously before reluctantly nodding: “Be gentle, this is all I have.”
The old man examined it for a long time, his expression growing more solemn as he looked, his fingers even trembling slightly:
“This… this embroidery, this material, the wear… it looks like something from the early Ming Dynasty! And it’s from an official’s robe! Where did you… get this from?”
“It was passed down from my ancestors.”
Zhang Biao said with a straight face, “I heard from the elders that my ancestors might have had some connection with a General surnamed Guo from the Hongwu era, but I’m not sure of the specifics.”
He deliberately blurred the information, yet dangled the hook of “General surnamed Guo.”
The most famous General surnamed Guo from the Hongwu era was Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying.
Those who knew would naturally make the connection.
The old man gasped, and his gaze towards Zhang Biao immediately changed.
He pondered for a moment and tentatively asked:
“Young man, this item… do you want to sell it?”
Zhang Biao immediately shook his head like a rattle drum:
“No, no! I just brought it for you to appraise and confirm the era. It’s a memento from my ancestors, how could I sell it!”
After saying that, he quickly put the fabric back in the box, stuffed it into his bag, his movements seamless and appearing very precious.
A flicker of disappointment crossed the old man’s eyes, but his attitude became noticeably warmer:
“Young man, can you leave your contact information? If you… change your mind in the future, or if you have other items you want appraised, feel free to come find me anytime.”
Zhang Biao hesitated for a moment before reluctantly exchanging numbers with the old man on a secondary SIM card.
Walking out of Yajixuan, Zhang Biao chuckled inwardly.
【Successfully created an aura of mystery and rarity.】
Next, he did the same thing at Bogu Zhai.
This time, he changed tactics, presenting a handle-piece with a stamp, again only showing a small part. The story he spun was “my ancestor was with the army, it might have been a reward,” which made the owner of Bogu Zhai’s eyes light up, and he repeatedly asked for more details.
As for the Treasure Pavilion, he never went inside, only circling the doorway and noting its location and general layout.
After finishing these tasks, he disappeared again, returning to his rental room to lie low.
Over the next two days, his alias, 【Seeking Ancient Treasures Master】, indeed received several private messages on the forum.
Some were curious inquiries, some were direct offers, and some, like the owners of Yajixuan and Bogu Zhai, tried to get closer and solicit more information.
Zhang Biao ignored them all, or replied ambiguously, to pique their interest.
At the same time, he used the forum and private inquiries to collect information about the Treasure Pavilion.
The shop had a mixed reputation; some said they had unusual channels and dared to deal in stolen goods, while others said they were overbearing and had powerful backing.
But Zhang Biao wanted exactly this kind of complicated downstream buyer.
If they couldn’t handle the slightest trouble, the transaction would surely go wrong.
Therefore, he released the information mainly to “test the waters.”
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