Chapter 185: I’ve Experienced The Feeling Of Being A “godly Tycoon”! 【monthly Ticket Bonus Update 17】
A few days later, he felt the timing was right.
Zhang Biao changed into an antique-style Chinese tunic with frog fasteners he bought online, which looked of decent quality. He put on a pair of non-prescription glasses, carried his old canvas bag, and set out again.
This time, his target was clear: he headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion.
The Treasure Pavilion’s storefront was indeed impressive, decorated in an antique style. There weren’t many customers inside, but each one was dressed in finery.
A middle-aged man in a suit, with sharp eyes, sat behind a tea set, presumably the manager.
After Zhang Biao entered, instead of looking around as he had the previous two times, he walked directly to the tea set, nodded slightly, and spoke in a deliberately measured tone with a hint of detachment:
“Excuse me, do you accept jade belts from the Early Ming Dynasty?”
The manager sized up Zhang Biao’s attire and demeanor, not daring to be negligent. He stood up and said with a smile:
“Hello sir, an Early Ming jade belt? Such items are rarely seen. May I have a look?”
Zhang Biao said little, directly taking out several carefully selected photos and handing them over.
The manager was momentarily stunned but didn’t pay it much mind, immediately focusing his gaze on the photos.
He examined them more closely than Hou Jian had, his fingers unconsciously tracing the patterns on the photos. He spent a good five or six minutes looking, only occasionally glancing up at Zhang Biao with calm, unreadable eyes.
“Where is the item?”
The manager finally spoke, his voice even.
“The item isn’t with me. My elderly family member is keeping a close watch on it.”
Zhang Biao responded with the story he had prepared: “Please take a look first. If it suits your interest, we can discuss the next steps.”
The manager nodded, asking no further questions, and merely pointed to a detail of a dragon and cloud pattern on a photo, commenting:
“This brushed finish is an old technique. The way the dragon’s eyes are carved has a Song and Yuan Dynasty flair, but the regulations seem to be from the Early Ming… it’s quite interesting.”
He then pointed to the jade’s luster and the subtle wear on the edges:
“The patina is natural, indicating it’s a family heirloom, not unearthed. Young man, this item of yours is extraordinary.”
Zhang Biao felt a surge of joy, knowing he had found someone who truly understood.
However, his expression remained impassive:
“Your eyesight is good. Then, in your opinion, what would be a reasonable price if this item were to be sold?”
The manager pondered for a moment and held up five fingers:
“If the item is as pictured, starting at five million. If you can find matching belt plaques, or if its provenance is clear and it goes to auction, it could even double or triple in value.”
Five million!
Zhang Biao’s heart pounded.
It was a world of difference from Hou Jian’s fifty thousand.
But he forcefully suppressed his excitement, knowing that this wasn’t the final price, and more importantly, the provenance was key.
“The price is good!”
Zhang Biao feigned hesitation:
“It’s just that the provenance… is a bit unclear. It’s been passed down through generations without any documentation.”
The manager nodded understandingly; in the antique trade, many old items had unclear histories.
“Good items will naturally find their buyers.”
“If you trust me, you can bring the item over. I’ll find a few reliable friends to take a look. We can negotiate a price. I guarantee it’s safer than you stumbling around on your own.”
Zhang Biao could sense the manager’s sincerity but still couldn’t completely relax.
“I’ll think about it further. Thank you, brother.”
He put away the photos, preparing to leave.
“Wait!”
The manager called him back and handed him a simple, elegant business card with only the name ‘Chen Jingming’ and a phone number:
“If you make up your mind, you can call this number. However, young man…”
He then glanced meaningfully at Zhang Biao and said calmly, “Good things are hot potatoes. Act quickly, but also steadily.”
He knows! He knows it was me who released the news about those antiques!
However, he still wants me to sell it quickly.
Zhang Biao instantly felt more confident.
The Treasure Pavilion was indeed not simple; they seemed unfazed by the risks associated with unclear provenance.
But direct transactions still carried significant risk.
Zhang Biao also smiled faintly, said “Thank you,” and turned to leave.
The manager, watching him depart, quickly left his counter and hurried upstairs.
As for Zhang Biao, not long after leaving the Treasure Pavilion, he passed a stall and overheard two vendors chatting.
“Did you hear? Wansheng Auction House is holding a private exchange event next month. The entry threshold is very high, and it’s said that many good items will be on display, all traded directly among insiders, not through public channels.”
“In that kind of event, without an introduction from someone familiar, you can’t get in at all…”
A private exchange event? Direct trading among insiders?
Zhang Biao’s eyes lit up.
This seemed like a good opportunity!
It would allow him to avoid official scrutiny and connect with truly capable buyers!
But how to get in? He had no connections.
Suddenly, he remembered the Treasure Pavilion manager’s words: “find a few reliable friends to take a look.”
That Chen Jingming should be the owner of the Treasure Pavilion.
But he couldn’t contact him directly, even if his people had recognized him.
Hmm, I must let him know that I’m not a clueless greenhorn. I need to show him I have connections, to avoid any shady dealings.
A bold plan formed in Zhang Biao’s mind.
He contacted Hou Jian again.
“Monkey, about that jade belt last time, I made some inquiries. It seems it’s worth more than fifty thousand.” Zhang Biao said deliberately over the phone.
Hou Jian stammered on the other end:
“Biao, the market fluctuates… How about this, eighty thousand! Am I being a good enough friend?”
“Eighty thousand is out of the question.”
Zhang Biao said calmly:
“I’ve found a channel that might get me into Wansheng’s private exchange event. The price might be several times higher then. It’s a shame I don’t have a way in.”
“Wansheng’s private exchange event?!”
Hou Jian’s voice shot up instantly, filled with envy and surprise: “You… you found a way in? Who introduced you?”
“Still negotiating.”
Zhang Biao vaguely replied:
“If I can get in, this item probably won’t be hard to sell. Alas, I just lack someone to make the connection.”
Hou Jian was silent on the phone for a few seconds, clearly engaged in an intense internal struggle.
He wanted to profit from the markup, knew he couldn’t handle it himself, and was also coveting the opportunity at the high-end exchange event.
If he could get in through Zhang Biao, it would be a massive opportunity for his small shop.
“Biao… no, Brother Biao!”
Hou Jian’s tone became ten times more enthusiastic:
“How about this? My father has some acquaintance with Elder Chen Jingming. Elder Chen is highly respected in the circle and definitely has connections!”
“Shall I have my father introduce you? After it’s done, you can just give a small referral fee!”
The fish has taken the bait!
Zhang Biao sneered inwardly, but outwardly said with difficulty, “This… it’s too much trouble for Uncle, isn’t it? And Elder Chen…”
“It’s no trouble! It’s no trouble!”
Hou Jian was afraid he would go back on his word: “I’ll tell my father right away! Elder Chen most likes to mentor newcomers. Your item is good; he’ll definitely be willing to help!”
Hanging up the phone, Zhang Biao let out a long sigh of relief.
By using Hou Jian’s desire to connect, leveraging his father to introduce Chen Jingming, and then having Elder Chen recommend him for the private exchange event…
This layered buffer would ensure the item was seen by genuine connoisseurs and, to the greatest extent, conceal his own capabilities, thus avoiding any potential exploitation.
A few days later, through Hou Jian’s father’s introduction, Zhang Biao met Chen Jingming.
This time, he brought the actual jade belt.
After carefully examining it, Elder Chen confirmed its authenticity, his eyes unable to conceal his admiration.
Regarding the introduction to the exchange event, Elder Chen pondered for a moment before agreeing, but he laid down two conditions:
First, the transaction must be completed at the exchange event to ensure safety.
Second, after a successful sale, he would take a five percent commission.
Zhang Biao readily agreed.
This was far better than being cheated by unscrupulous merchants.
Half a month later, at the private exchange event on the top floor of Wansheng Auction House.
The venue was not large, elegantly decorated, and there were few attendees, but each one carried an air of distinction.
Accompanied by Chen Jingming, Zhang Biao sat discreetly in a corner.
His jade belt, as one of the ‘mystery collectibles,’ was scheduled to be displayed in the middle session.
When the jade belt appeared under the soft lighting, it immediately captured the attention of all the connoisseurs.
The lustrous jade, the exquisite craftsmanship, and the evident regulations of a Duke-level artifact from the Ming Dynasty caused those in the know to catch their breath.
Bidding occurred silently among a few low-key buyers, involving more gestures and eye contact than verbal communication.
In the end, a middle-aged man with a composed demeanor acquired the jade belt for the price of twelve million.
The subsequent process was much faster.
An agreement was signed, and the exchange event organizers were responsible for finding authoritative institutions for appraisal and record-keeping, as well as handling the relevant ‘legal’ procedures.
Due to the substantial amount, payment would be made in installments. Two million was paid as a deposit into Zhang Biao’s newly opened bank card that day, with the remainder to be settled after the procedures were completed.
Looking at the long string of numbers in his mobile banking app, Zhang Biao’s hands trembled slightly.
He had not only resolved his immediate survival crisis but also possessed a vast fortune.
“Young man, this is a good item. If you have more in the future… remember to find me.”
Chen Jingming patted his shoulder meaningfully.
Zhang Biao smiled and nodded.
He knew that with this successful connection, the next time would be a direct private transaction.
No intermediaries to profit from the price difference.
Now, Li Jinglong’s seven-colored glazed wine set, Guo Ying’s rank insignia… and more unknown good items finally had a sales channel!
As Zhang Biao walked out of the exchange event with the bank card, shimmering with metallic luster and holding two million yuan, his steps felt a bit unsteady.
The sunlight warmed his skin, and the air felt incredibly fresh.
The first thing he did was rush to the nearest bank ATM, insert his card, and enter his PIN.
When the screen clearly displayed the long string of zeros, he couldn’t resist pinching his thigh hard.
It hurt!
This isn’t a dream!
I’m actually rich now!
The suppressed excitement and sense of vindication erupted, and he barely managed not to shout in the bank.
He took several deep breaths to calm himself, then walked with his head held high, and for the first time in a long time, confidently hailed a passing vehicle—
“Taxi!”
…
Back at the familiar dilapidated residential building, Zhang Biao paid the taxi fare and had just entered the building when he heard that familiar, shrill, ear-piercing voice.
“Zhang Biao! You poor wretch, you dare to come back?! If you don’t pay the rent today, do you think I’ll throw all your stuff out!”
The landlady, Aunt Wang, stood blocking the stairwell with her hands on her hips, spewing saliva, her face full of contempt and impatience.
If it had been in the past, Zhang Biao would have surely placated her with a smile, but today…
He stopped, looked at the aggressive landlady, and a playful smirk slowly curved his lips.
“Aunt Wang, don’t be so angry.”
Zhang Biao sauntered forward, pulled out the brand-new bank card from his pocket, and waved it in front of the landlady’s eyes:
“It’s just rent, right? How much was it?”
Aunt Wang was taken aback by his sudden composure and action, and instinctively replied:
“Including the late penalty, three thousand!”
“Only three thousand…”
Zhang Biao drew out the words, then, holding the bank card between two fingers, gently tapped it against the stairwell wall next to him with a ‘snap,’ his tone laced with an infuriating laziness:
“Sorry, Aunt Wang, this place… I’m not renting anymore.”
“What?!”
Aunt Wang’s eyes widened: “Not renting anymore? Then you’re not getting your deposit back! And you must be out by today! Otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?”
Zhang Biao interrupted her, stepping closer. The pressure from his height made Aunt Wang instinctively take half a step back.
He still smiled, but his eyes turned cold:
“Deposit? That little bit of money, consider it a gift, a down payment for your blood pressure medication.”
“As for moving out…”
Zhang Biao scoffed and pointed upstairs: “The junk inside, I don’t want it anymore. You can do whatever you want with it, throw it away, burn it, I don’t care.”
His demeanor and words completely stunned Aunt Wang.
She looked at Zhang Biao’s face, which had suddenly become unfamiliar and full of confidence, and then at the bank card he had casually placed on the wall, which looked anything but ordinary. For a moment, she was speechless.
Zhang Biao looked at her contorted, fat face, twisted with shock and disbelief, and felt an immense satisfaction.
He bent down, tore a corner from an advertisement flyer someone had dropped on the ground, took out a pen, quickly scribbled a few words, and then gently tucked it into Aunt Wang’s frozen hand.
“Aunt Wang, this is my new phone number.”
Zhang Biao patted her shoulder, his tone containing undisguised teasing: “We’re even now.”
With that, he no longer looked at the petrified landlady, turned around with a flourish, whistling, and strode out of the building that had oppressed him for so long.
Behind him, Aunt Wang’s furious yet incredulous shriek could faintly be heard:
“Zhang Biao! You… what do you mean? Where did you get the money?! You…”
The sound gradually faded into the distance.
Standing on the bustling street, Zhang Biao took a deep breath of free air, feeling every pore of his being rejoice.
He took out his phone and directly booked the executive suite at the city’s best five-star hotel.
Then, he made a phone call:
“Hello, Porsche 4S dealership? Yes, I’d like to make an appointment to look at a car…”
After hanging up, he flagged down a taxi.
“Driver, to the InterContinental Hotel—!”
Another week passed, and the remaining payments for the jade belt gradually came in. Apart from Chen Jingming’s commission, there was over nine million.
But Zhang Biao no longer felt the same excitement as when he first received the two million deposit.
Money, to him, was just a number.
So, after receiving the final payment, he went straight to the Porsche 4S dealership.
He chose this relatively ‘low-key’ brand because supercars were too conspicuous and wouldn’t suit his need to conceal his secret.
A luxury SUV like the Porsche Cayenne, on the other hand, offered a certain driving pleasure while its solid doors and privacy glass provided a good enclosed space.
What if he needed to urgently handle some small items ‘from the Great Ming Dynasty’ in the car?
The salesperson, seeing his youthful appearance and ordinary attire, initially just went through the motions of an introduction.
Zhang Biao cut to the chase, pointing directly to the top-spec Cayenne Turbo GT in the showroom:
“This one, dark color, in stock, full payment.”
The salesperson was taken aback and tentatively asked, “Sir, the on-the-road price for this model is close to three million… Are you sure you want this one?”
Zhang Biao bypassed further conversation and directly displayed his mobile banking interface.
The salesperson’s expression instantly shifted from suspicion to extreme enthusiasm.
After sorting out his ride, the next goal was naturally a villa with greater privacy.
He contacted a real estate agent, with only one requirement:
A detached villa, fully furnished, in a secluded location, with good privacy, preferably in a new development with few neighbors, and a basement or independent garage.
The agent showed him several properties, and he finally settled on a newly developed high-end villa area on the outskirts of the city.
One villa, located furthest in, with an independent courtyard and a sunken garage in a modern style, greatly pleased him.
Here, he would hardly be disturbed by neighbors, and the solid walls and advanced security system would effectively prevent prying eyes.
He quickly signed the contract and, amidst countless envious and surprised glances, left with the villa keys and a thick stack of property ownership documents.
Next came daily necessities and entertainment equipment, a spree of buying.
“Phew.”
After experiencing the joy of being a ‘god-tier tycoon,’ Zhang Biao let out a long sigh of relief.
The car solved his transportation and temporary privacy needs.
The villa provided an absolutely safe, undisturbed secret base.
After all, he would still need to travel between the two worlds to bring items.
Daily necessities and entertainment equipment were, of course, indispensable.
And with his survival pressure gone, Zhang Biao collapsed into a chair with a sigh of relief and turned on a brand-new, high-spec Alienware computer.
However, he didn’t immediately play his favorite games.
For some unknown reason, he inexplicably typed ‘Great Ming Zhang Biao’ into the search bar.
The result was as expected.
Apart from a few modern individuals with the same name, there was no trace of him—the ‘Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate,’ the ‘Audit Maniac,’ the ‘God-cursing official of the Hall of Supreme Harmony’—in any historical records of the Great Ming Dynasty.
He then tried searching for ‘Shen Lang,’ ‘Li Mo,’ ‘Sun Gui,’ ‘Wu Nai Da,’ and ‘Zhao Fengman,’ also with no success.
He paused for a moment, then chuckled self-deprecatingly:
“I must be foolish… If people are ‘dead,’ and they don’t even remember me, how could history record me?”
The thrilling experiences of those few months, the people he had once cursed, audited, and even eaten hot pot with, had left no ripple related to him in the grand river of history in this world.
An indescribable sense of loss quietly crept into his heart.
It was as if it had all been merely an overly realistic dream.
He shook his head, dispelling the strange emotion, and turned his attention to another problem that had been bothering him.
He typed ‘Cause of Zhu Biao’s death’ into the search bar.
Instantly, a flood of search results and various conspiracy theories appeared on the screen.
Some said Zhu Biao died of illness from overwork;
Some claimed he was secretly murdered by other sons of Zhu Yuanzhang, especially Prince Yan Zhu Di;
Some attributed it to Zhu Biao’s disagreement with Zhu Yuanzhang’s policies, leading to him being forced to death or his death being tacitly allowed by Old Zhu;
There were even more bizarre theories, suggesting he was silenced after discovering some court secret…
Various explanations were circulating, but none had conclusive evidence, mostly based on fragments of historical records and later speculation.
As Zhang Biao read through them, his brow furrowed deeper.
While these post-era speculations and analyses, some of which seemed plausible.
Compared to the undercurrents and the immense suspicion and pain emanating from Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart, the complexity and darkness involving the princes, nobles, harem, and possibly even the highest echelons of power that he had felt firsthand in the Great Ming, they seemed so… superficial and powerless.
He had personally seen Old Zhu’s reddened eyes and suppressed fury when mentioning the Crown Prince;
He had personally heard Jiang Huan’s undisguised fear during his reports;
He had personally experienced the vast conspiracy network woven around ‘Shaanxi’ and ‘forbidden medicine’ that could engulf everything…
The truth of history was far more heavy, cruel, and complex than the few sparse descriptions in later books.
“Old Zhu, oh Old Zhu…”
Zhang Biao closed the webpage, leaned back in his chair, looked at the ceiling, and muttered, “Did you truly know the truth? Or… would you rather not have known?”
He suddenly felt that his seemingly suicidal question about ‘the Crown Prince’s death’ might have indeed poked a hornet’s nest that even Old Zhu himself dared not delve into, or could not bear to face.
The seemingly supreme and decisive Hongwu Great Emperor might have harbored unknown fears, guilt, and helplessness deep within his heart.
Thinking of this, Zhang Biao inexplicably felt a strange connection to that distant and cruel era.
He shook his head, casting aside this ‘dangerous’ thought.
“Why think so much? I’m rich now! Let’s enjoy life first!”
He decided to put the matters of the Great Ming aside for the moment and plan his rare two-month vacation.
He also needed to think about what items would be best to bring to the Great Ming.
Yes, his ability wasn’t limited to bringing items from the Great Ming back to the modern era; he could also take modern items to the Great Ming.
“Well, same old rule, when in doubt, ask the netizens!”
Just as Zhang Biao was unsure what to bring to the Great Ming, he decisively took out his phone, opened a history forum, and posted:
Rational discussion: If you transmigrated to the Great Ming with 50kg of items, what would you bring?
Seeking double monthly votes~
