The Amazing son in law Chapter 6680
With a serious expression, he remarked, “What you just revealed to me seems to be a base. From what I can tell, based on my personal experience, it appears to originate from the Ming Dynasty. Let’s head to the VIP room to discuss this further. You can allow me to examine the items more closely, and I’ll provide you with an accurate valuation.”
The man quickly replied, “Sure! Let’s go!”
Chen Yufei led him to the VIP room at the back and closed the door, leaving just the two of them inside.
The VIP room initially had no surveillance, but following the incident where Jacob hit the Yu Hu Chun Ping, Jasmine had instructed her team to install cameras in conspicuous places.
Upon entering, the man noticed the surveillance camera and immediately asked, “Why is there still recording happening here? I can’t let anyone outside know about my visit.”
Chen Yufei, aware that their dialogue was merely scripted, smiled and reassured him, “No need to worry. This is just our internal security camera. It’s primarily for documenting evidence in case there are any disputes regarding the items. In our line of work, we have to be cautious. If someone were to bring in a flawed piece of porcelain and claim we broke it, we’d be liable for compensation at market value. Without monitoring, we’d be helpless to prove otherwise. Makes sense, right?”
The man waved his hands in resignation, saying, “Alright, I’m here to sell, not to deceive. Just take a look at the items, and if everything checks out, please give me a fair price quickly.”
He then handed a piece wrapped in red silk to Chen Yufei.
Chen Yufei examined the Buddha statue and its accompanying base closely before smiling and asking, “Brother, are you in a rush to part with this?”
“Yes,” the man replied, nodding. “As long as the price is right, we can finalize the deal immediately.”
Chen Yufei smiled thoughtfully and inquired, “What price do you have in mind for this piece?”
The man held up five fingers: “Five hundred thousand!”
“Five hundred thousand?” Chen Yufei chuckled and said, “This piece looks like a bronze Buddha from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty. Its craftsmanship and form are exceptional. At auction, it could fetch at least one to two million. If you find a reputable place like Ji Qingtang for consignment, it could easily sell for over a million. Why would you sell it for only half a million?”
The man sighed and confessed, “Honestly, this belonged to my father, who just passed away this afternoon. He willed all the antiques to my eldest brother. I felt the will was unfair, so I took this piece to sell quickly. I need cash, and I’m not greedy. If you give me five hundred thousand, it’s yours.”
Chen Yufei responded, “Given that your father made a will leaving items to your eldest brother, taking this piece without his knowledge could be considered theft. Do you think I would dare accept stolen goods?”
The man quickly retorted, “My father had many items; this is just one. Besides, my eldest brother knows nothing about antiques—he wouldn’t even realize this one existed or its value. If it’s genuine, it shouldn’t be just half a million. You know wealthy collectors; if you can connect with someone willing to pay over a million, you could make a significant profit.”
He then added, with a pained expression, “I’ve laid my cards on the table. I won’t push further. I’ll lower the price by another hundred thousand. If you can accept four hundred thousand, great. If not, I’ll find someone else.”
Chen Yufei scoffed, saying, “Oh brother, your acting is commendable, and the story is intriguing, but unfortunately for you, I’m not easily fooled. As the general manager of Ji Qingtang, I can see through your ploys.”
The man’s face showed a flash of panic as he quickly replied, “What tricks? I’m here to sell honestly. If you’re not interested, just return the item. I won’t press the issue.”
Chen Yufei smiled derisively, “Your Buddha statue is indeed appealing, with excellent shape and craftsmanship, but the leather shell appears artificially aged. While it’s not a modern creation, it’s not very old either—perhaps from the late Qing Dynasty or early Republic of China. However, your base is genuinely from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, but it’s merely a base. Without the statue, the base holds little value—only a few tens of thousands. In total, your piece is worth at most seventy to eighty thousand. Expecting five hundred thousand from me while pretending it’s a steal? Do you think I’m a fool?”
The man, suddenly alarmed, stammered, “How did you figure this out?”
Chen Yufei replied confidently, “Please! After years in this business, if I can’t see through your tricks, what have I been doing all this time?”
He then tossed the item back to the man and coldly stated, “Brother, if you want to deceive me, you still have a lot to learn. Go back and refine your skills!”
Nervously, the man took the items and quickly fled from the room without looking back.
Chen Yufei turned away from the camera, a satisfied smile on his face, thinking, “Wow, this is the thrill of using technology to outsmart someone. Even though I knew it was a performance, it was genuinely enjoyable!”
Feeling triumphant, he glanced towards the direction the man had escaped and chuckled, “No antique con artist smarter than me, Chen Yufei, has yet to be born!”
With that, he closed the door to the VIP room and returned to the lobby.
Outside, after leaving Ji Qingtang, the man wandered along the antique street, clutching his belongings.
Meanwhile, Zhou Liangyun was just about to close his shop. He planned to head to the supermarket for some daily necessities and tidy up the second floor of his residence. Just then, the man stealthily approached the entrance of Zhou Liangyun’s store. Their eyes met, and lowering his voice, the man asked mysteriously, “Boss, are you collecting antiques here?”