Chapter 6730
Extraordinary Antiques
At the entrance of Qinrenxuan, two simple red lanterns emitted a soft and warm light, the glow like a light veil gently enveloping the bluestone steps in front of the door.
On the steps, Qin Fang, with his white hair and reading glasses, had been pacing back and forth at the door for quite some time.
His steps were somewhat slow, yet urgent. He glanced at the street every now and then, his eyes revealing a hint of anxiety, an anxiety like that of an ant on a hot pan, making him restless.
His hands were unconsciously rubbing together, and he muttered to himself, "Why isn't he here yet? I hope he doesn't delay our business."
Finally, just as Qin Fang was getting impatient, he saw a shared bicycle slowly approaching.
The bicycle looked somewhat frail in the night, yet it carried all of Qin Fang's hopes at that moment.
Xiao Chen skillfully parked the car and walked steadily toward Qin Renxuan.
His shadow was stretched long under the streetlights.
Qin Fang hurried forward, his face beaming with a smile that resembled a blooming chrysanthemum, full of enthusiasm and ingratiation.
He bowed slightly, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Mr. Xiao, I'm so glad to see you! You left in such a hurry last time and didn't leave any contact information. I was so worried that you might have forgotten about this batch of antiques. The antiques I brought from out of town this time are all rare and precious items that I collected with great effort. There's absolutely no problem with them! You can look at them with peace of mind!"
As he spoke, he noticed that Xiao Chen had come on foot. Although he was somewhat surprised, since Xiao Chen's status seemed to suggest that his mode of transportation should not be so simple, he did not ask any further questions out of politeness, but simply buried his doubts deep in his heart.
Xiao Chen's gaze slowly swept over the antique plaque of Qin Renxuan. The characters on the plaque were vigorous and powerful, as if telling the story of the past.
He nodded slightly, his voice steady and calm, like the still waters of a deep pool: "Where is the thing? Take me to see it."
Qin Fang quickly stepped aside, slightly hunched over, and led the way. His steps were hurried yet cautious, as if he was afraid of neglecting Xiao Chen behind him.
The two walked through the front hall, which was filled with a rich, antique atmosphere. The wooden tables and chairs in the front hall exuded a faint woody fragrance, and the various antiques displayed on the display shelves also carried a unique charm of time. The aromas of various antiques intertwined to form a unique and mellow scent, as if taking people back to the distant ancient times.
Upon arriving at the backyard, one sees a large number of antiques neatly stacked in the yard, like silent witnesses to history, quietly telling stories of the past.
There are roughly three hundred items, a wide variety that is dazzling.
There are ancient-style bronze artifacts, with mottled verdigris bearing witness to the vicissitudes of time.
There are exquisite porcelain pieces with a warm, jade-like glaze and lifelike patterns.
There are also ancient calligraphy and paintings, with the elegance of literati flowing between the strokes.
Xiao Chen slowly squatted down, his eyes focused and serious, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the antiques in front of him.
He carefully examined each antique, hoping to find what he needed.
His fingers gently stroked the surface of the antiques, feeling their texture; the delicate touch and the rough texture conveyed different information.
He leaned closer and smelled the aroma; the unique, aged scent of the antique filled his nostrils, allowing him to discern some clues from it.
He would occasionally scrape off a small piece of the surface with his fingernail and examine it closely, not missing a single minute detail. He discovered that most of these antiques were quite old and of excellent quality, far exceeding his expectations.
The inscriptions on those bronzes are clearly legible, the crackles on the porcelain are natural and smooth, and the paper and ink of the calligraphy and paintings are consistent with the characteristics of the period.
He couldn't help but feel more admiration for Qin Fang, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he said, "Boss Qin, thank you for your hard work. I didn't expect you to be able to collect so many good things."
Immediately, he selected the few items he had previously agreed to need.
These antiques seemed to radiate a unique light in his eyes, and they were the treasures he most wanted to obtain on this trip.
Then he took out a bank card from his pocket, handed it over, and said in a calm but unquestionable tone: "Settle according to the market rate."
Qin Fang pushed up his glasses, a hesitant look on his face, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with complex emotions.
He waved his hand, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Mr. Xiao, 1000 million will do."
In fact, the cost of purchasing, transporting, and handling these antiques was nearly 3000 million yuan.
Among them is an authentic work by Tang Bohu, a priceless treasure that is extremely rare and hard to come by.
He knew that Xiao Chen was a knowledgeable person, and if the price was settled according to the market rate, he could make a lot of money. However, he also felt that Xiao Chen was a person worth befriending and did not want to make more money off him. That's why he offered a price that was far below cost.
Xiao Chen, being naturally perceptive, immediately noticed Qin Fang's intention to make concessions. His slightly upturned lips conveyed a sense of understanding, but he didn't say anything more.
He remained calm, took out a card reader from his pocket, and quietly swiped his card with swift and decisive movements.
Then, he tore a page from his notebook, wrote down a detailed address, handed it to Qin Fang, and earnestly and solemnly instructed him, word by word: "Deliver it to me promptly at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Don't be late."
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Xiao Chen seemed to be suddenly stopped by something important. He paused, then turned back, leaned close to Qin Fang, and lowered his voice so low that it seemed only the two of them could hear: "Boss Qin, you have been rooted in the ancient city for many years and have a wide network of connections. Do you know where we can find better antiques, the older the better? Preferably the kind with a mysterious aura."
Upon hearing this, Qin Fang was jolted, as if struck by lightning.
He was a martial artist by nature and had heard of many strange and unusual stories in his daily life.
It is said that some powerful cultivators can draw spiritual energy from antiques for cultivation, and those antiques are like elixirs for their cultivation.
Could it be... that Xiao Chen is also this type of person?
Qin Fang suddenly came to his senses, and his withered palms unconsciously rubbed against the silk mandarin jacket. The silk of the jacket was smooth and delicate, but it could not soothe the turmoil in his heart at this moment.
He forced a smile, but it looked worse than a grimace, as if it were forcibly pulled from his face: "Mr. Xiao, you may not know this, but if it's just ordinary antiques, you can find some imitations on the antique street in the west of the city. However, that place is a mixed bag, and it's hard to tell the real from the fake. You need to have a discerning eye."
He lowered his voice, his eyes darting warily across the half-open door as if afraid of being overheard, "But finding antiques that can absorb spiritual energy isn't something you can find in ordinary places." (End of Chapter)