Chapter 409: Let's Discuss

Fan Shazi stared at me, lost in thought as he looked at his ink chrysanthemum painting.

He said, "Brother, you like it; later, elder brother, I'll send you a new one—hang this painting at home, it'll class up your place."

"Thank you for your kindness, elder brother. I have no home now, nor a place to hang it. Let's talk about it when I have a nest."

"This time I came to see you, elder brother, to discuss an important matter."

"What is it? Say it, as long as I can do it," Fan Shazi said.

I glanced around and saw people on all sides,

"Is there somewhere else we can talk?"

"Understood, brother, come with me." Fan Shazi then pushed open a hidden door.

Then he said to his subordinates, "You all wait outside; when the food and drinks arrive, call us."

I and Fan Shazi entered the dark room.

This dark room wasn't big, containing only two chairs.

Fan Shazi gestured for me to sit down.

After I sat down,

"Elder brother, it seems your business is really bad; otherwise you wouldn't be in that line, extorting money by feigning injury."

"Ah, brother, it's hard to explain. Let me be frank with you: although I run a shop that looks respectable, anyone in the trade knows we're just hoping to make money by selling fakes."

"My son, Fan Sizhe, got locked up again this year for fighting. I urgently need money to get this kid out."

"I have no choice; using this method to earn a bit more money." Fan Shazi said seriously, looking at me.

I smiled,

took out a cigarette,

"Elder brother, if it were before, I could help you with just a word, but now things are different—alas, you know my status. I can't help you with these matters either."

Fan Shazi took the cigarette, held it to his nose and sniffed,

"I certainly know that your Da Heng Group suddenly encountered a change. You too can only flee and live as a fugitive."

"Jianqiang brother, back when I got out of prison, I once planned to look for you, but considering the difference in our statuses,"

"I decided not to disturb you."

"I never expected we would meet again."

"How's your situation over there now? Any way to make a fortune?"

"As for me, well, as long as they don't catch me, I can survive. This time I came to Zaocheng; I have a way to make money—do you, elder brother, find it interesting?" I asked Fan Shazi.

"A way to make money—if it can make money, I'm interested." Fan Shazi's eyes lit up.

"Heh, it looks like you really need money, elder brother. I ask you: do you know Director Lu of the Zaocheng Museum?"

"I do know him—he often comes over to buy some calligraphy and paintings. How so—is this money‑making scheme related to him?"

"Of course it is. These years I've been drifting around Sijiucheng."

"You know what Sijiucheng is—it's truly a place where dragons lie hidden and tigers crouch."

"I followed a friend into the antiquities trade, just like you, dealing in these antiquities."

"But they're just ordinary items, and the profit isn't much."

"One of my friends knows an antiquities dealer; this dealer is very wealthy and prefers bronze ware."

"He's willing to pay a high price for such treasures."

"You, being in this trade, also know that bronze ware among antiquities is rare to encounter. Nowadays unearthed pieces are too few; those unearthed in the past are all in museums, so there's nowhere to get them."

"Our Zaocheng Museum houses several treasures; these were all discovered by me years ago in Beishan and later donated to the museum."

"I'm now at the end of my rope, with no other way to make money."

"I want to brainstorm ideas regarding these few treasures."

"The museum is heavily guarded; if I tried to steal directly, I'd hardly have a chance."

"You're acquainted with Director Lu; see if we can work something out using him."

After hearing me finish, Fan Shazi remained silent for a while,

he lit a cigarette with a lighter and started smoking.

After a moment, he said, "Jianqiang, you've come to this point. I can understand, but I still need a meal to eat. Know that stealing from a museum is a capital offense."

"I've spent most of my life in prison."

"I don't want to die in there."

"What about making some fakes? I know people who specialize in forgery; their bronze ware is identical to newly unearthed pieces."

"Elder brother, what is Sijiucheng? If we forge there, we're dead meat. People there are the ancestors of forgery—Panjiayuan, Liulichang; just think how much stuff moves through there every day."

"Moreover, that big merchant of theirs is always accompanied by cultural relics appraisal experts; whatever you bring out, they first examine it with their eyes, and they can tell real from fake at a glance—don't even think of making money with counterfeit goods; believe me, dying would be worse than being in prison." I said.

"What Jianqiang brother said makes sense. The water in that trade in Sijiucheng is deep; we can't wade into it. Brother, speaking of this,"

"People die for wealth, birds die for food."

"I want to ask brother, what price can that big merchant offer for the goods? How much money can we make?"

"You know, making just a little bit,"

"I'd be better off doing the extortion racket—safe and risk‑free." Fan Shazi said while smoking.

"Profit? Elder brother, let me put it this way: they're willing to pay 5 million for the treasures—four pieces, each over a million."

"It depends on how much you can get the goods from Director Lu for."

"If you take it for one million, we between us would earn four million." I said, looking at Fan Shazi.

"Brother, that 5 million price is too low; our profit would be slim."

"Let me be frank with you: Director Lu and I are on very good personal terms."

He also revealed that he wanted to use what he had to make some money. You should know that the Zaocheng Museum is just a low-revenue government office, and there aren't many expenses.

Who wouldn't want to turn the power in their hands into cash?

Director Lu said that the few treasures on display are all replicas, and the real ones are hidden in the vault.

Only he can open the vault, and now nobody knows about this.

He was thinking about how to turn the things in the vault into cash.

He has already asked five million for those few items, and he is having me spread the word in the market.

The buyer offers five million, and he sells for five million.

Brother, between us this is just a pointless hustle; what's the point of this business?

"If I can make a few hundred thousand from one item, I'm willing to make this happen," Fan Shazi said seriously.

Hearing this, I sucked in a breath of cold air. From Fan Shazi's words I learned that,

Damn, it turns out Director Lu already intends to sell the treasures.

If I don't come in time, who knows where they'll end up selling those treasures?

Whether they sell it or I use it, it's the same.

These treasures will never fall into outsiders' hands.

I then said to Fan Shazi, "Old brother, I'll go talk to that antique dealer. I absolutely can't let you work for nothing."

There will definitely be benefits for you in this.

As for Director Lu, you contact him and just say a buyer has taken interest and is considering the price.

But we must guarantee they are genuine.

"Brother, you can rest assured. I already said earlier, my relationship with Director Lu is not ordinary. As long as the price is right, I can also make a profit from this."

"This deal will definitely succeed," Fan Shazi said proudly.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, old brother, to make contact. I'll go back to discuss the price with that antique dealer. Old brother, you make some profit, I also want to make some profit—everyone needs to make money."

"Old brother, I'll go ahead first. Later, I'll have Ding Li pass along a message to you."

"Brother, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Let's have a drink before we go; I sincerely want to keep you." Fan Shazi stood up to hold me back.