Chapter 599: Deception Reaches the Inner Circle

Although the plot had gone somewhat off-track, Cheng Army Supervisor's options were actually very limited; he would eventually have to return to the established path.

Because he had no way to sell his items directly to Han Chunming, he could only strike at the relatives and friends around him. They would either bring the items before Han Chunming, or simply buy them themselves—after all, they were all part of the Han family, so there shouldn't be any issues.

It was even harder to target Wang Yan, as he was out of reach, with the only points of intersection being the few times a year they drank together at Old Guan's courtyard. For the rest of the time, even Han Chunming and the others found it difficult to reach Wang Yan, let alone Cheng Army Supervisor. Thus, if he wanted to deal with Wang Yan, he had to start with those around him.

Starting with those in the periphery was Cheng Army Supervisor's only channel; he had no other choice, which is why it was a return to the established path. He couldn't keep appearing before Wang Yan, Han Chunming, and the others with fake goods himself; that wouldn't make him a con artist, but a village idiot.

He had to hide in the shadows and send the items to Wang Yan and Han Chunming through several intermediaries. Only in this way could he ensure his own safety while earning money from his two great enemies, satisfying his deep-seated hatred.

The exposure of the Qianlong blue-and-white vase this time showed that his skill level only went so far; he could only deceive ordinary people, not experts like Han Chunming. Besides the hard-pen inscription that made him want to pull his hair out in regret, Han Chunming had also pointed out flaws in the floral patterns, which showed that his craftsmanship was indeed lacking—experts could tell at a glance. Even Wang Yan, who in his eyes was a layman regarding porcelain, had sensed something was wrong. How could such a level deceive them, and how could he earn money from his enemies to support his lifestyle? It was truly difficult.

He began to study meticulously once again. In fact, because he was deeply engaged in antique fraud, he came into contact with other counterfeiters and paid tuition to learn from them.

He was still making Qing Dynasty porcelain; there was no other way, as the Qing Dynasty had the largest volume, and fakes could easily blend in. Ming Dynasty items were already rare; although there were still many, they were far fewer than the Qing. He had to be cautious when making fakes of that era. As for the Song and Yuan periods, those were rare treasures. He didn't dare act rashly, choosing instead to proceed step by step. Only at the very end would he produce Song and Yuan items to pull off a massive scam and retire.

This was Cheng Army Supervisor's beautiful fantasy.

However, in the original story, it took him a long time to plan the scam that defrauded Su Meng of sixty million. But in the original story, those events happened within a year or two. He had already been deep in this for two years now, because he had undergone two rounds of advanced study and was being even more cautious.

He started by making low-value items in large quantities, as the underlying techniques were mostly the same, accumulating experience before moving on to the Song and Yuan pieces that were worth millions, hoping to strike it rich once and for all.

A layer of snow covered the ground, and snowflakes still danced playfully in the sky. Carried by the northwest wind, these mischievous natural spirits moved faster, slapping against people's exposed faces with a ticklish sensation.

In a hutong near Dongsi, a dilapidated third-hand Suzuki stopped at the entrance. Li Ye Jin, looking shifty, opened the door and stepped out.

This car originally belonged to Meng Xiaoxing, but because she had bought a BMW two years prior, she gave the old wreck to Meng Zao. Meng Xiaoxing was quite good to her younger sister, Meng Zao; she transferred the car to her name without asking for a cent, no matter how broken it was. However, Meng Zao didn't know how to drive, so Li Ye Jin was the one behind the wheel.

Li Ye Jin opened the trunk, which contained nothing but cotton cloth, layered three times over, with an antique box resting on top. It was clear that the cloth was for shock absorption to prevent damage during the drive.

After he had sold the blue-and-white vase he got from Cheng Army Supervisor, and after being brainwashed by Cheng Army Supervisor's "success philosophy," he had started by testing the waters in the market and sold that vase for twenty thousand. The buyer thought they had picked up a bargain, and through this, he realized the business opportunity in flipping antiques.

He took the twenty thousand home and thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being the head of the household. He grew closer to Cheng Army Supervisor and officially began working as a broker, taking goods from Cheng Army Supervisor or other relatives and reselling them to others.

He basically never left Han Chunming's social circle, operating entirely among those friends and relatives.

After he sold his goods, aside from the first few pieces Cheng Army Supervisor gave him directly, the rest came from people Cheng Army Supervisor introduced or buyers he had already dealt with. He thought he had built a reputation, but he didn't know that Cheng Army Supervisor was arranging everything. Aside from the thousand-odd yuan commission he received, the rest was just Cheng Army Supervisor moving money from his left hand to his right. Cheng Army Supervisor was very skilled at this trick, and he had several such brokers.

What made Li Ye Jin different from the others was that he was Han Chunming's brother-in-law, capable of inserting himself into Han Chunming's life and getting close to Wang Yan's circle.

After taking a look at the item in the box to confirm it was intact, Li Ye Jin lit a cigarette by the car, thinking about how to speak to gain trust and close the deal.

After finishing his cigarette, he picked up the box, grabbed a scroll, locked the car, and stepped onto the snow, walking toward the hutong with a crunching sound. He couldn't help but be moved by his own dedication and the spirit of a pillar of the family who would go out in such weather to earn money.

He stopped at the third house in the hutong and rang the bell twice. Before long, the door opened. Hou Sue looked at Li Ye Jin, who was covered in snow, and shook her head: "Look at you, why are you running out in such heavy snow? It would have been fine to come in a couple of days."

"That won't do. Wang Yan's uncle said today, so it has to be today. There are many people eyeing this item, and I'm afraid it won't be here in a couple of days. I had to let you two see it first." Li Ye Jin gave a silly laugh and stepped into the courtyard. He turned past the screen wall, looked at the interior, and sighed: "It's great to be rich. This courtyard is so well-kept, it's truly beautiful."

"You sure know how to talk," Hou Sue laughed. "But this is nothing. Isn't Chunming's courtyard in Mentougou much better than mine?"

While chatting, the two walked through the corridor built for summer shade to avoid the wind and snow, and entered the main room. Liu Jinyou was in the study in the west wing, looking intently at a jade pendant.

This old fatty was doing quite well now. Relying on Wang Yan's influence, his business was booming. After Su Meng resigned, she gradually took over all the business. He basically didn't manage anything anymore, spending his days collecting antiques or exercising—after all, he had such a good life and didn't want to die early; he wanted to enjoy it for a few more years. He had lost quite a bit of weight after dieting, and he looked much more energetic. Most importantly, he never caused trouble for Wang Yan, making things easier for everyone.

In any case, the named characters in this drama all lived long lives; by 2008, they were all still around and in good health...

"You're here. Take the stuff out and let me see," Liu Jinyou said, putting down the jade pendant and adjusting his glasses as he looked at the nervous Li Ye Jin.

No matter what, Liu Jinyou was a successful business tycoon, while Li Ye Jin was an ordinary person. It was inevitable that he would be nervous, given they didn't have much interaction.

He steadied himself, answered, and placed the box and the scroll on the table. He first opened the box and took out a lidded jar: "Take a look, sir."

Liu Jinyou turned on the desk lamp and placed the jar under the light, turning it around to examine it in detail: "Yongzheng-period blue-and-white bird-and-flower lidded jar, in perfect condition..."

Antique naming wasn't anything special; it was just stating the dynasty, then the type, then the features, and finally the object—bottle, plate, bowl, etc.

Calculating carefully, Liu Jinyou had returned to Beijing in 1985 and started studying antiques then. Occasionally, he drank with Wang Yan and the others, listening to gossip. By now, it had been fifteen and a half years. Even if he wasn't particularly gifted, after so many years and seeing so many genuine items, he had developed an eye for them.

However, as the saying goes, having an eye wasn't enough; one needed corresponding knowledge. Unfortunately, although Liu Jinyou read professional books occasionally, it was clear that he lacked the learning ability, the energy, and the right mindset; he had basically learned no essence, only moving himself by the stack of books he had piled up.

But this didn't hinder his confidence. Of course, he wasn't afraid of being cheated; he simply didn't care about the money. He could afford to lose a hundred thousand or so a day for several years. He had no descendants, Su Meng didn't care for his assets, and his grand-nephew didn't care either, as he was busy starting his own internet business. What was the point of leaving so much money? You can't take it with you when you die, so he just spent it.

After he finished looking, he made room for Hou Sue, who was eager to try, and asked: "What do you think?"

"You know my level. Anyway, I think it's real. What about you?"

"I say it's real too."

Li Ye Jin chimed in: "That's for sure. Although I can't tell real from fake, there's machine authentication, and the certificates are all inside. If I weren't sure, I wouldn't dare bring the stuff to you."

Liu Jinyou waved his hand directly: "How much?"

"A flat price, fifty thousand."

Hou Sue quickly stopped Liu Jinyou from speaking: "Look, fifty thousand isn't a small amount. To be safe, let my father and Wang Yan take a look first."

"It's the same to look after buying it. It's only fifty thousand, what's the big deal? How much is the painting? I'll buy it together."

"You know, Qi Baishi's shrimp are the most famous. This has to be twenty thousand. Don't worry, sir, aside from a few thousand in commission, I didn't take a cent more. This is the bottom price the owner told me. He even said he'd split the profit if I sold it for more, but I didn't do it. It's a truly honest price."

"Fine, that's the price." Liu Jinyou clapped his hands happily: "The contract is in the car. I'll go out and get it, and call the owners to get their account numbers for the transfer."

Hou Sue looked at the painting on the table and shook her head repeatedly: "Why are you in such a hurry? The stuff is right there, it's not going to run away."

"Good stuff is in high demand. If I don't take it today, who knows if it'll be here tomorrow? It's snowing so hard, how can I let your father and the others see it? Besides, it's not much money. If I get cheated, I'll just accept it. But I'm confident in my eye; it's definitely real."

Hou Sue curled her lips: "If it's fake, you'll be the one crying. It's not much money, but it affects your mood. If it's fake, let's see if you can sleep well."

"Look at you, you crow. I've picked up so many bargains over the years, you know that. This must be real."

Soon, Li Ye Jin returned with the contract, signed the names of the owners he had prepared earlier, and Liu Jinyou signed without hesitation. He then called to report the account numbers and transferred the money in two installments.

Li Ye Jin carried the briefcase containing the contract, humming a tune with a cigarette in his mouth, happily kicking the snow. Having earned in half a year what others earned in several years of labor, this was going to be a fat year...

Early in the morning, Wang Yan practiced two sets of boxing in the courtyard, finished his breakfast, washed up, and began grinding ink to write couplets and "Fu" characters. Wang Bin, who had been dragged out of bed, hadn't even eaten breakfast and was constantly yawning as he held the paper to absorb the ink.

Although his brain wasn't fully awake, he habitually flattered his father: "Dad, your calligraphy is getting more and more spirited. Even if calligraphy masters like Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqing came back to life and tied themselves together, they might not have even thirty percent of your skill."

Wang Yan applied the brush and ink, tilted his head to look at his son's bird's-nest hair and the sleep in his eyes, and said calmly: "Get lost and wash up."

"Got it," Wang Bin replied, yawning again, and turned lazily toward the bathroom.

This kid wasn't having an easy time either. Turning twenty-five after the New Year, Su Fu, Su Mu, and even Liu Jinyou had started worrying about his marriage, and were working on Su Meng. Yes, they were working on Su Meng.

Because Wang Yan never spoke on these matters, Su Meng was the one who made the decisions. And Su Meng, this business powerhouse approaching fifty, had no interest in bothering with her son. To a certain extent, the self-centered Su Meng was refined and selfish; she only cared about her own comfort. So she often said, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings," meaning she didn't want to get involved and let Wang Bin decide for himself.

Helpless, Su Fu and Su Mu could only offer kind advice. Who let Su Meng be the one in charge? Meanwhile, Wang Bin was so nagged that he didn't even dare to go home.

Actually, Wang Bin wasn't lacking in potential partners; he lacked a partner he felt moved to marry. And getting married meant locking himself down, which he naturally didn't want. He was already a mature man...

The family finished pasting the couplets, and Wang Bin drove them to Liu Jinyou's place to help paste theirs, then picked up Liu Jinyou and Hou Sue, and finally picked up Old Pulan Hou before returning to Beichizi Street.

Old Pulan Hou only had one daughter, Hou Sue, so he couldn't let him spend the New Year alone. As for Liu Jinyou, there were only three of them, which wasn't very interesting. Since they were all in Beijing and not far apart, they spent the New Year together, as they had done for years.

During the New Year period, there were no nannies in the house, as they were on holiday. However, the soldiers on guard duty were still there; their holidays weren't under Wang Yan's control.

There were four of them in total, two on guard at the front and two on alert at the back. Ever since Wang Yan became the chairman of the Huaxia Long Teng Group in 1985 and moved into this large courtyard, this had been the configuration. They were drawn from the Beijing Garrison and rotated regularly. Even the nannies in the house were arranged from the very beginning.

There were indeed many confidential documents in the house, very important ones, but Wang Yan was confident they wouldn't be lost. In fact, with soldiers guarding, the symbolic significance was greater than the practical one. After all, this was Beijing, and he lived in the heart of Beichizi Street, surrounded by confidential government agencies; it was impossible for anyone to infiltrate the home of the chairman of Huaxia Long Teng and a great scientist...

Su Fu and Su Mu were old and waiting to eat, so only Su Meng and two soldiers helped out, while Wang Yan took charge of cooking the meal for the twelve people.

Meat was boiling in the pot, soup was simmering, and Wang Yan was making cold dishes that wouldn't spoil. Just then, the garage door opened, and Wang Bin drove back.

As they got out of the car, the courtyard, which had been a bit dull, suddenly became lively. A group of people who weren't working sat around the table in the west wing dining room, picking vegetables and chatting.

Liu Jinyou slapped his forehead: "Look at my brain, I was so happy I forgot everything. Grandson, go get those two treasures I left in the trunk of the car..."

There are indeed many confidential documents at home, which are very important, but Wang Yan is confident that they will not be lost. In fact, having soldiers guard them, the symbolic meaning is still greater than the actual meaning. After all, this is Beijing, he lives in the Beichizi Street in the hinterland, surrounded by confidential organs, and it is impossible for anyone to infiltrate his home as the chairman of China Long Teng and a great scientist...

Su's father and mother are old and waiting to eat, so only Su Meng and two soldiers are helping, and Wang Yan is in charge of cooking for the twelve people.

Meat is boiling in the pot, soup is stewing, and Wang Yan is making cold dishes that are not afraid of getting cold. It is at this time that the garage door opens, and Wang Bin drives back.

As they got off the car, the courtyard, which was a bit dull just now, became lively. A group of people who didn't work gathered around the table in the dining room of the west wing, picking vegetables and laughing.

Liu Jinyou patted his forehead: "Look at my brain, so happy that I can't remember anything, Grandson, go and take the two treasures I put in the trunk of the car when I came..."