Chapter 185: The Most Important Thing in Life Is 'Loyalty

"Li Shopkeeper, you're a busy man, and I've been busy too. Just name your price—if it's fair, we'll do business; if not, I'll take my goods elsewhere."

Chen Guanlou got straight to the point.

Li Shopkeeper didn't rush to quote a price; instead, he glanced at the clerk who had just slipped in silently. The clerk gave him a slight nod—he understood: Chen Guanlou's goods were all genuine, and this deal was worth pursuing.

He considered his words carefully. "Old man has long wished for long-term cooperation with Chen Tou. In antiques and calligraphy-paintings, no matter how much you bring, Sitong can always absorb it."

Don't just say you can absorb it—first tell me how much you'll pay to absorb it.

Chen Guanlou wanted only money.

"How about a flat price of ten thousand taels?"

Chen Guanlou immediately set down his teacup. "Before I came, I told Master Du: Li Shopkeeper is the most generous in business. Now I see I overestimated you. If you have no sincerity, I'll go elsewhere."

"Twelve thousand. Not a copper more." Li Shopkeeper, stung, raised his price outright—no more haggling.

Chen Guanlou chuckled. "Goods worth nearly thirty thousand taels—your Sitong could easily repack them and sell for over thirty thousand. Yet you offer me only twelve thousand. Isn't that a bit too much of a stretch?"

"That's just how the antique and calligraphy-painting market works. If you want market price, keep them and wait for the right buyer. That's not a one-year affair—it could take three or five years to find a suitable buyer. If Chen Tou wants to sell quickly, this is the only price on the market. Go ask every shop in the capital—none will offer more than Sitong."

Li Shopkeeper spoke the truth.

In the capital, antique shops and pawnhouses were inseparable. Those who collected antiques were mostly pawnhouse men, all following the same rules: once one shop set a price, none could offer higher. A business of mutual competition and mutual solidarity—banding together to suppress prices and move as one.

Chen Guanlou said plainly: "Fifteen thousand. Non-negotiable."

Li Shopkeeper shook his head with a smile. "Impossible. No shop would ever offer that. Even if you took it outside the capital, no one would pay that. Without more than a hundred percent profit, why bother with antiques? Don't you agree?"

Chen Guanlou frowned. "Add more. I'll go to the Second Elder of Hou Fu. Hou Fu doesn't lack for money."

At this, Li Shopkeeper nearly spat his tea in Chen Guanlou's face.

So you think being related to Hou Fu makes you special?

How infuriating!

But if Chen Guanlou really went to the Second Elder, would he buy? He would. Even if short on cash, he'd take it. Liu Daowen, that great corrupt official, never let out subpar goods—everything he sold was top-tier, high-value. Keep it a few years, and the price might even rise.

If the Second Elder bought it, whether for collection or resale, he wouldn't lose.

Li Shopkeeper didn't want this customer walking away. He blurted: "Twelve thousand five hundred. That's the most sincere offer in the entire capital."

Chen Guanlou: …

Too bad the First Elder isn't in the capital.

With the First Elder's generous ways, he'd pay at least sixteen or seventeen thousand—maybe even throw in another two thousand if he was in a good mood.

Alas! Alas!

The Second Elder, though…

He couldn't ride two horses at once!

He'd rather deal with Li Shopkeeper than risk the First Elder's suspicion. The First Elder was at his peak—he'd need the First Elder's favor in the future.

Above all, one must be 'loyal.'

Seeing the First Branch soar and crush the Second Branch, aligning with the Second Branch now would bring him no benefit—only hatred from the First.

The First and Second Branches appeared harmonious on the surface, but in truth, they were like water and fire. Never entertain the naive idea that they're one family. The Second Branch wants to kill the First; the First wants the same.

Perhaps the First Branch once thought itself too lofty to fight the Second. But now it sees: if it doesn't fight, its people will die out. So what's left to say? Fight! Fight to the death!

"Thirteen thousand. If you agree, we transact now. If not, I'll go to the Second Elder of Hou Fu."

What he thought inside was one thing; what he said aloud was another. If he could bluff Li Shopkeeper with the Second Elder, why not?

Chen Guanlou pulled the Second Elder out as his banner without a hint of guilt.

Li Shopkeeper tapped the table lightly, weighing it. This deal would surely bring profit—no doubt. But Chen Guanlou's appetite was too big.

"Fine. Thirteen thousand it is. Chen Tou, if you find good pieces in the future, don't forget me. I'll always give you a fair price."

Chen Guanlou agreed wholeheartedly.

In his heart, he thought: When the First Elder returns, I'll never come near you.

Sitong's prices, however fair, couldn't match the First Elder's generosity. The First Elder collected properly—he didn't mind paying more, even willingly raised prices, treating it as favor to younger kin. Sitong was pure business—every copper saved was a gain.

Deal sealed.

He took the money, first handed over five thousand taels to the Tianlaomiao public account.

Then he sent a thousand taels to Fan Yucheng, claiming he'd sold the goods for seven thousand total.

For a moment, Fan Yucheng suspected Chen Guanlou had falsified accounts—but he had no way to verify.

He couldn't go to Sitong and ask. Sitong would never tell the truth.

An extra thousand taels in graft delighted Fan Yucheng. He once again decided Chen Guanlou was a master of people—crucially, he knew how to get things done. That was rare.

Usually, those who knew how to get things done were terrible with people; those good with people were useless at doing things. To have both? A rare talent. Wasted in Tianlaomiao—what a pity.

Everyone pitied Chen Guanlou. Yet the man himself felt utterly content as a shift leader, asking for nothing more.

Fan Yucheng was often confused: was Chen Guanlou truly foolish, or pretending?

Did he really not know what people thought of Tianlaomiao jailers?

Chen Guanlou also sent five hundred taels to Young Master Fan.

Young Master Fan was busy buying a house and desperately short on cash. This sum solved his urgent need. Combined with the five thousand from the public account and his share of the profits, Liu Daowen truly was a god of wealth—just leaving Tianlaomiao, he made everyone rich.

When he learned the antiques and calligraphy-paintings had sold for only seven thousand taels, Young Master Fan cursed the merchants for their arrogance.

"What about the remaining five hundred taels?" Young Master Fan now had his eyes on them.

Chen Guanlou hurried to explain: "I paid for appraisal, buyer contact, and prior promises—four hundred taels total. The remaining hundred: I take fifty, the rest is split among the jailers."

Oh!

So it's all gone. What a shame.

"You handled this task well. Next time, if something similar comes up, let me know—I'll help you find buyers."

Chen Guanlou asked eagerly: "Which god of wealth do you know?"

Antique and calligraphy-painting deals weren't for ordinary people. Without wealth and status, best not touch them—risking the danger of possessing something too valuable.

"Er…"

Young Master Fan feigned profundity to hide his embarrassment.

He didn't know any high-end gods of wealth—only people like himself, utterly incapable of making a living in antiques. He'd just planned to take the goods to any shop and ask for a price—surely higher than what Chen Guanlou got.