Chapter 166: Sole Law of Me Chapter 166: Relying on Oneself

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Mark laughed heartily and said, "I heard that screens in China have special features; please, Mr. Chen, tell us about them."

It was very obvious that the so-called "tell us about them" was meant to let Chen Yi show off.

They had long known he excelled at appraising antiques, so they deliberately bought Chinese antiques at the auction house and sent them over, then brought them out in front of everyone. Given their status as foreigners, this flattery was quite above board, and moreover low-cost.

If afterward they gave the screen to Chen Yi as a gift, the gift portion would be perfect.

Unfortunately, foreigners' ability to understand Chinese antiques is still somewhat lacking; due to time constraints, they could neither find a so-called China expert to consult, nor ask the auction house's appraisers to ponder deeply. So they chose a relatively special antique screen.

They didn't know that Chen Yi's so-called antique appraisal only determines an item's age and category; it has absolutely no effect on specific cultural connotations. And for something like a screen, stating the material and production time only counts as elementary level. What's more, each appraisal consumes a Perception Scroll.

If Perception Scrolls were expensive, this flattery would truly be a kick to the horse's leg. Even now, it can only be said to have landed on the horse's tail.

Quite a few people gathered around to watch, making small talk.

At this time, no one snatched Chen Yi's limelight; instead they played along and laughed: "A screen isn't easy to appraise; it should be given to Mr. Chen as a token of thanks."

"Just a screen is too little; something else should be added on top." As this person spoke, he was staring right at Catherine's big buttocks.

Chen Yi maintained a polite smile, revealing nothing of his true thoughts.

Han Jie accompanied him to the screen.

Dragons, phoenixes, and qilin are all familiar things, but they are rarely placed together.

Under everyone's gaze, Chen Yi used his consciousness inside the Space Storage Ring to tear open a Level 3 Perception Scroll.

A flash of golden light passed; an invisible Mark/Seal adhered to his tiger's mouth.

"The stone comes from 1.85 billion years ago... igneous rock type basalt..."

Chen Yi's hand stroked over the screen, then began searching along the edges of the carved characters.

"Carving time? 170 million years? Too early."

"Right side is, 165 million years? Within margin of error, no difference."

"Still 170 million years ago..."

Chen Yi had practically touched the entire screen; he stood up, and his expression changed.

Stone from 1.85 billion years ago isn't strange, but craftsmanship from 170 million years ago? No matter how you put it, it's extremely abnormal.

If the subsequent data measured also falls within the 1.85 billion year margin of error, one could still say the Scroll has a problem...

"Where did you get this thing?" Chen Yi asked Mark directly.

"Sotheby's." Catherine's answer was very correct, and also very meaningless.

Auction house items should have been appraised, but foreigners' appraisal standards are still worth suspecting.

They certainly wouldn't believe this thing was completed by human hands 1.7 billion... wait, 170 million years ago.

Chen Yi pondered, then looked at the screen seriously once more.

Basalt is one of the hardest rocks; it forms directly from magma, making it the most primitive rock type on Earth. Metamorphic rocks like marble are precisely formed from sedimentary rocks or metamorphic rocks, regenerated over hundreds of millions of years.

However, normal people usually wouldn't use igneous rocks like basalt or granite to make screens, because they are difficult to carve and lack in aesthetic appeal...

The material line of inquiry being different, Chen Yi continued observing the carvings on the screen.

Dragons and phoenixes are common decorative animals, but 170 million years ago? — There were no humans yet at that time.

But Chen Yi recalled his experiences using Perception Scrolls over a period of time, and decided to believe it to a limited extent.

On a screen from 170 million years ago, dragons, phoenixes, and qilin are depicted; if not for Chen Yi, no one else would possibly think this way.

As for that strange creature, it's even more baffling.

It is a six-legged scaled beast covered in scales, wide-mouthed and long-tailed, strong and powerful; the strangest part is its scales are partially spread open, as if floating in mid-air hunting prey.

Chen Yi observed for a long while, then smiled and said: "Although I can't tell the screen's origin, thank you for your gift."

He didn't say any more appraisal-type words, but directly took the screen for himself.

"Oh, don't say that, how thoughtful, you must be displaying Chinese humility..." Catherine flattered in a strange way.

As a high-ranking Merrill offspring, if not for interests aligning, she would absolutely not speak like this.

Mark waved his hand, signaling someone to carry the screen away, then said quietly to Chen Yi: "I'll leave it here for now; you analyze it slowly."

"Fine." Chen Yi was not polite about it.

After a few more sentences, leaving the Priest and his mistress, Han Jie asked quietly: "Do you want to let Merrill join in?"

"Don't care; anyway the money is what they lent me."

Chen Yi's mind right now was full of this temporally bizarre screen.

Ren Yuan's family also appeared in the Banquet Hall, their purpose equally not so pure. But they didn't have a determined-to-get-it mindset, so dealing with them wasn't difficult either.

The Ren Family isn't a commercial family after all.

The truly troublesome ones are actually the Chen Family's own people, more accurately, the Chen Family's in-laws.

As the banquet reached its climax, Chen Congyu and Fang Man Yi's resistance was also nearly exhausted.

A huge clan, when facing outsiders, shares honor and shares loss; correspondingly, no matter which family obtains benefits, they cannot secretly swallow it into their own bellies.

Chen Yi's Gold Source International plays Wall Street high-tech, and its profits can only be guessed at, so each family's interest in entering that line isn't great. But entering the domestic securities market is different — everyone knows the profit space there is huge; if high capital sits as the banker, it's simply a wealth-sharing feast.

Everyone wants a share.

The one expressing this most strongly is precisely Fang Yu.

The Chen Family has many in-laws, but the only one in an upward phase is the Fang Family. Chen Yi's maternal uncle Fang Zhennan just got promoted; he himself is still in a stage of ambitious satisfaction, and his family members can barely contain themselves.

Fang Yu had long been eyeing an opportunity to become Jiangning's number one young master; hearing about the Chen Family banquet, he almost involuntarily urged his mother to come share in the results.

Regarding this, Chen Congyu did not oppose it, but he truly disliked it.

The news quickly reached Chen Yi's ears.

Han Jie looked at his expression with worry, fearing he might suddenly flare up; if that happened, not only would the banquet be disrupted, but it might also leave a bad reputation.

Chen Yi's expression was calm; after thinking seriously, he said: "How do you want to participate?"

This was a smart question.

Most people value Gold Source International because they value its 1.65 billion US dollars in assets. Whether used as capital for a market manipulator or for acquisitions, this sum can be called an aircraft carrier on the market.

But as relatives by marriage, the various families actually don't have much cash on hand. Aristocratic scions who have money and don't spend it recklessly are truly few. The relatively frugal ones merely exchange banknotes for various collections they like. Stamps, antiques, houses and the like still have value preservation potential; beauties and luxury cars only have the possibility of depreciation.

To make them put up a large sum to follow the manipulator, the profit margin can only be described as average.

But to have Gold Source International lend money to them is actually impossible.

Fang Yu obviously understood a little, so he cleverly said: "I want to buy equity."

Chen Yi nodded, asking seriously: "How much money, how much equity."

"I have..." Fang Yu looked to the side; besides Chen Yi, Chen Congyu, and Fang Man Yi, there was only Han Jie.

So he boldly said: "I have 100 million RMB, want to buy equity... 3%."

Fang Yu thought back and forth before proposing this figure. 3%, sounds truly as small as can be, but Gold Source International has 13.8 billion.

Chen Yi let out an "oh".

Fang Yu knew he asked for too much, but recently he had been flattered a lot. He thought: my uncle-in-law is just a private enterprise big boss, family assets several hundred billion, what is there to fear.

So he boldly said: "I only want 3% equity for dividend sharing, I won't participate in management."

"You put up 100 million US dollars, 3% equity would be about right." Han Jie couldn't listen anymore, spoke up to defend Chen Yi.

Fang Yu's face reddened a bit. He didn't dare refute Han Jie, so he looked at his mom.

Aunt has never seen 100 million US dollars in her life, no matter what she was unwilling to give up.

She turned to Fang Man Yi and said: "Xiao Yi, your big brother is at a critical moment right now, he can still rise higher in the future. The equity matter does let you suffer some loss, but it can solve your big brother's worries, and afterwards everyone will be relaxed."

Fang Man Yi awkwardly turned her head away, saying: "Sister-in-law, Fang Yu has 100 million RMB, isn't that enough to relieve worries?"

"That money isn't his..." Aunt spoke halfway, then stopped.

She had misspoken.

Chen Yi took this time to hehe smile, turned and left.

Gold Source International is his after all; as long as he doesn't nod and doesn't sign, whatever anyone says is useless.

Han Jie caught up in two steps, smiling: "Don't be angry, this matter, your uncle might not even know."

"He'd better not know." Chen Yi hmphed, saying: "Those mother and daughter have quite high eyelids, just too anxious; 3% equity is 400 million RMB, is a Deputy Mayor worth that much? This matter is also my fault."

"How did it become your fault?"

"Before making a decision, you must make the other party understand primary and secondary, understand what he relies on to rise. Uncle is close with city high officials, Aunt and Fang Yu must think this is the main reason for his rise, otherwise today they wouldn't dare ask for 3%."

Han Jie amusedly punched him, saying: "How can you be so domineering. Your family is fine; if my grandfather retired, who knows what a mess it would become. Even now, it's not peaceful."

"When the time comes, I'll help you fight for the family assets."

Han Jie giggled, walking out of the hall shoulder to shoulder with Chen Yi.

The grass under the starry sky, hiding in the shade of a big tree.

"Want me to send you home?" Chen Yi pointed at the Raptor not far away.

"I'll go back with my family." Han Jie shyly pointed behind her.

"That works too, then I'll leave first."

"Where to?"

"See Grandpa." Chen Yi raised an eyebrow: "The Chen Family can only rise by relying on its own people."

……(Unfinished, if you want to know what happens next, please log in to www. qidian. com, more chapters, support author, support genuine reading!)