Chapter 414: None of Us Are Getting Out of This Well

Feng Laosan sighed: "Old Hu, are you still going to let out your breath?"

Hu Pangzi replied sheepishly, saying nothing: What breath would I let out?

A fool cannot be a swindler; he is just fat, not brainless.

Appraisal, restoration, Dragon Seeking and tomb exploration—there is nothing he cannot do, and nothing he does not excel at. Compared to him, someone like Aqin, who is a recognized expert in the circle, is like an Apprentice who hasn't been in the trade for long?

Knowing the jargon, understanding the tea formations, and having underworld methods that are truly masterful—in front of him, an old veteran of the underworld like Old Feng is like a greenhorn who has just stepped out into the world? Just ask, how vast must the forces behind him be, and how many high-level experts must there be, to cultivate a genius who is only in his early twenties yet has terrifyingly high skills in every trade?

Still talking about letting out breath, why don't you try letting one out?

The fat man twisted his face: "How many shares does this gentleman want?"

Feng Laosan: "Not even one share!"

"What?"

Then what was the point of all his swindling and intimidation?

Feng Laosan didn't keep them in suspense: "He wants to see that Brush Washer, just that authentic Ming Imitation Brush Washer!"

Hu Pangzi and the woman exchanged a glance: "Just to take a look?"

Feng Laosan thought for a moment: "It should be!"

But the fat man and the woman didn't believe it: as long as they are people of the underworld, when they encounter a peer who sets up a trap, how could they not fleece them for something?

"When is he going to look?"

"He didn't say, but he left an address, right at the Baishan Studio in Panjiayuan. But he mentioned: he is only staying in Beijing for three days..."

This "three days," isn't it the final deadline left for them?

The fat man rolled his eyes: three days should be enough for them to clean up the tricks Old Gang left behind. If they are ruthless, two days is enough. But the problem is, what about the future: what to do with the remaining pieces of Japanese Imitation Ru Ware?

This person is not Liu Zhaoting, who is like donkey dung—shiny on the outside but nothing without the Center behind him. This person is a true peer of the underworld; heaven knows how vast the forces behind him are.

If they don't agree to his conditions, as soon as he exposes this one piece from Old Gang, they won't be able to sell the remaining pieces.

At least not in Beijing.

If nothing goes wrong, those few pieces could fetch at least ten million, maybe twenty or thirty million. Even if you want to wash your hands of the business, don't you need to have a golden basin first?

The fat man gritted his teeth: "Then let him see it!"

The woman nodded, then paused slightly: "Third Brother, should we entrust someone to check his background?"

Feng Laosan shook his head: "He said there's no need to check!"

The woman didn't understand: "What does that mean?"

"He said he doesn't mix in the underworld, so there's no need to investigate him, which would save the trouble of pulling strings and spending money. If I want to know, he'll just tell me directly: his name is Lin Sicheng, his home is in Xijing, his grandfather is a professor of Archaeology and Cultural Relics Protection at Northwest University, and he is a graduate student in the Archaeology Department at Xida..."

Before he finished speaking, both of them shook their heads in unison: impossible.

Not mixing in the underworld? Where did you learn this set of methods that are even more veteran than an old veteran's?

And studying?

What the hell are you studying?

Feng Laosan sighed: "Can you two wait until I finish speaking?"

"Fine, fine... you speak!"

"He also said that he opened a Research Center at Xida, specializing in ancient porcelain restoration and craft research. He has a Partner named Zhao Xiuneng. He also has two apprentices, who are Zhao Xiuneng's two sons...

He also has a nominal master, whom he just apprenticed to this summer: it is Zhao Xiuneng's mother, who is also the grandmother of his two apprentices. Years ago, this old lady had a nickname: Zhao Baixian..."

At first, the two were still a bit strange: since he is still studying, how did he open a center like a company and take on two apprentices?

And this Partner of his, this guy named Zhao Xiuneng, they both felt he sounded familiar. Moreover, the seniority is too chaotic: his two apprentices are also his master's grandsons?

It wasn't until they heard "Zhao Baixian" that the two were stunned in unison: isn't this the famous White Fox Immortal of Sanqin, Old Lady Zhao?

And this Zhao Xiuneng, isn't he the local tyrant of the Northwest region from years ago, Zhao Polan?

White Fox Immortal was a title she got after she grew old, referring to a highly senior female master. When she was young, the old lady had another nickname: Zhao Sanjue. A master at finding tombs, a master at appraisal, and a master at being a Scavenger of Broken Pieces. Nearly half of the notable tomb-raiders and appraisers in the Northwest provinces have learned their skills from her. This means that anyone in this region who can find a good pit and dig up good things is either Zhao Xiuneng's Senior Brother or his Junior Brother; if Zhao Polan didn't act like this local tyrant, he would be doing a disservice to his mother's skills.

The fat man and the woman looked at each other: doesn't this mean that this person is the successor to Zhao Sanjue's mantle?

Even if it is only a nominal master, this golden signboard is enough to blind the eyes of wild-path people like them.

Zhao Baixian's two precious grandsons and Zhao Polan's two eldest sons are all your apprentices—how can you say you aren't a person of the underworld?

The fat man gasped: "But this is Beijing, he can't possibly be that arrogant, right?"

"I don't know!" Feng Laosan shook his head, "I think, it's better to avoid trouble than to add more!"

When you run into someone like this, you still want to add more trouble?

Old Feng, this is clearly your old habit acting up again: if I can't afford to offend them, can't I at least hide from them?

But because of this, the fat man and the woman actually believed him a lot more: it seems this person is really just curious?

With this status and position, he wouldn't bother with people like them who practice wild Zen... this is exactly what he wanted to express. The fat man smacked his lips: "Old Feng, did you ask these things yourself?"

Feng Laosan rolled his eyes: "Was my head kicked by a donkey?"

They are doing low-life business like setting up traps, and they have been caught with such a big handle by someone else; how would they dare to bring things out into the open?

But this person is like he has X-ray vision; whatever thoughts you have in your heart, whatever intentions you form, he can guess them immediately. Then he gets straight to the point and tells you the answer without reservation.

It was like this when he said Old Gang left tricks, like this when he said the Brush Washer was a Japanese Imitation, and still like this when he exposed the identities of the three of them.

He could even guess: do they have a grudge against that Hong Kong businessman, a big one?

Although it wasn't him who had a grudge against Chen Weihua, but Hu Hai, the three of them are one entity, so there is no difference at all.

Therefore, the current Feng Laosan is no longer afraid; he can't even summon the thought of being afraid. Like a dead dog giving up: whatever you say, I'll do; as for the result, let it be whatever it will be...

He sat up straight: "I'm going to the hospital this afternoon, which one of you is going to deliver the Brush Washer?"

"Still going?"

"Nonsense, do you think Chen Weihua is a novice? Even if we run away, we have to act out these three days!"

The fat man sighed: "Then I'll go deliver it!"

"I'm going too!" the woman followed closely behind, "To pay my respects at the mountain gate and broaden my horizons!"

Feng Laosan paused for a moment, but said nothing.

According to industry rules, for fear of being wiped out in one fell swoop, the two of them certainly could not go together.

But now, Feng Laosan no longer cared: his intuition told him that if this person wanted to do something, none of them would be able to escape.

Feng Laosan got out of the car, and immediately, several cars headed in different directions...

Chen Weihua was staying at the Marriott; the room was not large, just an ordinary business suite.

A Brush Washer was placed on the coffee table in the living room, and Chen Weihua held a Magnifying Glass in one hand and a High-intensity Flashlight in the other, examining it over and over, meticulously.

Having already looked at it three or four times, he still felt that there was no problem with this item.

Liu Zhaoting was the same; after returning, he had looked at it again, and his statement remained the same: there was at least a ninety percent certainty.

But he did not know if it was psychological: every time he thought of the inscrutable smile that young man had revealed when leaving, Chen Weihua felt as if a thorn had been stuck in his heart.

While he was secretly pondering, the secretary walked over and bowed: "Mr. Chen, a call came from the bank: that Duan Jingwei went to the bank and made an appointment to withdraw 200,000 in cash the day after tomorrow, then transfer the remaining money away."

"Transfer it where?"

"To a passbook in Hebei Tangshan, it's a Rural Credit Cooperative account!"

Chen Weihua nodded: although he was from Hong Kong, he understood a little about the national situation: in the rural areas of Mainland China, the most convenient bank was the Rural Credit Cooperative. "Also, news came from the hospital: Duan Jingwei met with the attending physician and guaranteed that the funds would be in place the day after tomorrow. The doctor helped him book an Expert: the surgery is scheduled for a week from now..."

A week? It seemed the Red Envelope Duan Jingwei gave was not small, at least over 100,000.

From this, it could be seen that although this person had no education, he at least had feelings and righteousness: with two million, what kind of woman couldn't he find in the Mainland? Suddenly, the doubts in his heart dissipated quite a bit: regardless of whether there was a problem with the item, at least this seller should be fine. Just as he was changing his mind, Liu Zhaoting came out of the guest bedroom with his phone, and Chen Weihua sat up straight: "Mr. Liu, how is it?"

"Dean Yang helped and it's already booked: Researcher Cai Yi and Researcher Dong Jianli from the Forbidden City both have time this weekend!"

Chen Weihua was stunned: "Just Researchers?"

Liu Zhaoting was instead stumped by the question, and he froze for a long while: "Mr. Chen, these two are both senior Experts in the domestic ancient porcelain appraisal circle!" Chen Weihua nodded: "I know!"

The Forbidden City was not so easy to enter, and Researchers from the Forbidden City were even harder to evaluate; these two definitely belonged to the top tier when placed in the outside world. But he always felt something was lacking.

"The earliest is the weekend?"

Liu Zhaoting nodded: "Yes, Mr. Chen, because a new Dean has taken over, the management is quite strict now, so it can only be the weekend!"

"Then can we invite someone with more available time, for example, someone already retired..." Chen Weihua thought for a moment, "For example, Committee Member Geng?"

Liu Zhaoting was stunned: You really dare to think that?

Committee Member Geng was the former Chairman of the Ancient Porcelain Association and the Appraisal Committee; not to mention that he was already eighty-six years old this year and whether his energy could keep up, you had to first figure out if you could even afford to invite him.

A Gu Taotao, a national treasure-level Expert, the number one person in China for ancient porcelain... how difficult must it be to have these titles?

Not everyone was like Dean Yang, willing to risk ruining a lifetime of reputation to appraise things for others in their twilight years, when their eyes were dim and their vision failing.