Chapter 475: Pouring Tea and Admitting Fault

Yao Qiming waited quietly by the roadside, and only after the two had passed did he speak in a low voice: "Section Chief Ye, a friend called just now, saying the boss of Nanfeng Zhimu wants me to act as a mediator so he can apologize to you, but I didn't agree."

"They asked about your background, and I didn't say a single word..."

Ye Anqi was not surprised at all: the person Fourth Uncle invited naturally knew how to exercise discretion!

He nodded: "Thank you, Chairman Yao!"

Yao Qiming's expression turned serious: "This is only right, you are being too formal!"

After a slight pause, Yao Qiming weighed his words: "Section Chief Ye, would you like me to contact some friends?"

It was indeed as Fu Manshu thought; his reach did not extend that far. But that did not mean the friends he knew wouldn't help once they learned of Ye Anqi's identity. Yet Ye Anqi did not want to owe favors for no reason; if he wanted to do something, he had plenty of ways!

"Thank you, Chairman Yao, but that won't be necessary for now!"

Having made his stance clear, Yao Qiming said nothing more and bowed slightly.

Knowing these two did not wish to be disturbed, he turned and walked ahead.

Once Yao Qiming was far away, Ye Anqi turned his head: "Sicheng, do you want to do something ruthless?"

Lin Sicheng paused: "How ruthless?"

"I won't say break his bones, but at the very least, he needs to know pain so he never dares to look down on people again!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: to Ye Anqi, this was already quite lenient!

As the old saying goes, the young are full of vigor and hot-blooded. What's more, Ye Anqi himself possessed such ability.

But he was neither provoked nor angry, and hadn't even said a harsh word; it seemed he had been suppressing his fire all along.

Believe it or not, if it were anyone else, at least seven out of ten young scions would have smashed the shop on the spot.

That he did not lose his composure on the spot did not mean he could treat this matter as if it never happened.

Putting himself in another's shoes, if it were the teacher, what would the end result be?

The teacher's temper had mellowed quite a bit now; smashing the shop wouldn't happen, but the result would definitely be more ruthless than smashing the shop: this business would never be able to operate again. Thinking about it, Ye Anqi must have been trying to control his measure, fearing he might scare him...

After a brief thought, Lin Sicheng offered a reminder: "Second Brother, that shop has quite a few fakes!"

Ye Anqi was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding: "What does that have to do with anything?"

In the antique business, which shop doesn't have imitations? It would be strange if there weren't any fakes.

The key is, what if they don't admit it? Besides: they didn't sell it to you, so what can you do to them?

"If it were any other antique shop, of course it wouldn't matter, but that one is different!"

Lin Sicheng shook his head, "They are likely practicing a top-tier, cold, contrast-based marketing strategy. Simply put, it utilizes the customer's contrarian mechanism: the harder something is to obtain, the more precious it is; the more I refuse to sell to you, the more you want to buy..."

Ye Anqi suddenly realized: "I was just saying, for items worth tens or hundreds of thousands, where does the clerk get the nerve to give customers attitude? Aren't they afraid the boss will skin them alive?"

"So, they are just looking for masochistic customers? Huh... isn't this just like training a dog?"

Lin Sicheng gave a thumbs up: the phrasing is a bit crude, but the logic is the same...

"But there is a prerequisite: absolute scarcity-based monopoly, an unshakeable moat, and zero-substitute competitive barriers. Then, only develop two percent of the customers to create ninety-eight percent of the revenue and profit..."

Ye Anqi was stunned: what kind of bullshit theory is this?

Luxury goods have provincial exclusive agencies, so doing this is fine, but these are antiques.

That is one thing; the second is: the so-called two percent of customers naturally refers to the wealthiest and most powerful group. Ye Anqi couldn't guarantee that all these people loved antiques or collecting. If they liked collecting, he couldn't be sure they only liked furniture.

But Ye Anqi was certain that among this two percent, there were absolutely no idiots: who would be bored enough to run here to be treated like a beggar and endure this kind of nonsense? If someone really dared to do that, smashing the shop would be the least of it.

Therefore, Ye Anqi didn't really believe it. It was only because it was Lin Sicheng; if anyone else had said such things, he would have laughed out loud.

He looked strange: "Will it work?"

"Theoretically, it is feasible: First, use cold treatment to discourage the ninety-eight percent of low-net-worth individuals and focus on serving the two percent of high-net-worth clients. When facing the latter, of course, one cannot use the same approach they used on us, but rather treat them as true gods: there is nothing you can't think of that I can't do..."

"Second, contrast-based promotion: let the target customer group know that although the threshold here is high, there is a reason for it. At the same time, highlight the product's differential advantages: for example, only selling authentic items, offering returns for fakes..."

Ye Anqi was thoughtful: although he hadn't studied marketing, he understood the logic.

Just now, he and Lin Sicheng must have been treated as low-net-worth individuals.

But to say that antique sellers only sell authentic items and provide after-sales service is unlikely.

This industry has a history of at least a thousand years; the better ones rely on bluffing, the worse ones on swindling, and it has always been this way. If it could be changed, it would have been changed long ago. Lin Sicheng was exceptionally certain: "I don't know if it can be changed, but this shop is one hundred percent using this tactic."

Absolute scarcity-based monopoly, an unshakeable moat, zero-substitute competitive barriers... besides selling authentic items and providing after-sales service, Lin Sicheng couldn't think of a second path.

Unless he could steal all the furniture from the Forbidden City and the various Wangfu museums...

Ye Anqi didn't understand: "So, you actually admire the boss of this shop?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "I do admire him, at least his courage is commendable."

"And then?" Ye Anqi looked suspicious, "Are you planning to persuade me to let him off?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "No!"

If you make a mistake, you must admit it; if you get hit, you must stand still. One cannot be spat in the face and slapped twice, only for it to be lightly brushed off with an "I'm sorry." Even if he were willing, Ye Anqi wouldn't be...

"Second Brother, I plan to reason with him."

What the hell?

Ye Anqi was stunned: "How do you plan to reason?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Things that even the National Cultural Relics Store couldn't accomplish, he cannot possibly accomplish."

Ye Anqi froze, staring straight at Lin Sicheng: That's right, the National Cultural Relics Store?

That is a state-run institution; in the beginning, they not only guaranteed authenticity but also provided after-sales service. But later on, they stopped.

Because, during a special period, too many fake items were brought back. And a significant portion were good enough to pass for real, the kind that couldn't be identified by eye alone.

Some couldn't even be identified by machines, yet inside, they hid marks unique to modern imitations...

Even so, disputes were constant, until the mid-nineties when the "Cultural Relics Auction Law" was issued: the Cultural Relics Store would not bear liability for defects... So, if the National Cultural Heritage Administration can't handle it, how can you?

Ye Anqi understood: no need to guess, there must be quite a few problematic items in that shop.

Just as Lin Sicheng said: it wouldn't matter for other antique shops, because everyone does it that way. But for this one, the two words "guaranteed authentic" are the yardstick by which he dares to be different.

The ruler is broken, what the hell are you still playing with?

Of course, there is a high possibility that Lin Sicheng guessed wrong, but he was idle anyway. At worst, if this method doesn't work, he can just switch to another.

"Then we have to invite someone more professional." Ye Anqi pondered for a moment, "And then find a friend to come over."

"Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?" Lin Sicheng smiled, "To save the Second Brother from owing favors."

Owing favors?

Whether it's finding an uncle, an aunt's brother, or finding buddies and friends, one definitely has to owe favors.

But isn't that just how social interactions work?

Ye Anqi was half-doubting: "Sicheng, are you afraid that if my temper flares up, I'll make the scene too ugly?"

Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: As expected, no one who comes from such a family is simple.

"Second Brother, that is indeed part of it, but I'm really not worried about you!" Lin Sicheng sighed, "I'm afraid of the teacher!"

Ye Anqi suddenly realized: That's right, how could he forget Wang Sanshu? How many years has it been since he stopped being a troublemaker?

Believe it or not, once Wang Sanshu finds out, he will absolutely come to experience it himself. Never mind curling his lips, raising his eyebrows, or implying you are a poor wretch, etc., etc. As long as there is the slightest hint of trouble, he could smash the shop for you.

What, find someone? There is absolutely no need.

I am waiting for you to come and find me...

Doing this is, of course, no big deal for Wang Sanshu, because he has always been like this, and he doesn't care how his brother-in-law's family views him. But what about Lin Sicheng?

Whether it started because of himself or because of him, as long as Wang Sanshu does this, it will still have some impact on Lin Sicheng... Ye Anqi chuckled and looked at Ye Anning, who was clearly pricking up her ears to listen in front.

Lin Sicheng emphasized: "Second Brother, it has nothing to do with Cousin Ye!"

Ye Anqi tried hard to keep a straight face and nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, yes, it has nothing to do with it..."

It definitely has something to do with it, and even if it didn't, it wouldn't be a big problem. Because Ye Anqi felt more and more that Lin Sicheng was quite to his taste. He had cultivation, upbringing, and a composure far beyond his peers.

He doesn't look for trouble, nor is he afraid of trouble, and he has more sense of proportion in doing things.

To tell the truth, he leaves Tao An and several cousins around Lin Sicheng's age eight streets behind.

Plus what Ye Anning said earlier... tsk tsk, don't you think?

Ye Anqi said half-jokingly: "Sicheng, is your family really just an ordinary civil servant family?"

Lin Sicheng sighed: "Second Brother, my dad is a deputy section chief!"

Half a rank lower than himself?

Ye Anqi believed it immediately.

Afraid he wouldn't believe it, Lin Sicheng emphasized again: "It's just that I became sensible a little earlier..."

Before he finished speaking, Ye Anning let out a "pfft." She laughed out loud and then covered her mouth.

Last year, you were still making a scene with your family, wanting to sever ties...

Biting her lip, she held back her laughter and waved her hands violently: "Lin Sicheng, I didn't mean it!"

Lin Sicheng sighed helplessly: Ye Anning, what do you mean by that?

How can you expose someone's old secrets to their face like that?

Just as he was about to say something to smooth things over, a voice suddenly came from the front: "What are you doing!"

Lin Sicheng paused and raised his eyelids.

The one shouting was Feng Sanjiang, who was standing in the middle of the road with Ding Aqin, blocking the group.

An old man of about sixty, wearing a mandarin jacket on his upper body and long trousers on his lower body, looking very retro.

A woman in her thirties or possibly forties, with regular features, exquisite makeup, and dressed in designer brands.

Behind them were a man and a woman; judging by their standing posture and expressions, they should be assistants or secretaries to these two.

At first glance, it felt inexplicable: the street is so wide, you walk your way, I walk mine, why block people for no reason?

But with just one look, Lin Sicheng could judge that these people were coming specifically for them.

Nanfeng Zhimu?

Master Feng's eyes are truly those of an old hand in the world: it is not yet clear whether they are friend or foe, so if they want to find someone, that's fine, but one must ask clearly first. Li Zhiyuan bowed from a distance: "Gentlemen, my surname is Li, and I am the Manager of Nanmu Wood Wood Studio!"

Feng Sanjiang raised his hands and cupped them: "Manager Li, speak your mind!"

In the same line of work?

Li Zhiyuan smiled and pointed to Fu Manshu beside him, "This is the proprietor of our firm!"

Fu Manshu revealed a trace of a proper smile and bowed her waist: "The people below were ignorant and offended the distinguished guests. I am here to apologize to you all. If possible, could I ask you to move elsewhere?"

"I have had people brew tea in the shop, and I will personally pour tea for you all to admit my mistake..."

She had to admit her mistake, and she couldn't be slow about it: they had been at the shop for so long, and she had entrusted many people, among whom there was no lack of those with power and connections. But the strange thing was, after entrusting so many people, let alone their identities or backgrounds, she couldn't even find out what their surnames were!

Especially those with the most ability among them, not only did they fail to help, but they even called to warn Fu Manshu: just pretend that she never made this call today.

At this point, if she still didn't know what had happened, her twenty years in the business world would have been in vain.

Fu Manshu even suspected whether Li Zhiyuan's mouth had been blessed: sometimes, you don't even know what kind of people you have offended... While thinking this, she kept a smile on her face and bowed her waist again: "Everyone, I am truly sorry!"

The smile was very sincere, and the expression was very natural. But Lin Sicheng still saw a trace of reluctance and impatience deep within the woman. It seemed that this apology was not so heartfelt...

Subconsciously, Lin Sicheng thought of a sentence: I have already apologized, what else do you want?

He looked at Ye Anqi: "Second Brother, shall we go?"

Ye Anqi nodded: "Let's go!"

He wanted to see if it was as Lin Sicheng had judged. If so, how was Lin Sicheng prepared to reason with them?

Having received an affirmative answer, Fu Manshu straightened her waist: "Thank you, please come this way!"

Then, she deliberately waited a moment and led the way for Ye Anqi and Lin Sicheng: "May I ask the surnames of the two guests?"

Ye Anqi did not speak, and Lin Sicheng smiled: "Falling leaves know the year is drawing to a close; the superior man follows virtue, accumulating the small to become great!"

Fu Manshu was stunned, feeling it was inexplicable: What does that mean?

I only asked what your surname is, why are you spouting classical Chinese?

It's not like I have to play word riddles with you, right?

At first, Li Zhiyuan couldn't make heads or tails of it. But suddenly, he thought of the newly changed plaque at the shop entrance and the newly hung couplets. And, every piece of furniture with any sort of history had its labels removed by Fu Manshu and replaced with historical allusions. Not only were the words pitifully few, but they were also obscure and evasive, like looking at flowers through a fog.

He had originally disagreed, but Fu Manshu was full of high-sounding arguments: Uncle Li, since we are selling treasures, we must have the style of treasures...

Understood, this young person's meaning is: aren't you very good at making people guess?

Then you guess too.

But the problem is how to guess? Even if there aren't hundreds of millions of classical texts, there are tens of millions...

In an instant, Li Zhiyuan's already anxious heart sank a few more inches: I'm afraid today's matter won't end well?