Chapter 706: Newcomers Arrive in Panjiayuan

Xu Damao pulled a leather suitcase, twisting and turning as he ducked into an antique shop named Jubaozhai.

Behind the counter, Dajinya was lounging in a grand armchair drinking tea; he lifted his eyes for a look, and the corners of his mouth immediately split open: "Yo, Uncle Xu Damao, you aren't staying in your own shop, so why have you run off to my little temple?"

Xu Damao lowered his voice and said: "Jin Ya, I have a few items here; see if you can move them quickly."

Dajinya immediately stood up and flipped the cloth curtain: "Uncle, let's talk inside."

The two entered the back room, and Dajinya casually locked the door.

Xu Damao opened the suitcase and took them out one by one; soon, four bronze pieces were laid out on the table: a Han Dynasty Gilded Belt Hook, a Western Zhou Plain Small Gui, a Warring States Bronze Sword, and a Han Dynasty Boshan Incense Burner.

Dajinya swept his gaze over them, raised an eyebrow, and said: "Uncle Xu Damao, where did you get these things?"

Xu Damao curled the corner of his mouth, carrying a hint of smugness: "Your uncle here is considered an old hand in this trade... these few items were all collected from old contacts in the west."

Dajinya smiled and asked casually: "Uncle, you have your own shop, so why must you run all the way to me?"

Xu Damao naturally wouldn't say that He Yuzhu had his eyes on his shop; he leaned back in the chair carelessly and said: "Jin Ya, you don't understand, do you! I do big business; my main trade is commerce, and opening a shop in Panjiayuan is purely a personal hobby. I recently took on a big deal and need cash urgently. I know you are familiar with Hong Kong merchants, so I brought them to you to help me move them quickly, and let you make a little something too."

Dajinya smiled and nodded: "To tell you the truth, a Hong Kong merchant is coming with his Secretary to look at goods in a while. Leave the items with me first, you go out for a stroll, and I'll ask about the price for you. However, you have to give me a bottom price, otherwise, if someone wants to buy, I won't have anywhere to find you."

Xu Damao rolled his eyes: "Jin Ya, can I talk with you?"

Dajinya chuckled, revealing that signature big gold tooth: "Uncle, that breaks the rules. But don't worry, I will definitely sell them for a good price for you."

"Then give me an estimate first, how about that?" Xu Damao said.

"This time I reckon it can sell for eighteen thousand," Dajinya said.

Xu Damao narrowed his eyes and shook his head: "Less than twenty thousand, I won't sell."

After saying this, he turned and walked out.

Dajinya looked down at the bronze pieces on the table, weighed them in his hands one by one, and then put them back.

Not long after, a shiny, bald head appeared at the entrance of Jubaozhai.

The man was in his forties, slightly plump, wearing a well-tailored suit, and the Gold watch on his wrist glittered under the fluorescent lights.

Behind him followed a woman in her early thirties with exquisite makeup; she swayed as she walked, and a sense of charm permeated her brows and eyes.

Dajinya's eyes lit up, and he hurried to welcome them: "Uncle Ming! Sister Han! You two have finally arrived, please come in, please come in!"

Dajinya ushered the two into the room and then closed the door.

Longjing tea was brewed, steam rose in curls, and the fragrance of tea filled the air.

Ming Shu picked up a cup, took a sip, and asked: "Little Jin Ya, any good things lately?"

Dajinya first moved a few Buddha heads out from the cabinet and placed them on the table: "These are ones I just collected; take a look and see if you have any interest?"

Ming Shu glanced at them and shook his head: "These aren't worth much."

Dajinya immediately brought out those few items from Xu Damao and said: "These few pieces were entrusted to me by a friend to sell on his behalf; you can take a look first."

Ming Shu leaned down, picked up the Plain Small Gui, turned it over and over for a long time, then peered at the Bronze Sword, his brows gradually knitting together. To tell the truth, he only had a half-bucket of knowledge about bronzeware; after looking for a while, he put the items down and shook his head: "Among these things of yours, only this Western Zhou Plain Small Gui is worth a little money; the others are no good!"

Dajinya made a move to put the items away when Han Shuna suddenly spoke: "Let me see."

She reached out and picked up the Han Dynasty Boshan Incense Burner, examining it carefully in her hands, her fingertips tracing the mountain patterns on the lid, her gaze focused.

"I'll take them all, how much money?" she asked.

Dajinya thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said: "Sister Han is one of our own, so I won't make money off you. My friend said—it won't be sold for less than fifty thousand!"

Han Shuna raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of reproach: "Jin Ya, it's not like this is our first or second time dealing with each other, why are you still opening your mouth like a lion?"

Dajinya smiled and leaned back against the chair: "Sister Han, your information is lagging. Two days ago, groups from Panjiayuan and Liulichang both came out, offering extremely high prices for goods; as long as the goods are good enough, price is not an issue."

Han Shuna's eyes flickered, and she asked: "Are they foreigners?"

Dajinya shook his head: "They are all old hands; the average age of those collecting is over sixty-five, all figures who were hanging around Liulichang before the Liberation. I heard their backers are overseas tycoons."

Once these words were out, Ming Shu and Han Shuna looked at each other, both seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes.

Just at this moment, "Bang, bang, bang—" the shop door was knocked.

Dajinya stood up and waved his hand at Ming Shu and Han Shuna: "You two sit for a moment, I reckon that group is looking for me again."

He walked out quickly and opened the door.

Standing outside the door was an old gentleman, looking to be over sixty, with a thin face and wearing a pair of old-fashioned round-rimmed glasses; at first glance, he looked like a retired professor.

"Jin Ya, any newly collected old objects?" the old gentleman asked as soon as he entered the door.

Dajinya immediately put on a smiling face: "Grandpa Sun! Yes, yes, a few bronze pieces, the condition is quite good."

Grandpa Sun's mouth curled slightly, revealing a trace of a smile: "Let me have a look."

Dajinya diligently led the person into the room and laid out those few bronze pieces of Xu Damao's: "Please take a look."

Grandpa Sun unhurriedly took a pair of reading glasses from his pocket and put them on, picking up the Western Zhou Plain Small Gui to examine it closely, turning it over and over. He used his fingernail to lightly scrape the green rust on the bottom of the Gui, brought it under his nose to smell it, and then picked up the Bronze Sword, holding it to the light to inspect the patterns on the sword's spine.

After finishing, Grandpa Sun took off his glasses and asked straightforwardly: "Jin Ya, what price are you selling for?"

Dajinya took a deep breath and held up five fingers: "One price, fifty thousand."

Grandpa Sun didn't even lift his eyelids, nodding: "Can you give me this suitcase? I'll take this job."

After saying this, he took ten thousand US dollars out of his schoolbag and slapped it on the table.

Dajinya's eyes lit up.

This US currency was very popular on the market, and when converted, it far exceeded its face value.

Dajinya immediately put the US dollars away, nodding and bowing: "Mr. Sun is a man of his word! Shall I wrap the items up for you?"

Grandpa Sun carefully placed the bronze pieces into the suitcase, picked it up, and walked away unhurriedly.

Ming Shu saw the old man leave and asked: "What's this guy's background? How is he even more aggressive than me? Even if we transferred these things to Hong Kong, we might not be able to sell them for this price!"

Dajinya chuckled: "Ming Shu, you really know how to joke. As far as I know, if these things were taken to Hong Kong, they could sell for at least two hundred thousand. However—it's not easy for you to take them over, and there are quite a few costs in between."

As soon as Ming Shu heard this, his face changed instantly; he pointed at Dajinya's nose and cursed him roundly: "Little Jin Ya! You aren't being righteous! When that old gentleman came, you didn't even ask us, and sold them directly to him?"

"Ming Shu, I'm sorry. This group is my bread and butter; I wouldn't dare offend them, no matter who I offend."

"Then you dare to offend me?" Ming Shu glared, the fat on his face trembling.

"I wouldn't dare offend you," Dajinya said hurriedly, "but it's obvious you aren't someone who genuinely wants to buy this thing."

Ming Shu was choked into silence, his face flushed bright red, and he flicked his sleeves and walked out while cursing.

Han Shuna suddenly asked, "The matter I entrusted to you last time, has it been handled?"

Dajinya nodded: "I found two for you; both are old hands who know the trade and have no small amount of skill. I'll bring them to Sister Han's place another day."

Ming Shu pulled Han Shuna along, cursing as he walked: "This Dajinya is too disloyal! We can't trust the people he finds!"

Dajinya stood at the doorway, watching their retreating figures, and spat: "Old thing! Stingy ghost!"