[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981":3,"chapter-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-161":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year, the Flowers Bloomed in 1981",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2294579,4489,"Chapter 161: Pay with Money, or Pay with Life","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-161",161,"\u003Cp>In 1982, Panjiayuan had no antique market yet—just scattered secondhand dealers who had spontaneously formed a trading bazaar there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such bazaars weren’t unique to Great Beijing; each had its own character, until most eventually converged here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Panjiayuan was formerly called “Panjia Yao,” the area had many large earthen mounds and water pits left by brick kilns and excavated soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people, following the principle that “high ground offers wide vision,” set up stalls around the mounds, standing atop them as lookouts—so if plainclothes officers with red armbands showed up, they could flee quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence some also called it Jingsong Tupo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since everyone was always ready to run, Panjiayuan at the time had no large items—mostly snuff bottles, porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, and small wooden objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So finding a lacquered rosewood table for ten yuan or two rosewood chairs was still rare here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng pedaled hard all the way, drenched in sweat, arriving at Panjiayuan and locating the stall as Old Song had described.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor was a young man in his early twenties, eyeing everyone like a thief—cautious, yet subtly shrewd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his stall sat a set of five-color floral-and-bird teapots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having absorbed antique knowledge from his father, Guan Dasheng first browsed several nearby stalls before casually strolling over to the young man’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up a teacup, squinting closely, and said lazily: “How much for this set of Ming-style floral-and-bird teapots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor glanced at Guan Dasheng and replied flatly: “I don’t sell Ming imitations. This is a genuine Ming official kiln set. If you want fakes, go elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ming official kiln teapots? Oh my, your ancestors must’ve been third-rank officials.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng mocked with his mouth but kept examining the teacup and teapot closely—his surprise grew with every glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This set was strikingly similar to his family’s—minor details differed, but unless you knew his family’s set intimately, you couldn’t tell them apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this perfectly matched the hallmark of handcrafted goods: uniqueness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Handcrafted items never have identical copies; identical items are mass-produced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor, tired of Guan Dasheng’s act, waved him off: “A thousand yuan, no haggling. If you think it’s too expensive, go elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. If these really were Ming official kiln five-color floral-and-bird teapots, a thousand yuan would be worth it—but what if they’re fake? Aren’t you cheating people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor snatched the teacup from Guan Dasheng’s hand, scowling: “If you want fakes, go to the western stalls. Don’t come here looking for trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nearby vendor laughed and explained to Guan Dasheng: “No need to go west—take a look at mine. Authentic Tang tri-color, eighty yuan a pair, and I’ll throw in a rosewood box.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That box’s made of yellow sandalwood? Who are you trying to fool?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng cursed and walked away, then circled the entire market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed almost nothing here cost several thousand yuan—most items were eighty to a hundred yuan; even clearly unearthed pieces only asked one or two thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could his family’s Ming official kiln teapot set really be worth so little?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Wrong. This is a business opportunity.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng suddenly had a flash of insight—he thought of flipping items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same object, if sold to someone who truly loved it, could fetch several times its price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【But where would the capital come from?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng cycled home, past dinner time. The leftover food tasted bland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I’ll eat Donglaishun every day from now on.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng tossed and turned all night, and unsurprisingly overslept the next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to take another day off—sleep until after noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, his mother was just about to scold him when a visitor arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same man who bowed to everyone—whom his father suspected was a Japanese—and this time he was accompanied by the young man who had visited once before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight thousand yuan. That’s the final offer. This is your last chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji’s face was grim, his voice low, thick with resentment and fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Erdaye shrugged: “Sir, antiques are market-driven. Last year, this set might not have been worth eight hundred yuan; next year, twenty thousand might still be cheap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji opened his mouth to reply, but Nakamura Naoto suddenly stood up and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji panicked, snatched his briefcase, and moved to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight thousand yuan—deal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Erdaye’s sudden declaration left Guan Dasheng stunned—he couldn’t believe his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had his father suddenly backed down? Hadn’t he just said the most important thing in antiques was calmness, patience, and unshakable composure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nakamura Naoto, just outside the door, sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji hadn’t brought enough cash—he paid only a deposit, and they agreed to settle payment and delivery the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they left, Guan Dasheng rushed to his father: “Dad, why did you agree to eight thousand? This set’s worth fifteen to twenty thousand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Guan Erdaye replied: “Value depends on who holds the power. Who called the shots today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng said: “Of course it’s you! You didn’t sell, they couldn’t have stolen it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t hold the power,” Guan Erdaye smiled. “The young man did. If they walked out today, they’d never come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng blinked: “But you said twenty thousand the other day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Erdaye waved his hand: “This set isn’t worth twenty thousand right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Guan waved his hand and said, \"This set of teapots isn't worth twenty thousand now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji opened the car door first, letting Nakamura Naoto enter, then got in last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nakamura-kun, your method worked. These people are too cunning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inoue, doing business with the Chinese requires decisiveness—the courage and confidence to charge with a bayonet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inoue, doing business with the Zhinah people requires decisiveness, the courage and confidence to charge with bayonets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji nodded obediently, but inside he cursed—You’re the boss, you can walk away anytime. If I walk away, you’ll fire me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nakamura Naoto glanced at Inoue Koji and murmured: “Are you thinking I offered them too much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji shook his head quickly: “No. If I’d negotiated alone, I might have paid more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nakamura Naoto gave a cold smile: “Money is the catalyst for greed. Today they got eight thousand; tomorrow they’ll want eighty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today they sold us porcelain; tomorrow, they might produce exactly what we’re seeking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today they sold us a set of porcelain; the day after tomorrow, they might bring us what we’re looking for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Koji stared at Nakamura Naoto in shock—for the first time, he thought: This bastard is starting to remind me of my grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Hiroshi stared at Nakamura Naoto in surprise, feeling for the first time that “this bastard resembles his grandfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the deposit, Guan Erdaye and his nephew Guan Dacheng went out shopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His elder brother’s family had lived frugally for years; now that they had money, they should be properly equipped—at least the “Three Transfers and One Sound” set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng watched his father pocket the cash, his heart aching fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drop from twenty thousand to eight thousand had already hurt; now he had to give away four thousand more—who could bear this pain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight thousand? If I’d known it was only eight thousand, why didn’t I sell it to that fool? Fool...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng suddenly had an idea—and it spiraled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rushed to his room, dug out a crumpled slip of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I get fifteen thousand, fine. If not, stick with eight thousand. Worth the risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifteen thousand if it succeeds, eight thousand if it doesn’t—worth the risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian, upon hearing the news, hurried to a guesthouse in western Great Beijing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the contact address he’d left for Guan Dasheng—a fishing line, waiting for a bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight thousand yuan. Not a cent less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. But will your family agree to sell it to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so slow? Come with me—we’ll exchange cash for goods right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian studied Guan Dasheng’s flickering eyes and shook his head: “I won’t go to your home. Bring the item here. Cash for goods, no further claims afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian looked at Guan Dasheng’s flickering eyes and shook his head. “I won’t go to your place for the deal. You must bring the items here. We settle cash for goods, and neither of us can come back later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng sped home on his bike. While his parents were out, he stole the five-color floral-and-bird teapot set and handed it to Wei Jiaxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian didn’t delay—he counted out eight thousand yuan, every cent, to Guan Dasheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Guan Dasheng left, Old Song quietly appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Song, is the Guan family the people we’re looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll see what happens next. Hua Erhan has the skill to fake things perfectly—but fakes remain fakes, never truly real. Eventually, an expert will spot them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, by custom, the Guan family must compensate with a genuine piece. If they can produce one, they’re likely who we seek. If not, we’ve mistaken them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wei Jiaxian silent, Old Song comforted him: “Don’t rush. Great Beijing is huge. There are many Guan families. We’ve only been here a few months—keep searching, we’ll find them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian fell silent for several seconds, then said: “If the Guan family isn’t who we’re looking for, is what we did... dishonorable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s dishonorable about it?” Old Song chuckled. “Antique trading relies on eye and skill. If those Japanese were fooled, it’s their own incompetence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Guan family gets exposed, it’s because they’re dishonest. Who else can they blame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian thought long, then sighed and nodded silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he added: “Still, we spent eight thousand—isn’t that too much? Won’t Li Ye be unhappy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Haven’t you noticed yet? Li Ye’s mindset is no different from ours. Otherwise, I wouldn’t serve him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Song smiled lightly: “Besides, we’ve found him two excellent pieces these past two days. He won’t care about a few thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian finally smiled and nodded: “Yes, those were truly good pieces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiaxian finally smiled and nodded. “Those are indeed two fine pieces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng, with eight thousand yuan in hand, pedaled furiously back to Panjiayuan—his heart burned with excitement and anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng took eight thousand yuan, hopped on his bicycle, and pedaled toward Panjiayuan, his heart burning with excitement and anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he arrived and saw the vendor from yesterday, along with the same set of Ming-era polychrome bird-and-flower teapot on the stall, his heart finally settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, this pot’s got some character—cut the price, sell it to me for six hundred and eighty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three thousand, not a cent less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng froze for a full ten seconds, then leapt up, glaring and shouting: “You think you can play games with me? Yesterday you said a thousand, now that I’ve brought the money you jack it up to three thousand? You think I won’t flip your stall over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor brushed off his clothes, revealing the hilt of a knife at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead and flip it—if you’ve got the money to pay for it. If you don’t, you can pay with your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Guan Dasheng, still anxious, watched Inoue Koji carefully pack up the three-thousand-yuan teapot like a treasured relic, and his heart finally sank into calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he wasn’t the type to take a loss—he planned to go out today, find a few old hands, spend a few hundred yuan, and teach that kid a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You dare play tricks on a Beijing man? Just wait and die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after Inoue Koji left, Guan Erdaye smiled and asked his son: “Dasheng, where did you get this set?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng turned pale with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, you—you figured it out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's my own family's stuff—do you think I wouldn't know? But the authenticity of this set is hard to determine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why didn’t you say anything just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the buyer didn’t spot it, why should I? Haven’t I told you the rules of this trade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Dasheng had already backed into the corner before he realized his father had no intention of hitting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next moment—he wished he’d just taken a beating himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Ciying spoke gently: “How much did you get? Hand it over—I promise I won’t hit you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2043,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","067b6a41127fafeff037ce133928f1bebc93ce6789c5bd6aaa40c65829ac092f","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-162","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-160",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]