Chapter 2701: Changqing Zhenren

Zhang Ermao's demands were harsh, but the two men, thinking of the substantial income, agreed without hesitation.

Zhang Ermao did not dally; he transferred thirty thousand yuan to each of them via WeChat and said, "This is a ten-day advance on your labor fees. If I catch either of you slacking off in the next ten days, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Zhao Laosi patted his chest and guaranteed without a second thought, "Don't you worry, Brother Er Mao. For the sake of your generosity, I'll wear adult diapers to keep watch for you! I'd rather wet my pants than leave my post for even half a step!"

Xiao Teng also immediately pledged, "Brother Er Mao, I won't eat or drink during the day; I definitely won't let you down!"

"Good." Zhang Ermao nodded, took the two jade rings from his pocket, handed them to the two men, and instructed, "Wear these rings on your hands and don't take them off. These are the tokens the big client will use to verify your identities."

The two men didn't hesitate and immediately took the rings.

Zhao Laosi played with the ring in his hand for a moment, held it to his nose and sniffed, then whispered, "Damn, Brother Er Mao, this... this ring is an item fresh from a tomb!"

"Really?" Xiao Teng, standing to the side, followed suit and sniffed it, then asked suspiciously, "Laosi, how can you tell if it's fresh from a tomb or an old find?"

Zhang Ermao interrupted them and instructed, "If you two want to earn this money, remember this: talk less and ask fewer questions."

Zhao Laosi chuckled and quickly said, "Brother Er Mao is right. Anyway, we're just responsible for picking people up; we won't ask about anything else."

Zhang Ermao nodded and said to the two, "Laosi, go to a print shop later and make a sign that says 'Picking up Hong Kong businessman Chen Jiawei.' Xiao Teng, you make one that says 'Picking up Hong Kong businessman Luo Qidong.' Once they're made, you can start working directly. I'll count today as a workday for you!"

Zhao Laosi asked in surprise, "Brother Er Mao, so urgent? I haven't even had a chance to settle my stall yet. Could you wait a moment? I'll have my brother-in-law come over to watch it for me..."

Zhang Ermao waved his hand, "I'll watch your stall for you. Since your goods are all fake anyway, I'll just try to sell them for as much as I can. Once you pick up the clients, bring them to find me."

The two men didn't hesitate any longer, nodded, and happily headed off to the print shop.

Zhang Ermao knew that these two would never actually pick anyone up, as both names were fabricated on the spot. It would be a miracle if they actually found someone.

He didn't know why Ye Chen had asked him to do this, but as a shrewd man, he understood one principle: never ask about things you shouldn't, and never try to uncover the truth.

So, he sat down at Zhao Laosi's stall, looked at the pile of junk, and placed the piece of lightning-struck wood Ye Chen had given him right in the center.

Although he didn't know what the item was for, he kept Ye Chen's instruction firmly in mind: no matter who asked for the price, he was to quote five million.

After guarding the stall for over an hour, a few suckers browsing the antique street came by. Zhang Ermao fully utilized his talent as an antique swindler, selling several worthless crafts at high prices.

After closing a few deals, Zhang Ermao felt a sense of ease and satisfaction. Although selling fake antiques to swindle people didn't have much of a future, for him, it was truly a source of great accomplishment.

Watching those suckers who harbored dreams of getting rich by picking up a bargain happily buy fake goods, Zhang Ermao felt exceptionally refreshed.

He couldn't help but ponder in his heart: "It seems I can't give up the antique business entirely. Half of life's joy comes from this place... If Master Hong Wu isn't too busy in the future, I can come here to find some fun every now and then."

Just as Zhang Ermao was happily calculating in his heart, a familiar voice came, laughing with a hint of surprise: "Hey, Zhang Ermao, when did you come back to set up a stall?"

Zhang Ermao looked up and said respectfully, "Oh, President Xiao! It's been a while since I last saw you!"

The person speaking was none other than Ye Chen's father-in-law, Xiao Changkun.

Although Xiao Changkun was now the executive vice president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, his passion for antiques remained as strong as ever.

He hadn't been here for a while because he had been in a bad mood due to a recent heartbreak.

Having recovered slightly over the past two days, and happening to be a weekend, he had set his sights on the antique street again.

He just hadn't expected to run into an acquaintance, Zhang Ermao, as soon as he arrived.

Hearing Zhang Ermao respectfully call him "President Xiao," Xiao Changkun felt very proud. He stood with his hands behind his back like a leader and said with a smile, "Er Mao, I heard you were following Master Hong Wu and became his military advisor. Why are you back on the antique street?"

Zhang Ermao smiled and said, "President Xiao, you really have eyes everywhere. There's nothing in Jin Ling that can be hidden from you!"

Xiao Changkun was flattered, but he put on a profound air and said, "Er Mao, you don't need to butter me up. But in this part of Jin Ling, there really isn't anything I, Xiao Changkun, don't understand."

Zhang Ermao nodded and said obsequiously, "President Xiao, to tell you the truth, after staying with Master Hong Wu for a while, I found that it might not be the best fit for me, so I decided to pick up my old trade again."

Xiao Changkun didn't suspect anything and nodded, "You, you were born to do this antique business. And I have to say, you're my lucky star in this trade. The first big bargain I picked up was sold to you for fifty thousand. Since you stopped doing this, I haven't picked up any big bargains."

He added, "Oh, by the way, I've been collecting some small items here and there recently. Based on my experience, they should be authentic. I'll bring them for you to see later. If the price is right, I'll let them go to you."

Zhang Ermao remembered the painful experience of spending 500,000 to buy a fake from Xiao Changkun. If it weren't for Ye Chen's face, how could he spend that unjust money?

Thinking of this, he chuckled and quickly said, "No, no, President Xiao, I don't buy items anymore."

"You don't buy anymore?" Xiao Changkun frowned and pointed at the pile of items on his stall, asking, "If you don't buy items, where did all these come from? You couldn't have made them yourself at home, could you?"

Zhang Ermao said, "President Xiao, to tell you the truth, I'm adjusting my business direction. Before, I traded in everything, real or fake, but trading in real items carries the risk of being fooled. I was fooled before and spent several hundred thousand on a piece of junk that wasn't even worth ten yuan, wiping out half a year's income..."

He glanced nervously at Xiao Changkun, and seeing that Xiao Changkun didn't catch his drift, he quickly added, "So, President Xiao, I've changed my strategy. Now, I only sell fakes, and I only buy fakes..."

Xiao Changkun frowned, "What? You've decided to specialize in swindling?"

Zhang Ermao chuckled, "Heh... you could understand it that way..."

Xiao Changkun said solemnly, "Er Mao, it's not that I'm lecturing you, but you have to have professional ethics in whatever trade you're in."

Zhang Ermao nodded, "I'm just trying to earn some money first. It won't be too late to improve my professional ethics after I've made some money. As they say, get on the bus first, buy the ticket later..."

Xiao Changkun curled his lip in disdain, looked at the items on Zhang Ermao's stall, and shook his head, "Oh my, you're really going backwards. Every single fake on your stall, I can tell them apart."

"Yes, yes," Zhang Ermao said obsequiously, "President Xiao, you definitely have a discerning eye. Good items can't escape your eyes, and neither can fakes."

Xiao Changkun smiled, picked up the lightning-struck wood in the middle of the stall, looked at it carefully, and said, "But this lightning-struck wood doesn't seem fake. How much are you selling it for? If the price is right, I'll take it to ward off evil."

Zhang Ermao held up five fingers.

Xiao Changkun asked curiously, "Five hundred?"

Zhang Ermao chuckled, "Ten thousand..."

Xiao Changkun widened his eyes and asked indignantly, "Fifty thousand?!"

Zhang Ermao shook his head, "Five million..."

"Damn..." Xiao Changkun threw the lightning-struck wood back onto the stall and cursed, "Zhang Ermao, have you gone crazy? You want five million for this piece of junk? Do you take me for a lottery ticket?"

Zhang Ermao said awkwardly, "President Xiao, you said it yourself, I'm in the business of swindling now. If I don't quote a high price, how can I swindle money..."

Xiao Changkun said angrily, "But you can't just rob people... You're purely sick in the head!"

With that, he put his hands behind his back and walked away without looking back.

Looking at his boss-like back, Zhang Ermao sighed helplessly, thinking to himself: "Master Ye wants me to quote five million for this lightning-struck wood. If I open this stall like this, I guess I will be scolded ten or twenty times a day..."

Meanwhile.

On the outskirts of Yan Jing, Changyun Temple.

As the temple with the longest history in the country, Changyun Temple could be considered a sacred place for Taoism in the modern era.

The temple was bustling with incense, and all the Taoist followers in Yan Jing would frequently come here to make offerings.

Changyun Temple had one abbot and one supervisor, in addition to numerous disciples of various seniority, totaling over three hundred people.

In Taoism, the title of abbot is the same as in Buddhism, but their functions are quite different. The Buddhist abbot is the highest-ranking and most powerful person in the temple, managing all affairs, whereas the Taoist abbot's main duty is to lecture on scriptures, more like the most senior professor in the temple. The person with the highest management authority in the temple is the supervisor.

Dressed in a Taoist robe, Elder Chang Sheng stood at the gate of Changyun Temple, gazing for a moment before stepping into the temple gate.

The entire Changyun Temple was divided into three courtyards: front, middle, and back. However, only the front courtyard was open to believers and pilgrims. This was where several shrines were located, especially the Sanqing Hall in the center, which housed the three supreme ancestors of Taoism.

The middle and back courtyards were areas for internal use by Changyun Temple, where the abbot and disciples lived, practiced, and studied Taoism.

Whether it was Ye Chen, Elder Chang Sheng, the mysterious Master, or the Meng Changsheng in the painting, they all mastered spiritual energy and practiced Taoist traditions.

Therefore, the first thing Elder Chang Sheng did upon entering Changyun Temple was to go to the Sanqing Hall, kowtow and offer incense to the three supreme gods of Taoism, before coming to a young Taoist priest beside him and saying, "Fellow Taoist, may I ask if this place allows a traveler to stay for a few days?"

The young Taoist priest, seeing that Elder Chang Sheng had a transcendent and otherworldly aura, was taken aback and asked respectfully, "May I ask which temple you are from, Taoist? Do you have any credentials?"

According to the internal conventions of the religion, Taoist priests leaving their home temple and traveling to other places can stay in local temples, but they need to verify their identity to prevent imposters.

Elder Chang Sheng smiled and said, "I have been practicing overseas for many years and haven't been to China for a long time. I don't have any credentials."

The young Taoist priest said with some difficulty, "Taoist, according to the regulations, if you want to stay, you must have legal credentials to prove you are a Taoist priest. Otherwise, I cannot make the decision..."

Elder Chang Sheng didn't get angry; he smiled calmly and asked, "What is the name of your supervisor, and what is his Taoist name?"

The young Taoist priest said respectfully, "Our supervisor's Taoist name is Qingxu Sanren."

"Qingxu?" Elder Chang Sheng smiled slightly, "Could it be the little baby that Xuanjizi adopted back then?"

The young Taoist priest was shocked!

Supervisor Qingxu Sanren, now over seventy years old, had a life story that was very famous in the domestic Taoist community. He was abandoned at the gate of Changyun Temple as a newborn and adopted by the then-supervisor, Xuanjizi. For decades, he had followed Xuanjizi to learn Taoism and later succeeded to the position of supervisor. It could be said that he had dedicated his whole life to Taoism and was a true master in the Taoist community today.

Such a senior master was referred to as a "little baby" by Elder Chang Sheng, so the young Taoist priest was naturally shocked. He couldn't help but ask Elder Chang Sheng, "Taoist, do you know our supervisor?"

Elder Chang Sheng said calmly, "Not only do I know him, but when he was little, I even held him."

"Ah?!" The young Taoist priest was stunned!

He couldn't help but mutter, "Our supervisor is over seventy years old. If you held him when he was little, wouldn't you be at least ninety? But you look like you're only in your sixties..."

Elder Chang Sheng smiled and said, "I can't explain it to you. You can go and report to him, just say that Changqing Zhenren wants to see him."

"Changqing Zhenren..." The young Taoist priest muttered. Although he hadn't heard of this Taoist name, seeing Elder Chang Sheng's unfathomable demeanor, he didn't dare to be negligent and said, "Please follow me to the reception hall, Taoist. I will go and report to my master, and then ask my master to report to the supervisor!" ===== CHAPTER 2702 =====