Chapter 3063: Have something

In order not to smash the remaining three months of rent in his hands, the boss of Zhenbao Pavilion used the fastest speed to find the landlord, and then found several peers to evaluate the goods.

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The landlord was very straightforward, after all, he had already found a successor. Otherwise, if the current tenant's lease expired and no one else was willing to take over, he would have to go through the trouble of finding a new tenant, losing a day's rent for every day it sat empty.

Therefore, after he arrived, he immediately signed an agreement with the two of them acknowledging the transfer of the remaining three months of the lease, and signed a new contract with Zhou Liangyun. Zhou Liangyun didn't need to pay immediately; he only needed to transfer the rent to the landlord before the three-month lease expired and the new one began.

After the agreement was signed, peers in the antique street with the same positioning as Treasure Pavilion swarmed in.

Merchants here love to browse for goods in their peers' shops.

Once a peer decides to stop operating, or even doesn't plan to retail the remaining stock themselves, it means they are willing to accept clearing the goods to peers at prices lower than cost.

For items with a purchase price of one hundred, you can often get them for seventy or eighty, which is much more cost-effective than running to other places to stock up yourself.

Seeing his peers rush over and clear out all the goods in less than half an hour, the boss couldn't help but sigh to Zhou Liangyun: "It seems that when it's time to cut your losses, you must cut them! I used to get a headache just looking at this pile of goods, but now that they're all cleared out, my mood is much more comfortable. Although I lost quite a bit of money, in the end, I traded it for a clean and happy state of mind."

Zhou Liangyun nodded in agreement and said: "People say 'out of sight, out of mind,' and that's exactly the principle. When these things become a burden to you, even though they still have value, until they are sold and cashed out, they only provide you with negative emotional value. Every day you are annoyed is a form of invisible loss."

The boss nodded and said: "You're right! It's just like that oil stock I bought back then. From the second day after I bought it, every day thereafter was the best time to cut my losses. Unfortunately, I was like an ostrich, burying my head in the sand and ignoring everything, foolishly waiting to break even. More than a decade has passed, and counting inflation, I've lost at least ninety percent."

Zhou Liangyun smiled slightly. Most people actually have this kind of mentality—hesitant and always holding onto unrealistic fantasies. Such people are actually not suitable for investment and can never grasp the timing for stop-loss and profit-taking.

Seeing that the goods were almost cleared, the boss called a few friends to help pack up his remaining personal items and called a small truck to haul them all away. He then said to Zhou Liangyun: "The tables and chairs inside have some age to them. Nobody wants them if I sell them, and it's a pity to give them away. I figure you probably don't think much of them, but you can keep them for the transition. It will take time for you to order new ones. When the new ones arrive, just let them take these back."

"Okay." Zhou Liangyun nodded.

The boss added: "By the way, I won't take down the shop sign. If you don't like it, you can have someone take it down when you change it later."

Zhou Liangyun smiled and said: "The word 'Treasure' is used too much in the industry, but I'm a lazy person, so I won't bother coming up with a new name. I'll just change one character when the time comes—replace the 'Zhen' in 'Treasure' with the 'Zhen' from 'Selection'."

By noon, the handover of Zhou Liangyun's new shop was already complete.

He did not take down the Treasure Pavilion plaque, but instead bought a set of the Four Treasures of the Study from the street and personally wrote the three vigorous and powerful characters "Zhen Bao Xuan" on rice paper.

He decided to start by collecting and appraising antiques. This "Zhen" character seemed very appropriate. Although it has the same pronunciation as the "Zhen" in pearl, the artistic conception is completely different. The latter is meant to highlight that the shop is full of good things, while the former is meant to tell customers that this place is better at selection and appraisal.

Once the characters were written, he stepped on a ladder and covered the original sign with them. He then wrote a notice with only ten characters: "Collecting antiques from all over, appraising treasures from all sides."

The temporary sign and notice had just been hung up when Chen Yufei ran over with a flower basket to congratulate him on the opening.

As soon as they met, he said enthusiastically: "Oh, Manager Zhou, your efficiency is truly high. You only came back yesterday evening, and the shop is already open by noon today!"

Zhou Liangyun smiled slightly: "Doing a small business by myself, of course, the faster, the better."

Chen Yufei placed the flower basket by the door of Zhen Bao Xuan and said with a hint of reproach: "Manager Zhou, you are still too much of a stranger. Nearly half of the merchants on this antique street are old acquaintances. When your new shop opened, why didn't you tell everyone? If everyone sent you a few more flower baskets, wouldn't the atmosphere be built up?"

Zhou Liangyun hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Manager Chen, you've spent too much. But my small business has just opened, and I don't know if I can keep it going. It's not suitable to make a big splash or start with high expectations right away. It's better to be low-key."

Chen Yufei nodded and said with a smile: "You are truly too humble. With your strength, you will soon make a name for yourself on the antique street. By then, your Zhen Bao Xuan business will definitely be the most popular one on our street."

Zhou Liangyun said politely: "Then I'll take your kind words."

As they were talking, Zhang Ermao walked over with a smile. Seeing Zhou Liangyun and Chen Yufei at the door, he feigned surprise and said: "Oh, isn't this Manager Zhou? When did you get back?"

Zhou Liangyun also recognized Zhang Ermao.

The reason he still remembered Zhang Ermao was that, in his view, Zhang Ermao was the most quick-witted vendor on the entire antique street. He was truly smart, but previously, in Zhou Liangyun's view, Zhang Ermao's intelligence wasn't used on the right path.

He was a well-informed person and could see that although someone like Zhang Ermao had small cleverness, he hadn't settled down to transform that small cleverness into a real skill. Coupled with his humble background and lack of a mentor, it was still very difficult for him to get ahead.

However, looking at Zhang Ermao today, he clearly felt that this person's aura was a bit different from before. He had also gone from being skin and bones to being a bit more rounded, and it seemed like he had been living quite well lately.

So, Zhou Liangyun asked him with a smile: "Ermao, are you still doing business on the antique street?"

Zhang Ermao said with a smile: "Occasionally, occasionally. Now I'm mainly doing some things for an older brother, so I can't really keep up with the antique street."

As he spoke, he asked with feigned curiosity: "Manager Zhou, is this a new business opening?"

"Yes." Zhou Liangyun nodded: "Newly opened, collecting some things, and also helping people look at things."

"Appraising treasures, huh." Zhang Ermao said with a smile: "Appraising treasures is good. Appraising treasures has been very popular lately. If you open a live stream later, it won't take long before you're incredibly popular."

Zhou Liangyun came to Jin Ling to start over, and his original intention was not to be high-profile, so he wasn't interested in live streaming. He said casually: "Live streaming isn't easy to do now either. The good timing for entry was missed long ago. If you do live streaming now, almost no one will watch without spending money on traffic. If you spend money on traffic, who knows when you'll earn it back? My funds are also limited, so I'll just muddle along and make a living."

Zhang Ermao nodded and smiled: "No wonder they say you're an expert, Manager Zhou. Everything you say is professional."

As he spoke, Zhang Ermao added: "By the way, I have quite a few friends here who often sell goods. I don't know how big of a pot you're planning to cook with, Manager Zhou? I'll see if they have any suitable things to bring over and cooperate with you."

"How big of a pot you're planning to cook with" roughly meant asking how much money he intended to invest. Zhou Liangyun was going to collect antiques, so this was also asking how much money he could take out to collect items.

Zhou Liangyun said modestly: "I've just been messing around during this time and haven't saved much money. I only have a few hundred thousand on hand in total. If it's cheap and affordable items, I definitely have no problem here, but if it's top-tier goods, I'm afraid I won't be able to afford them."

"Got it." Zhang Ermao knew the approximate scale of Zhou Liangyun's funds, so he said: "I'll gather some relevant resources for you later and see if I can facilitate a few deals."

Zhou Liangyun cupped his hands: "Then thank you, Ermao!"

Zhang Ermao waved his hand with a smile and said to Chen Yufei: "Manager Chen, please help me prepare a flower basket for Manager Zhou. I'll transfer the money to you later."

Chen Yufei hurriedly said: "Oh, Brother Ermao, why are you being so polite with me? I'll prepare the flower basket, you don't need to worry about it!"

Zhang Ermao nodded and said casually: "I'm off, you two. Let's sit down and have a cup of tea when we have the chance."

After saying that, he walked away.

Chen Yufei knew that after Zhang Ermao finished probing Zhou Liangyun's bottom line, he would definitely find a way to help him deal with him when he went back. So he breathed a sigh of relief and said to Zhou Liangyun: "Manager Zhou, then you go ahead and get busy, I'll go back too. I'll have someone send Brother Ermao's flower basket over in a while!"

Zhou Liangyun was lost in thought, smiled slightly, and nodded: "Thank you for your trouble!"

Watching Chen Yufei leave, Zhou Liangyun felt that something was not quite right.

He didn't know that Chen Yufei was racking his brains to drive him out of the antique street. He just felt that as the manager of Jiqing Hall, Chen Yufei was definitely one of the top figures on this antique street. Zhang Ermao was just a peddler who went around bluffing and patching deals, only slightly better than the lowest tier on the antique street. How could Chen Yufei call him "Brother Ermao"?

Could it be that this Zhang Ermao had some encounter recently?

Thinking of this, he felt that Zhang Ermao's appearance here just now seemed a bit deliberate.

At this very moment, Zhang Ermao circled the antique street and dived into the gate of Jiqing Hall.

As soon as he entered Jiqing Hall, Chen Yufei hurriedly invited him to the VIP reception room in the back, and then asked impatiently: "Brother Ermao, how is it? Do you have a plan yet?"

Zhang Ermao said unhurriedly: "Look at you, what's the rush? You are the general manager of Jiqing Hall after all. He's just opening a small shop of a few dozen square meters, and there isn't even a single thing in the shop that can be sold. What are you afraid of?"

Chen Yufei sighed: "Brother Ermao, this Zhou's style of doing things is swift and decisive. You didn't see it just now; he just took over the shop, wrote the sign with a brush, and opened for business. This person has some skills, much stronger than those who do appraisals on the antique street. If you really let him do this for a month or two, I'm afraid his reputation will be built up!"

As he spoke, he added: "To tell you the truth, the finance department of the Song Group has always wanted to cut my business. It was Miss Song who went against the public opinion and kept Jiqing Hall. From this, it can be seen that Miss Song has feelings for Jiqing Hall, and she must still pay attention to the situation of this business occasionally. In case she finds out that Zhou Liangyun is back and doing well, she might have the idea of inviting him back!"

Zhang Ermao secretly mocked in his heart: "If the information channel is not well-informed, you will suffer a big loss. You, Chen Yufei, don't need to worry about Zhou Liangyun coming to steal your position, because the reason he was driven away in the first place was that he offended Master Ye's father-in-law. Miss Song respects Master Ye immensely and follows his every word; it is absolutely impossible for her to invite back Zhou Liangyun, who offended Master Ye. It's truly worrying about nothing."

However, he didn't break this relationship. After all, Chen Yufei was asking for his help, and by helping Xiao Changkun vent his anger, he could let Chen Yufei owe him a big favor. Why not do something that kills two birds with one stone?

Thinking of this, he smiled and said: "I didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing, but you are lucky this time. I happen to have nothing to do recently. Since this Zhou Liangyun has some skills, I want to see how he compares to me, Zhang Ermao."

After saying that, he said: "Doesn't Zhou Liangyun only have a few hundred thousand? I'll find something that even an expert like him will misjudge, and suck his few hundred thousand dry in one go. When he has no startup capital, what the hell else can he do with antiques?"

Chen Yufei said excitedly: "That would be great! Then I'll have people secretly promote it, so that everyone knows that Zhou Liangyun misjudged as soon as he returned to the antique street, making him lose both money and face! Let's see how he can gain a foothold on the antique street!"

Zhang Ermao nodded and added: "Manager Chen, why don't I do you another favor?"

Chen Yufei hurriedly asked respectfully: "Brother Ermao, what kind of favor are you talking about?"

Zhang Ermao said: "After I prepare the item, I will have someone bring it to you for appraisal first. I will tell you in advance how to comment, how to see the flaws in the item, and where the item is fake. You prepare the surveillance, and then perform a scene under the surveillance. After Zhou Liangyun misjudges, you release the video. First, there is you, Manager Chen, with your sharp eyes identifying the counterfeit, and then there is him, Zhou Liangyun, blind as a bat and losing everything. With such a comparison, when it reaches Miss Song's ears, your position will be even more secure."

Chen Yufei couldn't think of such a good idea to kill two birds with one stone even if he racked his brains, and was instantly excited beyond measure.

What he was most criticized for was his lack of professional ability, which made him unworthy of the position of general manager of Jiqing Hall. If this matter could really be done, it would be the best counterattack against such doubts!

So, he excitedly held Zhang Ermao's hand and said gratefully: "Brother Ermao, you are truly my rebirth parent! I don't know how to thank you!"

Zhang Ermao smiled and then said seriously: "Manager Chen, if this matter succeeds, remember that you owe me a big favor."

Chen Yufei said without hesitation: "Brother Ermao, don't worry. If this matter succeeds, in the future, even if I have to go through fire and water, just say the word, and I, Chen Yufei, won't even blink!"

Zhang Ermao nodded with satisfaction and then said: "Alright, you go ahead and get busy, I'll go back and prepare."

Chen Yufei hurriedly said: "Brother Ermao, why don't you have a cup of tea before leaving? I've already prepared that good tea!"

Zhang Ermao waved his hand: "Business is more important, let's talk about tea after it's done."

Immediately, he walked out of Jiqing Hall.

As soon as he left Jiqing Hall, he took out his mobile phone and called Xiao Changkun.

Once the call went through, he said to Xiao Changkun excitedly: "President Xiao, I have a lead on that matter we talked about yesterday. When are you free? I'll report it to you in person!"