Li Chonglou was extremely satisfied with his trip to Dongmen Fishing Village today.
Not only did he avenge Ning Lang, but he also resolved the issue of his shop's treasure.
Although the Shi Qiang disk was good, it was a bronze artifact and could not be traded.
As a shop owner, he had to find another treasure that could be traded.
Of course, he wouldn't easily sell this coral agate pipe.
Upon returning home, Li Chonglou took a box from Ning Lang and carefully placed it inside, wrapped in brocade cloth.
Thinking back, since his rebirth, although he had seen many treasures, he hadn't actually kept any.
This was also a regret.
Now that he was opening a shop, he had to get more things.
It seemed he had to interact more with the people at Yongan Bank during this period. He was no longer the reclusive appraisal master of his previous life.
He wanted to be a businessman, so he couldn't be too aloof. He had to blend in with those people.
Although Li Chonglou was deeply persistent, he was never one to overthink things.
Once he understood this, he felt no burden.
"Chonglou, let me tell you, do you remember Zhu Tongren?" Ning Lang started talking, "He's Zhu Changjiang's cousin."
"It's just that one is professional, and the other is amateur."
"Now it's great, you've slapped both brothers in the face."
Li Chonglou pondered for a few seconds and then suddenly understood.
Given Ning Lang's personality, he rarely made enemies. Why would he slap Zhu Tongren in public?
So that's why.
After being bullied by Zhu Changjiang and having no way to get revenge, Zhu Tongren naturally became the target of his anger.
He felt a bit sorry for that guy.
After this incident, he would probably have to keep his head down whenever he saw him.
He was too ashamed to show his face.
The two chatted all the way home. For the next two days, Li Chonglou dragged Ning Lang to visit almost all the antique shops in Yong'an.
One was to look for bargains, and the other was to observe the business models of other shops.
Unfortunately, bargains were rare and could not be forced.
Let alone the coral agate pipe, he didn't even see many small bargains. Li Chonglou did buy some things to stock his own shop.
During this period, the boss who sold the pipe and other vendors in Dongmen Fishing Village contacted him.
They sent a few genuine items, but their value was relatively low.
Around ten thousand yuan.
But this undoubtedly showed the value of the two hundred thousand he had spent.
It was a living advertisement, no doubt.
From now on, if any good items appeared on the market, there was an 80% chance they would be shown to him first, giving him a significant advantage.
On the fourth day, Li Chonglou received a call from an unfamiliar number.
When he answered, Li Duoer's dejected and low voice came through: "Big brother, can we meet..."
Li Chonglou did not refuse and drove to the coffee shop where Li Duoer was waiting.
As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Li Duoer wearing a black lace dress. The cute and lively aura she usually exuded was gone, replaced by quietness and solemnity.
She must have gone through a lot during this time.
"What happened, Duoer?" Li Chonglou pushed open the door and sat in front of her, asking softly.
Without Li Duoer's help, he would never have succeeded in dealing with Li Hanlong.
So no matter when, he remembered this favor.
Seeing how mature Li Duoer had become, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
"Big brother, I'm a traitor to my family now, and I've been kicked out... Grandma died of anger because of me, and even my parents ended up with nothing." As Li Duoer spoke, her eyes were already red, and she avoided Li Chonglou's gaze.
Li Hanlong held an unparalleled position in his family.
Li's family was built by him.
Now that he was dead, the Li family immediately fell apart. Relatives who had been afraid to act rashly before were now unrestrained.
They were all dividing and plundering the family property.
To reduce their share, they dragged Li Duoer out for a grand trial.
Her entire family was also stripped of their property.
"Don't worry, they can't take what's yours!" Li Chonglou's eyes flashed with electricity upon hearing this.
An entire family bullying a little girl, how amusing.
Most of Li Hanlong's private property had been seized, including the golf course.
But much of the money he earned previously had been subsidized to the family and managed by his elderly mother.
Hearing that her son had died, the old lady died of anger on the spot.
Li Duoer felt immense guilt. After observing the mourning period, she learned that her relatives had already divided the family property, and her own family had been kicked out.
Anyone would be enraged by such a落井下石 situation.
"Then I have nowhere to go now, big brother... can you take me in?" With a definite answer, Li Duoer's mood seemed to improve slightly, and she looked up at Li Chonglou with her eyes wide open.
Her large eyes blinked, making people feel sympathetic.
She was already petite and delicate, the kind of girl who was most endearing.
Moreover, she owed Li Chonglou a great debt and had even borne the stigma of betraying her clan for it.
At this moment, how could Li Chonglou abandon her?
"I just bought a house, and I originally planned to invite my in-laws to Yong'an. Since you have nowhere to go, you can stay here for now." Li Chonglou thought for a moment, took out the key to his house, and handed it to Li Duoer, "Take your parents there too, don't let them suffer."
He didn't have the right to invite people to stay at Ning Lang's place, as it wasn't his.
Besides, this little girl's feelings for him were unclear, and there had been several ambiguous moments at the golf course before.
He really didn't want to harm this little girl.
Letting her live alone in the house was the best choice.
However, he couldn't tell Jiang Yuxin about this for now, or she would surely feel uncomfortable.
What woman wouldn't suspect her husband of keeping a mistress when he let another young girl stay in their new house?
Being frank didn't mean saying everything.
This burden was his to bear; he didn't need to push everything onto his wife.
"Ah... I can't live with you?" Li Duoer looked disappointed and did not take the key.
"No," Li Chonglou firmly refused.
Hearing this, Li Duoer's eyes welled up with tears again, but a hint of slyness could still be seen beneath the mist.
Li Chonglou happened to see this slyness in her eyes, not knowing what schemes this girl was up to.
But he could tell that she was feigning sadness.
Even at this point, she was still so mischievous.
Li Chonglou's heart was like iron; his decisions were unchangeable, so he naturally wouldn't be swayed by her soft approach.
After finishing their coffee, he personally drove Li Duoer to the new house.
It was already renovated, but there was no furniture. He immediately took her to the mall to pick out furniture.
After finishing this, Li Chonglou said goodbye and was about to leave.
"Big brother, I'm scared alone at night, I'm afraid my uncle will come looking for me..."
"Duoer, you've been tired these past few days, get some rest."
"No, I don't want to leave big brother..." Li Duoer once again transformed into a mischievous child. Not only did she refuse to let go, but she also hugged Li Chonglou's waist tightly, pressing against him.
Li Chonglou was helpless. In terms of strength, he could easily shake Li Duoer off.
But doing so would inevitably hurt the little girl.
But if he didn't shake her off, and this continued, the sparks would fly, and who could endure it?
He was a man in his prime.
"Duoer, I'm a married man, and you've met my wife." Li Chonglou forced himself to persuade her, "I can't give you any future."
"A woman's reputation is important..."
"I don't need a future, and I can't see the future..." Before she could finish speaking, Li Duoer interrupted him, her tone full of insistence: "I don't care that you have a wife, and I won't destroy your family."
"I just want you to hold me; I feel safe in your arms."
"A woman who can betray her family, does she still care about her chastity?"
"You can't use me and then abandon me!"
These words pierced Li Chonglou's heart like needles.
He had never used Li Duoer, but the facts made it impossible for him to argue. Without Li Duoer, he might already be dead.
Everything that had happened was undeniable.
Now, Li Duoer was homeless and on the streets because of him.
How could he argue?
"Big brother... I don't want to leave you again..."
In an instant, his mind went blank.
He involuntarily closed his eyes and gently pulled Li Duoer into his embrace, holding her tighter and tighter.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
Jingle bells...
Just as they were about to kiss, Li Chonglou's phone suddenly rang.
In an instant, it startled him from his daze.
He forcefully broke free, retreating four or five steps, looking at a stunned Li Duoer, and squeezed out a shred of rationality.
"Duoer, stay here!"
After saying that, he rushed out of the room, only exhaling a long sigh of relief.
He looked at his phone and saw it was Zhou Jiao.
The first sentence he said was: "Chonglou, something's happened!"