“Wait a moment.”
Just then, Li Chonglou suddenly called out, "Boss, haven't you ever wondered why he's willing to pay such a high price for your pot?"
"Didn't you tell me this pot is a good thing?" the boss asked, his eyes shining with excitement.
People in this state rarely consider problems.
Faced with such a fortune, ordinary people wouldn't even be able to maintain their rationality.
They would already be fantasizing about buying cars and houses after receiving the money, living a life superior to others.
"That's right, this pot is indeed a priceless treasure, so what he's giving isn't enough!" Li Chonglou said with a faint smile. "Since he's so generous, why would you let go of this opportunity to change your fate?"
Human greed.
No one is an exception; the wise can only know when to stop.
Especially those struggling at the bottom, they might sacrifice everything to satisfy their peculiar needs.
For instance, mental happiness and freedom.
Working tirelessly all day, never considering their own needs.
This is the trouble caused by greed.
But today, Li Chonglou intended to use greed to prevent this Shi Qiang pan from falling into Zeng Qiang's hands.
Upon hearing this, the boss's greedy look intensified, and he retracted his outstretched hand.
Clearly, he could ask for more money.
"You, you poor loser, you can't afford it yourself, so you want to destroy everything, right? And you're talking about rules with me!" Zeng Qiang hadn't expected Li Chonglou to sabotage the deal.
He finally realized he had miscalculated.
Li Chonglou had no intention of buying this item with money.
He purely didn't want Zeng Qiang to get it.
This kind of rogue tactic struck him at his core, making his temper flare with nowhere to vent.
"Destroy everything?" Li Chonglou sneered, "A criminal who smuggles cultural relics is talking to me about rules? You're not qualified!"
"I love this Shi Qiang pan, but unlike you."
"I won't possess it, nor will I use it to make money!"
These words made Zeng Qiang retreat three or four steps, his face darkening. "You know me?"
He had always thought Li Chonglou was merely competing for the item, never expecting him to know he was a relic smuggler.
This was a crime punishable by death.
For so many years, he had used collecting scrap as a cover for his identity. The number of people who knew his profession could be counted on one hand.
How did Li Chonglou, this young man who hadn't even fully grown, figure it out?
"Not only do I know you, but I also know about your various crimes!" Li Chonglou's voice wasn't loud, but each word was like a blade. "Zeng Qiang, born in '82, over 800 cultural relics stolen in Yugan County, Hexi Province."
"From January to June '87, relics from over 2,000 ancient tombs in Xihai Province were plundered!"
"In '90, cultural relics from 23,952 ancient tombs in Tianfu Province went missing!"
"Between 1991 and 2000 alone, over 100,000 cultural relics were smuggled abroad, and at least half of them were linked to you."
"Am I wrong?"
While saying these words, Li Chonglou's expression was calm, but his heart was filled with immense hatred.
He was an antique appraiser and also a great collector.
Besides his family, antiques were the solace that accompanied him throughout his life.
He hated people like Zeng Qiang with a passion, considering them irreconcilable enemies.
Thinking of the countless precious cultural relics that had flowed overseas due to his actions, and how many patriotic individuals had exerted immense effort only to recover a meager few, Li Chonglou's heart ached.
These words left the boss bewildered and confused.
But to Zeng Qiang, they were like thunderbolts from a clear sky, making his hands and feet go weak, his expression terrified.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Zeng Qiang felt terrified but could only deny it with a brave face, his feet stealthily retreating.
His trip to Qin Province was on behalf of someone else to inquire about matters.
He had never expected to be trapped here.
The matters Li Chonglou mentioned, if discovered by the police, would mean a lifetime in prison at best, and immediate execution was also possible.
He couldn't stay in Qin Province.
He couldn't keep the pot either; it wasn't a rare treasure but a death warrant.
"Get out of Qin Province immediately, or you won't have another chance," Li Chonglou said coldly.
He wished he could personally send this scumbag to prison and bring him to justice.
Unfortunately, there was no concrete evidence.
What he had just said was the result of police investigations many years later, and Zeng Qiang was still perfectly concealed now.
The law required evidence; even if the police knew about these matters, they would need time to investigate.
"You're ruthless. We'll meet again, though the mountains and rivers may change!" Zeng Qiang clenched his fist hatefully and turned to leave.
Listening to the pancake stall owner call out behind him, hatred filled his heart.
Li Chonglou knew so many of his secrets. Regardless of the reason, he must not be allowed to live, otherwise, his own life would be in constant danger!
Zeng Qiang forcefully suppressed the panic in his heart, his eyes brimming with sinister intent, murderous intent erupting.
At the pancake stall, the boss, with a stern face, pushed away Li Chonglou's hand that was on his arm. "What are you doing? Can't you stand to see people get rich!"
He was furious, seeing a fortune placed before him, within easy reach.
But it was ruined by a few words from Li Chonglou.
"Some money, you can earn it but not spend it." Li Chonglou, knowing the boss was cursing him internally, said with an unperturbed expression, "Dealing in national treasure-level cultural relics is at least a ten-year sentence."
"Even if you disregard yourself for the sake of your family, this money will be confiscated and turned over to the state; it won't reach your wife and children's pockets."
"To put it mildly, if the state doesn't know about your affairs, and you've already pocketed the money from your illegal dealings."
"But have you considered this? Where there's meat, there are hungry dogs flocking to it."
"Many people will be envious, and they will try every means to harm you and take your money. The reason is simple: it's not poverty that's feared, but inequality!"
"You already have 200,000. If you use this money to do honest business, you might have a chance to succeed."
"But if you have any illicit thoughts, you'll surely perish without a burial place!"
Hearing Li Chonglou speak so gravely, the boss's expression was full of struggle. "What's the use of you saying so much? Are you expecting me to throw it away?"
He didn't understand grand theories; he only felt that having money would bring more joy and happiness. He dismissed Li Chonglou's later words.
But he could understand the earlier parts.
This Shi Qiang pan was a hot potato; selling it was illegal.
"I know it's unrealistic to ask you to donate it now. Jot down my phone number." Li Chonglou pondered for a few seconds, then recited his number, and continued, "This thing is a national treasure after all; you can't make pancakes with it anymore. Keep it well, and donate it when you change your mind."
"In the meantime, if anyone wants to buy it, remember to notify me."
"I will help you earn money through legitimate means and preserve it."
"It's a simple principle: would you choose to have meat every day or only eat meat once? You know which one to pick."
"But if I find out you sold it, then you'll be waiting to go to jail."
He never threatened others, but this time was an exception.
For ordinary people like the boss, words needed to be spoken more clearly.
Where the Shi Qiang pan was located wasn't important. His determination to obtain it was because he wanted to preserve it. If it could be preserved in the hands of its original owner, why not?
As for his possessiveness over the treasure, he certainly had it, and it was very strong.
But there were things one could do, and things one couldn't.
For now, this was the best solution.
After speaking, he turned and left.
Looking at his retreating figure, the boss's expression changed. He looked at the pot, then at the person, and finally sighed, resigning himself to fate.
He had intended to work at the pancake stall and slowly scheme, but since the matter had been exposed, there was no need to linger.
Returning to the hospital, besides taking care of his mother, Li Chonglou spent the rest of his time practicing the sheepskin scroll's heart method.
The next day.
Shortly after arriving in Donglin, Lü Yunxu's call came through. "Brother Li, why didn't the Jiang family send your wife? Instead, they sent her uncle, Jiang Hongwei?"
"So, should this matter continue to be discussed?"
He had only met Jiang Yuxin yesterday to discuss the bidding matters, and the bidding session today was essentially a backdoor arrangement for the Jiang family.
But Jiang Yuxin didn't come, which made Lü Yunxu feel something was unusual.
After all, she was doing this to repay Li Chonglou's favor; the Jiang family held no value for her.
"Let's pause for now. I'll ask Yuxin what's going on," Li Chonglou replied.
Hanging up the phone, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Without needing to ask Jiang Yuxin, he could figure it out. Jiang Hongwei must have gotten wind of Jiang Yuxin's successful connection with the Lü Corporation and seized the opportunity to usurp power and claim credit.
The elder, agreeing for the sake of the bigger picture, had once again sidelined Jiang Yuxin.
What a clever scheme!
A cuckoo occupying a magpie's nest, utterly shameless.
Unfortunately, Jiang Hongwei had overlooked one thing.
That was, his relationship with the Lü Corporation was far more complicated than they imagined.
Since that was the case, it was a perfect opportunity to play along and, in doing so, completely help Jiang Yuxin eliminate the trouble!
"It's time to bring the Jiang family into my possession," Li Chonglou's lips curved into a slight arc.