The police are still interrogating Zhang Daocheng without success. I got some information from my contacts on the streets and concluded that someone named Cao Zhi is responsible. He is a director of the Antique Association!"
"Lu Weishen's trusted confidant. It's highly likely he was acting under his orders."
Cao Zhi?
Upon hearing the name, Li Chonglou's expression shifted to one of realization.
He had guessed everyone else, but completely overlooked this minor figure.
However, Li Chonglou soon frowned again and said, "It seems it wasn't Lu Weishen who ordered it. This Cao Zhi has a grudge against me. He once vomited blood from anger because of me."
"You didn't know me when that happened, and everyone present was silenced later, so you aren't fully aware. However, I still have a question. Even if Cao Zhi wanted to kill me and failed, why would he suddenly change his target and assassinate my mother?"
"Could it be that the mastermind behind these two incidents is not the same person?"
The news Xu Lie had gathered surprised and puzzled him. Cao Zhi, being narrow-minded and incapable of great things, would have no problem hiring someone to kill him in a fit of rage. But to abandon his primary target, Li Chonglou, and go to great lengths and risks to assassinate his mother didn't make sense. It was illogical. The only explanation was that there was someone else involved.
A cold glint flashed in Li Chonglou's eyes. "Brother Xu, keep investigating. Until the person who wanted to kill my mother is found, I won't have peace."
"As for Cao Zhi, I have my own ways of dealing with him."
"Alright!" Xu Lie said no more. He turned and left.
His own safety was nothing compared to his mother's. Therefore, his hatred for Cao Zhi was far less than his hatred for the person who had ordered his mother's assassination. He was determined to capture that person and tear him to shreds to eliminate any future threats!
As for Cao Zhi, he had inadvertently helped him out greatly. By implicating Zhang Daocheng, he had saved his master from daily torment in prison and forced Lu Weishen to be cautious. This led Lu Weishen to invite him to a banquet, hoping to bury the hatchet. Unfortunately, Li Chonglou wasn't interested, and their relationship grew even more strained.
There were plenty of ways to deal with Cao Zhi, but the time wasn't right. Cao Zhi was merely a tool, an ant. Whether Lu Weishen had ordered the attempt on his life or not, it was likely connected to Tang Xiuzhu. He intended to find an opportunity to bring down Tang Xiuzhu along with him, ensuring they would never recover.
"Haozi, help me with something you're good at." Li Chonglou picked up his phone and dialed Wu Hao. After instructing Wu Hao on a few things, he put down the phone and glanced at the date. It was 3:30 PM on September 25th. He remembered his senior sister mentioning that an old gentleman would be visiting the shop on the 26th and asked him to receive him. Coincidentally, the Lu Corporation's charity auction was also scheduled for the 26th. One during the day, the other at night. He then looked at his hand, which was wrapped in bandages. Although it had split open while saving his mother, it had healed considerably after a day and night of rest and the repair from the sheepskin scroll technique. If his calculations were correct, by tomorrow, even if not fully recovered, he would be able to move freely. However, to avoid attracting the attention and shock of doctors and nurses, he still had to play the part of an invalid.
Li Chonglou diligently circulated his cultivation techniques. By 5 PM, his phone rang again. It was Huang Yongshou calling via video.
"Mr. Li, I've already made arrangements for what you asked me to do. I've scheduled a meeting with that Tang fellow at Zhuxiang Garden for 8 PM tonight. Would you like to come and take a look?" Huang Yongshou, with his shifty eyes and the hulking figure of Zhuzi standing behind him, showed a hint of fear when he saw Li Chonglou. It seemed the punch from Xu Lie had left a psychological scar on him that would not disappear anytime soon.
"I won't go. I trust you. It would be best to record the transaction process and send it to me." Li Chonglou thought to himself, what was this guy thinking? Could he, who was skilled at deceiving people with fakes, show his face in such a transaction? Even if the target was that scoundrel Tang Xiuzhu, it was hardly an honorable act.
After 8 PM, Huang Yongshou sent the video. The chicken heart pendant was successfully "picked up" by Tang Xiuzhu for 1.2 million yuan. Watching Tang Xiuzhu's smug expression in the video, Li Chonglou couldn't help but smile gleefully. As expected, entrusting such shady dealings to Huang Yongshou was the right choice. Huang Yongshou received a 200,000 yuan commission. As soon as the 1 million yuan arrived, he transferred 500,000 yuan to Wu Hao. With the startup capital secured, a heavy burden was lifted from his mind. That night, Li Chonglou slept exceptionally soundly.
The next day, he woke up at dawn, checked on his mother, and headed straight to Donglin. As soon as he finished tidying up, a dark figure appeared at the entrance.
"Tsk tsk... Donglin has gotten a new young kid. Doesn't he want the family business?" A harsh, condescending voice followed. Li Chonglou looked up to see an old man around sixty years old, with a slicked-back perm and graying hair. He had an air of nonchalance, and his eyes darted around like a thief, making him appear very uncomfortable, as if he were constantly coveting something. However, Li Chonglou was not afraid. Having spent a lifetime dealing with antiques, what kind of people hadn't he encountered?
"The wise are respected. Some people have lived their whole lives but still have poor judgment," Li Chonglou retorted nonchalantly. He wasn't exactly a patient person.
"Heh, kid, you're quite arrogant. Want me to take a look at something?" The old man swaggered into the shop and revealed a bag from behind. With a pull of the zipper, he took out a snuff bottle, snow-white all over with a vibrant red cap. He carefully placed it in front of Li Chonglou.
"Are you selling or pawning it?" Li Chonglou asked calmly.
"Neither selling nor pawning. I just want you to see if it's an old piece," the old man chuckled, his words particularly provoking.
"I don't look at things unrelated to business," Li Chonglou replied, declining with a dismissive flick of his eyelids. Upon seeing Li Chonglou's stance, the old man's nose twitched, and he scoffed, "Hey, you young man, don't you understand respecting your elders?"
"I just want you to look at a bottle, and you're putting on airs. I think you're just incapable." He escalated the issue, standing on a moral high ground, turning a simple transaction into a lecture on principles. In today's society, such old men were not uncommon. Having grown up in hardship, they possessed strong self-preservation instincts. As soon as they felt their interests were threatened or they were denied a potential advantage, they would resort to badgering, cajoling, and provoking.
"Sir, you must understand that by appraising it for you, I am essentially giving you money," Li Chonglou said calmly, unfazed. What did appraising treasures rely on? Professional knowledge and valuation. Originally, an item might be worth only ten yuan, but recognizing its origin, lineage, and material could instantly increase its value tenfold. One must know that the extra money represented added personal value. Among friends, if someone wanted a look at something, Li Chonglou would subtly offer guidance, which was no big deal. But since they were not related and he immediately started provoking him, why should he help?
"What's the harm in you taking a look? It won't cost you anything. Don't act like a proud peacock with me. I think you're just incapable," the old man said, his tone intensifying upon Li Chonglou's refusal. His eyes darted around furtively, clearly intending to corner Li Chonglou with his words and force him to serve him.