"Next item up, the highlight of today's show."
"Thank you all for your patience." Zeng Wang said, his face beaming.
He had already made a fortune today, giving everyone a chance to show off and compare, while he himself quietly reaped the rewards.
In reality, Ginza had been in decline for the past two years, almost forced out of the market.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have resorted to such measures.
Whether cutting leeks at home or abroad, it was still cutting leeks. It was better to cut the rich and showy than the common people.
In his own eyes, this was called "robbing the rich to support himself."
Swish!
As he finished speaking, he yanked off the red silk covering the tray.
Revealing a stack of milky-white, waxy-looking sleeping mats.
"Esteemed guests, please behold. This ivory mat was once used by Empress Dowager Cixi, a treasure from the imperial collection!"
"To obtain it, I spent six years, redeeming it from abroad."
"Not even the national museum possesses such an item. Today, I shall feast your eyes..."
Pfft...
Li Zhonglou, who was drinking water, heard this and couldn't help but spit it out.
Fortunately, he was quick and lowered his head to spit it onto the ground before anyone noticed.
He couldn't hold it in any longer.
After waiting for so long, he had finally reached the "grand finale."
He had been curious about what could be even more fake than a glass-dyed jade bracelet.
So it turned out to be this thing!
What ivory mat, used by Empress Dowager Cixi.
Nonsense.
This was clearly made of plastic.
There were no interwoven ivory patterns, not even mammoth ivory. Besides, if it were a genuine Qing Dynasty imperial item, could it be this white?
Any ivory product would weather, yellow, and crack with time.
Just like the ivory carving he gave Ning Lang.
But this mat was glaringly white, and the waxy luster was particularly dazzling, making one's teeth ache with laughter.
It was truly unimaginable that fakes could reach such a level.
Compared to this, all those "construction site four-piece sets" and "high-quality fakes" were utterly insignificant.
Yet, the discussions echoing through the hall perfectly illustrated the saying that "different trades are like different mountains."
"Mr. Zeng, aren't you planning to auction off such a treasure?"
"My goodness, I'm just missing such a sleeping mat. It's unbearable to sleep in the air-conditioning in summer; my body can't handle it. No matter the price, I must have it."
"Isn't the trade of ivory prohibited? This... isn't this illegal?"
...
Not a single person doubted the authenticity of the item. Instead, they began discussing how to get their hands on it.
"The trade of ivory is definitely illegal." Zeng Wang's money-grubbing eyes narrowed into slits, and he pressed his hand down, saying, "But since everyone's demand is so high, I can't let your wishes go unfulfilled, can I?"
"Trading is not allowed, but gifting is..."
"You donate money, and whoever donates the most will receive this ivory mat used by Empress Dowager Cixi!"
Boom!
With that one sentence, the atmosphere in the hall reached its peak.
Li Zhonglou had to admire him.
If he had initially thought Zeng Wang was a shameless scoundrel, he now began to change his mind.
To stage a deception to such an extent, and not to cheat the poor.
Even using the fact that ivory couldn't be traded to frame it as donations and gifts.
Even if things were exposed later, there would be no incriminating evidence against him.
This...
It was flawless.
He was truly a genius, seamlessly blending business with "antiques," directly breaking the principle of "rarity breeds value" in the antique industry.
With items costing only a few dozen or a hundred yuan, he could pocket tens of millions in minutes.
How outrageous.
It could be said that today had completely overturned Li Zhonglou's previous understanding of the world.
Before long, the plastic mat was "donated" and taken away at the high price of thirteen million yuan.
The entire appraisal fair concluded perfectly.
Ning Lang's forehead began to bead with sweat. He hadn't spoken a word to Li Zhonglou since the mat appeared.
He was completely embarrassed.
Now that it was finally over, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He stood up and beckoned Li Zhonglou to escape, "Let's get out of here quickly..."
"Old Ning, Master Li, please stay!" At this moment, Zeng Wang, ignoring his other guests, walked towards them with a fawning smile.
"Do you need something else?" Ning Lang's forehead was covered in black lines.
"You are my great benefactors today. How can I let you leave? Please, come to my office. I have a great reward for you." Zeng Wang said with a mysterious smile.
Ning Lang was unwilling, but his hand was held by Zeng Wang, and he couldn't use force.
Li Zhonglou, on the other hand, was indifferent. He had endured the most disgusting part.
What was there to mind about now?
Soon, the three entered Zeng Wang's office.
Even the word "magnificent" was insufficient to describe this place.
Inside, it was glittering gold and crystal clear, adorned with artificial opals everywhere.
Coupled with numerous porcelain vases and jars, it was a bizarre, East-meets-West monstrosity.
"Master Li." After seating them, Zeng Wang extended both hands towards Li Zhonglou and shook his hand solemnly.
The entire setup today had exceeded his expectations.
The reason, in essence, was that Li Zhonglou and Tu Hong's conflict had benefited him.
The various price hikes made even him, the organizer, feel a bit shocked.
It had allowed him to earn tens of millions more for free.
As he released his hand, Li Zhonglou found a bank card in his palm.
"Just a small token of my appreciation. It's nothing much, but I hope we can stay in touch. You are Old Ning's friend, which means you are also Zeng Wang's friend." Zeng Wang appeared very generous.
Li Zhonglou remained noncommittal, observing all his expressions.
This man's generosity was feigned, unlike Ning Lang's innate sincerity.
His methods were also unscrupulous.
He thought to himself, if I stay in touch with you, one day you'll sell me out, and I'll still be counting the money for you.
However, Li Zhonglou did not refuse the bank card.
He considered it "robbing the rich to help the poor."
After all, a lot of it was Tu Hong's money.
If it's free, why not take it?
"Is this why you called us? Couldn't you just transfer the money to my card?" Ning Lang smiled, took out the black lacquer plate, and placed it on the table. "This, you can also add some money to take it back."
"Given our relationship, I can't let you lose too much."
Upon seeing the plate, Zeng Wang grinned like a sly fox. "Old Ning, that's not right."
"We all know that the so-called Dragon Subduing Wood was completely made up."
"Do you really think I'm a fool? You want me to buy it back and make more profit?"
"At most, I won't take the three million you owe me. That's generous, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Ning Lang's sword-like eyebrows shot up.
So, he was the only one who hadn't seen through this. Old Zeng had seen it clearly all along.
Li Zhonglou was not surprised at all.
How could his trickery possibly deceive the cunning and wily Zeng Wang?
However, since they were mutually beneficial, they didn't expose each other.
Only Ning Lang, being straightforward, truly believed his own words.
But it was precisely because of this that Ning Lang was someone he could trust.
As for Zeng Wang, he was a typical businessman.
Once he lost his value, Zeng Wang wouldn't even glance at him.
"Tell us, what do you want us to do?" Ning Lang angrily put the plate back into his bag.
If he wasn't going to buy it back at a high price, he certainly wouldn't give the plate to him. It was worth at least a hundred thousand.
It was good for playing with.
He wouldn't pay a dime for auction fees. He'd consider it compensation for his trouble.
"It's like this, I want to set up a private museum."
"But you know my eyesight isn't good, so I need to find an expert to assist me."
"Therefore, I'd like to invite you and Master Li to help me appraise items..."
"Of course, the benefits will not be small."
Li Zhonglou inwardly sneered. Did he need someone to appraise his items?
Couldn't he just boast as much as he pleased? After all, money made the world go 'round, and he had no interest in it.
Moreover, what he needed to guard against most was Li Hanlong. It would be difficult to leverage the club, so he had to think of ways to bring him down.
He had no time to waste with a shrewd merchant like Zeng Wang.
He immediately refused, "I have other matters. Please find someone else."
Saying that, he got up to leave.
Ning Lang also clearly had no interest and waved goodbye as he left his seat.
This made Zeng Wang anxious.
His face contorted like a bitter gourd, and he cried out, "My museum is genuine. Although I make money from them, I never deceive myself."
"A batch of cultural relics that was supposed to be smuggled abroad was intercepted by me."
"The transaction is in a few days. I cannot let national treasures flow out of the country!"
"But my eyesight is not good. If I don't ask for your help, who else can I ask?"
Hearing this, Li Zhonglou's brow twitched, and he stopped. He turned back and asked, "Smuggled cultural relics?"
"You, a merchant who openly sells fakes, have such intentions?"
As he spoke, he carefully examined Zeng Wang's plump face.
He saw no flicker of deceit in his eyes.
This was unlikely.
"It's absolutely true. In Yong'an, there's someone named Li Hanlong. As far as I know, his relationship with Lian Zijian of Lianchuang Group is not ordinary." Zeng Wang's words were earth-shattering, and he swore with conviction. "He's involved in the smuggling of cultural relics."
"But Lian Zijian got into trouble a couple of days ago, so I had the opportunity to contact this Li Hanlong."
"Although I sell fakes, I know that national treasures should not be allowed to fall into foreign hands. That's a fundamental principle of being human."
"Don't call me a shrewd merchant. Merchants pursue profit; it has always been this way. I don't think it's wrong."
"But besides being a merchant, I am also Chinese!"
Hearing these words, Ning Lang gave a thumbs-up. "Old Zeng, it's precisely because of this spark of humanity in you that I consider you a friend."
"Brother, why don't we help him?"
"Help!" Li Zhonglou's eyes flashed sharply, and he immediately made up his mind.
How could he not help?
The moment Li Hanlong's name was mentioned, Li Zhonglou had already decided.
Not to mention that even someone like Zeng Wang knew about national righteousness.
He was taught by Lin Zhendong, and he hated cultural relic traffickers more than anything in his life.
Even if it weren't Li Hanlong but someone else, he would have intervened. This was the sentiment of every true antique collector.
"That's wonderful! With both of you here, I can finally put my mind at ease." Zeng Wang appeared very excited.
He rushed to the wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Moutai from a pile of red wine.
He insisted on pouring them both a glass.
To celebrate good fortune.
After finishing the drink, Zeng Wang's face quickly turned red with excitement. "Four days from now, this Sunday at two-thirty PM. The transaction location hasn't been decided yet; he'll notify us."
"I'll send someone to pick you two up then!"
"See you." Li Zhonglou finished his drink in one gulp and then strode out of the office.
No one could see the cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Li Hanlong, you were hard to find, but now you've appeared effortlessly!
This Sunday afternoon at two-thirty, he would be exposed and ruined!