Chapter 40: Accidental Encounter with a Landmine

  Chu Chen felt a bit embarrassed when he heard this, and didn't expect Zhao Qirui to have also attended the spring auction this year. Then he must be familiar with the price. However, he suddenly thought of a question and said:

  "Haha, this price was actually given to me by that person. I thought it would be an honor to do something for you... Zhao Ge, if not, I won't add any more money, just please help me with one thing."

  "What's up? Tell me about it."

  Chu Chen then briefly told Zhao Qi Rui about Zhou Wen Ping's intention to buy a house.

  "Is that so?"

  It's said that when Zhao Qirui heard about this matter, his expression was somewhat crying and laughing at the same time. He had originally thought it was something big, but it turned out to be a small matter that was insignificant to him. However, he turned his head and thought about it from another angle, and then he smiled and said:

  "Alright, it's just a small matter like this, you don't think it's troublesome, I do. Let me handle the house thing for you, go back and ask your friend to get a household registration certificate from their hometown, I'll help them transfer their household registration to Beijing. How about that? Do you want to transfer your household registration here too, Little Chu?"

  Chu Chen was surprised to hear that he could actually transfer Zhou Wenping's household registration over, it was really beyond his expectation. When it came to transferring his own household registration, he repeatedly waved his hand and said:

  "Zhao Ge, this time helping me to transfer my friend's household registration is already a big trouble for you. My household registration can wait for now, I'll deal with it later when I buy a house. Just don't think I'm bothering you too much then."

  Zhang Qirui listened to him and didn't force the issue, smiling: "What's the big deal about this small matter? Just go ahead and bother me. Alright, you remember Ah Chao's phone number, when your friend has finished handling the proof, just look for him. And as for the book and painting business, also pay attention to it, but whether it succeeds or not is no big deal."

  A-Chao, that was the name of Zhao Qirui's driver. After Chu Chen noted down his phone number, he quickly completed the transaction with Zhao Qirui and they bid each other farewell.

  Chu Chen carefully put away the check he had just received and walked towards Antique Street with a pleasant mood. Today's events made him feel particularly satisfied, not only did he excel in completing Zhao Qirui's tasks, but also enhanced his good impression of himself, and even solved Zhou Wenping's housing and household registration problems, which was an unexpected delight.

  For these ordinary people, a Beijing household registration is often high above in their hearts, and it's extremely difficult to get one. But Zhao Qirui can easily make it happen with just a few words, which makes Chu Chen feel deeply moved.

  "Brother, little brother!"

  When Chu Chen was about to arrive at the antique street, he suddenly heard someone on his left side who seemed to be calling him. He turned his head and saw that the person who made the sound was a middle-aged man who looked like he had just come from the countryside. At this moment, he was standing in a corner of the wall, waving at him.

  Chu Chen is also considered an old hand, this look can tell that it's a "landmine", but today he's in a good mood and has confidence in his own combat power, so he decided to take a look at what kind of trap the other person had set up.

  After walking up to him, Chu Chen pretended to be somewhat puzzled and asked him: "Excuse me, sir, did you call me for something?"

  A middle-aged man asked in a low voice with a hint of fear: "Boss... I... I have something good here, do you want it?"

  Seeing this, Chu Chen pretended to frown and sized him up before asking somewhat rudely, "With you looking like that, what good things could you possibly have? Are you here to cheat me?" After speaking, he made a move as if to leave.

  The middle-aged man, seeing this, of course, was not willing to let him go easily, and he blocked his way, begging: "Boss, don't go! I really have good stuff, don't believe me? Take a look!"

  After finishing, the middle-aged man took out a fake Northern Song Dynasty Ding kiln large plate from his cup and was about to hand it over to Chu Chen. At this time, Chu Chen really couldn't understand how this nearly 30 cm printed flower plate could be put in his clothes without being noticeable, especially since it's summer now.

  As for why it's an imitation of Northern Song Dynasty Ding Kiln, it's because Chu Chen just saw a hint of cunning in the middle-aged man's eyes. This situation is completely typical of the "hiding a landmine" tactic, and this man wouldn't possibly take out a genuine piece.

  However, Chu Chen's heart was shocked immediately. With his already very good mental quality, the shocking emotion almost revealed on his face. This is because the treasure detector in his mind reminded him that this printed large plate might be valuable, and whether it was from the Northern Song Dynasty or not could only be determined after a closer look.

  Calm down! Calm down!

  At this time, Chu Chen's heart was constantly reminding himself, and the situation had a great possibility of encountering a "landmine". He must be extremely careful, and although it might be an antique, it could also be an old imitation.

  "Right! One hundred percent, that's how it is. This person's methods are very high-level, can't be careless."

  Since he had already decided that the man was a "mine", Chu Chen could have simply walked away. However, his many years of experience as a small vendor had instilled in him a desire to tease this person, so he spoke to the middle-aged man in a tone reminiscent of an antique dealer:

  "Hey, old chap, I think you don't quite understand the rules of this antique business. Me, although I haven't learned for long, can still give you some pointers. For example, fragile items like ceramics cannot be directly handed from the seller to the buyer's hands. Instead, the seller should put the item aside first and let the buyer pick it up themselves. Got it?"

  That middle-aged man looked stunned on the surface, but he was delighted in his heart. It's great to be new to this line of work. You're not new to this line of work, how can I cheat your money out of you? So he said somewhat foolishly: "Oh, boss, your meaning is that I should put this big bowl aside and you'll take it, but which side is it?"

  He looks quite the part, Chu Chen thought to himself, a bit scornful in his heart. If someone with even a little bit of love and kindness were to see him like this, they might really think he's just a simple and honest rural fellow.

  So Chu Chen showed a speechless expression and said in an unpleasant tone, "I'm saying why are you so stupid? It's not true on one side, just put the thing in your hand on the ground."

  The middle-aged man listened to him and suddenly realized, putting the plate on the ground while muttering: "City people are just troublesome, can't they just say put it on the ground?"

  After the man in the middle put the plate on the ground, Chu Chen was preparing to pick up the plate and thought to himself, "Hey, this is going to pretend to be a country bumpkin after all. With your acting skills, you might just win an Oscar! And this printed large plate, who knows where it came from? It's made so realistic, it's completely a masterpiece of old imitation."

  However, when Chu Chen took that printed large plate in his hand, the more he looked at it, the more shocked he became. How was this done? It was exactly the same as a real one.

  At this time, Chu Chen could no longer remain calm and hastily used his special ability. The result of using it made him even more shocked and amazed, the shocking emotion in his heart actually revealed a hint on his face! This Northern Song Dynasty printed flower porcelain plate was actually a genuine piece!

  The first thought in his mind was, how could this be? Hadn't he just encountered a "landmine"?

  Fortunately, the emotions shown by Chu Chen made the middle-aged man think that he had taken the bait, and he didn't suspect anything. He thought that Chu Chen had moved his heart, and at this time, he was overjoyed in his heart, thinking that this business would finally be successful.

  Just as Chu Chen suspected that this was not a "landmine", he saw the excitement in the man's eyes, and his heart became even more suspicious. What on earth is going on? Why does it feel so eerie? No way, in this situation, I must be cautious and probe this person first.

  Thinking of this, Chu Chen pretended to be somewhat delighted and said: "This old brother, I don't know how you got this thing, can you tell me?"

  The middle-aged man took one look at Chu Chen's appearance and secretly thought, "It's settled!" Then he began to speak of his family story with a mix of snot and tears.

  A middle-aged man said that his family was once an official aristocratic family, but the sky has no long days, and it declined in the Republic of China. Now it has become a broken household with only four walls left, and only this thing is left in Chu Chen's hands. Originally, he didn't think of selling it away, but his old father passed away, his wife got seriously ill, and his child broke his leg.

  Next, it's not necessary to say more, Chu Chen thought to himself, you're so unlucky that these things would happen together. It seems that this person's storytelling skills are not high, and he may not even recognize the authentic Ding kiln porcelain.

  Thinking of this, he was invigorated and it seemed that this matter really had a good chance. He said with some sympathy: "Old brother, don't be sad, people should always look forward, I'm not capable of much, so I'll just buy this thing, how much do you want for it?"

  "Hey, brother, can you pass me the thing in your hand?" A sudden voice came from beside him. Chu Chen furrowed his brow and looked over to see a young man in his early twenties standing next to him, dressed very neatly and wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a refined person.

  As soon as this young man appeared, Chu Chen knew that he had encountered a "landmine". Who would have thought that his current gaze was extremely sharp, and he had noticed that this young man was hiding in the corner earlier? Now that this person has come over, it's clear that he's just a prop, thinking to himself, today's matter is really interesting.

  Chu Chen furrowed his brow, put the printed plate on the ground, and then the young man took it in his hand. It seemed that he was carefully observing it, but while looking at it, he also made a sound of admiration from his mouth. After finishing watching, he showed a delighted expression and said:

  "This is really good stuff, old brother, I'll give you 100,000, let me have it, how about that?"