Ye Fan smiled and nodded, "You naturally have your uses."
Then, Ye Fan slowly stood up and looked at Liu Cheng's face, "Liu Piaoxu has now allied with me. You were his follower before, so after your injuries recover, I will let you return to his side. However, from now on, your life belongs only to me, Ye Fan. I want to make you a pawn I plant by Liu Piaoxu's side. Do you agree?"
Hearing Ye Fan's words, Liu Cheng was stunned, then his brow furrowed, and he looked at Ye Fan in shock.
"You want me to help you monitor Liu Piaoxu?"
Liu Cheng had already expected Liu Piaoxu and Ye Fan to cooperate, but why did Ye Fan still want him to monitor Liu Piaoxu?
He was Liu Piaoxu's subordinate. Didn't Ye Fan fear that he would cooperate with Liu Piaoxu and pass on false intelligence to him?
Ye Fan nodded, "That's right. I don't completely trust Liu Piaoxu. This woman is deeply calculating and ruthless. I have to be on guard. As for why it's you, it's because in your current situation, no one will take you in except to serve me, including Liu Piaoxu. You've followed him for so long, and you should know better than I do what happens to a failure. Moreover, I know you are an ambitious person. You won't be content to always be under someone else's thumb. I can provide you with an opportunity to soar. Therefore, I don't think you have any reason to refuse me."
Ye Fan spoke with conviction, but in fact, he was also gambling.
Liu Cheng had encountered him twice before. From these two encounters, Ye Fan could discern his character.
He followed Liu Piaoxu precisely to use Liu Piaoxu's influence as a stepping stone for himself. Once the time was ripe, he would start his own career.
That was why he had been so eager to show off in the antique street and the ghost market, simply to make people in the antique circle aware of his name, Liu Cheng.
He wasn't a fool. If it weren't for standing up for Zhuzi, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
Clenching his teeth, Liu Cheng gazed deeply at Ye Fan, a coldness in his eyes.
Ye Fan paid it no mind, his face still carrying a faint smile.
After a long while, Liu Cheng finally spoke in a deep voice, "You are terrifying."
Ye Fan shrugged, "To be precise, I am terrifying to my enemies, but kind to my own people. For example, to you, if it weren't for me, your life would likely have been fed to the dogs."
Liu Cheng slowly nodded, "I agree. However, after this is done, I want my own antique shop, and you must fully support me. My antique shop must become one of the best in Jiangcheng."
Since the matter had been laid bare, Ye Fan naturally wouldn't refuse him.
"When the time comes, it will be as you wish."
Liu Cheng wouldn't be of much use in the short term; he could only start working after he recovered.
Therefore, Ye Fan instructed Sun Yilang to take good care of Liu Cheng before leaving Bogu Zhai.
It had been several days since he last visited Tian Yin Pavilion. He wondered how Shen Tianyin and Old Master Ji were doing.
He checked the time, it was just noon, perfect for going to Tian Yin Pavilion to freeload a meal.
Before he even entered Tian Yin Pavilion, Ye Fan heard an argument.
"This is a family heirloom! Do you know what my ancestors did? How dare you say this is a fake? What kind of 'Jiangcheng's Number One Antique Shop' are you, Tian Yin Pavilion?"
"I trusted you, that's why I brought my item here. But you're all blind and dare to slander my treasure. If you give me an explanation today, fine. Otherwise, I'll report your Tian Yin Pavilion to the Antique Association!"
The angry voice could be heard half a street away. A crowd of over a dozen onlookers had already gathered at the entrance of Tian Yin Pavilion.
In the antique trade, the worst thing was to encounter unreasonable people who came to stir up trouble with worthless objects.
Pushing through the crowd, Ye Fan walked in slowly.
He saw an old man in his fifties, his face flushed and his neck bulging, glaring at Old Master Ji.
At this moment, Old Master Ji's face was grim, "Whether in terms of craftsmanship or material, this Buddha statue is a high imitation from the Republic of China era. It is by no means an early Ming dynasty Buddha statue. Although Tian Yin Pavilion is a large establishment, we never cheat our customers. If you wish to sell this Buddha statue, I can only offer you two thousand yuan, and that's considering the imitation is quite good. Otherwise, Tian Yin Pavilion never acquires fakes."
Clearly, Old Master Ji was also very displeased with the man's unreasonable behavior.
"Bullshit! With your eyesight, you dare to call yourself a Level Two Appraiser? I think you're worse than a street vendor. You want to trick me out of this treasure for two thousand yuan? How can your heart be so black?"
Snatching the Buddha statue back, the old man became even more enraged.
Shen Tianyin, standing beside him, had a grim expression. This was the first time he had encountered someone so unreasonable.
The antique trade valued willing buyers and willing sellers, but this old man was clearly trying to force a sale.
"Sir, Tian Yin Pavilion never deceives customers, but if someone comes to cause trouble, we are not afraid of trouble either. Old Master Ji is one of Jiangcheng's well-known Level Two Appraisers. Even people from the Antique Association wouldn't dare to question Old Master Ji like this. Therefore, if you continue to act so foolishly, I will..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ye Fan interjected with a smile, "Tian Yin Pavilion opens its doors to guests from all directions. How can you treat customers like this?"
Saying that, he walked in slowly.
Seeing Ye Fan arrive, Shen Tianyin's tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
He quickly strode forward, looking at Ye Fan with affectionate eyes.
"Finished with your business?"
There was no trace of complaint, only deep longing.
Ye Fan smiled and nodded, then walked past Shen Tianyin, his gaze falling upon the Buddha statue.
"The styling is good, and although there are some flaws in the technique, they don't affect the overall effect. Old Master Ji, Tian Yin Pavilion can acquire this item."
Ye Fan took Shen Tianyin's hand and walked over slowly.
As Ye Fan took his hand, Shen Tianyin felt as if an electric current had passed through his body.
Although their relationship had progressed rapidly before, and he had held Ye Fan's hand,
those were all in special circumstances. In front of so many people like this, Shen Tianyin's heart pounded and his face flushed.
His cheeks felt hot, making him extremely shy.
But Ye Fan held on tightly, giving him no chance to break free.
"Elder, how much are you prepared to sell this item for?"
Reaching the old man, Ye Fan asked with a smile.
Seeing that Ye Fan was actually speaking up for him, the old man's anger gradually subsided.
He sized up Ye Fan. Although the young man was not old, he exuded an air of grace and nobility, suggesting he was of high status.
More importantly, he was holding the boss's hand, clearly indicating a romantic relationship with the woman. His words would likely carry weight.
"Finally, someone who speaks sense. Young man, this item is an ancestral treasure. My father's dying wish was that I should not sell it unless absolutely necessary. I am in urgent need of money, which is why I am thinking of selling it."