"Yes, at least a few hundred characters," Li Yang chuckled.
Er Dong was amazed. He put down his phone and said, "You can carve so many characters on a single grain of rice? Micro-carving technology is truly incredible."
"That's why it's not surprising that someone used micro-carving technology to leave a fake time and location at the bottom of this jade lock," Li Yang said with a slight smile, looking at Wei Shan.
Wei Shan's old hands, holding the magnifying glass, were trembling uncontrollably. His face was pale, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. He muttered, "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible."
"Old sir, judging by your reaction, you must have discovered it, haven't you? Did I say anything wrong?" Li Yang asked.
Wei Shan looked up at him, then closed the box. "I was mistaken just now. Young Boss Li's eyesight is extraordinary, truly beyond compare."
"This item must have been switched by someone before I noticed. I'll go find them now and won't disturb Young Boss Li's business."
"Wait a moment," Li Yang said. "Actually, although this item is a replica, it's not entirely without merit. In my opinion, it's still an excellent piece. As long as it's not sold as an antique, it can fetch a good price."
"One point five million, a fixed price. If you agree, I'll transfer the money right away."
"This..." Wei Shan's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Li Yang to offer a higher price even at this point.
After a moment's hesitation, he smiled and said, "Alright, Young Boss Li is benevolent. I won't say any more. One point five million, it's a deal."
"Haha, excellent," Li Yang said, transferring the money.
A while later, after the funds had been transferred, Wei Shan immediately headed out. "It's getting late, I'll be going back. I'll visit again if I have the chance."
"Travel safely, and you're always welcome to patronize us," Li Yang said with a gentle smile.
Watching his receding figure disappear into the distance, Li Yang's smile gradually turned cold.
Er Dong asked curiously, "What's wrong, Boss?"
"That old fellow is a swindler. He might know my grandfather, but they're definitely not close friends," Li Yang suddenly said.
Er Dong was surprised. "Why do you say that?"
"He knew there was something wrong with this item from the start but still brought it here, trying to cheat me," Li Yang said, holding the jade lock.
Er Dong exclaimed, "You mean, that old man knew about the micro-carved characters at the bottom all along, and he was just pretending not to know earlier?"
"Exactly," Li Yang nodded.
Er Dong immediately gasped, "Good heavens, how insidious! I actually thought he was a good person just now!"
"If you hadn't discovered it, Boss, this item would surely have been priced at over three million, right?"
"Roughly," Li Yang nodded, then suddenly laughed. "But unfortunately, he ultimately outsmarted himself."
"What do you mean?" Er Dong was puzzled. "Isn't this item a replica?"
"No, this is actually the genuine article. The inscription at the bottom was intentional," Li Yang said with a playful smile.
Er Dong's scalp tingled. "What? It's a treasure?"
"That's right. Beneath the micro-carved inscription, there are actually several other characters. The original owner deliberately used micro-carving technology to conceal these characters, making people mistakenly believe it was a replica," Li Yang explained.
"Why would they do that? Wouldn't it damage the antique?"
"A little damage is better than the treasure falling into the hands of villains, wouldn't you agree?" Li Yang said, stroking the jade lock. "Perhaps some of what that old fellow said was true. This jade lock was likely something someone sold at a low price to someone else out of desperation when they were in danger."
"But later, they discovered a problem and wanted to find an opportunity to sell it. For some reason, they ended up finding me."
"If that old fellow knew that you, Boss, had such sharp eyesight and sold the treasure as a replica, wouldn't he be furious?" Er Dong couldn't help but laugh.
Li Yang smiled and said, "Perhaps. But if he knew about me, someone must have been pulling strings. Alright, go get me some paper and a brush. I need to write a few words and hang them in the most prominent place in the shop."
"What words, Boss?" Er Dong asked curiously.
"You'll know when you bring them."
"Okay."
A while later, Er Dong brought the paper, brush, and ink.
Li Yang grabbed the brush and wrote four large, bold characters on the white paper: "Tenfold Compensation for Fakes!"
"Ah?" Er Dong was greatly startled, his expression immediately changing. He said, "Boss, this absolutely cannot be. Every antique shop makes mistakes sometimes. 'Tenfold Compensation for Fakes' is too harsh on yourself."
"If you're not harsh on yourself, how can you grow quickly?" Li Yang shook his head and said.
"But..."
"Don't worry, hang it up."
"Alright, Boss." Er Dong sighed and followed his instructions, hanging the paper.
Li Yang looked at it and nodded. "Good, this spot is conspicuous and immediately clear."
Then, he placed the jade lock he had just bought on the most prominent shelf in the shop, pricing it at one hundred million!
"My goodness! How many zeros is that! Boss, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" Er Dong leaned over to look, his eyes almost popping out.
He bought it for one million and was selling it for a hundred million?
How dare he!
Li Yang chuckled, "No mistake, that's the price. If I wasn't afraid that someone couldn't afford it, I would have priced it at ten billion."
"Hiss, ten, ten billion..." Er Dong's speech became slurred. "Boss, are you sure someone will buy it?"
"They will, and if my prediction is correct, that person will appear tomorrow. If not, this price can still serve as a gimmick to surprise customers and make them remember our shop. At worst, I can just change the price back. I won't lose anything even if I'm wrong," Li Yang said with a smile.
Er Dong finally understood that Li Yang was a seasoned strategist with full confidence. "Boss, you are wise."
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's close up and rest," Li Yang said with a smile and walked towards the exit.
Er Dong responded, turned off the shop lights, disconnected the necessary power sources, and then locked up and left.
As they all left, two people in the shadows were smiling coldly.
One of them was Qin Yuliang, who had been watching the antique shop from the beginning. Beside him stood an old man, who was none other than Wei Shan, who had left earlier.
This old man, whose heart was even more wicked than his age suggested, said, "Boss Qin, this young man named Li is quite ruthless. He bought such a replica for one point five million and still dares to sell it as a genuine item for a hundred million."
"Heh heh, his ruthlessness is a good thing for me. I was really worried just now that he would sell that jade lock as a common jade ornament. Then our plan would have been in vain."
Qin Yuliang sneered, staring at the shop door. "He even hung up 'Tenfold Compensation for Fakes.' Tomorrow morning, I'll make sure he's bankrupt and owes me a debt he can never repay in this lifetime."