"Ah, Mr. Li is here!"
Jin Buhuan gazed at the shimmering waves on the river at the port, lost in thought. Hearing Li Yang's voice, he quickly snapped back to attention and exclaimed with surprise, "How long have you been here? I hope I didn't keep you waiting!"
"No, I just arrived," Li Yang replied with a smile.
Jin Buhuan glanced behind him and asked, "Where is Boss Shui?"
"She's feeling a bit unwell and cannot travel long distances these past couple of days," Li Yang explained with a smile. "So, we've decided that I will represent both of us and accompany Boss Jin on this trip."
"Oh, I see, that's why she isn't here," Jin Buhuan nodded. "Alright, let's set off then."
"Mr. Li, you don't need to drive your car. Please ride with us. When we return, I'll accompany you back."
"Accompany you back? Doesn't Boss Jin come to Jiangcheng only once a quarter?" Li Yang asked in surprise.
Jin Buhuan chuckled wryly, "After that incident, many plans had to be changed. We need to speed up capital circulation, the pace of making money, otherwise, we won't be able to repay all the debts."
"This trip to Kunming City won't take more than three days. If all goes smoothly, we'll return to Jiangcheng within a day or two. Mr. Li, will this cause any inconvenience for you?"
"No, not at all. Where is the car?"
"Over there. Please get in, Mr. Li."
They all got into the car, and a shop assistant drove. Jin Buhuan offered some fruit to Li Yang, saying, "Although my hometown is Ruili, I prefer fruits from Kunming City. Look at these grapes, aren't they big and delicious?"
"Juicy and tasty," Li Yang said, popping one into his mouth and immediately giving a thumbs-up.
Indeed, the land could nurture its own fruits, and these were likely unavailable elsewhere.
Seeing his praise, Jin Buhuan happily said, "Once we reach our destination, I promise to let Mr. Li taste more of Kunming City's delicacies."
"It's a pity the matter is so urgent, otherwise, I would have definitely invited Mr. Li to my hometown in Ruili, and let my mother personally cook for you, so you could taste authentic Ruili cuisine."
"There will be plenty of time for that, with so many delicious things, we'll have ample opportunities to eat," Li Yang smiled.
As they chatted and laughed, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
As evening approached, an airplane landed at Jiangcheng International Airport. Xu Zhongding, whose arm was wrapped in white gauze, immediately asked the person beside him upon hearing the roar of the landing aircraft, "Is my brother arriving soon?"
"It's this flight, alright. Boss, there's a middle-aged man walking over there, he looks a bit like..." The shop assistant accompanying him saw a middle-aged man with an unusual demeanor and couldn't help but ask.
Before he could finish speaking, the man saw Xu Zhongding. "Little Brother Xu!"
"Big Brother Wang, you've finally arrived! Come on," Xu Zhongding quickly walked forward.
The person who arrived was Wang Dongsheng. He hugged Xu Zhongding, feeling that seeing him in person was even more tragic than watching him on video. "How did you end up like this?"
"Let's not talk about that for now. Big Brother Wang, we haven't seen each other for years. Let's go to a restaurant first, and I'll treat you to a welcome dinner," Xu Zhongding said.
Wang Dongsheng angrily retorted, "No, how can we eat before doing business? Take me to that brat right now. I'll kill that brat for you and get revenge, then I'll eat and rest. It's not too late!"
"This..."
"Take me!"
Wang Dongsheng's anger was uncontrollable. However, as he stormed out of Li Hao Antiques, he learned that Li Yang was no longer in Jiangcheng.
"What did you say? That brat isn't here? Is he hiding because he's afraid of me? Coward, despicable scoundrel, shameless wretch, insidious and cunning..."
"Hey, hey, hey, are you done?" Er Dong quickly interrupted him and said, "Our Boss Li was invited to Kunming City for an appraisal. How can you say he's afraid of you and hiding?"
"Besides, do you think everyone is as idle as you, always looking for trouble with this person or that person, always so much drama!"
"You, you brat, how dare you! Do you know who I am?" Wang Dongsheng was furious. In Beijing, which shop assistant or owner would dare to speak to him like this?
Er Dong said coldly, "If you want to challenge the shop, wait until our boss returns. We can settle it then. For now, you can get out. You are not welcome here."
"If you wish to spend money, then you are a customer. As the shop manager, my priority is the boss's profit. You are most welcome!"
"Hmph!" Wang Dongsheng grunted and glared at him coldly.
Er Dong, however, was not afraid and met his gaze directly. After all, he was a seasoned individual now, and this time he wasn't as flustered as he was when Xu Zhongding came to challenge the shop last time.
He also had a near-blind admiration and trust for Li Yang.
No matter who Xu Zhongding or Wang Dongsheng was, when they encountered their Boss Li, if they wanted to challenge the shop, they were just delivering themselves to be dealt with, courting death!
What was there to fear?
"Fine, you're very good!" Wang Dongsheng's anger grew as he saw Er Dong was truly unafraid of him. He scanned the antique items in the shop and sneered, "Authentic for ten times the price, right?"
"That's right, authentic for ten times the price. Our Boss Li said it, and he will definitely do it!" Er Dong replied.
Wang Dongsheng sneered coldly, "Good, good, good. If that brat is hiding from me, I'll let his shop collapse first!"
Saying that, he walked into the shop, his eyes constantly scanning the shelves. He saw a wide variety of antiques, including jade, porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, bronzeware, and various miscellaneous items.
As the saying goes, one cannot chew what one cannot digest. Antique appraisal is a vast and profound field of study. For an appraiser to master a small branch within a category is already expert-level strength.
For example, bronzeware from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, or porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Appraisers who master an entire category, such as bronzeware, porcelain, jade, or calligraphy and paintings from all periods, are considered master level.
Xu Zhongding was at this level.
Wang Dongsheng was even more formidable, mastering two major categories, bronze and jade, simultaneously, making him a top-tier master.
Seeing such a variety of antiques in the shop, his cold sneer stemmed from his belief that no one could appraise everything well.
And this Li Hao Antiques shop was reportedly managed by only one young man in his early twenties, Li Yang, responsible for appraisals, which meant there must be flaws!
As long as these flaws were found, this master would make sure that brat wouldn't have an easy time!
Thinking this, he almost burst into laughter.
However, as time passed, and he examined each item meticulously, his triumphant smile gradually diminished, and the sweat on his brow increased. By the end, his fingers even began to tremble.
How could this be!
How could there not be a single fake item!
Could that brat be a one-in-a-million all-around appraisal master!