"Alright, twenty million it is. What's your price?"
Boss Qin's expression suddenly changed as he stared at him, "Twenty thousand yuan?"
"That's right. The jade material used is good, and the craftsmanship is decent. It's a shame it's fake. This is an antique shop, and we only sell genuine items. Buying such a fake from you for twenty thousand yuan is purely because you're my first customer since taking over the antique shop."
Li Yang smiled and said, "Not at all. Forget twenty thousand yuan, I wouldn't buy it for two yuan."
"You say it's fake?" Boss Qin's face changed.
"Indeed."
"What evidence do you have to say that? I spent over ten million yuan on this treasure," Boss Qin gritted his teeth and said.
Li Yang glanced at him and said, "If that were the case, Mr. Qin, you'd be at a huge loss. Look here, the jade quality is clearly impure. Although it's only a small piece, items used by emperors require absolute perfection and the highest grade. This point alone is enough to tell it's a replica."
"That reason is too far-fetched, isn't it?" Boss Qin said with a cold face.
Li Yang said, "Don't rush. There's also the craftsmanship. The carving marks here are clearly not done by hand, but rather processed by modern machinery."
"If it were handmade, the cut surface would be more rounded. So, this is not genuine."
"This reason is also very far-fetched. I'm not convinced," Boss Qin clenched his fist. Damn it, didn't I tell that guy to make it better? How dare he use machines to cut corners!
Li Yang looked at him and said, "Actually, there's a faster and more obvious way. That's to smash this jade seal directly."
"Smash it?" Boss Qin was startled.
Li Yang said, "Everyone present should know that the patina on antiques is an oxidation product that forms over time. Generally, it's very difficult to scrub off completely, even with a steel wool ball."
"But some counterfeiting techniques look very realistic, yet once smashed, the patina will peel off."
"Therefore, smashing is a very good method."
"Young Master Li, my item is genuine. If you smash my treasure, what then?" Boss Qin said.
Li Yang smiled and said, "If this item is genuine and I smash it, I will compensate you twenty million yuan."
"Fine, smash it!" Boss Qin said, staring intently at him.
Who are you trying to scare, kid!
Twenty million yuan is not a small sum. I don't believe you dare to be so confident!
However, before he could finish speaking, he saw Li Yang raise the jade seal and smash it directly onto the ground.
With a "bang," the jade seal shattered, making everyone's eyelids twitch. "Holy cow, he actually dared to smash it!"
"Have you forgotten whose descendant he is? Are there any cowards in the Li family?"
"Indeed. When Old Master Li was still alive, he was very bold in identifying fakes, often smashing them. He was known as 'Smash-Treasure Li Master'!"
"Is that so?"
"Mr. Qin, what do you see here?" Li Yang squatted down, reached out, and picked up a thin, shell-like film from the surface of the jade seal, handing it to him.
Boss Qin's face turned ugly. "Hmph, you're capable. We'll see."
"Huh?" Li Yang was stunned for a moment. What was with this guy? He had been hostile towards him from the moment he walked in. Could this jade seal have been deliberately brought here to trick him?
A store employee with large ears walked over and said, "Boss Li, do you really know him? He's the owner of Da Qin Antiques, Qin Yuliang. He's an old enemy of your Li family."
"What? Our two families are old enemies?" Li Yang was shocked. He then remembered that when his parents were alive, they had indeed mentioned something similar to him.
Oh dear, it's all my fault for being unfilial. I never paid attention before. I didn't realize an old enemy was right in front of me and I didn't even recognize him.
"No wonder. Earlier, when I said I didn't know him, his expression was as if he had been cuckolded seventeen or eighteen times. His face was so ugly."
"You really don't know him?" The big-eared store employee was bewildered. He thought the boss was just pretending earlier.
Li Yang looked at him and asked, "What's your name?"
"Replying to Boss Li, everyone here calls me Big Ears. I started working here a few days ago. Boss, I haven't hit you, nor have I stolen from you," Big Ears said.
Li Yang said "Oh," and then, "I know. From now on, you are the store manager. When I'm not here, you'll be responsible for managing the antique shop. However, acquiring antiques still requires my personal approval. Do you understand?"
"Understood, thank you for your regard, Boss Li," Big Ears said joyfully.
Seeing this, the other employees showed envious looks. But thinking about how they had followed Su Qianqian and Lin Lan's orders to attack Li Yang a few days ago, it was already very kind of him not to kick them out directly. What more could they hope for?
Everyone couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Glancing at them, Li Yang said, "Even as the store manager, you can't be in the store thirty days a month, so I still need a deputy manager."
"Work hard, and I'll appoint someone based on the situation."
"Yes, yes! We will definitely work hard!" The employees said joyfully. They didn't expect him to be so magnanimous, and several felt guilty for a moment.
Li Yang smiled. Although he hadn't let go of what happened back then, the blame lies with the perpetrators. The main target for revenge was Su Qianqian and her daughter. What was the point of quibbling with these ordinary employees?
If they were each given a million yuan, who would be willing to be someone's lackey and be ordered to hit people?
"Alright, throw those smashed things into the trash heap."
"Yes, Boss."
"Boss Li, I have some good items here. Do you need them?" Seeing Li Yang's actions, a few people from the onlookers immediately brought their items to show their support.
Li Yang smiled and said, "As long as they are customers, I welcome everyone. But this is not the place to talk. Let's go to a private room and have some tea while we discuss."
"Okay, Boss Li."
By the end of the day, Li Yang had acquired seven or eight antiques, spending over two million yuan, and had them placed on the shelves.
Big Ears said in a low voice, "Boss, when will you be restocking? Seven or eight items, not to mention whether they're enough to sell, are definitely not enough to fill the place. When customers see such a large shop with so few items, they might think the shop is not good and refrain from buying anything."
"Don't worry, I'll bring a batch of goods back tonight." Li Yang patted his shoulder and then took out his phone to call Sister Shui.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered buying a large batch of antiques to fill the store, but if the quality wasn't good, it would be looked down upon by connoisseurs. It was better to contact Sister Shui and ask for some jade accessories to sell.
On one hand, it would enrich his antique shop, and on the other hand, it was also his business, and selling well would bring him income.
"Buzz buzz buzz."
As soon as he took out his phone, a call came in.
"Li Yang, save me."