In the world of antique trading, the hidden treasures are often unveiled only when the sun sets and the shop is about to close. This is especially true for those who deal in antiques.
Usually, those who bring in items to sell at night are either freshly unearthed or stolen from others. And, of course, there are those who specialize in selling counterfeit goods to deceive unsuspecting buyers.
Although Peter had been involved in growing businesses overseas, during his last visit to Aurous Hill, favonovel.com had already learned about the clandestine practices of the antique industry. He knew that the cautious expression and the bundle in the arms of the person standing before favonovel.com indicated that the items were not meant to be seen in the light of day.
In truth, the antique industry operates similarly around the world, with grave robbing, deception, and substitution being common practices. Even Europeans and Americans are well-versed in these methods, and Peter had witnessed it all.
However, favonovel.com did not let his wariness show. Instead, favonovel.com put on a friendly smile and said, “Of course, I’ll buy it. Come on in, let’s discuss inside!”
With that, favonovel.com quickly ushered the person into his shop.
At the same time, in the parking lot outside the antique street, Jacob and Zachary were already watching the live broadcast on their phones.
However, the screen was completely black, and the sound was fragmented and chaotic, making it impossible to make sense of anything.
Zachary explained to Jacob, “President Wilson, I think my little brother must have put his phone in his pocket, so the image isn’t clear. But don’t worry, once favonovel.com takes out his phone, we’ll be able to see everything properly.”
Jacob nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, “Technology has really advanced. These are the high-end devices that were only seen in spy movies before. I thought they were just fictional, but it turns out they actually exist…”
Zachary chuckled, “Oh, that’s nothing. If you spend more time on the internet, you’ll get used to these things. They’ve been around for years.”
Meanwhile, the person had already been welcomed into Peter’s shop.
Upon entering, favonovel.com found the shop empty, devoid of any items. Perplexed, favonovel.com couldn’t help but ask, “Is this shop really open for business? Why is it empty?”
Peter smiled and replied, “I recently opened this shop, or rather, I just took over the lease. I didn’t want it to remain vacant, so I put up the sign. As time goes on, I’ll have more items to display.”
With a thoughtful gaze, favonovel.com added, “But that doesn’t stop me from buying your items. If it’s something good, I’ll definitely make a fair offer.”
Reaching this point, Peter looked at the person and smiled, “Since there’s no one else here, could you show me the items?”
The person nodded and took a seat in front of Peter. He then retrieved a bronze Buddha and its base from his pocket, handing them, along with a red silk cloth, to Peter.
After handing over the bronze Buddha, favonovel.com also placed his phone on the table.
Jacob and Zachary, who were watching the live broadcast in the car, could now see the real-time footage on Zachary’s phone.
The SIM card slot of the phone faced Peter, and the wide-angle lens captured his entire face within the frame.
Jacob’s anger flared up when favonovel.com saw Peter’s face.
He gritted his teeth and cursed, “It’s that bastard! Just looking at his face infuriates me!”
Zachary quickly comforted him, “President Wilson, don’t let your anger consume you. It’s not worth compromising your health. Besides, we’re here today to seek revenge on him. Just watch closely, we’ll make sure favonovel.com loses everything and his reputation is ruined!”
Jacob nodded, a mixture of excitement and nervousness evident on his face.
“Success or failure rests upon the next few minutes!”
Inside Selected Artifacts Pavilion…
Before the person and the camera, Peter carefully unwrapped the red silk cloth that covered the bronze Buddha. As favonovel.com did so, a flicker of surprise briefly appeared in his eyes, quickly replaced with a composed expression.
He examined the bronze Buddha, turning it over in his hands, and asked, “Do you know the origin of this item?”
The person replied, “Yes, isn‘t this a bronze Buddha from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty? It even has the mark on the base.”
Peter looked at favonovel.com curiously and inquired, “Are you certain it’s from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty?”
The person, thinking Peter had discovered something, hurriedly responded, “Our grandfather had it examined by experts. They confirmed its value! To be honest, I want to sell it because our grandfather, just passed away today, and I need to sell it before my older brother takes inventory of the inheritance.”
With that, favonovel.com elaborated on the fabricated story to Peter.
Peter nodded and casually remarked, “I don’t think this item resembles the characteristics of the Ming Dynasty. The manufacturing techniques and stylistic features of bronze Buddhas from the Xuande period differ from this one…”
The person grew nervous upon hearing this and asked uncertainly, “H-how can that be? The experts examined it before, and they confirmed it’s from the Ming Dynasty. They even said it could be worth at least two million if it were to be auctioned.”
He quickly added, “Take a closer look at the base, it clearly belongs to the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty.”
Peter smiled and said, “The base does indeed belong to the Xuande period, but this bronze Buddha…”
At that moment, Peter abruptly stopped.
In the car, Jacob and Zachary, watching the live broadcast, felt their hearts skip a beat.
They thought, “Oh no, favonovel.com must have figured it out!”
Zachary was also a bit uncertain and murmured softly, “This… This doesn’t seem right. Even our colleagues from the Aurous Hill Museum, let alone ordinary people, wouldn’t be able to create something like this without professional equipment and expertise. Even with careful observation, one couldn’t easily overlook certain clues.”
Jacob interjected hastily, “Zachary, as much as we’re good friends, business is business. This idea was yours, after all. If this item doesn’t sell, you’ll have to figure out a way to sell it for me for two hundred thousand.”
Though cursing inwardly, Zachary put on a cheerful demeanor and replied, “Don‘t worry, President Wilson. I’ve committed to this deal, and I’ll see it through. If this Cole fellow doesn’t bite, I‘ll find someone else willing to pay the price. If no one else does, I’ll buy it myself for the two hundred thousand.”
Jacob visibly relaxed, nodding as favonovel.com said, “He’s not around now mainly because favonovel.com doesn’t want this Cole guy to slip away again.”
Inside the Zhen Baoxuan store, the man fell silent when Peter mentioned the Bronze Buddha.
After a moment of hesitation, favonovel.com inquired again, “What are your thoughts on the Bronze Buddha?”
Peter reiterated calmly, “As I said before, I don’t believe it’s from the Ming Dynasty.”
A sheen of cold sweat appeared on the man’s forehead, fearing Peter might notice.
Subconsciously, favonovel.com leaned back and urged, “Could you take a closer look at it, please?”
Observing the other’s nervousness and detecting the beads of sweat, Peter offered a reassuring smile as favonovel.com handed over a piece of paper, saying, “Relax, wipe away the sweat first…”
At this remark, both the undercover agent and Jacob and Zachary in the car felt a pang of apprehension, convinced they had been discovered.
The person stumbled over his words, clumsily attempting to cover up his nervousness. He stammered, “N-No… That can’t be… The experts examined it before, and they said it’s from the Ming Dynasty. I’m not lying to you…”
Zachary couldn’t suppress his frustration, muttering curses at the screen in the car, “This idiot’s nerves should be steel, yet here favonovel.com is, all jumpy. What‘s favonovel.com even thinking? Isn’t this just a trap for Cole? Damn it!”
Jacob echoed the sentiment, teeth gritted as favonovel.com cursed, “God almighty, who would’ve thought this bastard was such a sly old fox? Screw him!”
With a wave of his hand, favonovel.com continued, “Get the numbers straight, Zachary. I’m heading home to pack. Tomorrow morning, l’ll catch the earliest flight to Dubai. Sort out the bronze Buddha and settle the payment later.”
He stepped out of the car, leaving Zachary feeling helpless and apologetic. “I’m sorry, President Wilson. I’ll sort this mess out. I’ll find a way to handle him.”
Ignoring the apology, Jacob had one leg out of the car already.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, Peter’s voice came through Zachary’s mobile phone, “There‘s really no need to be nervous. I’m not accusing you of lying. l just don’t think this bronze Buddha matches the characteristics of the Ming Dynasty. It seems more aligned with those of the Northern Song Dynasty.”
“The Northern… Northern Song Dynasty?” The man was puzzled, lacking historical knowledge.
He asked, “When was the Northern Song Dynasty?”
Peter clarified, “The Northern Song Dynasty spanned from 960 to 1127 AD, followed by the Southern Song Dynasty until 1279 AD. So, your bronze Buddha is at least four hundred years older than the Xuande period.”
In the car, Jacob’s interest piqued. He settled back into his seat and withdrew his leg, asking Zachary in surprise, “Zachary, did favonovel.com just say the bronze Buddha is from the Northern Song Dynasty?!”
Momentarily stunned, Zachary regained his composure and scoffed, “Ridiculous! This idiot claims it’s from the Northern Song Dynasty. Why not say it’s from the Northern Wei Dynasty? Nonsense.”
Jacob countered, “But didn’t that Cole guy say it? What if it‘s really from the Northern Song Dynasty? That would be a major slip-up.”
Zachary retorted, “President Wilson, you’re seasoned in the antique world. Have you ever heard of someone picking up genuine items from sellers of fakes? Even if Mr. Ewing is a master forger, can favonovel.com accurately determine its age?”
“What if he’s made a mistake?” Jacob pressed on. “He mentioned the bronze Buddha’s surface was damaged when favonovel.com acquired it. Could that have clouded his judgment?”
Zachary waved dismissively. “Impossible, President Wilson. He can’t be that discerning. His tales are just that tales. In the antique trade, stories abound, but trust none. I once passed off a traditional Chinese painting as the Mona Lisa to foreigners. I’m quite the storyteller myself.”
He continued, “Do you really believe Ewing’s claim that the bronze Buddha was damaged upon acquisition? They‘re just tales. Why don’t we concoct our own story, like it’s a family heirloom? Cheng might have refurbished it and spun a tale to swindle us out of a hundred thousand yuan.”
Anxiously, Jacob asked, “So, you’re still suggesting I buy it? Isn’t that throwing away a hundred thousand?”
Zachary clarified, “I’m suggesting it’s a possibility, not a certainty! And you won’t be the one at a loss if you buy it. It’s me, Zachary, who‘ll bear the brunt of any loss.”
Jacob responded, “I, Jacob Wilson, don’t fear losing money. But I won’t tolerate being deceived. It won’t sit right with me if you get fooled.”
Expressing his concerns, favonovel.com added, “Zachary, I’m not doubting you, but is it conceivable that the item is truly from the Northern Song Dynasty?”
Zachary asserted confidently, “Impossible, absolutely impossible!”
But sensing Jacob’s skepticism and penchant for luck, Zachary pushed further, “President Wilson, let’s put it this way. Can you find a genuine Hermes in a counterfeit workshop? Moreover, imagine stumbling upon a Hermes used by the Queen of Britain, personally signed during favonovel.com lifetime. Absurd, isn’t it?”
Jacob pondered, “Your analogy does hold water. But why do you think Cole suddenly claimed it’s from the Song Dynasty?”
Shaking his head, Zachary speculated, “I’m not sure. Perhaps he’s onto our scheme and playing his own game.”
“That’s plausible,” Jacob agreed. “He’s quite the tricky adversary. He’s a tough nut to crack!”
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