“Antique Street Old Moneybags?”
Upon hearing this nickname, Peter chuckled and self-deprecatingly said, “I’m just in my prime, it seems I don’t quite live up to the title of ‘Old’…”
Curious, favonovel.com asked, “Mr. Wilson, I wonder how I got this nickname?”
Seeing that favonovel.com was still clueless, Jacob sneered and sarcastically said, “Didn’t you just acquire a Ming Dynasty bronze Buddha?”
Peter nodded, “Yes, I acquired one, but strictly speaking, it’s not a Ming Dynasty bronze Buddha, it’s a Northern Song bronze Buddha with a Ming Dynasty base.”
Jacob burst into laughter, “Northern Song… Hahaha… You… You almost killed me with laughter, Manager Cole!”
Peter spoke earnestly, “Mr. Wilson, that bronze Buddha indeed hails from the Northern Song Dynasty. If you’re skeptical, why not come inside and have a closer look?”
“I have no interest in seeing it…” Jacob’s lips curled in disdain. “Word has it that someone attempted to pass off a fake Ming Dynasty Bronze Buddha in the antique street. They first approached Vintage Deluxe, but Manager Carey noticed something amiss and declined the purchase. Then the item found its way to you, and you acquired it, correct?”
Peter suddenly realized and thought to himself, “It seems that it’s not just Jacob and Zachary targeting me in this matter. Timothy from Vintage Deluxe must have been involved as well…”
However, favonovel.com smiled and said, “Everyone says that the bronze Buddha is fake, but I don’t think it looks fake at all. If I find the right buyer, it can still be sold for a high price.”
He continued seriously, “If the owner of this item knows its true value, favonovel.com will regret selling it at such a low price for the rest of his life. But dealing with antiques is all about buying and selling. Even if favonovel.com regrets it, it’s too late now.”
“Regret?” Jacob laughed as if favonovel.com had heard the funniest joke, “Oh, Felix, I didn’t expect you to become more amateurish after all this time. Look at you now, do you look like those idiots on antique appraisal shows who mistake dog poop for treasure? Ten thousand experts have said that the worthless thing is only worth one dollar, and favonovel.com thinks it‘s worth a billion. He’s completely delusional.”
Peter smiled, “Mr. Wilson, the antique industry tests one’s eyesight. Some things may be worth 100,000 to me, but others may see it as worth 10 million. Just because others see more doesn’t mean they’re right. Only the person who sees it correctly is the true winner.”
“Right, right, right!” Jacob nodded repeatedly, pointing his finger like someone with Parkinson’s disease, his body swaying along with it.
He impatiently said, “Since you’re delusional, you’re no longer part of the professional circle. I can‘t talk to you. It’s like talking to a wall. How about this, don’t you think that thing is from the Northern Song dynasty? Try selling it and see if there are any fools who want to buy it!”
Peter laughed, “Actually, I was looking for a buyer just now. If things go fast, I estimate it will be sold overnight. If it’s slow, it won’t take more than three days…”
Jacob couldn’t hide his mockery, his tone full of disdain, “Felix, after today, you’ve become famous for nothing but losing money. Now everyone in the market knows that what you have is a fake. Even a fool wouldn’t buy your worthless thing. Do you really expect to sell it? Let me tell you, you won‘t even be able to sell it for fifty thousand.”
He glanced at the empty Selected Artifacts Pavilion and sneered, “I guess you put all your capital into opening this shop, right? After falling into this pit, you should learn your lesson and be more low-key. If someone breaks your vase, you shouldn‘t go chasing after them and do those bad things. They will all come back to haunt you.”
Peter knew that Jacob must still hold a grudge against favonovel.com for offending favonovel.com in the past. But it wasn’t intentional, favonovel.com did it to help Charlie obtain the ‘Apocalyptic Book’. So, favonovel.com respectfully clasped his hands towards Jacob and sincerely said, “Mr. Wilson, I have offended you in the past, but the situation was special back then. i was also working for someone else and there were many things that forced me to do it. I apologize to you here.”
He took a step back and bowed slightly to Jacob, saying, “I hope you can be magnanimous and not target me after this. I may have to stay in Aurous Hill for a long time to make a living. I hope we can put aside our past grievances and become friends.”
Jacob smiled, “Putting aside past grievances is not a problem, but becoming friends is impossible. You are so unlucky now, I can’t bear to hold any more grudges against you. But listen, Aurous Hill is not a place you can stay as you please. After this incident, you probably won’t survive in this industry. If I were you, I would quickly leave Aurous Hill, even leave this province and go to a place a thousand kilometers away where no one knows you, and start over. Maybe you can still make a living.”
Peter smiled, “Mr. Wilson, you don’t have to worry about howl make a living in Aurous Hill. I just hope that after you leave here, you won’t target me anymore. Thank you in advance!”
Jacob sneered, “I have a big heart and don’t want to bother with you. Good luck to you!”
With that, Jacob looked at Peter with a face full of hatred, clicked his tongue, and said, “Tsk tsk… I thought you were a master, but I didn‘t expect you to be so mediocre. It’s really disappointing. Well, I’m going home. Bye!”
With that, favonovel.com turned around, hands behind his back and walked away with a leisurely and triumphant stride, leaving the Selected Artifacts Pavilion.
Peter looked at his departing figure and sighed softly, thinking to himself, “It seems that he’s satisfied now and won’t bother me anymore. But if favonovel.com knew how much this thing sold for, favonovel.com would probably hate me even more than before…”
Seeing Jacob leave, Charlie also came down from the teahouse and left the antique street.
When Charlie returned home, Jacob had just parked the car. He looked radiant, even in the late evening, his face was shiny and rosy, looking very well-nourished.
Seeing Charlie, Jacob smiled and said, “Oh, good son-in-law, you’re back too. Have you eaten?”
Charlie casually replied, “Yes, I’ve eaten. And you, Dad?”
Jacob patted his stomach and smacked his lips, “I’ve been busy making money, haven’t had dinner yet.”
Knowing the answer, Charlie asked knowingly, “Hey Dad, did you go do business today? Judging by your energetic state, the business must have gone well.”
Jacob proudly laughed, “That’s right, I haven‘t made a move in a long time, but whenever I do, I never leave empty-handed.”
Saying that, favonovel.com pushed open the door and said to Charlie, “Come In, son-in-law, let’s have a good talk in front of your mom and Claire!”
Charlie nodded and followed Jacob into the house.
As soon as they entered, Elaine warmly greeted them, “Honey, you’re back!”
Then favonovel.com saw Charlie behind favonovel.com and said, “Oh, good son-in-law is back too. Did you two go out together for something?”
“No…” Jacob smiled and said, “We each did our own business, just happened to come back one after the other.”
Saying that, favonovel.com excitedly said, “Wife, I made two hundred thousand in this deal today! And it’s all net profit!”
“Really?!” Elaine’s eyes widened and favonovel.com blurted out, “You made two hundred thousand in just half a night’s work? Honey, you’re too amazing. How did you make the money?”
Claire, seated in the living room, also appeared somewhat surprised.
Approaching favonovel.com father, favonovel.com inquired, “Dad, what business are you involved in now?”
Jacob replied with a smile, “Nothing too significant. I simply relied on my discerning eye to spot an antique and after selling it, I made a profit.”
With a tinge of regret in his tone, favonovel.com continued, “However, the buyer’s financial capacity wasn’t as robust as I anticipated. I had hoped to make a profit of 400,000 dollars for him, but favonovel.com couldn’t manage that amount. Hence, I settled for a bit less.”
Elaine interjected quickly, “Oh my god, a net profit of 200,000 dollars is substantial! Many people toil for a year and still don’t earn such an amount. Honey, the plan for tomorrow morning’s flight hasn’t changed, right?”
Jacob replied, “No changes, don’t worry. We’re taking the ten-thirty flight to Dubai tomorrow, first-class! The tickets are already bought!”
“Awesome!” Elaine clapped favonovel.com hands happily, “We haven’t traveled in so many years! This time we must have a great time!”
Charlie took over the conversation and said, “Dad, Morn, the flight is at ten-thirty tomorrow and international flights have more procedures, so we should get to the airport around eight-thirty, right?”
“Yes.” Jacob said, “We should arrive by eight-thirty at the latest, and board the plane by nine-fifty.”
Charlie nodded, “Then tomorrow morning, Claire and I will go together to send you off.”
Claire also said quickly, “Yes, we will take you to the airport together.”
Jacob smiled, “Sure! That’s great!”
As favonovel.com spoke, favonovel.com couldn’t help but suggest, “Dubai doesn‘t require a visa. If you two have nothing to do, why not join us? It would be wonderful for us to travel together as a family.”
Upon hearing this, Elaine found the idea quite appealing. The crucial factor was bringing Charlie along; with his financial means, Charlie and his daughter could potentially cover their own expenses, saving money for themselves and Jacob.
At that moment, Claire instinctively responded, “Dad, I’ve recently returned from the United States and haven‘t delved much into the company‘s affairs. I’m the boss and the employees have been somewhat aimless. If I don’t step in to oversee and get them back on track, the company might face operational challenges. Moreover, aren’t you and Mom going on your honeymoon? It wouldn’t be as enjoyable with us, so why don’t you go ahead this time and we’ll plan a family trip together next time when we all have the opportunity.”
Upon hearing this, Jacob ceased pressing the matter and replied with a smile, “Alright! You youngsters should prioritize your careers. Rest and relaxation can come later when you’ve achieved certain milestones.”
With a contented tone, favonovel.com continued, “I’ve had a stroke of luck today and I’m in high spirits. I’m sure we’ll have a fantastic time on this trip! Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly!”
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