439: Chapter 439 He needs a channel

He then went to the neighboring stall and spent five thousand yuan on a so-called 'Hetian Jade' peace buckle, whose texture was about the same as a piece of frosted glass.

He paraded down the street holding these two items.

The image of a big spender who knew absolutely nothing was thus established.

It was about time.

The afternoon sun began to grow lazy, and the tourists on the street gradually dispersed, mostly looking for a place to eat or rest.

The crowd outside Treasure Pavilion had also thinned out considerably.

Only then did Shen Yan slowly stroll over.

He didn't enter directly, but stopped in front of a stall selling old books, casually flipping through two yellowed, thread-bound volumes.

However, his peripheral vision was assessing the situation inside the shop.

There was only one shopkeeper inside, around fifty years old, wearing a gray cloth jacket, leaning back on a recliner, dozing with his eyes half-closed.

An old fox.

Shen Yan made his judgment.

He put down the books and then stepped into Treasure Pavilion.

Creeeeak—

The old wooden door made a sound.

The shopkeeper on the recliner's eyelids twitched. He lifted them just a crack, saw the fake blood amber and fake jade pendant in Shen Yan's hand, and a trace of imperceptible contempt flashed in his eyes.

But he still slowly sat up.

"Boss, what are you looking to see?"

His voice was languid, hoarse from just waking up.

Shen Yan didn't speak, wandering around the shop like a headless fly.

The shop wasn't large, but it was crammed full of items.

On the display shelves, porcelain, jade, and bronzes were tightly packed together.

Several calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls; their age couldn't be discerned, only a feeling of deep antiquity.

The air was filled with a mixed smell of dust and old wood.

Shen Yan picked up a blue-and-white porcelain vase and pretended to examine the bottom.

"What dynasty is this?"

"Ming Dynasty," the shopkeeper replied without even lifting his eyelids, "Imperial kiln, a fine piece."

Shen Yan then picked up a bronze censer.

"And this one?"

"A xuande censer, a replica, but an old replica from the Republic of China era. Fine for playing around with."

The shopkeeper responded intermittently, appearing somewhat impatient.

He had seen plenty of tourists like this who came in to browse aimlessly, touching things here and looking there, asking questions, but ultimately buying nothing.

Especially this one in front of him; he looked like a complete novice who couldn't even hold things steady.

Shen Yan took in his impatience completely.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

After circling the shop once, his gaze finally 'accidentally' landed on the curio shelf in the corner.

The bottom layer, tucked away in the corner.

A black lacquer wooden box with gold inlay lay quietly there, covered in a thin layer of dust.

The gold-painted patterns on the box were already mottled and peeling, making it look completely unremarkable.

"What is that box used for?"

Shen Yan pointed.

The shopkeeper followed his gesture, glanced over, and seemed to think for a moment before remembering the item.

"Oh, that? An old vanity case. It was here when I acquired it; it's worthless."

"Bring it over here for me to see."

The shopkeeper reluctantly stood up, walked over, placed the box on the counter with a thud, kicking up another puff of dust.

"Boss, there's nothing interesting about this; the wood is almost rotten."

Shen Yan ignored him and opened the box himself.

The box was empty, containing only the musty smell of aged decay.

He turned the box over and over, tapped the bottom, and sniffed it.

The entire process was as amateurish as it could possibly be.

The shopkeeper watched, curling his lip in disdain.

"How is it, Boss? Do you like it?"

Shen Yan put down the box and nodded.

"It's alright, quite rustic. I'll take it back to store something."

He put on an air of being wealthy and extravagant.

"Name your price."

The shopkeeper's eyes darted around.

He could tell this kid was just burning through money and liked buying strange junk.

He held up one hand, spreading five fingers.

The marked price was five hundred, but he planned to multiply it tenfold.

Five thousand.

He specialized in fleecing these gullible big spenders.

Shen Yan looked at the gesture and frowned slightly.

He seemed not to understand and asked with a naive expression.

"Five?"

The shopkeeper nearly choked.

"What five! Five hundred!"

He subconsciously lowered the price back, his tone full of annoyance.

Was this kid genuinely ignorant, or was he pretending? Was he making fun of me?

Shen Yan acted startled by his attitude, showing an expression like, 'Why are you so fierce?'

"Five hundred? You want five hundred for a broken wooden box?"

He placed the fake blood amber and fake jade pendant he was holding onto the counter.

"These two things together are almost ten thousand."

"Is this box better than those two things I have?"

As soon as he said this, the shopkeeper's face immediately became very expressive.

He could see with one glance what kind of junk those two items were.

Things that wouldn't cost more than fifty yuan combined at a street stall.

This sucker actually spent ten thousand on them?

The shopkeeper was ecstatic internally, looking at Shen Yan as if he were a walking wallet.

But he still feigned an expression of being insulted on his face.

"Boss, the way you say that... This is a legitimate shop, honest with everyone! Although this box is old, it's still an antique!"

Shen Yan waved his hand, looking impatient.

"Alright, alright, stop lecturing me about that."

He pulled out another stack of cash from his wallet, counted out six bills, and slapped them onto the counter.

"Six hundred."

"That's the price. Not a penny more."

"If you sell it, sell it. If not, I'm leaving."

He acted like a spoiled second-generation rich kid whose patience had reached its limit.

The shopkeeper looked at the six hundred yuan on the counter.

He had received this box as a freebie when he acquired the lot; he hadn't spent a cent on it.

It had been sitting in the shop for years, attracting no interest.

To sell it for six hundred today was like hitting the jackpot.

He was overjoyed internally, but his face still showed an expression of painful reluctance.

"Fine, fine. Seeing that Boss truly likes it, consider it making a friend. I'm selling it to you at a loss!"

He quickly swept up the money, afraid Shen Yan would change his mind.

Shen Yan took the box, didn't even spare the shopkeeper another glance, and turned to walk out of Treasure Pavilion.

It wasn't until he got into the taxi heading back to the airport that Shen Yan slowly opened the hidden compartment of the lacquer wooden box.

With a faint 'click,' the bottom of the box sprang open.

Inside, eight small objects, tightly wrapped in bright yellow silk, lay quietly.

He unwrapped one of them.

The warm luster of ivory instantly caught his eye.

An immortal holding a banana leaf fan; the facial features and form were lifelike, his robes fluttering, as if he were about to ride the wind away at any second.

Han Zhongli.

Shen Yan took only one look, quickly rewrapped it, placed it back in the compartment, and closed the box.

The item was secured.

The fifty million cash flow problem was solved.

The current issue was how to turn it into money.

Take it directly to an auction house?

No.

A major auction, from preview to gavel fall, took too long.

He couldn't wait.

Moreover, a masterpiece of ivory carving that had never appeared on the market suddenly being consigned by an unknown person would attract too much attention.

He needed a faster, more discreet channel.

A channel that could quickly dispose of the item while still fetching a high price.

A name flashed through Shen Yan's mind.

Ning Ke.

Anyone who could afford to deal in calligraphy and painting collections must have an inner circle of the extremely rich and noble.

Within this circle, there would definitely be top-tier tycoons interested in such a premier antique.

Selling through Ning Ke would guarantee speed and utilize his reputation as a backing to secure a good price.

Furthermore, Ning Ke owed him a favor.

This favor was due now.

A cold arc curved at the corner of Shen Yan's mouth.

He took out his phone and dialed his assistant's number again.

"Book me the earliest flight back."

"Also, arrange a meeting with Ning Ke."

"Tell him I have something good in my possession and would like him to appraise it."