15: Chapter 15 The Rosewood Compass

Han Jingyang's words made Sun Fuchang even more conflicted.

However, Han Jingyang didn't mind.

If it could be sold, that would be for the best.

If not, he would keep it for himself.

This Flower Fairy plaque was a high-quality Grade 6 item with +4 attributes and a skill. Although he didn't know the specific effects, judging by the literal meaning, it was a good item for saving one's life.

Was it really expensive to sell such a treasure for two million?

Not expensive!

If it weren't for wanting to save up more capital to counter potential risks, he wouldn't be selling it at all.

Even if he didn't use it himself, wouldn't it be good to give it to his family?

Therefore, without waiting for Sun Fuchang to speak, he directly changed the subject: "Old Sun, do you know anyone who has old items like a compass?"

"A compass?"

"Yes, I lack a handy dharma instrument. Although I don't use it much, as a charlatan, I can't be without one, just like a warrior can't be without their weapon, don't you think?"

Sun Fuchang thought about it and shook his head: "I don't know either. How about this, I'll help you ask around."

"Good."

Sun Fuchang sent a voice message directly to the group: "Who has old items used by a Feng Shui Master? I have a buyer here. If you have any leads, speak up, there's a red envelope."

Then he posted the same message to his Moments.

In the antique business, one must be well-informed and have broad connections.

Especially for a veteran like Sun Fuchang, who had run an antique shop for many years, his connections were far beyond imagination.

Even Han Jingyang, a rookie who had been in the industry for half a year, had accumulated thousands of contacts. Besides peers and buyers/sellers, there were a large number of brokers, commonly known in the industry as "connectors," which were essentially intermediaries.

Brokers didn't pay for the goods themselves, nor did they do appraisals; they just helped connect buyers and sellers. They made a living off information. Whether a seller was looking for a buyer or a buyer was looking for a seller, going to these "connectors" was the right move. They were well-informed and could bring buyers and sellers together with maximum efficiency.

Less than three minutes after Sun Fuchang sent the message, he received a reply. He said to Han Jingyang enthusiastically: "There's news. Shall we go take a look together?"

They left immediately.

Han Jingyang drove, took Sun Fuchang away from Yingxiong Mountain, picked up a Xiao Pingtou named Chen Zhibin on Jianshe Road, and under Chen Zhibin's guidance, headed straight for the suburbs.

After driving for twenty minutes, they stopped at the gate of a house in Xiaowang Village.

Chen Zhibin got out of the car and knocked on the door: "Old Hu, Old Hu, open up, distinguished guests are here."

A moment later, the door opened.

A scruffy Old Man poked his head out, looked at the three of them vigilantly, and then stepped aside: "Come in."

Chen Zhibin waved at Han Jingyang and Sun Fuchang: "Come in. It's a bit messy inside, please bear with it."

It was indeed quite messy.

The courtyard was not small, but all kinds of debris were piled up everywhere, and the weeds in the corner were almost as tall as a person.

A dog darted back and forth in the weeds, completely unconcerned by their arrival.

Walking to the door, one could smell a faint sour and rotten odor, as if it were the smell of leftovers that had been sitting out for many days.

Han Jingyang held his breath in disgust. Seeing that Sun Fuchang and Chen Zhibin were acting as if they hadn't smelled anything, he forced himself not to cover his nose.

Covering his nose would be too impolite.

When visiting someone else's home, one had to show some respect for the host.

Besides, he was here to buy something. If the host got unhappy and decided not to sell, or demanded an exorbitant price, wouldn't that be counterproductive?

It was just that the smell was really choking.

Han Jingyang followed him into the house and scanned the room. He didn't find anything related to antiques. Although the tables and chairs were old, they definitely weren't antiques; they were just made by a village carpenter using common hardwood, rough, crude, and dilapidated. No one would even want to buy them as scrap; they could only be used for firewood.

No, wait, fewer people used wood for heating and cooking these days; at least in the Quancheng area, it was almost unseen.

While Han Jingyang was complaining internally, he saw the box Old Hu brought out, and his eyes immediately straightened.

Huanghuali?

This is interesting.

Old Hu placed the box on the kang and opened it directly: "Take your time looking, but the price is still the same price. If it works, it works; if not, forget it."

Han Jingyang turned his head to look at Chen Zhibin.

Chen Zhibin made a gesture for him to calm down, then said to Old Hu: "Old Hu, you've been trying to sell this box of stuff for almost twenty years without success. From two thousand yuan back in the early years to two hundred thousand now, everyone in Quancheng knows about you. Has anyone come to check the goods in the last few years? No, right? If you don't lower your price, you really won't be able to sell it. In the future, I won't bring anyone to you either."

"Buy it or not, either way, I won't let my family heirloom be ruined."

"It is indeed an old family heirloom, but whether it's a treasure is another matter. Old Hu, these items of yours are too niche; there's really no market for them."

Old Hu became impatient: "Do you want it or not?"

Seeing this, Han Jingyang shook his head at Chen Zhibin, walked to the box, and touched it first.

No reaction.

But the texture was indeed good; it was undoubtedly Huanghuali.

It was just that the craftsmanship of this box was really trash; it was just a few boards joined together with copper hinges. Calling it a waste of natural resources wouldn't be an exaggeration; it wasted several good boards.

However, folk furniture was all like this.

Those expensive pieces of furniture that easily sold for hundreds of thousands or millions were basically all used by high-ranking officials and nobles; the materials, workmanship, and maintenance were all top-notch.

Furniture used by commoners, no matter how precious the material, couldn't be sold for a high price because it had no aesthetic appeal. At most, it would be sold for the price of the material, to be taken back, dismantled, and remade into other furniture.

This box was the same.

But Han Jingyang's attention was quickly drawn to the compass in the box.

It was also made of huanghuali wood, quite large in size, covered in dense patterns and text, and in quite good condition.

He picked it up with both hands.

"Ding: Appraisable item discovered. Appraise?"

"Yes / No."

Han Jingyang clicked "No," and then carefully examined the compass.

He knew nothing about Feng Shui Arts. With so many patterns and characters on the compass, he could barely recognize terms like the Bagua and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

However, looking at the patina, it was indeed an old item, over three hundred years old.

He held it in his hand and took two steps; the needle in the heavenly pool was still rotating and was even quite flexible.

Seen this way, it could indeed be considered a treasure.

No wonder this Old Hu would open his mouth wide and demand two hundred thousand right away.

Unfortunately, such old items were really niche; generally, no one bought them, and even if they did, they wouldn't spend that much money.

Under normal circumstances, Han Jingyang wouldn't be willing either.

But now, it was a different matter.

If it could be appraised to have Grade 6 or higher attributes and skills, even buying it for one million would be profitable.

Han Jingyang calmly put down the compass and picked up a Luban ruler.

"Ding: Appraisable item discovered. Appraise?"

"Yes / No."

Another appraisable one?

Han Jingyang was surprised. He checked the other items in the box one by one: the bagua mirror, the sanqing bell, the Bronze Pixiu, the tianpeng ruler, and the zhentan wood. Surprisingly, all of them could be appraised.

Good heavens.

What did Old Hu's ancestors do?

Professional shaman?

Or some high-level Taoist practitioner?

The whole box of odds and ends were all good items that could be appraised; one could say they were all dharma instruments, they just needed him to appraise them.

Awesome!

Without looking at the attributes, this box added together was worth two hundred thousand, and more than that.

However, he still had to haggle.

Han Jingyang finished looking at them as if nothing happened and asked casually: "No selling separately?"

"No."

"Can't it be a bit cheaper?"

"No."

"No room for negotiation?"