7: Chapter 7: Moving Out and Starting a New Chapter

Elder Zhou Bo said this while looking intently at Hu Tian, his eyes revealing a candor and certainty unique to a scholar, without a hint of a merchant's cunning.

Elder Zhou Bo's words made sense and hit the nail on the head.

The biggest problem in the antique trade is slow liquidity and poor turnover.

If you really took it to the market, and couldn't find a buyer who knew its worth, even an item valued at 200,000 might not find a taker even at 100,000.

The longer it drags on, the greater the variables.

A price of 160,000 is truly fair, perhaps even generous.

Hu Tian quickly calculated in his mind: the Treasure Hunting Radar System estimated it between 100,000 and 180,000, and Elder Zhou Bo offered 160,000 directly; this was already at the top end of the valuation.

And most importantly—cash!

He could accept this price, very much so!

Without a moment's hesitation, Hu Tian nodded decisively, his voice firm and resonant: "Deal."

A flash of approval crossed Elder Zhou Bo's eyes. He stood up and patted Hu Tian on the shoulder with a brisk, moderate force that conveyed an elder's encouragement to a younger generation: "Good! I knew I wasn't wrong about you; you're straightforward! Wait a moment, I'll have someone prepare the contract and the payment."

With that, he turned and walked steadily into the back of the shop.

Before long, he returned with a printed sales contract, with clear terms and well-defined rights and responsibilities.

The two signed and pressed their fingerprints on the spot. The whole process was clean and efficient, without a single word of unnecessary chatter or any push-and-pull.

This is the unspoken understanding between experts; trust is built on discernment and character.

"Young friend, would you like cash or a transfer?" Elder Zhou Bo asked gently.

"A transfer would be more convenient," Hu Tian replied.

Elder Zhou Bo had a shop assistant bring over a POS machine, and Hu Tian provided his bank card number.

Just a few minutes later, Hu Tian's phone vibrated with a text message notification. The crisp alert sounded like music to his ears: "Your bank card ending in 8624 has received a transfer of 160,000 RMB. The balance is 164,327.50 RMB."

Looking at the text message, Hu Tian's hand holding the phone trembled slightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Just earlier that day, including the meager severance pay from being ruthlessly laid off by the company, he had only a little over 4,000 yuan left in his bank card.

What kind of despair was that?

He couldn't even scrape together the rent for the next quarter. When passing by a fast-food restaurant, he would agonize over whether to get a 10-yuan boxed meal or 20-yuan noodles, terrified that spending one extra cent would mean sleeping on the streets next month.

But now, just a few hours later, his account balance had instantly become a six-figure sum!

160,000!

For a wage earner with a monthly salary of just over 4,000 who struggled like an ant in a big city, this was blood and sweat money that would take three or four years of working day and night without eating or drinking to save up.

Hu Tian took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, forcing down the urge to look up and roar with joy.

He knew he couldn't show weakness in front of Elder Zhou Bo, and certainly couldn't act like an unrefined upstart; that would only make people look down on him.

Besides, thinking about it calmly, this was just the beginning.

With the Treasure Hunting Radar System as his heaven-defying cheat, this 160,000 was merely his first insignificant income in the early stages—just the tip of the iceberg.

There would be more treasures waiting to be unearthed in the future, and more wealth rolling in.

This bit of money was nothing more than a stepping stone on the road to becoming the richest man.

Thinking of this, Hu Tian gradually calmed down, his eyes becoming clear and firm once again.

He put away his phone, adjusted his collar, and bowed respectfully to Elder Zhou Bo: "Elder Zhou Bo, you are straightforward. Thank you for this transaction. You are a senior worthy of respect."

Elder Zhou Bo waved his hand with a smile, his demeanor humble and scholarly: "You're too polite, young friend. This is a fair trade, mutually beneficial. Even if a deal doesn't go through, there's still friendship, and besides, we had a pleasant cooperation."

As he spoke, he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Hu Tian with both hands: "This is my contact information. If you find any more good items in the future, feel free to bring them for me to see. As long as the item is genuine and the price is fair, I, Zhou, will never let you suffer a loss. We have a long road ahead."

Hu Tian took the business card and glanced at it.

The business card was very simple, with a background of elegant ink-wash landscape painting. It only had the two vigorous running-script characters for "Elder Zhou Bo" printed on it, followed by his mobile number and the shop address, without any flashy titles.

He carefully tucked the business card into the innermost layer of his wallet and nodded: "Then I thank you in advance, Elder Zhou Bo. If there is an opportunity, I will certainly come to bother you again and seek your guidance."

Elder Zhou Bo stroked his beard and laughed: "Easily done, easily done. You are always welcome here. Young man, your future is limitless!"

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Hu Tian stood up to take his leave.

When he walked out of the antique shop, night had completely fallen.

The streetlights on both sides of the street lit up with warm yellow light, stretching Hu Tian's shadow out long.

Hu Tian stood at the entrance and looked back at the rustic sign of "Jubao Pavilion," an indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

From this moment on, his life had completely changed.

That Hu Tian, who scrambled for a living and was timid and servile, had become a thing of the past.

Hu Tian dragged his exhausted yet excited body back to his rented room.

Pushing open the paint-peeling wooden door, the familiar smell of mold and dampness rushed out to meet him, making him frown involuntarily.

In the cramped single room, a creaky single bed, a peeling old desk, and an old wardrobe that wouldn't close were all his worldly possessions.

The mottled water stains on the walls seemed to mock his past embarrassment.

Usually at this time, he would have been so tired he'd have collapsed into bed, worrying about tomorrow's interview even in his dreams.

But now, he couldn't sleep at all.

Hu Tian took off his coat and lay down on the bed, but his eyes were wide open, staring at the cracks in the ceiling.

He took his phone out of his pocket and opened that bank text message again.

That string of numbers was still glowing on the screen: 160,270.2 yuan.

This was not a dream.

He opened the bank app again and refreshed it to check his account balance; the numbers were exact, so real it made him want to cry.

Once, twice, three times...

Every time he looked, his heart pounded violently; that ecstasy washed over his nerves like waves of a tide.

This feeling was too unreal, as if he were floating on the clouds.

Hu Tian simply sat up, leaned against the headboard, and hugged his phone tightly to his chest, recalling everything that had happened today over and over again.

From discovering that blue circle of light at the antique market using the Treasure Hunting Radar, to battling wits with the stall owner, and then to the transaction at Jubao Pavilion in the evening for the high price of 160,000—the entire process was vivid in his mind, like a movie playing back.

Time ticked away, minute by minute. The wall clock ticked, sounding exceptionally clear in the silent night.

One a.m.... two a.m.... three a.m....

Hu Tian's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, yet he couldn't bear to put down the phone, as if it were his only support.

Just like that, hugging the phone with a silly smile on his face, he finally drifted into a deep sleep without realizing it.

This sleep was incredibly sweet.

The next morning, a harsh ringtone woke Hu Tian up.

He opened his eyes groggily and found that his phone was still clutched tightly in his hand, the screen displaying an incoming call from his landlady, Sister Wang.

Hu Tian checked the time on his phone: 10:32 a.m.

If it were any other day, he would have been squeezed into the morning rush-hour subway or waiting anxiously in front of the company's time clock.

But now...

A relaxed smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he answered the phone calmly.

"Hello, Little Hu! You haven't paid this quarter's rent yet!"

On the other end of the line, Sister Wang's voice was sharp and shrill, like fingernails scraping against a blackboard, full of malice and relentlessness: "Look, it's already the 12th. We agreed it was to be paid by the 15th of each month, and you're almost there! Don't come crying to me about being broke when the time comes!"

"Sister Wang, sorry..." Hu Tian's tone was calm.

"What's the use of being sorry? If you don't have the money for rent, say so early so I can rent it to someone else! Don't hog the spot without doing anything, and delay me from making money!"

Sister Wang didn't give him a chance to speak, complaining like a machine gun: "So many people are waiting to rent this crappy place; if you don't live here, there are plenty of others who will!"

Hu Tian looked around the single room he had lived in for over a year.

It was less than ten square meters, with the wall plaster peeling off to reveal the concrete underneath. The windows were drafty, the room was as stuffy as a steamer in the summer, and damp and bone-chillingly cold in the winter.

The monthly rent of 1,200 yuan was a significant burden for him before, pressing down on him until he couldn't breathe.

But now...

"Sister Wang, I'm not renting it anymore." Hu Tian's calm voice cut through Sister Wang's rambling.

The person on the other end was clearly stunned for a moment, and then Sister Wang's suspicious voice came through: "What? What did you say?"

"I said I'm not renting it anymore. I'm moving out today. You don't need to return the deposit; just consider it this month's rent and utilities."

Hu Tian's tone was indifferent, as if he were speaking about a trivial matter.

"Huh? You... you're moving out?"

Sister Wang's tone carried surprise and deep suspicion, even mixed with a hint of disappointment (after all, the deposit was gone): "Did you find a cheaper place? Or are you going back to your hometown? Let me tell you, renting outside isn't cheap either; don't come begging me again later!"

"You could say that. I found a better place."

Hu Tian didn't explain further, nor was there any need to say more to such a snob: "I'll pack my things and move out this afternoon. I'll make sure to clean the place up for you."

After saying this, without waiting for Sister Wang to react, Hu Tian hung up the phone.

Listening to the dial tone, Hu Tian looked around.

In over a year, he hadn't accumulated much here.

A few old clothes washed until they were faded, a few broken magazines, some cheap daily necessities, and some miscellaneous small items.

Most of it was trash with no value, just as the system had evaluated.

Hu Tian got up and started packing, his movements efficient.

Throw away what needed to be thrown away, keep what needed to be kept.

In the end, he only kept a few changes of clothes and some important documents, all packed into that slightly worn backpack.

Everything else was tossed into a black trash bag without a shred of nostalgia.

At three in the afternoon, the sun was just right.

Hu Tian carried his backpack and took one last look at this rented room that had carried his countless hardships and helplessness, then turned and closed the door.

With a soft "click," the latch engaged.

He didn't feel a hint of attachment and walked down the stairs with light steps.

The air outside seemed to have become fresh and sweet.

Hu Tian contacted a nearby real estate agent directly on his phone.

"Hello, I'd like to rent a place near Antique Street. I need a two-bedroom apartment, good environment, good lighting, and fully furnished with appliances. Price is not an issue."

On the other end of the line, the agent's originally lazy voice instantly became enthusiastic, and his speaking speed picked up: "Okay, sir! Please wait a moment. The words 'price is not an issue' are truly music to my ears! I will filter out the highest quality properties for you right now, guaranteed to satisfy you!"

Less than half an hour later, the agent drove over and took Hu Tian to see three nearby apartments.

The last one was located in a newly built residential complex two kilometers away from Antique Street. The building was less than three years old, the complex had excellent greenery, a clean environment, professional property management, and strict security access.

The apartment was a two-bedroom, one-living room unit, 80 square meters, finely renovated, with all brand-name furniture and appliances. The lighting and ventilation were excellent, and it was ready for immediate move-in.

Standing on the balcony, one could even see the city skyline in the distance.

The only drawback was that the rent wasn't cheap: 4,800 yuan per month, with a one-month deposit and three months' rent paid upfront.

For the Hu Tian of the past, this was an astronomical figure—he wouldn't have dared to even dream of it.

But for the current Hu Tian, this bit of money was nothing—it didn't even count as a fraction of his worth.

"I'll take this one."

Hu Tian stood in the middle of the living room, looked around, and made the decision immediately.

The agent was overjoyed, his smile stretching almost to his ears, and he bowed repeatedly: "Okay, sir! You are truly straightforward! We can sign the contract right now. Would you like to pay three months plus one month deposit, or..."

"Six-month lease, paid in full."

Hu Tian said calmly, his tone carrying a sense of confidence he had never possessed before.

After all, with his cheat, he probably wouldn't stay here for very long. Renting for half a year first would save him the trouble.

The agent was dumbfounded, then danced with excitement: "No problem! Absolutely no problem! Sir, please take a seat, I'll contact the landlord to come over right away!"