Chapter 369 Big Fish
Xiangzhou is very large, with a lot of traffic between the north and the south. It is impossible for the Cao Gang to stop every person for investigation. If Zhao Yushu had not happened to go to a dirty street where no locals would go for no reason, he would basically have no chance of meeting Duan Tiezhu.
"Boy, what's your name?" Zhao Yushu stood at the bow of the ferry and casually asked the servant behind him.
"The small one is called loach."
"Ha, what a nice name, Loach. Are the antiques run by this Third Master clean? I heard that they don't get along well with our Dog Hall. They won't do anything to me, will they?"
Loach smiled: "Don't worry, Master Bai. Although Master San is also doing business, there is only one store in this place, and the rest are owned by other bosses. As long as Master Bai likes them, we will all do business seriously, but..."
"but?"
"Some of the goods are not so genuine. It depends on Mr. Bai's own eyesight."
"That's enough. Master Bai, I am average in everything except my eyes, which are very useful."
After crossing the river, there were obviously more soldiers in half-dressed military uniforms. Niu Qiu explained, "The south is facing Jingzhou. I heard from you that there are tens of thousands of soldiers stationed here. These are all here to have fun."
Zhao Yushu took a look at the mental state of these soldiers and found that they were far inferior to the cavalry guards of General Sun in Nanyang.
"How far is the antique place?"
"Not far, just a few steps ahead."
It is hard to call this place a street or a courtyard. It should be said that it is a square-like area surrounded by a circle of buildings, with a large archway serving as a gate and shouts coming from inside.
"Master Bai, look carefully. Those who have houses and doors are all big bosses. We can't guarantee the authenticity of the things inside, but we guarantee their value. Those who spread a piece of cloth outside and shout are small people. Most of them are fake, but if you are lucky, you can still find a bargain."
"Okay, let's take a walk outside first."
In the antique business, from ancient times to the present, if you can find only one authentic item out of ten, even if you can find one authentic item out of a hundred, it would be a great honor for your family. At a glance, the things in a famous house in the previous life may not be older than the boss's calculator.
Zhao Yushu walked past with his hands behind his back. Whenever he passed by a stall, the stall owner would grab something at random with shining eyes, shouting that this was a heavenly treasure unearthed from the Dragon Palace deep in the river, and that if a mortal wore it for a year, his life would be extended by ten years.
Zhao Yushu's ears hurt from listening to this, and he couldn't help but ask Niu Qiu: "Does anyone really believe what he said? Or do I look too stupid and he thinks I'm easy to fool?"
Before the loach could reply, the stall owner laughed: "Don't blame me, sir. We did this on purpose. You would think that a smart person like you would turn around and leave after hearing this, but if there is one person who doesn't leave, it means that this person is pitifully stupid. We can spend more time to fool him later. Otherwise, if we have to ask everyone, I would be tired, wouldn't I?"
Zhao Yushu burst out laughing. This meant that there was not a single genuine item on his stall, and he was shouting so exaggeratedly on purpose to select low-intelligence people, just like the scammers in his previous life.
"Sir, please don't shop around outside. Everything out there is fake. If you want to buy some small items, that's fine. If you want to see the real stuff, please come in."
Perhaps hearing the noise outside, a shop with a plaque reading "Jubaozhai" opened its door, and the owner in a brocade robe came out holding a teapot.
The small vendor did not argue when the boss behind him said that his goods were fake, and continued to shout at the new customers. Zhao Yushu thought about it and walked into Jubaozhai.
"Sir, are you just looking at it casually, or do you have some idea, like giving it to someone or collecting it?"
"If there's nothing good, just look around. If there's something good, get two and give them away."
"If you want to open a business, you can't do without good things. What hobbies does the person you want to give as a gift have? Paintings and calligraphy? Jade? Jewelry?"
Zhao Yushu discovered that this boss really knew how to do business, and through constant questioning, he gradually strengthened his desire to buy.
"jewelry."
"You are so lucky to have a confidante. Please sit down for a moment. I will show you some good things."
The servant brought a pot of good tea and also prepared some fruits for the little loach, showing all the courtesy.
Soon, the shopkeeper brought a few boxes and said, "Our shop mainly sells funerary objects, but since you are sending this to a beautiful lady, funerary objects are not bad. Here are a few top-quality hairpins from the palace of the previous dynasty. They are quite old. Please take a look."
Zhao Yushu couldn't help but be a little surprised. The previous dynasty was at least four hundred years ago. If the boss was not lying, then it was indeed a very good thing, combining the characteristics of an antique and a treasure. It would be perfect as a gift to others.
The shopkeeper opened the box and Zhao Yushu looked at several hairpins, which came in red, blue and green. They were beautifully carved. To be honest, Zhao Yushu couldn't tell whether they were real or fake.
"What's the price?"
"Haha, if you really want it, I'll treat it as making friends with you. Each one costs one thousand taels. If you take them all, I'll give you a few pairs of earrings to go with them."
Zhao Yushu opened his mouth wide and looked at Niu Qiu: "Master Bai, do I look like a fool?"
The shopkeeper's face changed, and Loach held back his laughter and shook his head.
"Sir, even if the deal fails, there is still friendship. Why are you speaking ill of me?"
"Boss Bai is just saying bad things, which is a bargain for you, Ghost Old Seven, you are so bold that you even dare to deceive the distinguished guests of my Cao Gang."
A voice came from outside the door. Loach was startled and hurriedly whispered, "It's the Third Master!"
The door was pushed open, and a handsome and elegant middle-aged man walked in with his hands behind his back. He took a look at the hairpins and said, "Ghost Old Seven, I'll give you another chance. How much is it?"
The shopkeeper smiled shamelessly and said, "Why do you want money? Since Mr. Bai is a friend, just take it."
The Third Master glanced at him and said, "I mean, how much?"
The shopkeeper's face immediately turned bitter: "We imported the goods at ten taels each. If Mr. Bai likes them, just take them at the purchase price."
Zhao Yushu wanted to curse, "You ask for a thousand taels of merchandise worth ten taels right away. Why don't you just go and rob it!"
Oh yeah, it’s not that fast to snatch.
"Boss Bai, I'm sorry to have disturbed your fun."
"It turned out to be the Third Master. What a coincidence."
The Third Master smiled and said, "What a coincidence! The loach accompanying Master Xia crossed the river and brought a stranger with him. I am grateful to all the shopkeepers for taking care of this area, so how could I not come to take a look? I just didn't expect that it was the public-spirited Boss Bai who came."
Zhao Yushu's old face turned red, what a chivalrous guy.
The Third Master took another look at the hairpins and said, "Boss Bai, you want to give your lady a gift? Why don't you go to our shop and have a seat? I can't say my stuff is the best, but it's definitely genuine."
"Then, it's better to obey than to be respectful."
The two men stepped out of the Treasure Pavilion. The Third Master looked back at the shopkeeper and pointed his finger into the air. The shopkeeper immediately sat down on the ground with a sad face, as if his parents had died.
Zhao Yushu ignored the faint crying sound coming from behind him, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised. He thought that his fishing skills were pretty good. In less than an incense stick of time, the big fish was hooked.