Opening an antique shop and getting rich through all the worlds

Chapter 55

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“If I weren’t confident, I wouldn’t have sought Miss Shen? What’s more I specifically waited several days.”

Seeing Professor Li’s anxious protective demeanor, Mr. Zhang couldn’t help but smile.

“This isn’t my first time coming here. With everyone present, any issues can be discussed easily. You were quite pleased when you heard about coming to Boss Shen’s place.”

Indeed, this was Professor Li’s first time visiting Shen You’s shop.

And after entering, he praised the beautiful courtyard renovation and well-maintained flowers. Once inside, he spent a considerable time examining the incense burner on the table.

Not only Professor Li, but Mr. Zhang and appraiser Wu Zhiyuan were also looking at this jade-carved incense burner.

It was really beautiful. Every carved pattern and decoration was so lifelike that one couldn’t bear to blink.

Wu Zhiyuan recalled the set of study room implements from the previous auction.

This Miss Shen, was she some kind of jade artifacts magnate?!

She not only had jade screens and jade inkstones, but also this incense burner, and such a fine incense burner was simply displayed for use.

There was also that teapot, truly exquisite.

It was also fortunate that Boss Huo wasn’t here today, or he would have definitely recognized that Shen You had changed to a different style of sweet white glaze.

After confirming that the box containing the ancestral antique phoenix crown was handed over to Shen You, Wu Zhiyuan spoke first:

“Miss Shen, are you selling this incense burner?”

“I was just about to ask the same thing.” Mr. Zhang said, setting down his teacup. “However, since Boss Shen has it displayed for use in the shop, she probably has no intention of selling it in the short term.”

Shen You smiled and nodded slightly.

Knowing that major figures from the collecting circle would visit the shop, she naturally had to bring out some items to maintain appearances.

She quite liked this jade-carved incense burner herself. It was the most exquisite one, used together with the finest agarwood.

Normally, she used more ordinary ones.

Seeing this situation, Wu Zhiyuan sighed regretfully:

“Miss Shen, if you ever decide to sell this incense burner in the future, you must contact me.”

He handed over his business card as he spoke.

“Alright.” Shen You agreed with a smile.

“Boss Shen really has quite a collection of fine items here. I haven’t had tea this fragrant anywhere else.” Mr. Zhang added.

“Exactly. That old fellow the museum director had it once and now comes to my office daily to mooch my tea leaves.” Professor Li snorted lightly.

Mr. Zhang looked toward Shen You, asking if there were other items everyone could take a look at. It didn’t matter if they weren’t for sale—just being able to see them would be wonderful.

And about this tea, could she sell some?

Shen You agreed. It was the same in any circle: having strength meant having voice.

And in the Collectors’ Association, collections represented strength.

“Please wait a moment.”

Hearing her say this, the three major figures from different fields in the circle all showed expectant expressions.

Shen You went upstairs to retrieve items she had placed in the safe beforehand.

A jade crown and a lacquerware plate.

Seeing the jade crown was fine, as everyone already knew she had many jade artifacts. When they saw the lacquerware, all three stared intently.

Professor Li, wearing gloves, observed very carefully:

“This craftsmanship is rare. It looks like late Song Dynasty style, and the preservation condition is particularly good. Is it from the Ming and Qing periods?”

Shen You nodded.

“It seems Boss Shen prefers Ming and Qing period items in antique revival style.” Mr. Zhang thought of the porcelain from last time, which was also from the same period.

In his private collection hall, there wasn’t a single piece of lacquerware more exquisite than this plate.

Shen You smiled. “I’d like to collect earlier pieces, but they’re not so easily encountered. Or when encountered, they’re not well-preserved.”

This was true. The three major figures agreed with her statement.

The older the antiques, the harder they were to acquire, and well-preserved ones were even rarer.

The market’s largest circulation was still Ming and Qing period antiques, and imperial craftsmanship was equally valuable.

Take this lacquerware, for example: its starting bid would be eight hundred, and getting it for fifteen hundred would be considered lucky.

This display left Mr. Zhang so envious he could barely move, joining the pre-order purchase queue and telling Shen You to contact him whenever she wanted to sell.

“Don’t let anyone cheat you when selling these things.”

Professor Li warned her with concern, his gaze clearly directed at Mr. Zhang, worried that Shen You might suffer losses.

“I understand. Please don’t worry.” Shen You replied with a light laugh.

Mr. Zhang suggested going to a nearby restaurant for a simple dinner. Before leaving, he spent thirty thousand yuan at a friendship price to buy two hundred grams of tea leaves.

After the dinner, he arranged to send Professor Li back. However before parting, Professor Li didn’t forget about the dinner invitation he’d mentioned last time.

But knowing this restoration project would require considerable effort, he scheduled it for after completing this task.

Shen You returned to the shop and opened the [Great Qi] dimension.

Today, Liu Zheng should come to divide the money.

Under the eaves, rain chains swayed gently as water droplets rolled down into the fish tank.

Shen You placed peeled soft-seed pomegranates and golden pillow durians on the table, then opened her tablet to browse commentary videos by Xiao Shuai, Xiao Mei, and Sang Biao, leisurely waiting.

Around four in the afternoon, Liu Zheng arrived with a face full of joy.

“We earned a thousand taels more than we initially estimated!”

Liu Zheng set down the tea leaves and fabric he’d purchased for Shen You, continuing:

“There wasn’t much pre-Qingming tea left in the capital’s tea shops, so I only brought these.”

Shen You nodded understandingly. Good tea could only be made from the most tender buds. Not only did harvesting time have requirements, it was also extremely labor-intensive, so quantities were naturally limited.

Liu Zheng had done well to acquire these.

“And these three bolts of cloth represent the textile shop’s finest craftsmanship. For anything better, you’d need the kind bestowed by the palace.”

Shen You examined them by hand. “These will do fine.”

This type of fabric cost thirty taels of silver in the Great Qi, which converted to about forty-five thousand.

She had already asked the tailor shop owner about the pricing for the type of fabric she’d brought last time—it was calculated per square foot and frighteningly expensive.

Calculating the fabric cost for making one outfit would be over a hundred thousand, and this was still the shop’s mid-range consumption level.

After deducting the silver spent on purchases, Shen You’s share was still over six thousand taels—nearly ten million. This deal was incredibly profitable, especially considering the snacks had only cost a few thousand.

Speaking of fabric, Liu Zheng lowered his voice: “A major incident occurred in the capital two days ago, apparently related to fire-proof cloth.”

Shen You’s gaze paused. Thinking of the previous agreement, she had a vague feeling that this matter might be somewhat related to her.

“What happened?” She asked curiously.

“I don’t know the specifics either. His Majesty hasn’t held court for two consecutive days, and it’s not known what the palace practitioners are working on, so His Highness couldn’t come today.”

Hearing this, Shen You didn’t continue asking.

Surely Wen Zhi hadn’t stormed into the Great Qi palace to snatch something from the old emperor’s hands, right?

Liu Zheng looked at the items on the table. He recognized the pomegranates, but what was that yellow thing emitting a foul smell?

Could this thing actually be eaten?

Noticing his confused yet purely innocent gaze, Shen You took several pomegranates from the paper box and handed them over.

“Would you like to try some? This type of pomegranate is different from yours.” She then used a plastic lid as a plate to portion out some durian flesh. “This is also a type of fruit.”

Following Shen You’s instructions, Liu Zheng first opened a pomegranate to taste it, and his eyes widened completely.

“So sweet! Full of juice, and the seeds inside are truly different! I’ve never eaten such delicious pomegranates!”