CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: YAN XUAN, POET OF THE FIVE DYNASTIES

"This place looks a bit familiar."

Chen Yiyang drove the pawnshop manager directly to the apartment complex of that school district house.

"How could it not be familiar?" Chen Yiyang parked the car, got out while saying, "Just now you were saying only fools buy houses here."

The manager instantly understood.

Chen Yiyang wanted to show him that foreclosure property.

Watching Chen Yiyang stride into the building.

The manager hesitated. Was this brother planning to make a big move today? Bringing him inside to witness how he leads a group of henchmen in black to forcibly carry out the elderly living there.

At worst, he’d secretly record a video afterwards. If things went wrong, he could at least serve as a witness.

With this mindset, the manager followed Chen Yiyang.

The two quickly ascended the stairs, and Chen Yiyang unlocked the apartment with a key.

Even the door has been changed?

Eviction already completed?

The manager was somewhat baffled. What was happening?

The house was only auctioned the day before yesterday; how could the transfer formalities not be completed yet, but the eviction is done?

After entering the house, they found it meticulously cleaned.

The elderly resident’s personal items had been completely removed, leaving only some inconvenient-to-move furniture.

On the coffee table in the living room sat a small note. Chen Yiyang went over, picked it up, and glanced at it.

The note outlined some current issues with the house. Like occasional leaks somewhere and clogged pipes elsewhere.

Also, the toilet couldn’t be properly fixed to the floor anymore, it needed to be reworked.

"How much can this house sell for now?" Chen Yiyang casually handed the note to the manager, then asked.

"You’re really skilled, I admire that." The manager finished reading the note and understood.

The elderly who had been living in the house had left voluntarily.

"Just lucky," Chen Yiyang replied modestly.

Faced with Chen Yiyang’s humility, the manager didn’t believe it for a second.

He strongly suspected Chen Yiyang had found the elder’s hometown and persuaded the elder’s relatives to take him away.

The amount of influence needed to achieve this was unimaginable.

So the manager thought for a moment, then said, "Two million, the pawnshop will take it. How about it?"

"The house doesn’t go through the pawnshop step, I directly negotiate with clients, is that possible?" Chen Yiyang gestured for the manager to sit on the sofa, so they could chat.

"You’re putting me in a difficult spot," the manager directly refused, "Our pawnshop earns from that transfer fee.

Even if you get an agency to sell the house, charging a fee of twenty to thirty thousand isn’t much, right?"

"Here’s the thing." Chen Yiyang signaled the manager to hold on and listen to him slowly.

"I currently have some things but don’t have a channel to sell them.

Your pawnshop probably has some customer demand, but can’t find the goods right now. Isn’t that right?"

Upon hearing this, the manager slowly nodded.

Apart from buying low and selling high, the pawnshop also undertakes another important role.

That is helping some of their clients fulfill unique purchasing needs.

Due to historical reasons, the domestic high-end second-hand trading and collection market has been in a less developed state.

If it’s inexpensive items, they can be done on online second-hand trading platforms.

But high-value second-hand goods trading emphasizes credibility. Online platforms can’t accomplish this.

Therefore, the largest intermediary in this field is actually the pawnshop.

The pawnshop uses its credibility to guarantee transactions for both parties, while also helping clients fulfill their second-hand procurement needs.

Finding goods for people is easy, but finding people for goods is very difficult.

The pawnshop has more than one client with the need to purchase a school district house.

It can be said that today, if Chen Yiyang signed a two million contract with the pawnshop and sold the house to them.

The pawnshop could immediately offer the client a quote to sell it for two million four hundred thousand.

But now Chen Yiyang wants to directly intervene in their core transactions.

People sell items to the pawnshop because they can’t determine how long it will take to sell their goods.

If sellers know there’s someone currently looking to purchase their goods, they might take the time to gather information and find the buyer.

The pawnshop would lose a significant amount of money out of thin air.

"I’m not asking for your clients’ names and contact information. I just want to know what your clients are looking for.

If I have it, I can immediately bring it out and sell it to them. Your pawnshop can appropriately take a cut. How’s that?"

"I’ll make a call," the manager said, standing up.

Chen Yiyang was ready to use their pawnshop as an intermediary, and a manager couldn’t decide such matters.

Then the manager went to the secluded corner of the room to communicate with the boss behind the pawnshop.

Chen Yiyang saw the manager go make a phone call, and he didn’t rush, just sat down and waited leisurely.

The reason he brought up this request today was, of course, because he didn’t want the pawnshop to take too much of his money.

Like today’s school district house, if purchased at the pawnshop’s normal price, it would be 30% off the market price.

But if Chen Yiyang knew for certain that the pawnshop had clients looking to buy such a school district house, then he would only let the pawnshop take a 10% brokerage fee at most.

This back and forth makes a big difference.

Of course, school district houses generally sell easily, even without going through the pawnshop; finding any agent could sell it quickly.

But if it’s other items, like the previous Bronze Bell, Great Ming Circulation Treasure Notes, these antique collections.

If he knew for sure there were clients looking to buy, Chen Yiyang would never sell to the pawnshop cheaply.

Just like last time with the bone-carved mahjong. Even if the pawnshop dared to take it, the price wouldn’t be too high, definitely not worth a house.

That’s the price difference between an item that someone wants to buy and one that no one wants.

About an hour later, the manager finally came back.

"What did your boss say?" Chen Yiyang inquired.

"I’m getting a promotion." The manager suddenly blurted out.

"Huh?" Chen Yiyang thought, could it be that the pawnshop had a similar idea, so this suggestion became the opportunity for the manager’s promotion.

The manager didn’t elaborate, just sighed and continued, "Someone else will handle the school district house issue with you tomorrow. As for the client wish list, you’ll have to negotiate with the new manager."

"Alright." Chen Yiyang extended his hand and shook the manager’s. "Congratulations on the promotion, let’s have a meal together sometime."

After seeing off the pawnshop manager, Chen Yiyang parked the car by the roadside and decided to call Chang Yuning.

He wanted to see if they could play basketball together tonight.

Recently, he felt he’d gained insights into the double-handed ball technique.

"I’m going to Jinling for training, won’t have time recently." Chang Yuning replied quickly.

"Wait, why are you suddenly going to Jinling? Don’t tell me you’re avoiding me? Is your combat power that weak?"

"Haha, you’re killing me. Just because I made a few noises, you think you’re all that? You rest up properly. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow, don’t drop out before three quarters."

"I’m a pro, okay? It’s settled then, we’ll meet the day after tomorrow. Four full quarters, whoever quits halfway is a loser!"

"Alright, I’ll be waiting for your slam dunk to fill the four quarters."

Got it.

Unable to meet with Chang Yuning, Chen Yiyang felt an itch inside.

People, you either remain a monk forever or feast every day.

There’s no such thing as feasting for a few days and then becoming a monk for a few days.

Chen Yiyang took out his phone, thought for a bit, and called Xu Xiaosheng.

"I need to help my senior set up an art exhibition this afternoon. But I’m free in the evening, and my senior has a social engagement, so I’ll be free."

"See you tonight then." Chen Yiyang quickly set a time with Xu Xiaosheng.

That evening, Chen Yiyang and Xu Xiaosheng went to a Japanese restaurant.

Then Chen Yiyang extended an invitation, "Want to go to the hot springs together?"

"Well, the hotel I’m staying at has a bathtub for soaking. So maybe we don’t go there." Xu Xiaosheng blushed and declined Chen Yiyang.

"Hey, saves money. How about inviting me to the hotel instead?"

"Ah." Xu Xiaosheng opened her mouth.

She felt things were progressing too fast and wanted to take it slow.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yiyang persisted.

Hesitant, Xu Xiaosheng ultimately couldn’t refuse Chen Yiyang and reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Presidential suite? Your senior has lots of money, arranged a presidential suite for you."

Chen Yiyang followed Xu Xiaosheng to the hotel and realized she was staying in the presidential suite.

The suite had a giant private bathtub, along with rose petals and various bath products.

"I’m staying with my senior." Xu Xiaosheng pointed to the opposite room, "I’m in the second bedroom, senior in the master bedroom."

"I see." Chen Yiyang nodded.

Then the two sat in the suite’s living room, not knowing what to say after a while.

Chen Yiyang had to break the silence and asked Xu Xiaosheng, "By the way, do you know a poet named Yan Xuan?"

"Yan Xuan?" Xu Xiaosheng tilted her head, thought for a moment, "Not really. Which era poet is he?"

"Five Dynasties." While undressing for the bathtub, Chen Yiyang pulled over Xu Xiaosheng.

"Come, let me tell you about his poetry."

Visiting Gold Gate: Beauty Bath

Yan Xuan (Five Dynasties)

Beauty bathes, jade pond lotuses bloom fragrant. Double buns bind clouds, face like jade, moths glow faint green.

Elegant charms, gentle grace, serene and modest, snow reflects her golden goblet. Water splashes her dark silk, beads breaking continuously, cream melting into fragrance through flesh.