Chapter 35  Does Your Wife Know How Reckless You Are?

Chen Rui nervously shuffled his feet. He quickly shot Bai Zimo a look.

You’re the one who played the “power card”… now what?

Shao Bingyi had been working at the cultural center for years. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he was quite shrewd. A long-time self-proclaimed “man of culture,” he naturally liked to act refined.

“I introduced someone to your shop? I didn’t—”

Shao Bingyi noticed Chen Rui was there and forcibly swallowed his words!

“Yes, yes, I introduced him. Chen Rui! Zimo, you’re here!”

“Uncle Shao!”

Perfect!

Bai Zimo didn’t even need to back up the act—this “great scholar” stepped in to support the narrative!

Trying to please, Shao Bingyi said, “Old Zheng, let me introduce you. Chen Rui is the son of District Chief Gu! I’ve watched him grow up.”

“Chen Rui, are you buying antiques as a gift for District Chief Gu? Old Zheng, you have to give him a good deal.”

“Of course… but actually, they’re here to sell stamps. I’ll buy them for the market’s top price—four thousand!”

“What?”

Both of them were stunned. They were just getting started with the power-play, and it was already over!

Chen Rui and Bai Zimo were dumbfounded.

It wasn’t that Bai Zimo hadn’t seen big money before. He was just amazed at the wild price swings in the antique market!

Prices could vary so much—this one had quadrupled!

Now that’s what you call pulling rank!

Apparently, Uncle Shao’s influence didn’t quite cut it. But just mentioning District Chief Gu’s name was enough.

“So you’re selling stamps! Chen Rui has been collecting for a while, right? I could tell from the start—you have that cultured air. Must be that family background of yours. This Monkey Stamp is really rare…”

“The stamp is Zimo’s!”

Bai Zimo directly took the money handed over by Boss Zheng.

_________

Shao Bingyi was dumbfounded on the spot.

Couldn’t you have said that a bit earlier?

He’d just gone on and on praising the wrong person.

The secondhand embarrassment was real. Good thing he was wearing thick-soled shoes today, or the floor of Old Zheng’s antique shop might’ve been worn through by now.

“Ahem, Uncle Shao, we’re just here to learn! Collecting is really hot right now. I had this single Monkey Stamp but no real use for it, so I figured I’d pass it on to someone who appreciates it!”

“Good, good—studying is good! I don’t know much about stamps, but I’ll tell you guys about porcelain!”

Shao Bingyi took the offered segue without hesitation.

“Yes, yes, don’t leave just yet. You two youngsters, have some tea! Collecting is all about communication!”

Bai Zimo and Chen Rui exchanged a smile and sat down to learn. After all, he had a stash of rare porcelain safely stored in his system space!

“Let’s start with the number one kiln in porcelain—Ru Kiln. Ru Kiln was an imperial kiln established during the late Northern Song Dynasty under Emperor Huizong, and it only operated for about twenty years!”

“Ru porcelain is famous for its celadon glaze, using precious agate in the glaze. The most prized color is ‘sky blue,’ praised in the phrase—‘The moment after rain when the sky clears and clouds break.’”

Emperor Huizong might’ve been a terrible ruler, but he was definitely a master artist!

Just as Shao Bingyi was hitting his stride—a construction worker came striding in, carrying a cloth bag.

“Boss, do you buy antiques or not!”

“We do. Business is business—what are you selling?”

“A Ming Dynasty Xuande Incense Burner. And it’s real!”

Pfffft!

Master Zheng spit out his tea!

“A real Xuande incense burner from the Ming Dynasty? Are you joking? Teacher Shao, is that even possible?”

Shao Bingyi laughed.

“So far, no one’s discovered a genuine Xuande-period incense burner.”

“Well, mine is real! You guys can’t fool me!” the man said stubbornly.

______

“It’s said that authentic Xuande burners from that era weren’t just made with copper, but also included gold, silver, and other precious metals. They’re dark purple or black-brown in color.”

“Normal copper has to be refined four times, but Xuande burners were refined twelve times. That made them smooth like skin. Chen Rui, if you don’t understand something, just ask me!”

Chen Rui exclaimed, “Uncle Shao, you’re amazing!”

“Eh, it’s nothing. I just have some experience, that’s all!”

Bai Zimo twitched.

No wonder Xingchi’s dad always got home late.

Turns out he was out showing off like this every day!

As the collecting craze took off—Places like the Cultural Office were at the forefront.

Didn’t you notice that even the antique street was built right outside the Cultural Office?

The man looked stubborn.

“Anyway, mine is real!”

“If that’s all you’ve got to say, then just show us.”

“My wife said this incense burner is real!”

Master Zheng took a glance and shook his head.

“Look at all that verdigris! A real Xuande burner would glow with rich, changing colors after being exposed to fire.”

“If it’s authentic, you could toss it into the mud, wipe it clean, and it would still look the same. But yours—it’s absorbed the grime.”

“I’m telling you, this isn’t fake!” the worker was getting anxious.

“I’m not saying it’s fake—just that it’s a later replica! I can only trace it to the Qing Dynasty. Where’d you get this?”

“I just dug it up this morning! My wife said sell it quick—otherwise, it might get confiscated!”

Everyone: “……”

Wow.

You’re just admitting to a crime like that, huh?

Does your wife know how reckless you’re being?

You just dug up a muddy “antique,” and you’re bold enough to bring it in and sell it openly?

Would you like a visual aid or diagram to go along with this scene?