C19 The Real Deal among the Fake Goods

Cai Xiangsong was diligent in his role as a messenger, especially since Lin Luo had promised to teach him a move.

When antiques were brought up by Cai Xiangsong, Huo Qiming's expression turned peculiar, as if something had clicked in his mind.

"Please extend my thanks to Mr. Lin," he said. "Tell him we should share a meal together sometime in the future."

After faithfully relaying their messages, the earnest messenger finally ended the call.

Lin Luo, having been compelled to accompany Cai Xiangsong home, gazed upon the expansive house and suddenly felt a bit impoverished.

Seeing two opulent homes in one day, he wondered whether it was a stroke of luck or a twist of fate.

Cai Xiangsong welcomed Lin Luo to sit on the sofa, going out of his way to prepare some premium tea leaves. Unsure of Lin Luo's preferences, he knew that offering fine tea was a surefire way to treat a distinguished guest.

As Cai Xiangsong performed the elaborate tea-making ritual before Lin Luo, Lin Luo watched the rich brew take shape and fell into silence. Though he appreciated the art of tea drinking, he couldn't help feeling that the effort was somewhat in vain. It was, after all, just a cup of tea, yet the time spent seemed disproportionately long.

"I can provide you with a formula that's effective for various febrile illnesses," Lin Luo offered, picking up a pen and paper to jot down the names of medicinal herbs.

With the final stroke of the pen, the prescription found its way into Cai Xiangsong's hands. He recognized the herbs listed, yet they evoked an unfamiliar sensation within him. Despite his frequent dealings with such ingredients, they now seemed to hold a different significance.

Cai Xiangsong pondered over the prescription for a long while, unable to pinpoint what made it unique. It appeared no different from any ordinary formula, yet it carried an air of mystery.

"I've taught you all that I owe you," Lin Luo said. "I'll take my leave now. If you need anything else, just reach out to me. And remember to pay me next time."

With those parting words, Lin Luo hurried off. He wandered the streets, constantly scanning his surroundings, at a loss for what to do next. Penniless and without prospects, he was uncertain of how to proceed in search of work.

His wife was on the brink of divorcing him, and his child was still in the hospital. He had no choice but to make money.

As Lin Luo roamed the streets without purpose, a sudden realization altered his expression.

Of course! He could capitalize on his medical expertise and talent for appraising treasures to get rich. All he needed was a bit of starting capital.

With this in mind, Lin Luo resolved to first look for bargains.

He had to put some money aside, regardless, and then he could focus on building wealth.

Having previously found bargains, Lin Luo now turned his attention to Carefree Hall, notorious for its counterfeit items.

For an appraiser, Carefree Hall was a trap where every item was a guaranteed fake.

Upon entering Carefree Hall, the owner approached him eagerly, showing no signs of prejudice.

It had been ages since the Carefree Hall had seen a customer. Now that a potential mark had walked in, the owner was ready to make a killing.

Lin Luo's gaze wandered until it settled on a small, unassuming stone.

"Boss, how much for this stone? I need one for my fish tank," Lin Luo inquired, eyeing the pebble while quietly contemplating its true value.

Although it appeared mundane, the stone concealed a hidden world within.

The boss's smile vanished when he realized Lin Luo was serious about buying the stone.

He had pegged Lin Luo as an easy mark, not expecting him to be just a poor soul fixated on a mere stone.

"That stone isn't worth much. If you want it, 200 bucks and it's yours."

At the mention of the price, Lin Luo promptly paid and took the stone, ready to leave. But as he reached the door, the owner called out to him.

"Young man, if you're short on cash, you might want to avoid places like this in the future. This stone is the only one in Carefree Hall, and it's not worth much. If you get duped later on, don't say I didn't warn you."

The owner spoke with genuine concern, seemingly worried about adding a reputation for deceit to Carefree Hall.

Upon receiving his boss's gentle reminder, Lin Luo nodded in agreement. "Rest assured, that won't be an issue. Who knows, this rock might just contain some top-notch jade."

Lin Luo toyed with the stone in his palm, intent on shaping it into a fine jade chess piece. He recalled an elderly collector who had a fondness for various chess pieces, and Lin Luo happened to possess a set of jade chess pieces, albeit incomplete. He was convinced that this addition would surely catch the collector's eye.

He spent fifty yuan to hire a skilled craftsman to polish the stone. As the craftsman worked on the vibrant green jade, his movements became increasingly cautious.

"You've got some incredible luck, young man," the craftsman said, admiring the piece. "It's rare to find a genuine piece among the fakes at Carefree Hall, and you've managed to snag a real bargain."

The craftsman, while praising Lin Luo, eyed the chess piece covetously, though his finances were limited. In all his years of stone cutting, he had never encountered a piece so exquisitely crafted. It was a shame, he thought...

Had he known earlier, he too would have visited Carefree Hall, a twist of fate indeed.

"Don't worry, there are genuine items at Carefree Hall, and even the stones used as doorstops are of good quality. You might want to buy one, but unfortunately, they don't compare to this piece," Lin Luo said before departing. Upon hearing this, the craftsman wasted no time in purchasing a stone for himself.

After selling two stones, the shop owner began to question the state of the market. "Master, you're a seasoned stone cutter. Why have you started buying stones now? Could it be that the antique market is now the place to buy stones?"

After much deliberation, the boss confronted the craftsman, his voice laden with skepticism.

In response to the boss's doubts, the craftsman simply said, "I just need a stone for my home, to place in the fish tank for decoration."

The craftsman's dismissive reply was followed by his return to his stall, where he began to work on his newly acquired treasure. Initially, he feared he had been duped, but as he continued, he discovered a hidden cavity within the stone.

With meticulous care, he extracted the jade, marveling at its near-perfect spherical form. The craftsman was utterly enchanted by the piece.

Nearby, the owner of Carefree Hall was meandering about when he happened upon the scene of the stone being opened.

He eyed the smooth stone and quickly approached, attempting to grab it, but the craftsman skillfully evaded him.

"This belongs to me. Why are you trying to grab the jade?" the craftsman said sharply, eyeing the owner warily.

"This stone was used to prop open my door. Even though I sold it to you, I now want to buy it back."

Pulling out two hundred-yuan bills, he slapped them on the table and reached for the stone, only to be rebuffed.

"Carefree Hall is notorious for selling fakes, but now that you've stumbled upon something genuine, I'm obviously going to take advantage. There was a young man earlier who bought a stone from you—that stone is truly exceptional, with top-grade jade inside."