C7 Bronze Cauldron

"What's the plan?"

"I'm looking to sell a Bronze Cauldron soon, but I'm not sure about its age or value. That's why I'd like you to take a look and give me a price estimate when the time comes."

Wu Guowen primarily believed that Lin Luo was a connoisseur with an excellent eye for antiques, which is why he enlisted his help alongside Master Jia for the appraisal.

Master Jia glanced at Lin Luo, who was dressed in a disheveled manner, and scoffed. "Boss Wu, this guy is nothing more than a scavenger in the Antique Market. Are you sure you want him appraising your item? Aren't you worried he'll get it wrong?"

Lin Luo gave Master Jia a cold look and turned to Wu Guowen. "What's the appraisal fee you're offering?"

After a moment's thought, Wu Guowen held up five fingers. "Five hundred thousand."

"Fine, when's the appraisal?"

Lin Luo accepted without hesitation.

Master Jia's eyes filled with even greater scorn upon seeing Lin Luo's eagerness. He thought to himself that a poor man will always get excited at the mention of money.

"Let's do it tomorrow," Wu Guowen said. "I've arranged meetings with a few buyers who are arriving then. I'll need you to come over to my place to take a look."

With that, Wu Guowen jotted down his address and handed it to Lin Luo.

Lin Luo took the note, bid Wu Guowen goodbye, and headed back to the hospital.

There, his wife Qingli had been up all night, her eyes still not having met sleep's embrace. She sat silently by the bed, gazing at their daughter Xiao, who lay in a coma, her eyes betraying her deep anguish.

Seeing Qingli's worn-out face, Lin Luo's heart tightened. He approached her and said, "Qingli, try to get some rest. I've found a way to cover Xiao's surgery costs."

"Is that so?"

Xiao Qingli perked up at the news. Yet, she quickly grew skeptical, knowing Lin Luo's track record of idleness and questionable acquaintances. How could he possibly have come up with such a substantial sum in such a short time?

Xiao Qingli couldn't help but think that Lin Luo was spinning tales just to deceive her.

"I must be really naive to have actually believed he could gather enough money for Xiao's surgery..."

She chuckled ruefully to herself.

"Don't worry, I'm not lying to you. I promise I'll raise the funds for Xiao's surgery!"

With that, Lin Luo pulled out the 50,000 yuan he had made from selling Ming dynasty coins and placed it in Xiao Qingli's hands.

"Where did you get all this money?"

A look of alarm crossed Xiao Qingli's face as she suddenly asked, "Lin Luo! You didn't go back to borrowing from loan sharks, did you?"

"It's not from loan sharks; I made it from selling antiques."

"Selling antiques? Lin Luo, do you really take me for a fool? You think you can fool me twice with the same story?"

Seeing Xiao Qingli's skeptical look, Lin Luo handed her Wu Guowen's business card and said,

"This is the number of the boss who bought my antiques. If you're doubtful, feel free to give him a call."

Holding the business card, Xiao Qingli dialed the number with a mix of skepticism and hope.

It wasn't until Wu Guowen himself confirmed that Lin Luo had indeed sold antiques at his shop on two occasions and that he was planning to invite Lin Luo to assist with appraisals, that Xiao Qingli began to trust Lin Luo's words.

The mention of a five hundred thousand yuan appraisal fee from Wu Guowen also gave her hope for covering her daughter's surgery costs.

She set down her phone, her gaze softening as she looked at Lin Luo, a hint of remorse in her eyes. She spoke to him with a newfound gentleness.

"Lin Luo, I..."

"You should get some rest. I'll take care of Xiao."

"Okay..."

Xiao Qingli nodded, feeling the weight of exhaustion. She laid her head down on the table and quickly fell asleep.

Lin Luo draped his jacket over his wife and sat by the hospital bed for a while before he too succumbed to sleep beside it.

When Lin Luo awoke, it was already early the next morning. He found himself covered with his own threadbare jacket and a steaming breakfast waiting for him.

He watched Xiao Qingli tenderly wiping down their daughter with a damp cloth, his heart filling with warmth. He quickly ate his breakfast and then set off for Wu Guowen's house, following the address on the note.

As Wu Guowen guided Lin Luo and Master Jia into the collection room, he spoke up, "The three buyers have already arrived. They've seen that I'm uncertain about the age of the Bronze Cauldron, and they've been throwing out random prices, each sticking to their own opinions. That's why I need you two expert appraisers to take a close look for me—I can't afford to be swindled by them."

Master Jia chuckled confidently and responded, "Boss Wu, you have nothing to worry about. Here in River City, when it comes to appraising treasures, I'm second to none. You've asked me to evaluate this Bronze Cauldron, and I assure you, you won't be taken for a ride."

Reassured by Master Jia's promise, Wu Guowen smiled appreciatively.

In the midst of their exchange, Master Jia cast a glance at Lin Luo, who remained silent and appeared to lack confidence. Master Jia scoffed to himself, having never given Lin Luo much regard. He simply saw Lin Luo as a filler, unlikely to contribute significantly to the appraisal process.

Before long, the trio made their way into the collection room. Upon entering, the three buyers Wu Guowen mentioned began to tease him.

"Boss Wu, this Bronze Cauldron is clearly from the Shang or Zhou Dynasty. You'd better turn it over to the state quickly, to avoid prison time for trading in forbidden artifacts," one buyer mocked.

"What Shang or Zhou Dynasty? This piece is clearly a modern imitation. Just look at the hodgepodge of characters on it—it's hardly worth anything. Boss Wu, if you're serious about selling, consider my offer of five thousand yuan a charitable act," another buyer chimed in.

"Five thousand? This Bronze Cauldron is riddled with scratches and defects—it's pure junk. I'd say even five hundred is too generous," the third buyer scoffed.

These buyers were intentionally downplaying the value of the Bronze Cauldron, hoping to score a bargain from Wu Guowen.

With his years of experience in appraisal, Master Jia was well aware of their intentions. He chose not to call them out immediately. Instead, he planned to let the facts speak for themselves after a thorough evaluation of the Bronze Cauldron's worth, looking forward to the moment he could prove the buyers wrong and satisfy his own pride.

Before he could even pull out his appraisal tools, Lin Luo, who was standing behind him, suddenly stepped forward and confronted the buyers.

"Do you understand bronze? Do you recognize the worth of this Bronze Cauldron?"

Lin Luo's challenge instantly solidified the smiles on the faces of the three buyers.

They were, after all, renowned figures in the River City antique scene, having encountered innumerable treasures. Their discerning eyes for antiques were reputed to surpass those of many professional appraisers.

Yet here was this disheveled individual, boldly claiming they were ignorant about bronze?

They were not pleased.

One of the trio, a buyer adorned with a jade ring, furrowed his brow and glared at Lin Luo with evident displeasure.

"Who are you? How dare you speak to us in such a manner?"