C3 A Business Deal!

"Young man, do you even know anything about antiques? Do you understand the rules? You think you can mess with my business, Zhou Ziqiang's business, without the chops?" The middle-aged man, who was in the process of pulling out his wallet, paused and spoke with a hostile tone. "Sis, don't listen to him. What could this greenhorn possibly know, right?"

"Wen, are you telling the truth? Is it really worth hundreds of thousands?" Wang Min clutched the censer close, ignoring Zhou Ziqiang, and looked at Lee Wen with a mix of hope and skepticism.

"Don't forget, archaeology is my field! Whether you believe me or not is your choice!" Lee Wen declared before turning on his heel and striding into the courtyard.

"I'm not selling! You're nothing but trouble!" Wang Min slapped her thigh in frustration and shot Zhou Ziqiang a fierce glare before also heading toward the courtyard.

"Hey, Sis, we can still talk about this! What if I add another thousand? Three thousand! Five thousand! How does five thousand sound?"

"Twenty thousand!" Zhou Ziqiang blurted out, stamping his foot in exasperation.

"Get lost! Don't hang around my doorstep babbling nonsense. I'm not selling anymore!" Wang Min, nearly duped, was ready to unleash a tirade. Zhou Ziqiang, fuming, hurled insults at Lee Wen as he stormed off.

Lee Wen, however, was unfazed by the commotion. He retreated to his room, locked the door, and, barely able to contain his excitement, began searching for something to test the strange mutation he suspected had occurred in his body.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Lee Wen's eyes landed on his cell phone. Eagerly, he picked it up, trying to recall the earlier incident, wondering what the object in his hand could reveal.

His spirits sank when, after a considerable wait, his mind remained silent.

"Is it impossible to appraise the phone?" Lee Wen fretted, his gaze shifting to a lighter. He snatched it up and attempted the appraisal again, only to be met with silence once more.

"What's going wrong?" Lee Wen lit a cigarette and slumped onto a stool, his face the picture of defeat. "Was it all just an illusion?"

"The incense burner... antiques... Of course! The jade pendant!" In a flash of insight, as he pondered his predicament and even doubted his sanity after the vase incident, Lee Wen remembered something crucial. He hurriedly pulled out a jade pendant he had purchased years ago from the drawer.

"Ding! The jade pendant of the Guan Yin Buddha, dating back six years, is a defective product. Appraisal complete." Lee Wen's intense curiosity had triggered the immediate appraisal of the jade pendant as soon as he touched it.

Remaining on his knees, Lee Wen listened to the voice in his head, which seemed like the sweetest sound in the world to him. After a while, he pinched himself hard to confirm he wasn't dreaming.

"Hahaha... I've struck it rich! I've struck it rich!" After a long silence and much daydreaming, Lee Wen suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. "Hahaha... Thump!"

His laughter was abruptly cut off. Due to overexerting his psychic force during his first use of the ability, Lee Wen had drained himself and passed out.

The landlord's roosters crowed punctually at five o'clock each morning. Awakening on the floor, Lee Wen stretched out and, remembering the events of the previous night, quickly grabbed the jade pendant. Hearing the clear appraisal voice in his mind again, he felt invigorated.

Having enjoyed a hearty noodle breakfast, Lee Wen strolled to the bus stop, his face beaming with joy as if everyone he saw was pleasing to the eye.

At 8:30 AM, he arrived at Tingyu House. Spotting appraiser Gao Zheng sitting there sipping tea, Lee Wen casually greeted him and began his cleaning duties, starting his workday.

Heeding the lessons of the past, Lee Wen carefully observed each antique before handling it. Only when something truly piqued his interest would he use his ability to appraise it, finding joy in the process.

As the afternoon arrived, a few sales had been made. Whenever Lee Wen observed from the sidelines, Gao Zheng would find a reason to send him away.

"Lee Wen, keep an eye on the shop. Don't let anyone pull a fast one while I'm gone; I need to use the restroom," Gao Zheng said, leaving for the backyard after closing another deal.

"Old fox, one day you'll end up in my hands," Lee Wen muttered to himself, choosing not to reply. He settled onto the sofa for a well-deserved break.

"Boss, we've got business!" Lee Wen had just taken a seat when a middle-aged man with a black leather bag strode in.

Lee Wen thought the man looked familiar. Despite his confusion, with the manager away, he had to step up. He rose to greet the man, "I'm not the boss, but if you've got something good, feel free to show me. The manager will be back shortly."

"Haha, you're too modest, young man!" The middle-aged man was forthright, opening his leather bag and delicately pulling out a green snuff bottle to hand over. "Take a look. How much do you think it's worth?"

"Ding!" As Lee Wen took it, he wondered about its authenticity. Suddenly, his fingers warmed, tingling with a strange sensation, and a crisp appraisal voice echoed in his mind. "High-grade imitation snuff bottle, twenty years old, appraisal complete!"

Lee Wen maintained his composure, smiling at the middle-aged man. "This gentleman..."

"Gentleman? What gentleman?" Gao Zheng had just returned from the restroom and entered the shop. Seeing Lee Wen posing as the manager and serving a customer, he was livid and scolded him without holding back. "You've barely started learning and you're already trying to make sales? Go and do your job! And... clean the bathroom while you're at it!"

"Sir, my apologies for the new apprentice's behavior," Gao Zheng said, taking a seat across from the middle-aged man and offering a friendly smile. "I'm Gao Zheng of Tingyu House. And you are?"

"I've long admired Master Gao's reputation!" The middle-aged man returned the smile. "I'm Zhou Ziqiang. I'm here today hoping to sell this snuff bottle..."

While speaking, Zhou Ziqiang passed the snuff bottle to Gao Zheng.

"Zhou Ziqiang?" Lee Wen, heading to the restroom, stopped in his tracks. Wasn't this the scoundrel who nearly swindled his landlord yesterday, the one who cursed him after being exposed?

Quick-witted, Lee Wen pretended to clean nearby. After a moment, Gao Zheng, seemingly uncertain, made a phone call. Ye Tingyu, the owner, gracefully descended from the second floor.

Ye Tingyu caught Lee Wen's gaze and nodded with a smile, then approached Zhou Ziqiang. After exchanging pleasantries, she examined the snuff bottle closely. Finally, she inquired, "Mr. Zhou, what price are you asking for this piece?"

"Three million!" Zhou Ziqiang extended three fingers, his gaze briefly sweeping across Ye Tingyu's full chest, a flicker of greed passing through his eyes.

Lee Wen, observing from a short distance, caught every detail. Unnoticed by the others, a contemptuous smirk played at the corner of his mouth.