Soon enough.
Under Lin Chuan's instruction, the Little Landlady arranged a meeting with the client at a tea house.
The eight or nine o'clock sun, with its round outline becoming increasingly clear against the dawn sky, cast a pale golden light on the road. The cool of the early morning intertwined with the warmth of the sunshine, as the familiar little electric scooter made its way down this street.
After a short while, both the Little Landlady and Lin Chuan arrived at their destination.
Yueming Tea House.
This tea house wasn't conspicuous, nestled at the end of a tranquil alley. The storefront was modest, but simple and elegant, with several pots of lush green potted plants placed in front, releasing a faint fragrance.
The Little Landlady parked the electric scooter outside the alley, took off her helmet, and, holding Lin Chuan's hand, stepped into the tea house.
The service at the tea house was excellent.
Upon entering, a woman in a cheongsam with a graceful figure led them inside.
The Little Landlady glanced at the cheongsam and whispered into Lin Chuan's ear, "Director, do you like cheongsams?"
Lin Chuan was taken aback, "Let's focus on the matter at hand first!"
The Little Landlady was always flirting.
"Alright."
Zhang Xinxin grinned and laughed.
Knock, knock, knock—
The waitress led Lin Chuan and Zhang to a private room and tapped lightly on the wooden door.
"Come in."
A voice called out from the room.
"President Li."
Lin Chuan and the Little Landlady pushed the door open and saw a middle-aged man sitting in front of the tea table. His thick eyebrows arched slightly, his face round and full, appearing somewhat portly.
Upon seeing the two enter, President Li immediately stood up to greet them warmly, guided them to their seats, and his smile was reassuring.
This was Lin Chuan's first encounter with President Li, so he took a moment to observe President Li's attire.
President Li was dressed casually, with a 'Landscape Jade Pendant' around his neck, a 'Small-Leaf Rosewood Bracelet' on his wrist, and a lion's head in his hand.
It was clear that he was acquainted with the antiques circle.
As for their quality, they didn't catch Lin Chuan's eye.
After all, the antiques he forged were much more valuable than what President Li was wearing.
Several paintings and calligraphy hung in the private room of the tea house; Lin Chuan also took a glance at them.
For instance, "Friend of Women"... Oops, "Feel at Home."
Having experienced life, Lin Chuan had a natural sensitivity to these things.
And President Li in front offered a smile, "What kind of tea would you two like?"
Lin Chuan chose casually, "Pu'er tea."
President Li began to brew the Pu'er tea with deliberate care, chatting with Lin Chuan and the Little Landlady about collaboration and antiques while he did so.
It wasn't until the tea was ready that President Li poured a cup for both Lin Chuan and the Little Landlady.
At that moment.
His gaze fell upon the so-called Century-Old Red Agate Bracelet on the Little Landlady's wrist, "Little Director Zhang, the more I look at this Southern Red Agate bracelet of yours, the more precious it seems to me. May I take a closer look at it?"
The Little Landlady exchanged a glance with Lin Chuan, then took off the Red Agate bracelet and handed it to President Li.
President Li immediately displayed an expression as if he had found a treasure, cradling it in his palm.
He examined each Red Agate bead with great care.
Every expression, every subtle movement of his was just right, as if he was appreciating a marvelous piece of art.
But looking at his expression, calling it art wasn't enough; it was at least a hereditary treasure.
This scene unfolded before Lin Chuan's eyes. Lin Chuan struggled to suppress the smile on his lips, maintaining a calm demeanor, yet his heart was blooming with joy.
We have undergone professional training, no matter how funny something is, we won't laugh.
Unless we can't help it!
This President Li really was a master at playing roles in the antiques circle, a veritable Oscar-winning actor.
Although this was a high-quality imitation of a Red Agate bracelet, imitated so well it could deceive most collectors, it wasn't valuable enough to be considered a treasured heirloom.
However.
In President Li's eyes, Lin Chuan and the Little Landlady were nothing but outsiders to the antiques circle.
No!
They weren't even worthy of being called outsiders!
Therefore, he wasn't worried about being exposed.
After carefully examining and admiring for a while, President Li turned to the Little Landlady with a serious look:
"Little Director Zhang, this Southern Red Agate bracelet, at least one hundred years old, the more I look at it, the more I like it. Amazing, indescribably so. I wonder if Little Director Zhang would be willing to part with it?"
The Little Landlady glanced at President Li and said hesitantly, "President Li, this was a gift from a friend of mine. Is it really as valuable as you say?"
President Li took a sip of tea, then pointing to the agate bracelet, he said, "Little Director Zhang, perhaps you're not too familiar with agate. Let me teach you how to appreciate Southern Red Agate. Look here, this color, this texture, it must have been nurtured by the ravages and baptism of a century to attain this sheen and warmth."
"President Li, how much is this bracelet worth?"
Lin Chuan, standing to the side, smiled and joined the conversation.
This time, Lin Chuan wasn't here to show off, but to act.
So, he wouldn't expose President Li's trickery but planned to go with the flow and under some pretense of reluctance, sell him the 'Century-Old Red Agate Bracelet.'
President Li glanced at Lin Chuan and after scrutinizing the bracelet again, marveled, "I won't hide it from you, Director Lin, if Little Director Zhang is willing to part with it, I'm willing to purchase it at the market price of one hundred thousand!"
The Little Landlady, demonstrating perfect acting skills, expressed mild surprise, "President Li, I can't guarantee this bracelet is the 'Century-Old Southern Red Agate Bracelet' you mentioned. Perhaps I should have it appraised first."
Upon hearing the word "appraisal," President Li waved his hands repeatedly, "Little Director Zhang, I've been in the Anling antiques circle for decades, you could say my eyes are the authority, no appraisal needed."
"This..."
The Little Landlady appeared hesitant.
If Lin Chuan hadn't pre-emptively enlightened her, with President Li's Oscar-worthy performance, she might have indeed been utterly convinced.
President Li, who was incredibly professional at acting as a 'plant,' immediately began to weave a story:
"Little Director Zhang, to tell you the truth, I intended to buy this to give to my wife. My wife and I have weathered decades together, but I've never bought her any significant gift, and in a few days, it will be her birthday..."
A touching and poignant love story emerged from President Li's mouth.
The Little Landlady took a deep breath, seemingly moved by the story.
She couldn't help but glance at Lin Chuan.
It wasn't because she associated it with herself and Lin Chuan, but because Lin Chuan had correctly predicted President Li's actions and reactions, including the tragically beautiful love story, before he arrived.
After all, these stories of high-price repurchases are few.
Such as 'I've been searching for years, my wife left me, my children scattered, and now I've finally found it...' or 'My family elder's birthday is soon, I grew up following him, he to me...'
In a word, touching!
Then, under a bit of push and pull, Lin Chuan casually joined in the bargaining, slightly raising the price, and sold the bracelet for twelve thousand to President Li.
The deal was struck!
Both parties were very satisfied!
Walking out of the Yueming Tea House, Little Landlady had a smile on her face: "Director, does dealing in antiques really make money like this?"
Lin Chuan laughed and said, "In antiques, there are plenty who lose money. Many who make big money are experts in fakery; after all, among the antiques circulating on the market, maybe one in a hundred thousand may be genuine."
"Are we committing fraud doing this?"
Little Landlady asked again.
"Not at all," Lin Chuan replied.
"But we are selling reproductions as the real thing," Little Landlady frowned slightly.
Lin Chuan laughed heartily: "Didn't we emphasize from the start that we didn't know if this bracelet was real or fake? If he wants to buy it, he has to take the risk."
Hmm, stacking up buffs right from the start with a disclaimer.
Even if the police pursued it later, they couldn't pin anything on Lin Chuan and Little Landlady; as long as they insisted they didn't know if it was real or fake, it wouldn't be considered fraud.
This is also the reason why it's hard to hold anyone accountable in the antiques circle.
Even if you buy a fake, you can only accept it.
"So what do we do next?"
Little Landlady, growing bolder, wrapped her arm around Lin Chuan's.
Lin Chuan tried to pull his arm out, but Little Landlady held on tightly, so he let her be: "Now, just wait for Liu Qing to invite you and Old Zhang to play at the Antique Market."
"You're coming with me."
Little Landlady shook Lin Chuan's arm, speaking in a coquettish tone.
A coquettish woman leads the most fortunate life!
Lin Chuan, seeing Little Landlady's coquettish behavior, felt a softness in his heart: "If I don't go, am I supposed to watch my financial director and my old landlord fall into the Antique Scam?"
"Director Lin, you're so nice!" Little Landlady chuckled.
"This is getting a bit affectionate,"
Lin Chuan cautioned, "An office romance, if the subordinates find out, could be a bit problematic."
"Isn't the office a very exciting place?" Little Landlady lifted her face and mischievously said, "The office, the director, the secretary, hehehe..."
Lin Chuan was taken aback and tapped Little Landlady's forehead with his finger: "You've been watching too many movies!"
"You've watched them, too, otherwise how would you know?" Zhang Xinxin blinked and laughed.
Lin Chuan was at a loss for words: "Next time let's watch together!"
"Sure!"
Zhang Xinxin readily agreed, "I'll find a website, hehehe."
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
In Qingxiu District, inside a Cheongsam Shop, Little Landlady was trying on a simple blue and white porcelain cheongsam. Standing in front of the mirror, she asked Lin Chuan behind her: "Director Lin, do I look good in this?"
Lin Chuan looked up.
The simple blue and white porcelain cheongsam gently draped over Little Landlady's body, outlining her perfect waistline, her graceful figure.
The only thing that seemed a bit off was the tightness above her waistline.
Clearly!
A cheongsam too small in the bust wasn't suitable for Little Landlady.
Lin Chuan glanced at the tight area, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he diplomatically replied: "You should go for a custom cheongsam."
"Then next time I'll get one made and wear it for you to see,"
Little Landlady said with a smile.
'Ring, ring, ring—'
At this moment, Little Landlady's phone rang.
The caller ID: Old Zhang.
She answered the call.
"Zhang, do you and Lin Chuan have time?" Old Zhang started speaking from the other end of the phone.
Little Landlady responded: "Old Zhang, I'm shopping with Lin Chuan now!"
"Where are you shopping?" Old Zhang asked.
"Qingxiu District, why?" Little Landlady replied.
"Come to East Street in a while, Aunt Liu wants to pick a gift for you," Old Zhang said with a laugh.
Little Landlady was surprised: "A gift?"
On the other end of the phone, Liu Qing was beside Old Zhang, smiling:
"Zhang, the century-old red agate bracelet I gave you last time seemed too casual for a first meeting gift, so I want to pick out another gift for you. A few antique dealers I know just got in some new stock, and I thought I'd take you to choose one."
Little Landlady immediately looked at Lin Chuan beside her, her eyes full of questions.
She was very close to Lin Chuan, so he heard everything clearly and nodded.
"Aunt Liu, the bracelet you gave me last time is already quite valuable; there's no need to pick out another first meeting gift," Little Landlady half-heartedly replied.
"Old Zhang has only you as a precious daughter, and Aunt Liu has taken a liking to you. I'm happy to invite you to stroll through Antique Street—you don't have to buy anything, just looking is good. Bring Lin along too, you two can take a closer look together," Liu Qing continued.
"Okay, Aunt Liu, Lin Chuan and I will be right over,"
Little Landlady squeezed out a smile and replied.
"Aunt Liu is waiting for you two," Liu Qing laughed.
Dudu dudu.
The call ended.
Little Landlady turned to Lin Chuan: "Director Lin, she's really set up a scheme."
Lin Chuan smiled, a hint of confidence on his face: "Don't worry, I've also prepared a scheme for her, so let's see who ends up being the fish on the hook."

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