Zhang Bo had grown up playing around the antique street.
His family ran a shop there, so he'd been immersed in the world of antiques from a young age.
When it came to things like ceramics, ancient coins, or bronze money, he could estimate their value with just a glance.
His nickname, "Little Listening Spring" of Panjiayuan, wasn't for nothing.
However, the Melo pearl Jiang Tao brought today was a rare treasure, found in only one out of tens of thousands of conch shells.
On top of that, Zhang Bo's family business wasn't primarily focused on jewelry.
This time, the item fell right into his knowledge blind spot.
"Bro, hold on a sec. Let me call our boss and ask."
"I'm not quite sure about this treasure of yours."
When Zhang Bo was uncertain about something, he still had to consult his old man, who spent his days fishing.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the old man rarely came to the shop anymore—any item priced above 100,000 yuan still needed his approval to be purchased.
"Hey, Dad, take a look at this. Should we buy it, and for how much?"
The video call connected, and the phone screen showed a man in a green military coat and a Lei Feng hat, fishing on an icy lake.
The man, in his sixties, was none other than Zhang Long, the boss of Boya Auction House.
"Whoa! A Flame Pearl, huh? That's a rare find! And it looks freshly harvested too."
From just one glance, Zhang Long identified the Flame Pearl and was certain it was genuine.
He even noted that it was newly harvested.
After decades in the auction business, if he didn't have this level of discernment, he'd have been in the game for nothing.
Zhang Long asked, "How much is the customer asking?"
Zhang Bo answered truthfully, "120,000."
"A bit pricey. Our profit margin would be slim. We can offer up to 100,000. Ask if he's willing to sell. If not, tell him to wait a bit."
"Got it! You keep at it, then!"
Zhang Bo emphasized the word "busy" with a heavy tone.
Clearly, he wasn't thrilled about his old man gallivanting off to fish every day while leaving him tethered to the shop.
"You little punk, how about I give you an extra 20,000 yuan for pocket money this month?"
"You said it! Alright, you take your time fishing. I'll go take care of the customer."
Hearing he could get an extra 20,000 yuan for pocket money this month, Zhang Bo instantly felt much better—thrilled, even!
After ending the call with his dad, Zhang Bo returned to Jiang Tao with the Melo pearl in hand.
"Brother, our boss says we can offer up to 100,000 for your pearl."
"If you're okay with that price, we can do cash on the spot, one hand for the money, one for the goods."
Zhang Bo's expression was sincere.
Even if this deal didn't go through, there might be opportunities to work together in the future.
In business, harmony is key, especially in the antique trade, where old customers are paramount.
It's no exaggeration to say that 70% of Zhang Bo's shop's annual profits came from repeat customers.
Building a few loyal clients meant they could eat well every year just relying on them.
"Sorry, 100,000 won't do. It's too far off."
Jiang Tao wasn't upset or bitter about the failed deal either, maintaining a warm smile.
Business is about mutual consent—there's no such thing as forcing a sale. If the deal doesn't work out, goodwill remains.
The intelligence system had valued the Melo pearl at 120,000, and Zhang Bo's offer was 20,000 short.
Jiang Tao wasn't in a rush for money, so he naturally wouldn't let it go so easily.
"Alright, brother, why don't you shop around? If you find the right buyer, you might get a better price."
"If no one offers higher than us, you're welcome to come back anytime."
As Zhang Bo spoke, he handed the Melo pearl back to Jiang Tao with a smile. "Here, I'll give you a small box. A treasure pearl deserves a treasure box—it'll look classier when you show it off."
With that, Zhang Bo turned to a wooden cabinet nearby and pulled out a palm-sized jewelry box, handing it to Jiang Tao.
These jewelry boxes were bought in bulk for just three or four yuan each.
If it could win Jiang Tao's favor and turn him into a repeat customer, it could bring thousands or tens of thousands of times the return!
The rare banknote Jiang Tao had sold here before had earned Zhang Bo's shop over 10,000 yuan.
"Thanks. How much for the box? I'll scan the payment to you."
Jiang Tao took the jewelry box and pulled out his phone to pay.
"It's just a cheap little thing. I said it's a gift—how could I take your money? Take it and use it. Consider it making a friend."
"If you've got anything else to sell in the future, come to us first. We'll definitely offer the most sincere price."
Though young, Zhang Bo was seasoned in the ways of the world, and his words quickly earned Jiang Tao's goodwill.
"Alright, thanks then."
Seeing Zhang Bo's insistence on not taking money, Jiang Tao didn't press further. He casually placed the Melo pearl in the jewelry box and turned to leave.
Zhang Bo suddenly called out, "Hey, brother, hold up… let's add each other on WeChat. It'll be easier to stay in touch if you need anything."
"Sure, I'll scan you."
More friends, more paths. Jiang Tao took out his phone, scanned Zhang Bo's QR code, and they added each other as contacts.
After adding each other, Jiang Tao left and continued wandering the antique street.
He visited four other jewelry buyers to inquire about prices.
The lowest offer was 60,000, and the highest was only 90,000.
After going around, Zhang Bo's shop's 100,000 offer was actually the highest!
Still, Jiang Tao wasn't in a hurry to go back and sell to Zhang Bo. He decided to wait a bit longer.
The pearl wasn't perishable or time-sensitive, so there was no rush.
He wandered the antique street until noon.
Finding a small diner nearby, Jiang Tao ordered a plate of stir-fried pancake with meat for a simple lunch.
After eating his fill, with nothing else to do that afternoon, he continued strolling the antique street until around 6 PM.
Today, he didn't rush to take the subway back to Xiaoshahe.
Instead, he checked into a Hanting Hotel near the antique street.
With the New Year approaching, he planned to stay around the antique street for a few days, determined to dive deep into the antique market.
He wanted to test if frequent visits might increase the chances of triggering antique-related intel.
If he could, like in some online novels, stumble upon a hidden gem worth hundreds of thousands or even millions…
Wouldn't that mean striking it rich in one go?
After checking in, Jiang Tao ordered a large plate of chicken noodle soup through a delivery app.
While waiting for the food, he took a comfortable hot shower in the bathroom.
The rental he lived in naturally didn't have a bathroom, making showering inconvenient.
In the summer, he could wash up shirtless at the public water pump, but in winter, that wasn't an option.
There was a public bathhouse in Xiaoshahe village, and it wasn't expensive—just 18 yuan, with showers and soaking pools.
But according to Liu Zhiyuan, there were a lot of "soap droppers" there, and Jiang Tao didn't dare venture into that lion's den.
It had been over ten days since his last shower, and after scrubbing down, he felt pounds lighter.
*Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong—*
While showering, Jiang Tao's phone, left on the bed, lit up with several voice messages from Zhang Bo.