It was a hassle—buying a ladder, changing curtains.
After all the commotion, it was already noon when Jiang Tao returned downstairs to his car.
Lighting a cigarette, he took a puff.
Jiang Tao wasn't in a hurry to start the car and leave.
He reached into another pocket and pulled out a Liqun cigarette pack.
Opening the pack, inside were a few strands of hair that Zhang Chao had yanked out himself last night.
The few black hairs, about four or five centimeters long, were curled and twisted.
If Jiang Tao hadn't personally watched Zhang Chao pull them from his head, he might've thought they came from some bizarre part of the body.
Snapping the cigarette pack shut, Jiang Tao focused his mind and opened the intelligence report about Zhang Chao that had appeared earlier.
**[Past Intelligence 02]:**
You had contact with Zhang Chao yesterday and obtained related intelligence—
Zhang Chao is originally the long-lost youngest son of the owner of Beijing's Xiahua Liangzi.
Help Zhang Chao reunite with his biological father to receive a 1 million yuan cash reward from his father!
Jiang Tao focused his attention on the bolded, highlighted words "Xiahua Liangzi owner."
The next moment, another piece of information appeared on his retina.
**[Wang Minglong: Phone 188XXXX8888!]**
After obtaining Wang Minglong's phone number, Jiang Tao hesitated for a moment before dialing.
*Beep beep beep—*
The phone rang for about ten seconds before it was answered, and a deep, robust male voice came through.
"Hello, this is Wang Minglong."
"Hello, Mr. Wang. I have some information regarding the son you've been searching for. I was wondering if you'd be interested."
Jiang Tao didn't waste time with small talk and got straight to the point.
"…"
There was a long pause on the other end before the voice responded:
"Where did you get my number? The number on the reward notice isn't this one."
"That's not important, is it?"
"I have a few strands of your son's hair. I'll arrange for a courier to deliver them to you shortly, so you can have them tested for DNA."
"I'll need an address from you."
"Send it to our company. The address is in Dongcheng District…"
Wang Minglong, on the other end of the line, was cautious and gave Jiang Tao the company address instead of a personal one.
After getting the address, Jiang Tao didn't linger on pleasantries.
He promptly arranged for a courier to deliver the item.
With Zhang Chao's matter settled, Jiang Tao found a small, seemingly clean restaurant near the neighborhood.
He ordered a portion of boiled pork slices and a large serving of rice.
After a quick lunch, Jiang Tao drove straight to Panjiayuan.
First, he wanted to patrol the area again, hoping to trigger some intelligence in that regard.
Jiang Tao refused to believe he'd gone this long without ever stumbling upon a bargain.
Second, he wanted to ask Zhang Bo if he had any sales channels for luxury watches.
Ever since he scored four gold bars from Zhang Bo's WeChat Moments, Jiang Tao had made it a daily habit to browse Zhang Bo's posts, treating him like an experience-grinding NPC.
Through recent interactions, Jiang Tao had gained some understanding of Zhang Bo's family business.
Although it was called Boya Auction House, they hadn't held many auctions in recent years.
Their merchandise was quite diverse—ceramics, ancient coins, calligraphy, paintings, jewelry, luxury watches, and more, a real mixed bag.
Some items came from their own sources, while others were sold on behalf of friends for a commission.
Jiang Tao was a complete novice when it came to watches.
Having a somewhat familiar contact like Zhang Bo, he naturally thought of him first when it came to selling a watch.
From their recent interactions, Jiang Tao had a good impression of Zhang Bo. He felt this guy was reliable.
Beyond business dealings, he seemed like someone worth befriending—more friends, more opportunities.
From Longzeyuan, it took about an hour's drive before Jiang Tao's Mercedes GLS pulled into a paid open-air parking lot near the Panjiayuan Antique Market.
After parking, Jiang Tao got out, opened the trunk, and retrieved a shopping bag containing a box, heading straight toward Antique Street.
Having been here many times, Jiang Tao was quite familiar with the area.
After about a seven-minute walk, he arrived at the entrance of Boya Auction House.
As usual, the shop was quiet, not a single customer in sight.
Zhang Bo was leisurely sipping tea behind a tea table set up in the store.
To be honest, Jiang Tao sometimes envied Zhang Bo's line of work.
It seemed like easy money.
Of course, this business required vast connections and substantial capital to sustain.
The barrier to entry was high—ordinary people couldn't cut it.
"Yo! Brother Jiang! You're here! Sorry for not greeting you sooner!"
"You didn't even let me know you were coming; I would've gone out to meet you."
Zhang Bo looked up, saw Jiang Tao at the door, and hurriedly stood up with a cheerful smile to welcome him.
Especially when he noticed Jiang Tao wasn't empty-handed and was carrying a shopping bag, Zhang Bo's enthusiasm grew even more.
Brother Jiang must've gotten his hands on something good and was here to bring him some business!
Over this period, Zhang Bo had closed several deals through Jiang Tao.
From rare banknotes to Meile pearls, to Yuan Datou coins, a natural bezoar, and that blue-and-white porcelain bowl.
Zhang Bo had already made nearly 400,000 yuan in profit from the items Jiang Tao provided!
So, naturally, he treated Jiang Tao, this valued client, with utmost courtesy.
"Business seems to be doing well lately, Zhang Bo. You're practically glowing—must've made a fortune."
Jiang Tao greeted Zhang Bo with a grin, not standing on ceremony.
He plopped down across from the tea table and placed the shopping bag on it.
"Haha, just running a small business, making a little money—nothing compared to you, Brother Jiang!"
"Have some tea, Brother Jiang."
Zhang Bo sat down, first pouring Jiang Tao a cup of tea with a fresh tea set.
His eyes couldn't help but glance at the shopping bag Jiang Tao had placed on the table.
Noticing Zhang Bo's subtle glance, Jiang Tao didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point:
"Zhang Bo, a friend of mine has been having some cash flow issues recently and wants to sell this watch. See if you guys are interested in taking it."
As he spoke, Jiang Tao pulled a glossy piano-lacquered wooden box out of the shopping bag.
Seeing the prominent cross-star logo on the box, Zhang Bo knew a big deal had just walked through the door!
The cross-star logo was Patek Philippe's brand emblem.
This emblem wasn't just decorative; it carried a long history.
It also aligned perfectly with Patek Philippe's unique brand value and long-term philosophy.
"Let me take a look."
Zhang Bo said, pulling a pair of black silk gloves from his pocket and putting them on before carefully opening the box.
"Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990R!"
Seeing the gleaming gold watch inside the box, Zhang Bo's breathing quickened.
Anyone who knew watches would recognize this!
Although Zhang Bo's family wasn't exactly struggling, the business still belonged to his father.
He was just helping out at the shop, far from taking over.
The watch on his wrist was just an Omega Seamaster 330, worth a little over 50,000 yuan.
The 5990R in the box looked practically brand new.
Zhang Bo, wearing his silk gloves, gently picked up the watch and inspected it closely.
Not a single sign of wear or scratches—its condition was near mint!
A 5990R in this condition was rare!
After all, who could resist showing off such a classic watch after getting their hands on it?
"Brother Jiang, your friend wants to sell this 5990?"
After carefully examining the 5990R, Zhang Bo looked at Jiang Tao for confirmation.
Jiang Tao nodded, "Yeah, if the price is right, it's for sale. If not, no deal."
Zhang Bo followed up, "Did your friend mention a ballpark figure?"
Jiang Tao replied straightforwardly, "2.18 million."
Hearing Jiang Tao's price, Zhang Bo wasn't surprised.
The Nautilus 5990R, dubbed "peak performance from debut," had seen its price soar since its release.
The official retail price was only 920,000 yuan, but by early 2022, it had peaked at 3.3 million yuan.
In the past couple of years, the price had dropped a bit but still hovered around 2 million.
The one Jiang Tao brought today was in impeccable condition.
It was likely purchased for collection and never worn.
At 2.18 million, it was quite a reasonable price.
Zhang Bo said, "Brother Jiang, give me a moment. I need to call the boss about this. That price is above my authority."
Jiang Tao smiled and nodded, "Sure, make the call."
Zhang Bo immediately picked up his phone from the tea table and dialed his father, Zhang Long.
*Beep beep beep—*
The video call connected, and Zhang Bo didn't waste time with small talk, diving right into the presentation.
"Dad, my friend brought a Patek Philippe 5990R. He's asking 2.18 million. What do you think about taking it?"
"Whoa! That's a nice piece! The condition is fantastic!"
"Get closer, show me the dial first, then the back."
"Are all the certificates included?"
"2.18 million… Alright, take it. I'm keeping this one for myself."
"Your Uncle Liu has been looking for a collector's 5990 like this and couldn't find one. I'll wear it to mess with him!"
"…"
Zhang Bo was momentarily speechless at his father's last remark.
But he knew his father had the means to back it up.
Jiang Tao overheard the entire conversation between father and son.
Hearing that Zhang Bo's dad was so quick to agree to buy the watch, Jiang Tao felt a small thrill of excitement.
Selling a 2.18 million yuan item so easily??
As expected, Beijing was full of rich people.
If Zhang Bo's family didn't have tens of millions, his dad probably wouldn't have the confidence to make such a call!
And this was what you call "running a small business"?
After ending the call, Zhang Bo smiled at Jiang Tao:
"Brother Jiang, you heard it just now. My dad really likes this watch. Let's sign the contract."
"Sure, no problem."
Jiang Tao didn't feel like he'd underpriced it just because the other side agreed so readily.
The system had valued it at 2.18 million.
He was already satisfied with selling it at that price.
Greed leads to ruin; contentment brings lasting joy!
Afterward, Zhang Bo printed out a contract for high-value item transactions, drafted by professional lawyers.
Both parties signed and pressed their thumbprints in the designated spots, and Zhang Bo promptly transferred 2.18 million yuan to Jiang Tao via his phone.
**[Your ICBC savings account ending in XXXX has received 2,180,000 yuan. Current balance: 2,848,976.66 yuan!]**
Looking at the transaction notification and account balance on his phone, Jiang Tao felt a wave of satisfaction.
After spending 1 million to upgrade the system yesterday, his savings had dipped below the million-yuan mark.
Today, with over 2 million credited, he was back in the game!
With nearly 3 million in cash, what was there to worry about?
Even if he didn't make another deal this year, it was more than enough for his family to live comfortably!
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, what a jinx I am. It's better to get some high-value intelligence every day!"
"This level is just 'comfortably well-off' at best—still far from financial freedom."
"I'm still renting a house, after all."
Jiang Tao mused to himself, his fighting spirit reignited and his enthusiasm for making money growing stronger.
After chatting with Zhang Bo for a bit longer, Jiang Tao noticed a customer entering and tactfully said goodbye.
He wandered around Antique Street for a while.
While patrolling with high intensity, he kept mentally urging the system to pay attention and give him something good!
By around 4 p.m., he'd covered all the spots worth checking.
Just as Jiang Tao was about to "clock out," his phone rang in his pocket.
Pulling it out, he saw the caller ID: "Du Ennan."
The last time he'd contacted her was about ten days ago.
Back then, Du Ennan said she and her father were busy with a new project.
So Jiang Tao hadn't bothered her since.
The Mercedes deal was put on hold for now.
You can't rush good things.
She was busy with her own matters, and it wouldn't be considerate to pester her.
"Hey, Du Ennan, not busy?"
Jiang Tao answered the phone with a smile, greeting Du Ennan on the other end.
"Yeah, my wife and kid came to Beijing this year too."
"Haha, thanks for the compliment. If you have a daughter, I'm sure she'll be as pretty as you."
"Oh, that's too kind. Won't we be intruding?"
"Alright, cool, see you tonight then."
"Bye."
A few seconds after hanging up, Du Ennan sent Jiang Tao a location via WeChat.
Beijing Guomao Hotel!
Having drifted in Beijing for seven or eight years, Jiang Tao had naturally heard of the name.
But this was the first time he'd been invited to dine at such a high-end hotel.
After checking the location, Jiang Tao pocketed his phone and walked toward the parking lot where he'd left his car.
Around 5:30 p.m., Jiang Tao parked his Mercedes GLS in an open lot outside Xiaoshahe urban village.
After getting out, he walked into the village.
Navigating the familiar narrow alleys like a needle threading through fabric, he soon arrived in front of Lü Qian's tenement building.
"Hey! Little Jiang! You showed up just in time—I was about to call you."
"You must've smelled the food and came running back, huh?"
Lü Qian, who was plucking a chicken with a bucket of water at the entrance, saw Jiang Tao and greeted him with a laugh:
"I just got a big rooster from the market. Tonight, let's have a few drinks!"
"Uh, sorry, old Lü, I've got plans with some friends tonight."
Jiang Tao gave an awkward smile, once again letting down Old Lü's kindness.
As for the pickle jar matter, it seemed today wasn't…
Suddenly, Jiang Tao caught a glint out of the corner of his eye, as if something was glowing behind Lü Qian.
He took a step back to adjust his angle of view.
There it was—a brown ceramic jar, about 80 cm tall with a 70 cm diameter, placed next to the entrance of Lü Qian's house.
The key was!
This ceramic jar was emitting a faint golden glow in his vision!
Lü Qian didn't notice Jiang Tao's reaction and said with a smile:
"You've been so busy this year, always booked like you've got appointments every day."
"And I've noticed you barely come back to stay here anymore."
"Did you rent a place somewhere else?"
Jiang Tao tore his gaze away from the pickle jar and looked at Lü Qian, saying:
"Old Lü, let's not talk about that for now. What's in that water jar over there?"
Lü Qian followed Jiang Tao's pointing finger, saw the pickle jar, and shrugged with a smile:
"It's empty. I dragged it out of the kitchen this morning, planning to smash it up and toss it later."
"That thing's from my grandparents' time—big and clunky."
"We don't need it anymore, and it's taking up too much space in the kitchen."
Hearing Lü Qian's words, Jiang Tao cursed inwardly.
Good thing he came by today!
If he hadn't, this golden opportunity would've been ruined by Old Lü, that reckless spendthrift!
The system hadn't mentioned this pickle jar's impending doom!
That was close!
Was this another stroke of luck from the river stone?
Jiang Tao quietly rejoiced, then looked at Lü Qian and said:
"Old Lü, I think that jar's pretty nice. If you don't want it, can you give it to me? I'd buy it if needed."
"What nonsense are you spouting? If you like it, take it. Saves me the trouble of throwing it out. Don't talk about buying it."
"It's just a piece of junk—am I gonna charge you for it?"
Lü Qian laughed and cursed, as generous as ever.
Jiang Tao grinned, "Thanks, old Lü! My mom loves collecting nostalgic old stuff like this."
Lü Qian chuckled, "No need for thanks. Why so formal with me?"
"But don't change the subject. I asked if you moved somewhere else."
"What, my place not good enough for you anymore?"
"Hahaha, to be honest, my wife and kid came to Beijing this year too, so…"
Jiang Tao gave Lü Qian a knowing look.
He didn't mind where he lived, but he couldn't let his wife and kid suffer with him.
"You didn't tell me earlier! Treating your uncle Lü like an outsider, huh?"
"Your wife and kid are in Beijing, and you didn't bring them over to meet me and Xiaomei?"
"Get lost, take that pickle jar and scram."
"I don't wanna see you right now—you're pissing me off."
Lü Qian waved him off with an annoyed look, seemingly genuinely a bit upset.
"Hahaha, alright, old Lü, how about this: tomorrow, I'll treat you and Aunt Ma to dinner at our new rental. How's that?"
"My parents are there too. I'll introduce everyone."
Jiang Tao knew Lü Qian wasn't really mad and played along with a cheeky grin.
"That's more like it. You've got a lot to learn about handling things, young man!"
Lü Qian's "anger" vanished instantly at Jiang Tao's invitation, and he broke into a smile.
He was only pretending to be upset earlier.
"Alright, it's set then. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., Baigezhuang New Village, Building 28, Unit 1601."
"Actually, scratch that. I'll drive over to pick you and Aunt Ma up myself. That sincere enough for you?"
"Haha, you're catching on quick, kid. I won't be polite then—Xiaomei and I will wait for you to pick us up!"
Lü Qian didn't hold back either. Why take a cab when there's a free ride?
"Deal! I'll head upstairs to grab some stuff and then I'm off. That rooster's good for you—eat up."
Jiang Tao gave Lü Qian a knowing wink, then turned and headed upstairs with a grin.
"Brat, you think I don't know a rooster's good for me? Why else would I buy it?"
Lü Qian laughed and cursed at Jiang Tao's retreating figure, continuing to deal with his chicken.
Upstairs, Jiang Tao unlocked the door to his rented room.
He reached under the bed, pulled out a jar of Nü'erhong wine, put it in a paper shopping bag, and headed back downstairs.
"Old Lü, I'm really taking this pickle jar. No take-backs."
Jiang Tao stopped by the jar and teased Lü Qian with a smile.
"Take it and get lost already. You're annoying me."
Lü Qian laughed and cursed again.
"Thanks! I won't stand on ceremony then."
Jiang Tao thanked Lü Qian again, then bent down and lifted the pickle jar.
It looked big, but since it was hollow, it weighed maybe 50 or 60 pounds at most.
For a young, strong guy like Jiang Tao, it was nothing.
He carried the pickle jar through the narrow village alleys, drawing plenty of curious stares along the way.
Old-fashioned pickle jars like this were rare these days.
Ignoring the onlookers, Jiang Tao hauled the jar to his parked car.
Opening the trunk, he carefully placed it on some old curtains inside.
"Man, it's been a while since I did manual labor. Carrying this thing actually tired me out a bit."
Jiang Tao rubbed his shoulder, sore from carrying the jar, and the pain gradually eased.
Checking his phone, it was already 6:10 p.m.
Less than two hours until his dinner with Du Ennan.
Out in public, Jiang Tao couldn't exactly study the pickle jar.
He closed the trunk, got in the car, and drove back to Baigezhuang to pick up Xu Li and the others.
On the way, he called Xu Li to tell her about Du Ennan's dinner invitation.
When Jiang Tao got home, Xu Li was still in the bedroom agonizing over which outfit to wear.
"Daddy! You're back! Mommy said you're taking us for a big dinner tonight, right?"
Jiang Xue rushed over, grabbing his hand excitedly, looking eager.
Jiang Tao ruffled her little head and said:
"Yup, tonight's on Aunt Du—she's treating us to welcome us. Be polite when you meet her, okay?"
"I know, I know! Teacher Jiang always tells us to be civilized and polite."
"Mommy said Aunt Du is a big beauty. Is that true, Daddy?"
"She's pretty, sure, but not as pretty as your mom. Your mom's the most beautiful woman for miles around."
Jiang Xue tilted her head, puzzled, "Why does that sound familiar?"
"Oh! I remember now—it's a line from Shiji Niangniang (Lady Shiji), right?"
"Mommy, Mommy, Daddy said you're Shiji Niangniang from *Nezha*!"
Watching his little blabbermouth run off to tattle to her mom, Jiang Tao was left speechless.
This heart-stabbing little cotton jacket—can I still keep her?!