Chapter 99
The next day was already the weekend. 1
Jacob dragged Charlie out of the house and they drove to Antique Street early in the morning. 2
The old man looked very refreshed and energetic, and upon stepping out of the car, Jacob waved his hand at Charlie as he said, "Come! Let me show you how you can pick up a good product!" 1 After that, both of them started walking down Antique Street. 1
Charlie had to walk quickly to keep up with Jacob. Regardless, he continued to look around him as he walked along the street. 3
Since it was the weekend, there were a lot more people on Antique Street as compared to usual.
Antique Street was very dense on both sides of the street as there were many vendors who came out to set up their stalls during the weekend, and so, the whole street was very packed. 2 Many vendors simply placed a plastic sheet on the ground as they welcomed guests and customers to check out all the various kinds of antiques and jades placed on the ground. 1
Charlie looked around casually and realized that there were barely any genuine products in the entire
market. In fact, most of the vendors here set up their stalls to trick laymen, tourists, and foreigners. 1
Most of the tourists who bought the antiques did not know the value of the item, and they would often be grinning as they held the imitation product in their hand, thinking they had gotten a good bargain for themselves. 2
"Over here!" 1
Jacob stopped in front of a simple stall, his face filled with excitement and expectations.
A few tourists were standing around the stall at this time, looking through the variety of antiques. Jacob quickly joined the crowd because he was afraid that he might lose out on a good deal. 2
Charlie took a good look around the stall. The stall was nothing more than a piece of oiled paper that had been spread over the ground with several dozen mud-stained antiques placed on it. There were blue and white horses, some copper coins, copper wine cups, jade bracelets, and yellowed calligraphy paintings. 1
Even though there was a dazzling array of items, Charlie could tell that it was all fake just by glancing at the items. 1
The owner of the stall was a skinny and dark-skinned man who was dressed in a simple and casual dark blue t-shirt. His hair was very greasy and disheveled, and yet, he had a straightforward and honest appearance. 4
"Look at this!" Jacob said to Charlie excitedly as he pointed at a colorful bottle that had a big mouth. He then spoke in a low voice, "This is the wine bottle that will complete my celadon cups! If I buy this wine bottle today, I can make my celadon cups a set so that the price can be doubled!" 3
Charlie glanced at the wine bottle before picking it up and turning around to face the owner of the stall.
"How much is this?"
The owner of the stall stared at the wine bottle before replying, "Well, my father said that I could only sell that for at least twenty thousand dollars and not a cent less!"
Jacob almost laughed out loud when he heard the price of the wine bottle. Subsequently, he quickly said to Charlie, "The owner of the stall does not even know the value of the antiques that he is selling! Let's hurry up and buy it before anyone else does." 5
After he was done speaking, Jacob hurriedly took some money out from his pocket.
At this time, Charlie quickly stopped Jacob before he smiled and said, "Dad, this thing is definitely not
worth twenty thousand dollars. We are not buying it." 1
"What?" Jacob was taken aback. "Then... how much do you think it is worth?"
Charlie stretched out his hand before shaking his hand in front of the owner. "This number."
"Five thousand dollars?" The boss asked as he stared at Charlie. 1
Charlie shook his head. "No. Fifty dollars at most." 1
The owner of the stall stared at Charlie as though he was looking at an alien before he suddenly shouted, "Do you even know the value of antiques? This is an antique that was left behind by my grandfather! I is a rare piece of treasure that you cannot find anywhere else today. Are you trying to bully me just because you are from the city?!" 2
Jacob became anxious and tried to stop Charlie from challenging the owner of the stall. "Charlie, don't talk nonsense. You are interfering with his business." 1
Charlie smiled before raising the wine bottle and turning it around. After that, he wiped the yellow mud stain from the bottom of the wine bottle with his hand and pointed to the wordings at the base of the wine bottle. "Dad, take a look at this."
The wordings were very small, and an ordinary person would not have noticed it if Charlie had not pointed it out. There were a few words written in English at the bottom of the wine bottle.
"Made in China." 2
Jacob was so stunned that he froze in place for a brief moment, at a loss for words.
After a short while, he regained his composure and his face flushed red as he yelled and pointed his
finger at the owner of the stall. 3 "You... you cheater!"
Charlie took the wine bottle and waved it in front of the owner of the stall before saying, "The manufacturer will not blatantly allow the sale of fake antiques, and that is the reason why they printed this in the fine print. You are quite clever to cover everything with mud. Will you sell this for thirty dollars now?" 4
"This..."
The owner of the stall was stunned for a moment before the smile on his face disappeared completely.