Chapter 013: Go for Broke, Bicycle Becomes Motorcycle
The stall owner replied, "Handsome, if you're serious about buying, I'll give you a lucky price of sixty-eight thousand."
"Fifty-six thousand, not a cent more," Lin Lang countered.
"I'm sorry, handsome!"
"Sixty-eight thousand, not a single cent less!"
Gu Keqing said, "Madam, can you explain why you can't sell it cheaper?"
The stall owner replied with a smile, "This antique Guanyin statue has a zitan wood body, with ivory carved for the head, hands, and feet, embedded into the zitan body. Its robes are lacquered gold, the sashes flow gracefully, and the lines are smooth, making it extremely rare."
"The combination of ivory and zitan, meticulously carved by artisans, further enhances its preciousness. It is an exquisite antique Guanyin statue, possessing great collection and ornamental value."
"If you invite this Guanyin statue into your home and worship it devoutly, the Bodhisattva will surely bless your family with good fortune, peace, and protection from disaster."
After listening, Lin Lang looked at Gu Keqing and shrugged, "The owner is an expert; she's selling a genuine antique. It seems finding a bargain is impossible; we can only buy it at the normal price."
Gu Keqing asked, "Madam, can I pay by card?"
"Yes, you can."
The stall owner prepared the POS machine.
AI Generated: Gu Keqing browsing antique stalls.
Gu Keqing opened her limited edition LV handbag, took out a top-tier black credit card, and handed it to the stall owner.
After receiving the black credit card, the stall owner exclaimed, "This is my first time seeing a black credit card with no preset spending limit! It seems this beautiful lady is either rich or noble!"
Gu Keqing joked, "Madam, you're not thinking that this antique Guanyin statue was sold too cheaply after seeing my black credit card, are you?"
The stall owner replied, "No, no, no!"
"My antique stall operates on fair trade, without deception, and reputation is what matters. I'll process your payment now."
The stall owner operated the POS machine, swiping the card and entering 68,000 chinese yuan. Gu Keqing entered her black card's bank password.
"Buzz buzz buzz..."
The POS machine receipt showed a successful transaction, and Gu Keqing signed the receipt.
"Now, you two, as husband and wife, can take this exquisite antique Guanyin statue home as you wished."
As the stall owner spoke, she returned the black credit card to Gu Keqing.
Being mistaken for Lin Lang's wife made Gu Keqing feel delighted. She proactively linked her arm with Lin Lang's, sweetly smiling with gentle eyes, "Let's go, husband!"
"Kiss..."
In front of the stall owner, Lin Lang kissed Keqing on her cheek.
"You two are publicly showing so much affection, it's almost sickeningly sweet! You're so in love!" The stall owner said, handing the antique Guanyin statue along with its gift box to the strikingly handsome Lin Lang.
"Goodbye, Madam!"
Lin Lang put his arm around Gu Keqing's soft waist, and the two walked intimately, their handsome and beautiful appearance a feast for the eyes, slowly leaving the antique and miscellaneous items stall.
"Goodbye, young couple!"
The stall owner watched Gu Keqing and Lin Lang walk away, muttering enviously to herself, "They're truly a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman, so enviable!"
After leaving the antique and miscellaneous items stall, Gu Keqing, clinging to him like a small bird, sweetly smiled and said, "The stall owner just now actually mistook us for husband and wife!"
Lin Lang smiled and said, "You're so happy about being mistaken for my wife?"
Gu Keqing held Lin Lang tightly, unable to hide her joy as she replied, "Of course I'm happy to have such a handsome young husband!"
"Keqing, you're so cute," Lin Lang praised sweetly.
Gu Keqing smiled charmingly and sweetly, "A Lang, is this small-leaf zitan antique Guanyin statue really as good as the stall owner said?"
Lin Lang patiently replied, "Small-leaf zitan is the finest among zitan wood."
"It's often said that nine out of ten zitan trees are hollow, and the largest zitan wood diameter is only about twenty centimeters, so its preciousness is imaginable."
"Small-leaf zitan is rare and hard to find, with few large pieces."
"This Ming Dynasty small-leaf zitan inlaid ivory, lacquered gold Guanyin statue, is about 34 centimeters tall and 15 centimeters in diameter, using superior large pieces of small-leaf zitan."
"The head, hands, and feet are carved from ivory and inlaid into the zitan body, which can be described as a perfect combination of exquisite craftsmanship."
"The Guanyin statue is in a standing posture, with a serene color, graceful curves, and a rich texture."
"The hair of this Guanyin statue is delicate, the forehead is broad, the heavenly court is full, the eyes are slightly closed, and the gaze is lowered. She is draped in wide-sleeved heavenly robes, with a Yingluo hanging from her chest, standing barefoot on a small-leaf zitan base. She appears plump, with flowing lines, and a solemn and compassionate appearance."
"Furthermore, the drapery of this Guanyin statue is micro-carved using traditional realistic techniques, with clean and concise knife work in the folds, appearing extremely solemn and elegant."
"This Ming Dynasty small-leaf zitan inlaid ivory, lacquered gold Guanyin statue is in excellent condition and very rare. Its current market collection price is around eighty thousand chinese yuan."
Gu Keqing smiled after hearing this, "So, that means I made a profit by buying it?!"
Lin Lang replied truthfully, "Although it's not a huge bargain, the purchase price wasn't high, so it's a slight profit."
"Thank you, A Lang!"
"This exquisite antique Guanyin statue, given to my mother as a birthday gift, will surely make her very happy."
"It was just a small favor, Keqing, you don't need to be so polite with me!"
Gu Keqing praised, "A Lang, you're so young, yet you have such profound expertise in antique appraisal. You're truly amazing!"
"I thought you were just a pretty boy, but I didn't expect that beneath your handsome and perfect exterior, you also possess a heart unwilling to be mediocre. You are an extraordinary antique appraiser."
"Keqing, you're seeing me through rose-tinted glasses. It seems my charm is already unstoppable!"
Gu Keqing, the pure and seductive ceiling of a mature woman, generously admitted, "That's right! I like you, and I'm putting it out there. You figure out how to fall in love with me."
"Uh... are you always this domineering, Keqing?"
Gu Keqing kissed Lin Lang on the cheek, and with eyes full of affection, she cooed, "My little ancestor, you've already taken my life!"
Lin Lang feigned deep affection and replied, "Then from now on, let's keep each other in our thoughts and run towards each other!"
Gu Keqing smiled beautifully after hearing this, and nodded, her eyes full of tender affection.
It's rare to see an affair handled so sweetly.
Lin Lang, at such a young age, isn't learning to be good; he's learning from Cao Cao to be a warlord, specifically snatching other people's wives. There's really no one else like him.
"Screech..."
"Screech..."
A harsh noise came from a nearby stone-gambling stall; it was the sound of a cutting machine slicing jadeite.
"Keqing!"
"It looks like there's a stone-gambling stall up ahead. Let's go watch the fun and try our luck with a couple of bets."
AI Generated: Gu Keqing browsing the stone-gambling stall.
Lin Lang turned his head at the sound and saw a crowd gathered around the stone-gambling stall, chattering and watching the excitement. He was drawn in and stopped with interest in front of the stone-gambling stall.
Gu Keqing, however, rationally advised, "A Lang, nine out of ten gambling ventures are scams!"
"Stone gambling sells dreams. There's a saying, 'one cut to poverty, one cut to riches, one cut to rags.' As the saying goes, even immortals can't judge an inch of jade. You're good at appraising treasures and finding bargains, but with stone gambling, you could lose everything."
Lin Lang, however, replied confidently, "Keqing, have you forgotten? I told you that I, Lin Lang, am not particularly talented, but I know a little about everything."
Gu Keqing was startled, "A Lang, don't tell me you also have expertise in stone gambling?"