OBS Chapter 974 - 847: Bargaining 3
Chapter 974 - 847: Bargaining 3
The room suddenly fell into silence. The couple looked at each other, seemingly not expecting that what they thought were valuable treasures would be of no interest to anyone.After a moment, Zhang Guoqing stood up, ready to take his leave, when suddenly the woman asked, "Brother, what’s the highest price you can offer?"
Zhang Guoqing frowned slightly, "Sister-in-law, listen to me, if you don’t need the money, keep them. When times change, these things will be valuable again like before."
Hearing Zhang Guoqing’s words, the couple looked at each other for a long time. The woman spoke again, "Brother, name your price first. If it’s really too low, we’ll just keep them."
Zhang Guoqing listened and shook his head helplessly, "A hundred jin of national grain coupons plus a hundred yuan. I can’t offer more, this is enough to cover two trips to Jiang Province."
He then looked towards Zhou Jiao, "Third brother, let’s go."
"Brother, wait, add a bit more."
If Zhang Guoqing didn’t understand by now that they couldn’t dare keep these things, he must have water in his brain. They couldn’t possibly have no gold, maybe even more good things, but it’s likely impossible to get them out.
He sighed, "How about throwing in five paintings and I’ll add fifty yuan? To be honest, I haven’t even seen the items yet, but offering this high a price is out of respect for the honesty of you two."
"Or maybe you shouldn’t sell them at all. Once my brother and I leave tonight, we’ll forget about it for sure, and you don’t have to worry about us leaking a word. Later on, find a place to bury them, maybe leave them for the grandchildren in the future."
"Husband?"
The man steadily looked at Zhang Guoqing, hesitated, and then finally spoke, "You take a look at the paintings first, and if they’re suitable, then add a bit more."
This time it was Zhang Guoqing who hesitated. He really had no choice, the other party probably already sensed his interest in those five paintings. After a while, he smiled wryly, "I only recognize a few words."
Saying this, he looked at Zhou Jiao, "Third brother, you take a look for me. If they’re alright, take them; if not, there’s nothing we can do."
Seeing Zhou Jiao start inspecting the paintings, Zhang Guoqing sat on the edge of the kang and smiled at the couple watching Zhou Jiao intently, "My younger brother learned some paper mounting from an old master in the provincial city. He’s not very skilled, but much better than me. You might laugh, but without him, I usually don’t dare to take any antique paintings and calligraphy, without some knowledge it’s impossible."
Seeing that the couple’s attention was drawn to him, he continued, "I have a brother who spent a hundred yuan a couple of years ago on a big box of paintings and calligraphy, guess what happened after that?"
"What happened?"
"He almost drank pesticide from the loss. They were all fake! And that’s not the worst, there was another guy who got into the business a few years before me, he collected a good box of paintings, calligraphy, and books, wasn’t it a flood that year? They were all ruined."
"What a pity..."
Zhang Guoqing clapped his hands, "Exactly. In our business, dealing with wooden books isn’t an issue, but with paintings and jars, it’s a heart-stopping experience. Besides the abundance of fakes, we’re also worried about accidents..."
Meanwhile, Zhou Jiao listened to his nonsense while roughly examining the five paintings, a smile flickering in his eyes. After looking, he stepped back behind Zhang Guoqing, "They’re all works by Republican period masters."
"Oh, so the old brother didn’t lie to me, they’re really not worth much." Zhang Guoqing realized, "Alright, since you’re being sincere, we can’t act like promise-breaking villains."
"I won’t say a hundred and fifty, let’s make it a hundred and sixty plus a hundred jin of national grain coupons. How about that? Brother, this is genuinely the highest price, any more and I can only apologize."
The man looked at his wife, seeing her hesitant, turned to Zhang Guoqing, "You paid sixty for the paintings, very generous! But these jade pieces are truly good items, could you add a bit more?"
"Yeah, brother, it’s not even enough to buy a sewing machine. We’re not asking for much, two hundred plus a hundred jin of grain coupons."
Zhang Guoqing looked at Zhou Jiao behind him in difficulty and winked at him.
Seeing this, Zhou Jiao promptly turned around, gruffly mumbling loud enough for everyone to hear, "It’s almost midnight, quit dawdling. Offer a hundred eighty, or we’re out."
Zhang Guoqing smiled at them awkwardly, "My third brother is still young, please excuse him. Though he has a point, let’s settle on one hundred eighty, it’s really getting late."
With those words, the deal was settled. Zhang Guoqing paid them a hundred eighty yuan plus a hundred jin of grain coupons, wrapped the jars carefully in silk, and handed them to Zhou Jiao.
He then took out a large black bag, first inserting a shoebox-sized paper box, then a wooden box, fitting them into the briefcase, and finally placing the five scrolls upright on top.
Carrying these things, Zhang Guoqing took his leave from them.
After walking a good several dozen meters and seeing no one around, he asked Zhou Jiao to put the items away in his space. This whole back-and-forth at night took them until almost midnight to return to the hostel.
At this time, besides Zhao Chuan Guang’s room where Zhou Xiaozheng and a few men were still gathered drinking and chatting, the others had already gone to sleep.
Zhou Jiao and her husband purposely went over to show themselves to her father, to ease his mind. Bursting in, they almost laughed seeing Zhao Dashan snoring blissfully.
Tomorrow Zhao Yuanyuan is getting married, yet her father isn’t home and is drunk. No need to guess, it must have been her godfather’s idea.
"Girls shouldn’t stay up late, off to bed with you. Be early tomorrow with Xiao Wu. I’ve informed Uncle Dashan for you to represent us all tomorrow."
Zhou Jiao nodded. Her dad and uncles weren’t likely to attend the wedding.
"Tomorrow morning I’ll first accompany your five uncles to the military district for a meeting, I’ve left a car for you, don’t miss the train the night after next."
Zhou Jiao’s eyes flickered, "Alright. Mom just happens to be visiting Aunt Fang."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaozheng shot her a glance and nodded. This child... even while playing, she doesn’t forget business.
"Dad, have you told the uncles about the aluminum factory’s relocation?"
Zhao Chuan Guang chuckled, looping an arm around Zhou Xiaozheng’s neck, "Brother Zheng, see how considerate my daughter is? Girl, your dad’s already reminded us, now go rest, get back early the day after tomorrow, we’ll see you at the provincial city."
"Get lost, she’s my daughter."
Zhou Jiao smiled at his words. Her father only let down his guard in front of these old friends, it wasn’t easy, truly tiring.
Back in their room, Zhang Guoqing patted her head, "You worry about so much. Typically, these large factories allocate quotas to their areas rather than openly recruiting."
Zhou Jiao tilted her chin with pride, "I know that, but veterans get priority. Godfather and the four uncles have trusted veterans, it’s a big favor."
Zhang Guoqing amusedly tousled her hair, "Watch out for your father-in-law and mother-in-law asking for your help! Cousin Tong Suo seems to be loafing at home after graduating."
"With the current scrutiny, I’m too timid for that, no one can persuade me otherwise." Zhou Jiao laughed dismissively as she smoothed her hair, recalling the five paintings from the night, she covered her mouth to silently laugh.
"Who are the Republican masters?"
Zhou Jiao winked mischievously, whispering into his ear, "Late Qing, Republican era; one paints horses, the other shrimp, don’t tell me you don’t know."
"My wife’s luck never fails." Zhang Guoqing boasted, "With those diamonds inside, I might craft you a crown."
"..."