Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 184 Modern Schemes Run Deep, I Want to Go Back to the Ming Dynasty! [Requesting Double Monthly Tickets]

"Explode! Explode! Explode!"

"Explode it for me—!"

The void rippled like water once more, and this time even more things fell out, scattering all over the bed with a splash.

There was Li Jinglong's set of dazzling glass wine vessels, which he had long coveted.

There were several heavy gold ingots bearing official seals.

There are several jade pendants that look antique and have a warm, smooth texture.

There were even several rolled-up, silky-smooth pieces of top-grade Suzhou embroidery brocade.

The small rented room was instantly illuminated by these treasures from the Ming Dynasty, making it shine brightly.

Zhang Biao stared wide-eyed at the bed full of 'spoils of war,' his breathing quickening, as if he could see countless red bills beckoning to him.

"We've struck it rich! This is a fucking windfall!"

He pounced on the bed, picked up a gold ingot and kissed it hard, then carefully stroked the glass wine set, unable to put it down.

After the initial euphoria of making a fortune subsided, Zhang Biao gradually calmed down.

He first glanced at the exquisite jade belt in his hand, then at the newly extracted item.

A real problem was presented to him.

How can I turn these things into money?

Take it directly to an antique shop to sell? They'll definitely think it's a modern craft, since this thing doesn't have the patina of time. At most, they'll offer you the price of the jade material.

Go to a reputable auction house? Not only is the process lengthy, but more importantly, the origin of this item is unclear!

How do you explain the origin of this "burial item" belonging to a death row inmate from the Ming Dynasty? Is it an heirloom?
Does this poor guy renting a room look like someone who would own such a family heirloom? He'd definitely be invited for tea any minute!
We need to find a knowledgeable channel, but not one that's too 'official'.

After much deliberation, Zhang Biao thought of someone: his college roommate, Hou Jian, nicknamed "Monkey".

Hou Jian's family runs a shop in the antique market in the south of the city, mainly selling small items such as bracelets and hand-held ornaments. They can't be considered true experts, but they have been exposed to the market for a long time and should have some discernment.

So he immediately sent Hou Jian a WeChat message, arranging to meet at the KFC in the city center, saying that he had something he wanted Hou Jian to help him take a look at.

However, he didn't dare to take out the jade belt directly. Instead, he took more than a dozen high-definition photos with his phone under different lighting conditions and stored them on an old USB drive.

We can just show it to Hou Jian on the computer; it's safe and reliable.

The next morning, the aroma of fried chicken filled KFC.

Zhang Biao, unusually generous, ordered two sets of the family bucket meal that he used to only dare to look at but not order.

Portuguese egg tarts, spicy chicken wings, and popcorn chicken—we've got them all!

I also ordered a strawberry sundae, which I used to think was ridiculously expensive!

He found a corner spot, looked at the pile of food in front of him, took a deep breath, and felt a sense of happiness.

He picked up a golden, crispy, spicy chicken burger and took a big bite!

The familiar aroma of fried food explodes in your mouth...

However, after chewing a few bites, Zhang Biao's brows furrowed slightly.

The taste... was just so-so?
It wasn't as amazing as I had imagined.

The chicken was pre-cooked, the bread was soft, and the sauce tasted like a standard assembly line product... It just felt like something was missing.

He tried the egg tart again, but it was too sweet.

The popcorn chicken had a slightly floury texture.

The fries were soggy and not crispy enough...

He put down his hamburger and scooped out a spoonful of the chilled strawberry sundae, which was sweet.
But for some reason, the scene of being at the Duke of Cao's mansion, sitting around a copper hot pot with Shen Lang and the others, eating fresh mutton that had been 'audited' from Li Jinglong's kitchen, dipping it in sesame sauce, and sweating profusely with great enjoyment...

The warm, smoky aroma, the atmosphere of the brothers laughing and joking as they fought over the meat…

"Tsk..."

Zhang Biao put down his sundae spoon, smacked his lips, and inexplicably felt a bit bland in his mouth.

"It seems... not as good as Wang Mazi's braised pig's head, or Li Jinglong's ham..."

The idea seemed a bit absurd to him.

He shook his head, trying to dispel this 'inappropriate' nostalgia, and forced himself to continue eating this 'luxurious' modern meal.

After all, this was something he had been looking forward to eating for a long time.

Time passed slowly, yet also quickly.

"Hey kid! What's that good stuff? Why are you being so mysterious!"

Hou Jian arrived in a flurry of activity, still looking as skinny as a monkey, his eyes darting around, revealing a shrewdness.

"Hey monkey, take a look at this for me."

Zhang Biao pushed the USB drive over and plugged it into his laptop: "These are old things I found at home. See if you can figure out anything about them."

Hou Jian casually took the computer, a straw still dangling from his mouth.

But when the photo was zoomed in on the screen, his nonchalant expression froze instantly.

Immediately afterwards, his eyes widened, and he couldn't help but lean closer to the screen to examine it carefully. He even subconsciously gestured with his hand on the screen to show the patterns and patina of the jade belt.

"Holy crap... Biao Zi! Where...where did you get this?"

Hou Jian's voice changed tone, filled with unbelievable excitement:
"This shape, this carving, this jade quality and patina... this is from the early Ming Dynasty!"

"And judging by its scale, it's definitely not something an ordinary wealthy family could afford!"

"Ming... early Ming Dynasty?"

Zhang Biao's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended to be stupid:

"No way? It looks pretty new to me. Could it be a high-quality fake?"

"High-quality fake my foot!"

Hou Jian slammed his hand on the table in excitement, drawing stares from those around him. He quickly lowered his voice:
"Look at this wire drawing technique, the details of the fine hair carving, and the natural soil stains and wear marks!"

"Modern machines can't replicate this flavor! This is definitely an old, well-established product! You've hit the jackpot!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao was deeply shocked.

Is it really from the Ming Dynasty?!

He clearly donated it on the spot at the execution ground; it should be brand new!

Could it be that during the time travel process, this thing was automatically 'patched up' with hundreds of years of age?!

Seriously? There are hidden perks like this when you travel between two worlds?

He was secretly overjoyed, but he maintained a composed facade.

"Oh... so it's been passed down from our ancestors. Monkey, how much is this thing... worth?"

Hou Jian's eyes darted around, his earlier excitement subsiding somewhat as he adopted a deliberately composed demeanor:
"Hmm... the item is nice, but it's a pity it's a single piece, not a set. Jade belts are all about completeness. And the way you got it... hehe, you know what I mean."

As he spoke, he smiled meaningfully again, and said in a feignedly righteous tone:

"Hey Biaozi, let's be brothers, I'll give you a fair price, fifty thousand! Cash! I can give it to you right away!"

How much? Fifty thousand?

Zhang Biao sneered inwardly.

Although he didn't understand the market, judging from Hou Jian's excited expression just now, he knew without a doubt that the bastard was trying to snag a bargain!

"Only fifty thousand..."

Zhang Biao deliberately dragged out his words, picked up a French fry and dipped it in ketchup: "I'll think about it some more, the elderly at home might not be willing to part with it."

When Hou Jian saw that Zhang Biao didn't immediately agree, he thought to himself, "Isn't this guy unemployed? He's not even tempted by 50,000?!"

So he quickly added, "No way, Biao Zi! Fifty thousand is more than enough! This stuff of yours is of dubious origin. Besides me, who would dare to buy it? It's too risky!"

"The risk is too high, yet you're still willing to invest 50,000?"

Zhang Biao looked at him with a half-smile:
“Monkey, we’re brothers, but business is business. I’ll ask around again.”

Seeing that Zhang Biao wasn't taking the bait, Hou Jian sullenly curled his lip and said a few more things like "this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," but Zhang Biao just gave vague replies.

After sending Hou Jian away, Zhang Biao became even more cautious.

If they'd try to rip off even acquaintances, they'd be even more willing to betray the monsters and scoundrels outside.

In the afternoon, he changed into some inconspicuous old clothes, put on a hat and mask, tucked his jade belt into his pocket, and strolled over to several well-known pawnshops and antique recycling shops in the city.

The result was even more outrageous.

An experienced pawnbroker examined the items for a long time, his eyes darting around, before finally speaking:
"Young man, this thing... is a pretty good replica, the craftsmanship is quite fine. I'll give you three thousand yuan to keep it as a work of art."

The owner of another shop was even more unscrupulous, stating directly, "Modern Henan craftsmanship, at most 1,500 yuan."

Zhang Biao was so angry he almost cursed on the spot.

The modern world is too complicated; it makes him want to go back to the Ming Dynasty.

However, he also understood that these places, seeing that he was a stranger and carrying heavy equipment, were clearly trying to drive down the price to the bone.

They might even take advantage of his youth and lack of expertise, and simply pass off it as a counterfeit.

With no way to get through public channels and no trust in acquaintances, Zhang Biao was at a loss for what to do.

Finally, he made up his mind and went straight to the city's largest antique market.

But instead of looking for buyers, he lingered at the various stalls like an ordinary tourist.

Their ears perked up like antennas, listening intently to the conversations between stall owners and buyers, or between stall owners themselves.

"Boss, what's the price of this small famille rose bowl from the Republic of China era?"

"Wow, you have a good eye! One price, eight thousand!"

"Too expensive, thirty!" "Deal! I'll wrap it up for you!"

"Old Li, how did it go with that batch of copper coins we collected yesterday?"

"Hey, don't even mention it. There's nothing good here. It's all just scraps that were dug up. I'm selling it as a package deal."

"Something's not right here, the markings on the bottom are too new..."

"Oh my god, this is called 'thief's shine,' it'll be gone in two days!"

He heard all sorts of slang and jargon, saw all sorts of real and fake items, and witnessed how buyers and sellers tested each other, bargained, and even set traps.

He noticed that the truly good things were often traded very discreetly.

The buyer and seller seemed to be familiar faces, and the transaction was completed with just a glance and a few coded words.

A stranger carrying good stuff is easily mistaken for a "fat sheep".

After staking out the area for most of the day, Zhang Biao gradually got a sense of what was going on.

First, you must not show any weakness or let others know that you are eager to make a move.

Something needs a plausible story, but it can't be too fake.

Secondly, you need to be bold in asking for prices, but also know how to negotiate; there's a lot of room for negotiation here.

Finally, avoid large stores, as you're likely to get ripped off.

Don't go to acquaintances who are too shrewd, or you'll easily get scammed.

You need to find buyers who are financially capable, reputable, but not overly ostentatious, or you can get them introduced through an intermediary.

In addition, he noticed that there were several shops deep inside the market with simple decorations and large storefronts, which looked more formal than the stalls outside.

Occasionally, well-dressed people would go in carrying things, and they would come out with various expressions.

Meanwhile, Zhang Biao was chatting casually with the owner of a used book stall, subtly inquiring about the situation of the larger stores.

The stall owner was a talkative old man. Seeing that Zhang Biao looked kind, he said a few words to him:
"Those shops, Boguzhai and Yajixuan are alright. The owners have a good eye, and the prices are fair, but their commission is not low."

"Treasure Pavilion... hehe, they have a deep background and are bold in buying things, but they drive down prices drastically, so it depends on your luck."

Zhang Biao silently memorized these names.

As dusk fell, the antique market began to close up shop.

Zhang Biao dragged his weary steps back.

Although he had gained nothing and was quite upset at the end of the day, he felt much more at ease.

At least, he was no longer that clueless greenhorn who knew nothing about the real world of antiques trading.

He looked at the still clearly visible "40kg" mark on his right arm, and his fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes.

"It seems I need to carefully plan how to properly monetize the remaining 'burial goods'..."

He rubbed his rumbling stomach, thought for a moment, and then turned and walked towards a fragrant barbecue stall by the roadside.

"Boss, twenty meat skewers, two kidneys, and a bottle of beer!"

I need to eat something good to make up for the frustration I felt today.

Before long, after a sizzling barbecue and an ice-cold beer, Zhang Biao felt much of the frustration he had been feeling all day dissipate.

As he ate his skewers, he stared at the information about those antique shops that appeared on his phone screen, his mind racing.

Forcing our way in is definitely not an option; those old foxes are too cunning.

I need to figure out a way to pique their interest without appearing impatient, and also to avoid being pressured to lower the price drastically.

A bold and 'outrageous' plan gradually took shape in his mind.

Back in his rented room, Zhang Biao carefully reviewed what he had seen and heard that day, but he still didn't take any immediate action.

He first extracted a few more items from the 40kg limit.

A piece of fabric from the front of a military officer's robe, tossed up by Guo Ying, was worn but exquisitely embroidered and exuded a murderous aura.

A hand-held piece, thrown up by some nobleman, with a faint stamp on it, heavy and of high quality.

There are also a few broken pieces of jade pendants, which are of good quality.

He didn't take out everything; he only selected a few representative items that were small in size but showed their 'class'.

Then, he rummaged through his drawers and found his best shirt and jeans to change into.

Looking in the mirror, he ruffled his hair slightly, trying to make himself look less like an unemployed person who had just been beaten down by society.

"The first step is information bombardment, hence the diversionary tactic!"

He took out his phone and registered a new social media account without any personal information. His ID was "Xun Gu Zhai Zhu".

Then, he went to several well-known local art forums and local trading sections and started posting.

The post title is quite catchy:

[A Ming Dynasty treasure has been discovered in the ancestral home, suspected to be related to a duke during the Hongwu reign. Request for authentication!]

[While cleaning out the warehouse, we found a few old items. Those who know about them, please come; those who don't, please don't bother. Serious inquiries only!]

[Seeking advice: What is the current market value of these Ming Dynasty military officer attire accessories and jade belts? (with attached photos)]

In his post, he included close-up photos of the tiger-head patched fabric and the gold ingot, using a mix of classical and vernacular Chinese to convey both a sense of sophistication and a feeling of 'I don't really understand it, but it seems really impressive'.

After posting, he ignored it and let the possible replies and speculations below ferment.

"The second step is to test the waters and then fish precisely!"

On the morning of the third day, he returned to the antique market.

This time, he didn't go to Boguzhai or Zhenbaoge, but instead went to Yajixuan, a restaurant where the owner was said to have a good eye and the prices were reasonable.

The shop was quiet, and a thin old man wearing reading glasses and a Chinese-style jacket was reading a book behind the counter.

Zhang Biao didn't immediately take out anything. Instead, he first walked around the shop, looking at the porcelain and jade pieces displayed in the window, before walking to the counter and casually pointing to an inconspicuous jade pendant in the corner, asking:

"Boss, what's the price?"

The old man raised his head, adjusted his glasses, glanced at Zhang Biao, and said calmly:
"That's not for sale, I keep it for myself."

Zhang Biao gave an "Oh," and didn't press the matter further, letting out a seemingly casual sigh:
"Sigh, it's so hard to find really good things these days. I used to have a few old things at home, but unfortunately..."

He only said half of what he meant, which successfully caught the old man's attention.

The old man put down his book and looked at him: "Young man, what good things do you have at home?"

Zhang Biao hesitated for a moment, then carefully took out a brocade box from the old-looking canvas bag he carried with him. Inside was the piece of fabric with the tiger head patch.

He didn't take it all out, only revealing a corner, and the ferocious tiger head and exquisite embroidery instantly caught the old man's eye.

The old man's eyes narrowed, and he immediately put on gloves and picked up a magnifying glass: "Young man, this thing... could you take a closer look at it on the counter?"

Zhang Biao looked around warily before reluctantly nodding, "Please be gentle, this is the only piece."

The old man examined it carefully for a long time, his expression growing increasingly solemn, his fingers trembling slightly.

"This...this embroidery, this material, this wear...it looks like something from the early Ming Dynasty! And it's from a military officer's robe! Where did you get this from?"

"It was passed down from my ancestors."

Zhang Biao said without changing his expression, "I heard from the elders that our ancestors seemed to have some connection with a general surnamed Guo during the Hongwu reign, but I don't know the specifics."

He deliberately obscured the information, but then threw out the hook of 'General Guo'.

The most famous general with the surname Guo during the Hongwu reign was Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding.

Those in the know will naturally recognize the situation.

The old man gasped, and his gaze towards Zhang Biao immediately changed.

He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked:
"Young man, this thing... you want to sell it?"

Zhang Biao immediately shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum:

"No, no! I just brought it here for you to examine and confirm its age. It's a keepsake from my ancestors, how could I sell it!"

After saying that, he quickly put the fabric back into the box and stuffed it into his bag, the movements were swift and smooth, showing how much he cherished it.

A hint of disappointment flashed in the old man's eyes, but his attitude became noticeably warmer.
"Young man, can I have your contact information? If you ever change your mind or want anything else appraised, feel free to contact me anytime."

Zhang Biao hesitated for a moment before reluctantly exchanging the secondary card number with the old man.

As Zhang Biao walked out of the Elegant Gathering Pavilion, he chuckled to himself.

[Successfully created an atmosphere of mystery and scarcity.]

Next, he did the same thing again and went to Boguzhai.

This time he tried a different approach, taking out the hand-held piece with the stamp. He only showed it a little bit, telling the story that "his ancestors followed the army, and it was probably a reward." This made the owner of Boguzhai's eyes light up, and he kept asking questions.

As for the Treasure Pavilion, he never went inside; he just wandered around the entrance, noting its location and general layout.

After doing all this, he disappeared again, returned to his rented room, and began to lie low.

Over the next two days, his alternate account, "Xun Gu Zhai Zhu," indeed received some private messages on the forum.

Some inquired out of curiosity, some offered prices directly, and others, like the owners of Yajixuan and Boguzhai, tried to get closer to them to find out more information.

Zhang Biao either didn't reply at all, or his replies were ambiguous, leaving everyone in suspense.

Meanwhile, he focused on gathering information about the Treasure Pavilion through forums and private inquiries.

This store has a complicated reputation. Some say they have shady dealings and dare to buy counterfeit goods, while others say they are a big store that bullies its customers and has powerful backers.

But what Zhang Biao wanted was a downstream supplier with such a complex background.

If you can't even handle the slightest thing, the transaction will definitely run into problems.

Therefore, he released the information mainly to 'test the waters'.

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(End of this chapter)