The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

After receiving his salary, Yang Ping headed towards the parking lot.

Gao Yue was already waiting there, and had already received her salary.

Upon seeing him, she raised her hand in greeting:

"Yang Ping!"

"They're here."

He quickened his pace in response.

"I've made plans with Xiaobai to go shopping tomorrow."

Gao Yue said.

It seems she has already discussed it with Zhou Xiaobai.

"Xiaobai is on vacation too?"

Yang Ping couldn't help but ask.

Zhou Xiaobai is, after all, a police officer, and his vacation arrangements cannot be the same as those of ordinary workers.

"Tomorrow is her day off; she gets a total of three days off for the Lunar New Year."

Gao Yue replied.

Where are you planning to go?

"Just taking a stroll, I'd like to go to Wangfujing."

"Okay."

Yang Ping nodded.

It doesn't really matter where you go.

Now, Chen Xueru is his only concern, and even if he happens to meet her, he has no need to worry—she has always been understanding.

After dropping Gao Yue off at her residence, Yang Ping rode his bicycle back to the compound alone.

The courtyard was bustling with activity. People who had just received their wages had plenty of money, and the atmosphere was filled with the joy of the New Year.

As Yang Ping pushed her cart into the courtyard, she heard Yan Fugui's enthusiastic voice: "Yang Ping, you're back!"

"Yes, Third Uncle."

Yang Ping smiled and replied.

"If you have nowhere to go tonight, come to my house for New Year's Eve dinner."

Yan Fugui extended the invitation.

"Thank you, but I already have plans with a friend."

Yang Ping waved his hand.

Black Rat had sent him a message earlier from Dongdan, telling him to come to his place for the New Year if he hadn't made any arrangements.

Yang Ping already had a plan in mind.

"That would be great!"

Yan Fugui nodded happily.

Yang Ping didn't linger and went straight to the backyard.

As soon as they entered the backyard, Ma Xiaoling greeted them: "Yang Ping, come to my house for New Year's Eve dinner this year. I'll have Xu Damao prepare a few more dishes."

"Sister Xiaoling, I really have plans with a friend, so please don't make any more arrangements."

Yang Ping politely declined.

"That's fine."

But you should also consider settling down and starting a family. It's not good to be all alone now, especially during the New Year without anyone to keep you company.

Ma Xiaoling's tone was filled with concern.

"Sister, I know what I'm doing."

Yang Ping replied.

Actually, he prefers to be alone.

Having a family makes many things more difficult.

Otherwise, he might have already gotten married to Gao Yue or Chen Xueru, instead of delaying until now.

As for Zhou Xiaobai—that's another troublesome matter that requires careful consideration.

As dawn broke, the people inside woke up, tidied themselves up in an orderly fashion, and pushed open the door to step into the cool air.

He hadn't had breakfast yet, thinking he would eat with the two people he had arranged to meet.

When I arrived at the destination on my bicycle, they were already waiting there.

Zhou Xiaobai, holding onto the car, wore a black floral print knee-length skirt with an indigo denim jacket over it. Standing in the morning breeze, her appearance and demeanor were no less impressive than those of someone who had stepped off the screen.

Gao Yue, standing next to her, was also dressed meticulously, wearing a white shirt and gray trousers, looking neat and capable, as if she could walk into the office at any time.

"You've finally arrived!"

Zhou Xiaobai, with her sharp eyes, spotted him and smiled, giving him a quick glance up and down before saying crisply, "You look really energetic!"

Yang Ping merely smiled slightly.

The Zhongshan suit he was wearing was specially tailored by Chen Xueru. The well-fitting cut accentuated his tall and straight figure, adding a touch of heroic spirit to his already outstanding appearance. He would probably attract the attention of many girls on the street.

He nodded to Gao Yue, then said to Zhou Xiaobai, "You know the way, so I'll leave it to you to decide where we go today."

"OK!"

Zhou Xiaobai readily agreed, turned the car around, and led the way.

The three of them, two in front and one behind, walked through the streets and alleys towards Wangfujing.

With the year-end approaching, factories have all closed for the holidays, and Wangfujing Street is bustling with people out for a stroll and to relax.

Everyone was dressed neatly, with relaxed smiles on their faces.

Even in such a crowd, the three of them still stood out—Yang Ping, needless to say, and the two girls beside him, who had very different yet equally outstanding temperaments, attracted frequent glances from passersby. Even girls passing by couldn't help but take a second look and whisper a few words of praise.

After wandering around for a while, my stomach started to feel empty, so I found a breakfast stall and sat down.

As the steaming hot food was served, Zhou Xiaobai took a sip of soy milk and said with sparkling eyes, "Let's go to the antique street later. There are lots of interesting things and stories there."

Zhou Xiaobai sipped her soy milk, tapping the table lightly with her fingertip. "Try this."

Yang Ping responded and took a bite of the fried dough stick.

In front of him was soy milk—the fermented, sour taste of soy juice was something he had never been able to get used to in either of his lives.

The two girls opposite them seemed to be drinking quite comfortably. Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai had been used to drinking this since they were young, and their brows and eyes relaxed when their porcelain bowls were emptied.

Breakfast was eaten very quickly.

Zhou Xiaobai got up and led the way, passing through two streets and alleys, and stopped at the corner of the antique street.

She pointed to a yellowed cardboard sign on the stall and laughed, "This is it! Last time I spent a dollar and actually found an old thing, so I traded it for five dollars."

The words "Two Mao Seeking Truth" were crookedly rolled on the playing card.

Four words.

Yang Ping glanced at it and knew perfectly well that it was just a trick by the stall owners, betting on the passersby's wishful thinking.

Whether it's genuine or fake depends entirely on the stall owner's word; what passerby knows anything about glaze or patina? Zhou Xiaobai's so-called "bargain hunt"...

It's probably a setup by the stall owner, using this straightforward girl as a living advertisement, adding a few shouts to attract more onlookers.

"Yang Ping, want to try it together? It's on me."

Zhou Xiaobai took out a few silver coins from his purse.

"You guys play, I'll just watch from the sidelines."

Yang Ping's gaze had already shifted to the neighboring stall.

There sat a middle-aged man, his face ashen, his sleeves worn white, yet his posture was as stiff as a piece of wood—the kind of stiffness only found on a death squad member.

He wanted to go over and say something.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Zhou Xiaobai's eyes, but she still turned and took Gao Yue's arm. "Then let's choose!"

Two girls squatted in front of the stall, their fingertips rummaging through a pile of bottles, jars, and coins. "This one has an ugly pattern; it's definitely fake."

"Oh, this looks nice, but maybe it really is old..."

Yang Ping shook his head as he listened to the whispers behind him.

Antiques cannot be judged by their appearance.

He ignored the two enthusiastic girls and let them rummage through the stall.

Turning and strolling to the neighboring stall, he casually asked, "How's business lately?"

"It'll do, comrade, just enough to get by."

The stall owner's answer was honest.

After glancing around, the stall owner lowered his voice and said, "Let me give you a piece of advice: don't believe the old stuff at the stall next door that claims to have bargains for two cents."

It's all an act; the truth or falsehood depends entirely on his words.

It's a case of one party willing to give and the other willing to receive; those of us standing around can't really say anything.

"It's alright."

Yang Ping just smiled.

Just as he expected.

But it's just a small spectacle that costs a few dollars, so let them have their fun. It's good for them to have some fun.

Seeing that he didn't care, the stall owner stopped talking.

"Are you quite knowledgeable about antiques?"

Yang Ping changed the subject.

He thought to himself that if they shared some common sense or insight, they might as well take a stroll down this street.

"I don't know anything about this, I'm just setting up a stall to make a living."

If you really want to broaden your horizons, you have to go to Wanfenglou—they have many experts there with real skills.

The stall owner was straightforward and pointed out the way in one sentence.

"Okay, thanks."

Yang Ping nodded, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the magnificent pavilion at the east end.

He had naturally heard of Wanfenglou's reputation; it was the best antique shop in the capital, with all sorts of trinkets, and many prominent figures loved to frequent it.

In such a place, it's inevitable that hidden talents and powerful figures will emerge.

He secretly sensed something—there were about a dozen people inside who were "his people."

The subtle atmosphere.

It would be good to go and take a look.

On the other end, Zhou Xiaobai had already stood up out of boredom, patting the corner of his clothes: "This is boring, I'm having bad luck today."

Let's go check out Wanfenglou; they have a lot more stuff there.

Gao Yue's gaze swept over the dusty old items on the stall, and she softly suggested, "Xiao Bai, shall we take these little trinkets with us?"

You can take away anything you choose for two cents, and if you're really lucky and find a treasure, you can exchange it for five dollars.

"No need,"

Zhou Xiaobai shook his head, his tone indifferent, "Fake things are just a burden to carry around."

Gao Yue turned to look at Yang Ping, her eyes questioning.

"Let's pick a few that look good."

Yang Ping said.

"OK!"

Gao Yue laughed and squatted down to examine it closely.

Zhou Xiaobai didn't say anything more, but just watched Gao Yue's head down as she made her selections. He paused slightly, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to go over.

"Xiaobai, you pick two items too."

Yang Ping saw through her thoughts and said, "We've already paid, don't waste it."

"OK!"

Zhou Xiaobai immediately walked up the steps and squatted down in front of the stall.

Gao Yue didn't say anything, she just moved to the side—she was never one to fuss over such things.

The stall owner stood by, happily watching.

These items only cost a few cents to produce, and he sold them for two cents each, making a considerable profit.

"Let's go."

A moment later, Zhou Xiaobai stood up with a few small items in his hand.

Gao Yue had also made her choice, her eyes crinkling with delight, clearly very pleased with what she had picked.

Yang Ping noticed that Gao Yue was picking out jewelry items, and he made a plan in his mind: he should take her to a proper shop to pick out a few decent pieces.

Looking at Zhou Xiaobai again, the things she was carrying were quite varied, as if she was just picking them out to play with, which showed that she didn't lack anything on a daily basis.

However, since we're buying jewelry, we can't just buy one piece.

Yang Ping weighed the pros and cons in his mind, lest he be accused of favoritism.

The three of them walked towards Wanfeng Restaurant.

Zhou Xiaobai walked briskly, heading straight for the area where genuine items were being authenticated.

Yang Ping and Gao Yue followed behind at a leisurely pace.

The Wanfenglou area is much more spacious, and the items are clearly categorized by price, ranging from one yuan to two hundred yuan, each displayed on a different table.

Zhou Xiaobai linked arms with Gao Yue, her bright eyes scanning the bustling crowd inside Wanfeng Restaurant.

This top-notch antique shop in Beijing truly lives up to its reputation; just look at this area dedicated to "finding genuine items."

The area attracted a number of eager customers.

The rules are simple and straightforward: once you pay, you can choose any item sealed in a brocade pouch from the designated shelf; whether it's real or fake, and its value, depends entirely on luck.

This method is probably much more effective at making money than those small street stalls that simply copy others.

In comparison, Wanfenglou still maintained some semblance of decorum, displaying many genuine antiques with clearly marked prices. Occasionally, one could hear low exclamations coming from somewhere, probably because someone had struck it lucky and acquired a nice old item for a small amount of money.

It's just that it's "not bad"

Often, it's all calculated by the shopkeeper—you pay 100 coins, but the item you get might only be worth 50 coins. That quietly earned price difference is the key to making a profit in this business.

"Let's go, Gao Yue."

Zhou Xiaobai, full of enthusiasm, pointed to a slightly more elaborately decorated area not far away, "This time, let's try the ten-yuan stall!"

She comes from a wealthy family, has a respectable job, and recently received a reward for helping to crack a spy case. She is financially well-off and speaks with great confidence.

Gao Yue, standing to the side, turned slightly pale.

She worked hard all month, but her salary was only thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, which wasn't even enough to cover four losses in that ten-dollar area.

She quickly tugged at Zhou Xiaobai's sleeve and whispered, "Xiaobai, let's forget it... Let's just look around in this one-yuan spot, it's quite interesting."

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Zhou Xiaobai didn't seem to care and laughed, "The prize money last time was a hundred yuan, enough for me to play ten times!"

This girl is truly... unaware of the cost of firewood and rice.

Gao Yue was anxious but couldn't persuade him, so she turned to Yang Ping, who was standing a few steps away watching quietly, for help.