Li Chonglou's primary concern was to unmask the killer who had targeted him and his mother.
However, money was another pressing issue.
In the afternoon, Wu Hao called, stating that Zhang Yuan and Qi Bei had begun writing their respective codes.
The company hired an agent to handle the registration, with a capital of one million yuan. According to regulations, at least 10% needed to be deposited.
Li Chonglou hung up the phone and transferred the hundred thousand yuan he had just received, which was barely warm.
Looking at the remaining money in his account for his mother's medication, Li Chonglou couldn't help but sigh, lamenting that a rich man is a hero, but a poor man struggles.
Finding hidden treasures wasn't as simple as wishing for it; it required not only keen eyes but also luck.
Tian Lingli's relatives were too far from Qin Zhou, and it was uncertain when they would arrive.
Wu Hao's venture in establishing the company was a bottomless pit of expenses.
He couldn't just wait for Huang Yongshou to use that chicken-heart pendant to trick Tang Xiuzhu.
He had to find a way to make the capital flow as soon as possible!
At 4:30 PM, Li Chonglou left the hospital alone and headed straight for the Fenglinxue Grand Hotel.
He pushed open the door to the Shanheyin Hall.
Three people were already seated inside.
Two middle-aged men of similar age were playing Chinese chess opposite each other.
One had a square, dignified face, while the other bore some resemblance to Tang Xiuzhu.
They were Lu Weishen, the president of the Qin Zhou Antique Association, and Tang Guanghe, the second-largest shareholder of the Lü Group.
Upon his arrival, their gazes turned towards him.
"Young friend Chonglou, we've finally been waiting for you."
Lu Weishen put down his chess piece, his eyes flashing with brilliance, his expression unfathomable. "Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once. You indeed possess an extraordinary bearing."
"My disciple Lin Ao was blind yesterday. As his master, I apologize to you on his behalf. Please!"
Tang Guanghe also bowed slightly, his face a mask of hypocrisy as he scrutinized him.
"Just a junior, it's nothing," Li Chonglou said, ignoring them and walking in to sit down with composure.
His words were not arrogant at all.
Considering Li Chonglou's status and decades of experience as a distinguished antique appraiser, even Lu Weishen was merely a junior in his eyes, not worth much consideration.
However, his proud demeanor struck them as utterly arrogant.
A hint of imperceptible anger rose in Lu Weishen's eyes.
If not for his deep composure, he would have likely lost his temper on the spot.
He instructed the waiter to serve tea and prepare dishes.
Finding a topic, they began to make small talk.
While speaking, he took out a string of West Zhou agate, its color a vibrant red and its shape resembling a jujube, and played with it in his hand.
Changing the subject, he deliberately shook his head and sighed, "Tsk tsk, I almost lost out this time."
"Oh?"
Tang Guanghe showed a hint of surprise. "Is there anything in this world that can fool Brother Lu?"
"It's this West Zhou agate string. The faking techniques are too advanced now; the imitations are indistinguishable from the genuine article. They almost fooled even me."
Lu Weishen intentionally cast a glance at the silent Li Chonglou and said with a smile, "Four of the agates on this string are high imitations. I've heard about your skills, young friend. I assume you can see them clearly. Would you care to take a look?"
He then placed the agate string in his hand in front of Li Chonglou.
This was the protocol.
An item was not to be handled by more than one person.
Once placed down, it was picked up again to avoid disputes.
Li Chonglou picked it up and examined it for a few moments, a smile playing on his lips. He replied indifferently, "President Lu, since you say they are fake, I will buy the four fake ones."
This string of West Zhou agate was in perfect condition, with flat rims and lustrous holes, typical accessories of the West Zhou royal family.
To have survived over two thousand years with such condition was truly rare.
With his eyesight, he couldn't find any flaws.
They were undoubtedly genuine.
But Lu Weishen claimed four of them were high imitations. Could it be that Lu Weishen's appraisal skills were flawed?
Impossible!
He instantly understood Lu Weishen's intention.
The antique trade had always been fraught with hidden dangers; no one was truly convinced of the other's expertise, making open and covert competitions common.
Passing off fakes as genuine and fooling others was a normal practice.
There was an even more ruthless tactic.
It was called "striking the heart!"
This involved creating a fake using genuine goods, establishing a prior impression, making someone unable to discern the truth, and using it to undermine their confidence.
The厉害 ones could make someone doubt their own sanity, potentially leading to depression.
Lu Weishen's move was clearly an attempt to strike at his heart!
If he were just a young man in his early twenties, even with excellent skills, any slight instability in his mindset could lead him to fall into self-doubt on the spot.
Unfortunately, Lu Weishen had underestimated him.
Since hostilities had begun, why should he be polite?
"This..." Tang Guanghe clearly saw through it and asked, his expression slightly changing.
Lu Weishen's smile instantly froze.
His face became ashen and indecipherable.
The corners of his eyes twitched slightly before he forced a smile and said, "Young friend, you jest. If you like the entire string, take it. It's just a small trinket."
On the surface, he appeared calm, but inwardly he cursed Li Chonglou's entire ancestry.
This string of West Zhou agate was something he had painstakingly acquired, and every piece was genuine.
His original intention was to declare the genuine as fake, aiming to undermine Li Chonglou's confidence and judgment, to strike at his heart.
He never expected Li Chonglou to be so astute.
Not only did he not fall for the trap, but he turned the tables on him, leaving him unable to back down.
Trying to catch a chicken only to lose the rice and have the wife taken away too.
"I cannot refuse such a generous offer."
Li Chonglou remained unfazed, calmly putting the West Zhou agate into his pocket and saying, "Since I've accepted your gift, let's get straight to the point."
Although he hadn't dealt with Lu Weishen before, he had actually seen him a few times in his previous life. As they were both involved in antiques, they naturally recognized each other.
This man had invited him to a banquet and then resorted to such a deceitful tactic, which already displeased him greatly.
He had no mood for beating around the bush.
Lu Weishen, having seen much of the world, quickly recovered his composure after a brief moment of awkwardness and said with a false smile, "Young friend, your character is indeed genuine and forthright."
Tang Guanghe chimed in, "Indeed, being young and unrestrained in middle age can easily offend people."
His tone was condescending, like an elder commenting on a junior.
It was exactly like Tang Xiuzhu.
"Are we very familiar?" Li Chonglou asked Tang Guanghe, feigning ignorance.
He didn't believe that Tang Guanghe was unaware of Tang Xiuzhu's scheme against him.
Since they had already formed an animosity, why should he show him any courtesy?
If he wanted to treat him as a pushover, he needed to gauge his own strength.
Let alone the mere Tang Guanghe, even the provincial richest man or the national richest man, if he took a disliking to them, he would still show no deference.
"Heh heh..." Tang Guanghe's expression faltered slightly but he quickly resumed his smile. "I am Tang Guanghe. My son was indeed presumptuous at the appraisal event at Qin Yun Manor last time."
"That's why today, with President Lu's introduction, I have the opportunity to meet a talented young man like Mr. Li."
His purpose for coming today was not to make an enemy of Li Chonglou.
It was to win Li Chonglou over.
Seeing Li Chonglou's reaction, he immediately changed his approach.
"So, you are the original owner of the imperial seal box. I thank you for your generosity." Li Chonglou replied indifferently.
With that single sentence, both men's expressions turned grim.
In the antique world, everyone has moments of poor judgment; misjudging items is common.
Even Lu Weishen had come up through many struggles, let alone Tang Guanghe, who was merely dabbling out of interest.
However, genuine appraisers who had made mistakes would not easily mention them, unless it was among close friends.
Li Chonglou directly reopened Tang Guanghe's still-bleeding wound, which was tantamount to an outright declaration of hostility.
Neither of them knew.
Li Chonglou's mother had narrowly escaped death that morning.
Until this matter was investigated, this debt could only be placed upon them.
Who else could it be, given the coincidental timing of their invitation?
Anyone would have a bad attitude in such a situation.