The Empress Dowager?
Isn't that Cixi?
A bracelet worn by Cixi, this could be considered a cultural relic!
Even selling it to a museum with a lower price would likely fetch a considerable sum!
Hearing the bracelet's inner voice, Qin Xuan was startled.
He had checked thoroughly yesterday. In this world, there was no prohibition on the trading of antiques.
This meant that even if the bracelet was worn by Cixi and was a cultural relic, the owner could still sell it legally.
Even if the museums established by the Dragon Country's government wanted to collect it, they would still need to pay the corresponding price for a repurchase.
"Elder, how much are you planning to sell this bracelet for?" Qin Xuan asked tentatively.
"I don't know either. This is an heirloom bracelet from my family. If it weren't for my wife's injury and lack of medical funds, I wouldn't be selling it!"
Shaking his head, the old man's expression was full of helplessness.
He and his wife had always lived independently. Although their life was a bit humble, it was still comfortable.
However, yesterday his wife suddenly lost her footing, fell to the ground, and broke her tailbone.
To raise money, he could only take out his heirloom bracelet to sell.
Looking at the kind-faced Qin Xuan, and then thinking of his wife lying on the hospital bed, the old man also spoke a price tentatively.
"How about you give me twenty thousand yuan?"
Twenty thousand?
This bracelet is a cultural relic, to say the least. Is twenty thousand a bit too cheap?
Seeing Qin Xuan stunned for a moment, the old man thought his price was too high and quickly changed his tune, "If you think it's too expensive, then fifteen thousand, or even ten thousand is fine!"
Qin Xuan was amused and exasperated. "Elder, how can you sell things like this?"
"May I ask, how much more money does your wife need for hospitalization?"
"We're still short, still short by fifty thousand Dragon coins," the old man calculated.
"How about this, I'll give you seventy thousand for this bracelet of yours. The extra twenty thousand can be used to buy some nutritional supplements for your wife."
Qin Xuan pondered for a moment and stated his price.
He didn't know how much this bracelet was worth, but it did have cultural relic value.
Without saying more, it should be worth more than seventy thousand.
"How much?"
"Seventy thousand?!"
Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
Seventy thousand Dragon coins could cover their living expenses for five to six years!
"No, no, young man, you're giving too much!"
"Elder, I can't cheat you."
The old man shook his head frantically, and Qin Xuan was deeply touched.
In this day and age, how many people would go against money?
Just for the old man's character, he couldn't let him suffer a loss.
"Elder, to be honest, this bracelet of yours is indeed an antique. Even if you sell it to a museum, it probably won't be less than seventy thousand."
"But..."
The old man was also somewhat moved by Qin Xuan's words.
"No 'buts'. Seventy thousand yuan. If you think it's fair, we'll make the deal. If you feel you're losing out, you can find someone else to sell it to."
"The decision is in your hands."
Qin Xuan's tone was firm. Seeing this, the old man no longer refused.
"Alas, alright!"
"Young man, you are a good person."
"I'll sell this bracelet to you."
"Tch!"
Just as the two were about to complete the transaction, a scoff came from the side.
The voice was disdainful, belonging to the jade vendor.
"There are indeed many scammers every year, and this year is particularly bad."
"Do you two think you can trick me into buying this bracelet at a high price by staging this scene?"
"This is a fake jade bracelet, dyed, a piece of junk!"
"And seventy thousand Dragon coins?"
"I think you two are crazy for money!"
The jade vendor's barrage of insults made Qin Xuan frown.
"You can't recognize good things with your poor eyesight, so you think everyone else is blind?"
"You're still running a stall like this?"
"Go home and rest early!"
Too lazy to bother with the jade vendor, Qin Xuan helped the old man and headed towards a nearby ATM to withdraw money.
But at that moment, a well-dressed middle-aged man blocked their way.
"Oh, young man, this bracelet of yours looks good. How about it, are you planning to sell it?"
The vendor heard this and snorted disdainfully, "Great, here comes another one."
"Still saying you're not working together to cheat people?"
The middle-aged man also frowned and ignored the smug jade vendor.
He simply stood there quietly, waiting for Qin Xuan's reply.
After a long time, Qin Xuan remained silent.
Seeing Qin Xuan's wary expression, the middle-aged man suddenly realized something.
He quickly explained, "Oh, young man, don't misunderstand me. I am the owner of Treasure Pavilion, my name is Chen Zhongping."
"Our store is about to hold an exhibition, and we happen to be short of such an antique jade piece, so I wanted to inquire about the price."
Chen Zhongping?
Treasure Pavilion?
Is that the one in the center of the antique city?
Hearing Chen Zhongping's self-introduction, Qin Xuan was taken aback.
He had indeed seen this name online.
It was said that Chen Zhongping was the most reputable collector in the antique city.
And the Treasure Pavilion he opened was also the most reputable antique trading center in Jiangcheng.
Qin Xuan had originally planned to sell everything to Treasure Pavilion after he found a good deal, but he didn't expect to meet the owner of Treasure Pavilion himself now.
"Elder, what do you think?"
Qin Xuan thought for a moment and still gave the choice to the commoner elder.
After all, the two had not yet successfully completed the transaction, and the ownership of the bracelet still belonged to the elder.
However, the commoner elder was more open-minded than him, directly stating that the item had already been sold to him, and whether it was sold or kept was no longer his concern.
"Alright, then Mr. Chen, please take a look at the item and give me a price."
Moved, Qin Xuan stepped forward and handed the bracelet directly.
Chen Zhongping saw this and smiled, shaking his head.
"Alas, look, I forgot."
Qin Xuan patted his forehead exaggeratedly, then smiled and placed the bracelet on the table, slowly stepping back.
In the antique world, especially in the jade world, hand-to-hand transfer is a major taboo.
Because everyone has different thoughts, hand-to-hand transfer can easily lead to accidents and cause the item to break.
Since the other party claimed to be the owner of Treasure Pavilion, he should not be ignorant of such a simple rule.
Therefore, Qin Xuan used this as a simple test.
After all, the identity was only what the other party said, and he did not know if it was true.
"Emerald green jade bracelet, with inclusions, dating approximately to the late Qing Dynasty."
"Well preserved, excellent condition, not bad, it is indeed a good collectible."
Carefully picking up the bracelet from the table, Chen Zhongping examined it closely.
His technique and analysis were very accurate, which gradually made Qin Xuan believe the other party's identity.
"Young man, I'll take this bracelet. The specific price needs to be carefully appraised back at Treasure Pavilion, but no matter what, my purchase price will definitely be slightly higher than the market price. What do you think?"
"Okay," Qin Xuan nodded.
Anyway, the bracelet was originally intended to be sold to Treasure Pavilion.
Now that the owner of Treasure Pavilion himself was taking it, he naturally had no objections.
Taking back the bracelet, Qin Xuan helped the old man and left with Chen Zhongping.
The jade vendor still looked on as if watching a show.
It wasn't until about ten minutes later, when he realized that the "scammers" hadn't returned, that he suddenly understood something.
Entrusting his stall to a friend, the jade vendor ran all the way to the very center of the antique city.