Seeing Chengtian’s ashen face and downcast head, Er Zhu paid him no further mind. He looked up as Liu Cheng ran over, panting.
“Big boss, everything that just happened was my fault. Please don’t take it to heart. I’m just prone to acting impulsively.”
Before he could even catch his breath, Liu Cheng bowed respectfully to Er Zhu, his eyes wide with panic.
“It’s nothing. Like you said, it was a public warehouse, not just mine.”
Er Zhu shook his head slightly. In truth, he didn’t blame Liu Cheng, and he wasn’t even angry. The reason he wanted to buy the warehouse was precisely because he had considered this.
“Ah? Thank you, Boss Wang, for being so magnanimous. I am Liu Cheng, the owner of Liu’s Pharmacy.”
Liu Cheng hadn’t expected Er Zhu to say that. A flicker of admiration crossed his shocked gaze. He then pointed to the pharmacy across the street and introduced himself.
No one wants to miss the opportunity to connect with a powerful figure, but Liu Cheng didn’t want to grovel shamelessly to find a backer.
Perhaps because of this, compared to Chengtian, he seemed a bit quiet, even wooden.
Seeing Liu Cheng’s head bowed in silence, Chengtian’s face broke into a smile. He glanced at Liu Cheng with disdain.
*Stupid is as stupid does. Standing there blankly without trying to climb the ladder? No wonder he can’t latch onto a big shot!*
“Boss Wang, come and take a look. I recently acquired a few antiques. They’re all from the Han Dynasty!”
Chengtian’s eyes darted around. He supported Er Zhu and led him into the antique shop. Upon entering, Er Zhu only sensed a faint spiritual energy.
Most of the items in this antique shop were fakes!
Looking at the antiques devoid of spiritual energy, a hint of disappointment flashed in Er Zhu’s eyes. Had he known they were all fakes, he wouldn’t have wasted his time.
“This is a bronze ding from the Han Dynasty. It’s said to have been cast alongside the ‘Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Bird’!”
Chengtian pointed to a large ding, over a meter high, in the corner of the shop, introducing it as if presenting a treasure.
Everyone knew the ‘Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Bird.’ Both in terms of its design and casting technique, it represented the pinnacle of Han Dynasty craftsmanship. Anything cast alongside it would naturally be of the highest quality!
Let alone now, even in the Han Dynasty, it would have been an irreplaceable treasure!
Looking at the bronze ding surrounded by spiritual energy, Er Zhu nodded slightly. This was indeed a genuine artifact, and since cauldrons could be used to refine elixirs, it would be useful to him.
“And this one. Although it’s just a blue and white porcelain bowl from the Yuan Dynasty, it comes from the imperial kilns, making it priceless.”
Seeing Er Zhu nod, Chengtian quickly seized the opportunity and presented another treasure.
Blue and white porcelain bowls are not uncommon in the antique world, but those from imperial kilns are rare. Even fewer have made their way to Liuzhen!
“Hmm, not bad. It is indeed authentic,” Er Zhu nodded, a gleam in his eyes as he spoke slowly.
Upon receiving Er Zhu’s confirmation, Chengtian’s smile widened, his eyes almost disappearing.
Then, Chengtian introduced several more antiques, all of them genuine. Hearing this, Liu Cheng broke into a cold sweat.
Each of these antiques was worth millions. If Chengtian gave them all to Boss Wang, then Chengtian would have truly secured a powerful patron!
With Boss Wang as his backer, Chengtian would be able to do whatever he pleased in this commercial district. What would happen to him then?
This fellow had long harbored the intention of swallowing up his pharmacy, but he had refused, which was why it had been put on hold. Now that Chengtian had such a formidable backer, he would have no choice but to sell, even if he didn’t want to!
Liu Cheng sighed, looking at his own pharmacy across the street, his eyes filled with helplessness.
He had worked tirelessly for over a decade, only to find himself having to sell it to someone else in the end…
“Boss Wang, I’ll give you all these antiques. I only ask for your cooperation.” While Liu Cheng was worrying, Chengtian finally revealed his intentions.
He had laid the groundwork for so long and could finally discuss the main business. He believed that given such a great favor, Boss Wang would surely agree!
“Certainly. I was also looking to cooperate with you,” Er Zhu nodded slightly, glancing at the antique shop that seemed to stretch endlessly.
He liked this kind of layout, much better than the individual shops owned by Old Tang. It not only appeared grander but also reduced some expenses.
“That’s great! Boss Wang, would you buy the pharmacy across the street, and we can split the profits 90/10?”
Seeing Er Zhu nod, Chengtian voiced the wish he had long anticipated. His heart was already blooming with joy, oblivious to the fact that Er Zhu’s idea of cooperation was not this.
“Boss Wang, please don’t cooperate with him. I’ve worked hard for over a decade to build up my business to its current scale. If you buy it, I’ll have nothing left!”
Liu Cheng could no longer wait. He pleaded with Er Zhu, his knees beginning to bend.
He would do anything to save his shop, even kneel!
Seeing Liu Cheng about to kneel, Chengtian curled his lips into a smile, his eyes full of triumph. He now felt that he and Liu Cheng were on completely different levels!
Although they were comparable in strength, he now had a backer, while Liu Cheng was left to be slaughtered!
“I know you’re still angry about what happened earlier. Boss Wang, as long as you don’t buy my pharmacy, I’ll apologize however you want.”
Seeing Er Zhu remain silent, Liu Cheng’s eyes darted, and he thought back to the recent incident.
Boss Wang had forgiven him earlier only to appease him, fearing being seen as petty by his peers. Only a fool like himself would think the matter was over!
Thinking about the past and his pharmacy, Liu Cheng regretted his actions bitterly. He wished he could slap himself twice!
Liu Changfa even had to rely on him. What a powerful figure that was, and yet he had offended him!
“Serves you right! Who told you to offend Boss Wang? This is the price for offending Boss Wang!”
Just as Er Zhu was about to speak, Chengtian, with his arms crossed, glanced at Liu Cheng. This fellow was a perfect example of kicking someone when they’re down!
“Get up. When did I ever say I was going to buy your pharmacy? The cooperation I mentioned is not that.”
Seeing Liu Cheng on the verge of kneeling, Er Zhu pulled him up. Upon hearing this, both Liu Cheng and Chengtian looked at him with confusion, especially Chengtian.
“I want to buy your shop, and then you take the money and leave.”
Just as they were confused, Er Zhu suddenly turned and glanced at Chengtian, saying this.
Boom!
Chengtian felt as if struck by lightning. He stumbled back several steps, racking his brain but never imagining that the so-called cooperation would be like this!
“Chengtian, I’m not a fool. Besides, I told you, I never took that incident to heart.”
Seeing Chengtian’s ashen face, Er Zhu spoke again. This sentence hit the nail on the head, revealing everything.
Boss Wang was not a fool, so he knew that Chengtian had pushed all the blame onto Liu Cheng, solely to latch onto him as a backer!