Although I don’t look much like a collector, your attitude is hardly brimming with business spirit, is it?
Since the other person ignored him, Lu Zheng could only clear his throat, “Boss?”
“Hm?” Only when Lu Zheng spoke up did Gu Pingzhong finally look up.
“Young man, something you need?”
He looked to be in his forties or fifties, so why did he sound like he was in his sixties or seventies?
Lu Zheng grumbled inwardly, but his face showed nothing. He glanced around, making small talk, “Boss, you sell seal stones here, right?”
Outside of tourist street stalls, shops dedicated to seal stones were rare nowadays, given their limited use.
Even in this shop, which Lu Zheng thought seemed reliable, the focus was on jade jewellery and ornaments, with only a few seal stones displayed prominently.
“What, want to carve a seal? How’d you end up here?” Gu Pingzhong put down his book, asking with interest.
Young people needing a seal usually went to stationery shops for crystal ones, machine-carved, ready in three minutes.
Coming here suggested an interest in a more traditional seal, perhaps?
Rarely meeting a young person curious about traditional seals, Gu Pingzhong didn’t mind chatting a bit.
But…
Gu Pingzhong glanced over Lu Zheng, not really expecting to do business with him.
“No, I saw you sell seal stones, so I wondered if you buy them.”
“Buy?” Gu Pingzhong blinked, shaking his head with a smile, “Thanks, but I don’t buy. The shop has its own sourcing channels.”
He mostly dealt with regular clients, sourcing items himself. Though nothing was priced, items started at a hundred thousand or more. Gu Pingzhong doubted Lu Zheng could offer anything worthwhile.
Either it was junk, or a fake.
“You don’t buy?” Lu Zheng clicked his tongue, “Well, since you sell seal stones, could you take a look at something for me?”
After a pause, he added, “I’ll pay for the appraisal. How much?”
Gu Pingzhong chuckled, “Found a nice stone somewhere? Why not take it to an auction house or appraisal agency?”
“Those are scams!” Lu Zheng shook his head firmly.
Fair enough, the trick of charging appraisal fees, failing to sell, then charging handling fees didn’t fool young people anymore.
Glancing at his watch, Gu Pingzhong saw it was early. A guest wasn’t due until the afternoon, so he waved it off, “Fine, no charge. Bring it out, let me see.”
Gu Pingzhong already assumed Lu Zheng had been duped.
“Oh, great, thanks!”
Lu Zheng stepped to the counter, slipped off his backpack, and pulled out a small sandalwood box, placing it on the surface.
Before Lu Zheng opened it, Gu Pingzhong’s sharpened his gaze. The box, though made of ordinary black sandalwood, had carvings with an antique flair and vivid charm, unlike modern techniques.
Even if modern, the craftsman must have been highly skilled, with a traditional training.
Gu Pingzhong raised an eyebrow, keeping his anticipation in check, but then a flash of bright red from the box dazzled him.
“Such pure bright red!”
Without that box, Gu Pingzhong would’ve grabbed it immediately, as such a vivid red screamed of fakes made by coating or soaking methods.
Not to mention the golden glow beneath the seal stone. Did anyone think treasures like that were just lying around?
But the sandalwood box made Gu Pingzhong cautious. He pulled out a black velvet cloth from under the counter, spread it on the table, and gestured for Lu Zheng to proceed.
Lu Zheng understood instantly, and, to Gu Pingzhong’s slightly twitching lips, took out the seal stone and placed it on the cloth.
Gu Pingzhong sighed, shook his head, then moved the desk lamp to shine brightly on the stone. He pulled a pair of white cloth gloves from a drawer.
Lu Zheng’s eyes lit up. Professional!
Gloved up, Gu Pingzhong didn’t rush to pick up the stone. He observed it under the light from different angles first, then carefully lifted it, examining it closely from all sides.
Smooth texture, no seams, not a composite or layered fake.
Translucent under light, uniform colour, not soaked or patched.
Vivid red, pure, like clouds or mist, almost flowing. Not blood chalcedony or cinnabar jade, and heavier, denser than typical bloodstone.
Hiss!
Golden base, red clouds, top-grade Changhua bloodstone?
Gu Pingzhong felt his heartbeat stutter.
“What do you think?”
Seeing Gu Pingzhong’s blank expression as he turned the stone, Lu Zheng, unsure if phoenix bloodstone held value today, asked cautiously.
This was his only quick cash option, costing him a full twenty-five guan!
Gu Pingzhong ignored him, continuing his inspection, searching for proof it wasn’t genuine.
And… found none!
Gu Pingzhong glanced at Lu Zheng, “Young man, where’d you get this?”
“Picked it up at a street stall.”
“Not a word of that’s true!” Gu Pingzhong snapped.
What era was this? Real treasures at street stalls? Even artifacts from the ground wouldn’t end up with roaming vendors.
“Family heirloom!”
“Heh!”
“Really, found it among my granddad’s things,” Lu Zheng said earnestly, “I said ‘street stall’ for the story. You asking like that means it’s worth something?”
“Worth something!” Gu Pingzhong replied, then placed the stone back on the cloth.
“How much?”
Lu Zheng reached for the seal, but Gu Pingzhong stopped him, handing over a new pair of gloves.
Lu Zheng grinned sheepishly, put on the gloves, and returned the stone to its box.
Watching Lu Zheng stow the box in his backpack, Gu Pingzhong pursed his lips, pausing before saying, “It’s a good-sized stone. If it catches the right eye, it could fetch eight figures.”
“Hiss!”
Lu Zheng gasped.
Antiques, terrifyingly valuable!
…
“So, will you buy it?” Lu Zheng’s eyes flickered, asking softly.
“Me?” Gu Pingzhong paused, a mix of temptation, doubt, caution, and hesitation flashing through his gaze.
Then he said, “If I buy, it won’t reach eight figures. An auction house would net you more.”
Lu Zheng shook his head, “Too many tricks at auction houses. I don’t like them.”
That was an excuse, of course. Auctions took too long.
Gu Pingzhong knew it was an excuse too. With this stone’s quality, it could go to a reputable auction house, with some tricks but also guarantees.
So…
“If I buy, I’d need a friend to double-check, and I’d offer up to eight million. Selling it would take promotion and inviting collectors to view it.”
Eight million hit Lu Zheng’s expectations perfectly.
“Got it!”
Lu Zheng shouldered his backpack, “If no one offers more, it’s yours.”
