Wang Zhuo followed his usual routine: three laps around the park, push-ups, leg stretches. Working up a good sweat, he grabbed a quick breakfast from a street vendor, then headed home for a cold shower.
Dressed and ready, he heard a car horn blare from downstairs. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was exactly eight o’clock.
“Wang Zhuo, get down here!” Lu Weimin was calling up from below.
Wang Zhuo called back an acknowledgement, locked his door, and headed down.
Lu Weimin and Wang Zhuo were of similar height, both just shy of six feet. Wang Zhuo possessed a lean, solid build that made clothes easy to match; Lu Weimin, however, was broad and barrel-chested, with arms as thick as legs. Consequently, he owned only two custom-made suits and usually stuck to sportswear.
Today, Lu Weimin was sporting a head-to-toe Nike ensemble—from cap to socks—likely costing well over two thousand yuan. Wang Zhuo, meanwhile, was dressed in Li-Ning gear bought during a seasonal clearance, the total cost under six hundred.
Lu Weimin had driven his Audi A8 today, a car that made quite a splash, unlike his usual more understated A6. It was Wang Zhuo’s first time riding in this vehicle, but he wasn't particularly interested in cars; such luxuries felt worlds away from his own life.
Once inside, Wang Zhuo texted Gan Lin: Ask for leave for me. Say I’m sick in bed and can’t come in today.
Gan Lin replied quickly: Seriously sick or making an excuse?
Wang Zhuo grinned before replying: Making an excuse, of course. Don’t worry, I’m full of beans. I’m running an errand for my cousin today.
It took a long while before he received a two-character reply: Got it.
Wang Zhuo smiled and put his phone away. He knew Gan Lin’s delayed response was a subtle way of showing displeasure.
Along the way, Lu Weimin briefed Wang Zhuo on the day’s necessary details, carefully omitting any mention of recommending Wang Zhuo for his boss’s company. It seemed Lu Weimin wanted Wang Zhuo to first make a good impression before discussing work after graduation.
The car pulled up outside a teahouse, where they parked and waited. Soon enough, two men and one woman emerged from the building.
Leading the group was Lu Weimin’s boss, Guan Shichen. At forty-five, he was in the golden age of a successful man, exuding a powerful aura with every gesture.
Guan Shichen was slightly taller than both Wang Zhuo and Lu Weimin, but years of indulgence had softened his figure, giving him a slight double chin and a noticeable paunch.
To Guan Shichen’s left walked the second most important person of the day: Guan Shichen’s daughter, Guan Yingying. She was a tall, beautiful woman who had studied foreign languages in Shanghai for two years and now worked alongside her father.
On Guan Shichen’s right was a stout man around forty—the "helper" Qiu Nanyang, whom Lu Weimin had mentioned on the drive over. Wang Zhuo was surprised to see that this helper lacked the usual opportunistic air; instead, he carried a scholarly refinement, like a well-read intellectual.
A "helper" in this context referred to someone hired specifically to accompany aristocrats, officials, or the wealthy for leisure. Of course, this wasn't just anyone; one needed a certain mastery of pleasure. Like the historical Gao Qiu, who gained Emperor Huizong’s favor through his football skills, Qiu Nanyang was deeply knowledgeable in antique appraisal, which is why Guan Shichen had enlisted him today to "vet" potential purchases.
Seeing Wang Zhuo, Guan Shichen smiled and nodded. “You must be Wang Zhuo? Young man, very good.”
Wang Zhuo returned the smile, offering a polite, measured bow. “Mr. Guan, a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”
Guan Shichen nodded again, apparently satisfied with Wang Zhuo’s demeanor, and waved a hand. “Let’s get in the car and go.”
Wang Zhuo took the passenger seat, while Guan Shichen and the helper sat in the back. Guan Yingying drove her own yellow Beetle, following behind.
The two cars headed straight for the city’s most famous antique street. Guan Shichen needed to purchase an artifact as a 70th birthday gift for a close friend’s father, which was due in a few days.
As they arrived at the antique street, the misty drizzle finally stopped. The air felt fresh, and Guan Shichen declared the weather a favorable omen.
Parking in a dedicated lot outside the street, the group of five entered the antique thoroughfare on foot.
Qiu Nanyang led the way, listing every shop and its specialties with encyclopedic familiarity. They moved slowly, pausing here and there, stepping into shops to view a few items, sip some tea, and listen to a historical anecdote.
Lu Weimin strictly maintained his role, always positioning himself where he could keep a wide view, his attention highly diffused so he could react instantly to any disturbance.
After observing for a while, Wang Zhuo shook his head inwardly, certain this job wasn't for him. While he respected all forms of work, he had no desire to be a servant to the wealthy.
The morning passed quickly. Guan Shichen wasn't completely satisfied, but they had shortlisted a few items: a snuff bottle, a fan, and a ruyi scepter.
The snuff bottle was about the size of a bottle of medicated oil and quite exquisite. Supposedly, it was the work of some master from the Republican era—Wang Zhuo forgot the name, but he remembered the price: 160,000.
The fan was even pricier at 250,000, non-negotiable. Neither Guan Yingying nor Wang Zhuo were keen on it, as it showed signs of falling apart. Guan Yingying voiced her reservation, but Wang Zhuo remained silent.
As for the jade ruyi, Guan Yingying favored it strongly, urging her father to choose that piece. Guan Shichen seemed hesitant.
By contrast, Wang Zhuo felt the jade ruyi was the best option. After all, jade was something passed down through generations, and the ruyi symbolized good fortune. He felt this piece was a true treasure, far more reliable than the snuff bottle or the fan.
Unfortunately, this jade ruyi was only valuable due to its age, not its maker. The seller offered it honestly for 100,000 yuan. The Guans and Qiu Nanyang all agreed it was far too cheap!
No sooner had they finished discussing it than it was noon. Qiu Nanyang had already booked a restaurant. The group ascended to the second floor, where a waiter led them to a table by the window.
The restaurant was decorated in an antique style, even the chairs made of red huanghuali wood. From this vantage point, they could overlook the entire antique street. Dedicated servers attended their table with meticulous care, and Wang Zhuo couldn't help but marvel again at the sheer enjoyment that came with wealth.
The food was exquisite and delicious. Wang Zhuo made no pretense of delicacy, finishing three large bowls of rice. Guan Shichen repeatedly sighed, marveling at the energy of youth.
Guan Shichen suffered from high blood sugar and blood pressure, requiring strict dietary control, so he stopped after just a few bites of vegetarian dishes.
Guan Yingying, however, seemed inspired by Wang Zhuo’s appetite. After finishing one bowl of rice, she asked for a second half-bowl, smiling that eating with Wang Zhuo stimulated her appetite.
Just as they left the restaurant after eating, a short, middle-aged man approached, calling out from a distance to Qiu Nanyang, “Old Qiu, where are you headed?”
Qiu Nanyang smiled and nodded. “Mr. Li, just strolling around with a friend. He’s looking for a birthday gift for an elder.”
“Oh?” Mr. Li sized up Guan Shichen with a professional smile. “Is this your friend? Looking for a gift for someone? Why not stop by my place for a look?”
Qiu Nanyang smoothly introduced Guan Shichen to Mr. Li, explaining that this Mr. Li’s shop was called Shangdong Tower, one of the larger establishments on the street, specializing mainly in porcelain and jade.
Accepting the invitation, the five proceeded to Shangdong Tower. Li Shangdong ushered them into a spacious, antique-filled tearoom, featuring a large bronze censer billowing fragrant mist in the center and several calligraphy and painting pieces adorning the walls. Guan Shichen paused to examine a few, but Li Shangdong cheerfully admitted they were all forgeries.
Having spent the morning immersed in the environment, Wang Zhuo had absorbed some knowledge. He now knew yanpin meant fake, and that in the antique world, "high-quality replicas" were even more prevalent than cell phones—as Qiu Nanyang had mentioned, almost nothing on display was truly old; most were modern craftsmanship.
After being seated, Qiu Nanyang got straight to the point. “Mr. Li, show us what you have that’s truly good. Let us expand our horizons.”
“Haha, certainly. Please wait a moment.”
Li Shangdong signaled a clerk to pour tea while he disappeared behind a screen to retrieve items.
Qiu Nanyang explained with a smile, “Old Li had a custom safe installed. His treasures are locked inside. It can withstand eight hundred degrees Celsius for two hours in case of fire.”
The tea was fragrant and refreshing, and Wang Zhuo enjoyed it immensely, though his cup was small. Fortunately, the Shangdong Tower staff were attentive, constantly refilling it.
Guan Yingying drank her tea much more gracefully. She occasionally glanced at Wang Zhuo with a smile, finding his relaxed and genuine nature quite appealing.
After a short wait, Li Shangdong emerged from behind the screen, carrying four wooden boxes.
Upon opening the first box, Qiu Nanyang immediately shook his head. “Mr. Li, the item Mr. Guan is looking for isn't for just any casual acquaintance. This piece isn’t quite up to standard.”
Li Shangdong looked enlightened, nodding repeatedly. “Understood, understood. Then there’s no need to look at these other two.” He slid the first box shut and pushed the first three boxes aside, placing the last box squarely in the center of the table.
Everyone stood up in curiosity to see what it was, including Wang Zhuo, though he remained in his spot without crowding closer.
The box was slowly opened. Qiu Nanyang took a sharp, quiet breath. “Blue and white porcelain?”
Li Shangdong beamed with pride. “Chenghua reign, kiln-fired production. This is a rare find.”
Wang Zhuo stared blankly, for what Li Shangdong was carefully lifting from the wooden box was a wine cup.
Guan Shichen asked in a deep voice, “Mr. Li, how much for this treasure?”
He skipped any questions about condition or authenticity, going straight for the price for a reason. With blue and white porcelain, if the words "Chenghua" were attached, the price would certainly be steep. Even though it was just a wine cup, it might be worth more than the fan, ruyi, and snuff bottle combined! Even for a man of Guan Shichen’s wealth, he needed to consider the budget.
Li Shangdong smiled faintly and slowly held up one hand: “This much.”
Qiu Nanyang ventured tentatively, “Fifty?”
Li Shangdong slowly nodded once. Wang Zhuo stared intently at the slightly oversized wine cup, a wave of incomprehension washing over him. For such a small object, it was priced at half a million? He doubted even a cup molded from pure gold would cost that much!