At that moment, both men stood up. The shop owner carefully took down the ivory Guanyin, then placed it gently on the counter.

“Take a good look, young man, but please be careful!”

The owner said this with a slight smile, and Zhang Yang simply nodded.

He felt no offense at the warning. These carved pieces were inherently fragile; handling them directly without caution could easily cause damage.

Mi Xue and Hu Xin gathered around Zhang Yang, curiously gazing at the ivory Guanyin displayed before them.

Truth be told, this Guanyin was exceptional. The carving was exquisite, so lifelike that even Mi Xue and the others, who knew nothing of the craft, could appreciate its profound beauty and nobility.

Zhang Yang scrutinized the piece, his eyes gradually brightening.

Observing it up close, he became even more certain: this ivory Guanyin was the exact one that had belonged to him in his previous life. It wasn't just the appearance; the two pieces were identical, right down to a small, unique imperfection on each statue.

“Boss, how much for this ivory carving?”

After a long look, Zhang Yang suddenly looked up and addressed the shop owner.

The owner, who had been smiling while observing them, paused slightly at the direct inquiry. He hadn't expected Zhang Yang to ask the price immediately, without any preliminary questions.

“Thirty thousand!”

After studying Zhang Yang for a moment longer, the shop owner slowly uttered the figure.

Zhang Yang gave him an unusual impression, though the owner couldn't quite articulate why. Otherwise, he might not have quoted the price so readily. For most students, this was an astronomical, unimaginable sum.

“Thirty thousand?”

Zhang Yang softly repeated the price, nodding slightly to himself.

In his previous life, this carving would have fetched at least three hundred thousand now. While this era wasn't as wildly speculative as his past one, a price in the tens of thousands was still warranted. Thirty thousand, strictly speaking, wasn't expensive. Zhang Yang could afford it.

“Yes. It won’t sell for a penny less. I see you’re young, so I gave you my firm price!”

The shop owner mistook Zhang Yang’s soft repetition for an attempt to haggle and added the explanation with a genial smile. The friend beside him nodded in agreement. Before this, someone else had inquired about the piece, starting at no less than forty thousand, which had caused his friend a moment of doubt. Hearing the owner’s explanation—that he had intentionally quoted a lower price because they appeared to be students—the friend now understood, though he still didn't truly believe these students would make the purchase.

At that moment, Zhang Yang, Mi Xue, and the others were still carrying various shopping bags. The owner had instantly recognized the merchandise from nearby stores. However, this observation drew his attention to Zhang Yang, whom he now watched more closely. Slowly, a flicker of surprise crossed the shop owner’s face.

“Thirty thousand. Done!”

Zhang Yang nodded. He wasn't dissatisfied with the price; he had simply been contemplating other matters. If the ivory Guanyin could appear, then other items he possessed in his past life likely still existed too. If nothing else, a few of his favorite possessions could be recovered. Reacquiring things he loved in his former life promised a unique pleasure in this one.

With that, Zhang Yang opened his canvas bag and pulled out the cash.

Seeing Zhang Yang extract a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills from what looked like a very ordinary bag, the shop owner and his friend widened their eyes in disbelief. That kind of plain bag had been common among students years ago, used for books and stationery. They never imagined someone would use it to carry tens of thousands in cash. While the era of instant wealth was no longer rare, pulling out a sum this large, especially for someone so young and clearly a student, was uncommon.

Zhang Yang paid no mind to their expressions. This money had been returned to him from the police station—the individuals involved in the previous fight had been processed as robbers. He counted the cash he held, then shook his head slightly. His current funds were short of the required thirty thousand. He had started with just over thirty thousand, but he had covered some of Nan Nan’s mother’s hospitalization costs, and yesterday he’d eaten a meal at the Kai Xuan Tower, which, though slightly less than usual, still cost over a thousand. He now possessed only twenty-eight thousand in cash.

“Boss, would this work? I’m short two thousand. I’ll leave my phone here as collateral, and I'll bring the rest of the money when I retrieve it!”

Zhang Yang presented the twenty-eight thousand in cash and placed his mobile phone on the counter before stating his proposal to the owner.

Mi Xue and Hu Xin exchanged glances and then simultaneously shook their heads. They had considered covering the shortfall for Zhang Yang but immediately remembered that none of them carried much cash; even pooling their money wouldn't reach two thousand.

“Phone?”

The shop owner instinctively glanced at Zhang Yang’s phone. Men in business have keen eyes; this was clearly a high-end, latest model, certainly worth more than two thousand. However, the owner now felt a pang of regret. He had assumed they were just students unable to afford such an expensive item, hence quoting a fair, immediate price. Now, he realized he had misjudged; this young man was clearly a major buyer. Businessmen always aim for maximum profit. He felt he had priced the item too low, believing he could have easily added another five thousand, or even ten thousand, to the final cost. Zhang Yang’s temporary lack of funds gave the owner a sudden impulse to renege. Changing one's mind after a deal was struck was not uncommon in the antiques trade.

“Old Wang, the young man shows real sincerity. Since he’s leaving such a fine phone as security, I think you should agree to it!”

As the owner was formulating an excuse, the friend beside him spoke up, smiling at Zhang Yang as he did so. After a moment of hesitation, the shop owner nodded and turned to Zhang Yang. “Alright then. Leave the phone to cover the two thousand. You’re very lucky, young man!”

With that, he gathered the cash from the counter and began counting it meticulously. Accepting Zhang Yang’s money meant the deal was sealed. The owner could no longer back out without completely violating established norms. This was why he remarked on Zhang Yang’s luck; had the friend not intervened, he might have immediately demanded fifty thousand for the piece.

“Thank you very much,” Zhang Yang said politely to the man who had spoken up for him, smiling. He had noticed the owner’s moment of indecision. With experience spanning two lifetimes, Zhang Yang recognized the shop owner’s calculation. He had encountered situations like this before in his previous life, and they were infuriating. But there was little he could do; the item belonged to the seller, especially in antiquities, where the quoted price was often final. You could refuse to buy, but if you wanted it, you had to accept the dictated terms. Zhang Yang had been prepared to be taken advantage of this time, and he hadn't expected someone to speak on his behalf.

The man who spoke up was named Guo Da, fifty-two years old. He was the Vice President of the Changjing Collectors' Association, quite well-known in local collecting circles. Many novice collectors sought his advice for appraisals, and several wealthy merchants trusted his judgment as well. He was friends with the shop owner and often offered guidance, which is why the owner immediately agreed once Guo Da made his suggestion. The shop owner felt obligated to grant Guo Da this favor.

“Where do you study, young man? It’s rare to see someone so young who loves antiques and is willing to spend this much money. You didn’t ask anything beforehand, yet you offered such a sum. Weren’t you afraid of making a mistake?” Guo Da asked, smiling, peppering Zhang Yang with several questions at once.

Zhang Yang smiled and replied directly, “If it’s something I love, any price is worth it. Gold cannot buy my pleasure; if I mistook its value, I’ll just accept the loss!”

“‘Gold cannot buy my pleasure’—well said. But that mindset is dangerous for collecting. Do you know the approximate age of what you are buying?” Guo Da laughed louder, yet still shook his head, pressing for an answer.

“Ivory Guanyin ornament from the mid-Qing period. The carving is excellent, and it appears to be the work of a famous artist. This should be from Wang Qinian, the renowned Qing Dynasty ivory sculptor!” Zhang Yang replied with a slight smile. This carving had been in his possession for a significant time in his past life, so he knew its provenance intimately. This man was simply testing him with these questions.

“Not bad, very good. It seems I underestimated you; you came prepared with confidence!” Guo Da nodded in satisfaction. Zhang Yang’s answer surprised him. He hadn’t expected such sharp insight from this young man. In this era, the collecting market wasn't as frenzied as in later times, and instructional books were scarce. Most enthusiasts accumulated knowledge through personal experience. Few people Zhang Yang's age could instantly identify the period, let alone the specific artist, without even touching the piece—Zhang Yang had only been observing.

“So you’re an expert too. It’s rare to see an expert this young!” the shop owner said, now done counting the money, which he held tightly in his hand. He had heard everything Zhang Yang said, realizing he was dealing not just with a wealthy buyer, but also with a connoisseur. With an expert, there was no need for further debate. He wasn't losing money at this price—he was just earning slightly less. Moreover, this transaction might secure a regular customer; if Zhang Yang needed other items later, he could return here, and the lesser profit today would be recouped tomorrow. Every businessman is shrewd; he had dismissed his previous intentions and focused instead on cultivating Zhang Yang as a client, speaking much more courteously.

“I’ll take the piece for now. I’ll bring the rest of the money as soon as I retrieve it!” Zhang Yang said with a light smile, carefully picking up the ivory Guanyin. This time, the shop owner raised no objection. The carving was now essentially Zhang Yang’s property; having received the cash and the phone, the transaction was considered complete on his end.

…………

The third update, the first bonus chapter. Friends have been extremely supportive—we’ve already hit 60 votes! There will be at least eight chapters tonight. Xiao Yu believes eight chapters won't be enough to satisfy everyone; my motivation is soaring. If we get ten more votes, that makes nine chapters. Whether we reach nine chapters depends entirely on the level of support from friends! Continuing to write; there is more below! (To be continued)