The Art of Teasing - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Antiques aren't like buying cabbages off the shelf—you can't just pick one up on a whim. Wen Zhengyu first went to complete the assignment her maternal grandmother had given her. It wasn't until the afternoon, at a collector's appreciation gathering, that after inspecting the items and during casual conversation, she finally inquired whether anyone had antiques they were looking to sell.

One person asked, "Is CEO Ye looking to acquire more pieces?"

Wen Zhengyu replied, "No, it's for someone on my maternal grandmother's side—a sister from a family with longstanding ties who wants to buy."

A collector surnamed Wang asked, "May I ask who?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "Her surname is Qi. Her family is in Beijing, but her ancestral home is here, and she comes back every year." She thought for a moment. "Oh, right—she has an uncle who works in the municipal party committee."

Mr. Wang's face lit up with sudden understanding. He said to his companion, "Qi Nine-Tails."

Wen Zhengyu: "Qi Nine-Tails?"

Mr. Wang laughed. "A thousand-year fox spirit only grows nine tails. I've dealt with her many times, and she really is exactly like a fox—pitfalls everywhere, yet she traps you so artfully you can't even complain. Every time, she leaves you grinding your teeth in frustration while still having to say thank you."

Wen Zhengyu: "..."

Mr. Wang added, "But she's forthright and decisive." He then asked Wen Zhengyu what kind of antiques Qi Wei was looking to buy.

Wen Zhengyu said, "As long as the quality is good. She specifically mentioned wanting two rare pieces."

They chatted a while longer before the conversation drifted back to the latest innovations in antique forgery techniques.

As dinner time approached, everyone gradually dispersed.

Not long after Wen Zhengyu got into her car, the collector surnamed Wang who had mentioned knowing Qi Wei called her. He said he had pieces he wanted to sell. If Qi Wei was interested, Wen Zhengyu could bring her to take a look. Wen Zhengyu asked, "Trade-insider price?"

Mr. Wang asked her, "Why must it always be insider price with you?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "If our families weren't on close terms, I wouldn't dare bring her around. But precisely because the relationship is close, if she ends up overpaying, not to mention how I could face people afterward—if my maternal grandmother found out, I'd have no way to account for myself. I'm sure you've heard about the old lady's temper."

Mr. Wang said, "True enough. There was that time she beat her grandson so badly he couldn't get out of bed for a month."

Wen Zhengyu's curiosity was piqued. "That happened?"

Mr. Wang asked in surprise, "You didn't know?"

So Wen Zhengyu indulged in a bit of gossip.

Mr. Wang said, "It was several years ago, just when Lian Xi from your family had started his job. Someone led him into gambling. I heard it went on for a few days. One time, just as he sat down at the gambling table, a few people arrived, said 'Young Master Xi, the old madam requests your presence,' and took him away. Everyone in the gambling den got rounded up by the anti-gambling squad and spent the night at the local police station. The gambling den owner was charged with running a large-scale gambling operation and served two years. The next day, after leaving the police station, word spread that the old madam had invoked family law and beaten Lian Xi's backside to a pulp."

Wen Zhengyu deduced that this gentleman had also spent that night at the police station. She guessed he had been right beside Lian Xi at the time; otherwise, he wouldn't have known exactly what the people sent to retrieve Lian Xi had said. Still, the fact that he could tell her this story suggested that, aside from that one night in lockup, there had been no other consequences for him.

After hanging up with Mr. Wang, Wen Zhengyu noticed she had missed calls, so she returned them and contacted several other collectors who were interested in selling pieces.

In the antiques trade, there has always been the saying: "Three years without a sale, but one sale feeds you for three years." Many people want to buy antiques, but wealth is rarely displayed openly. When dealing with unfamiliar parties, collectors won't just avoid selling their antiques—they won't even let others know what pieces they possess. Buyers struggle to find antiques, and sellers struggle to find good buyers. Ye Ling, a long-term, stable buyer who never defaulted on payment, was the most welcome type. Now, Qi Wei's entrance onto the scene had all the potential to become a second Ye Ling.

Wen Zhengyu called Qi Wei to inform her that she had contacted several collectors and to ask when Qi Wei would be available.

Hearing that Wen Zhengyu had already lined up sellers, Qi Wei was momentarily stunned. So fast? She asked, "What's the earliest I can see them?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "It's nearly dinner time. How about after dinner?"

Qi Wei really wanted to ask: Are you sure you contacted antique sellers and not cabbage vendors? She said, "Fine, I'll come over after dinner to take a look."

Wen Zhengyu asked, "Have you found an appraiser yet?"

Qi Wei said, "There's you. Or would you like to recommend someone else?"

Wen Zhengyu: "..." She paused briefly, then said, "I'll do it."

Qi Wei said, "Such an obedient girl."

Wen Zhengyu: "..."

Qi Wei confirmed the location and hung up. She said to Old Madam Zhang, "Your granddaughter is truly capable."

The old madam sighed and said, "She's just a bit worrisome." Then she asked, "It's already arranged?"

Qi Wei said, "She contacted several." She reflected for a moment, then let out another exclamation of surprise. After thinking further, she asked, "There won't be any fakes, will there?"

The old madam swept a glare at Qi Wei, then redirected the piece of food she had been about to place in Qi Wei's bowl onto Old Master Lian's plate instead.

Qi Wei said, "Don't glare at me—I mean it. When I used to go buy antiques, everything I looked at seemed fake. I never dared to buy." Someone had once given her a gift that turned out to be a counterfeit antique. Had she not been so cautious—had someone examine it before she presented it—she would have suffered a tremendous loss of face. Giving an expensive gift that turns out to be fake... the feeling makes you want to seize the giver and hack them into eight pieces.

The old madam said, "Say what you will about Old Man Wen lacking in other talents, but his eye for antiques was first-rate."

Qi Wei considered this. "True enough," she said, and continued dismantling her crab.

Before approaching Wen Zhengyu, she had done thorough research. Buying antiques wasn't like buying anything else. If she hadn't felt that Wen Zhengyu was genuinely dependable, she wouldn't have sought her out.

Xu Xiangling, the owner of Jiguzhai Antique Studio, had mentioned Wen Zhengyu with an expression too complex for words. After a long pause, he finally sighed and said, "Even top-layer paintings don't catch her eye." It was said that this young lady had single-handedly sabotaged a deal he was about to close: Ye Ling, such a major buyer, had never set foot in Jiguzhai again. Xu Xiangling's business primarily targeted those less knowledgeable about the trade—outsiders. Even for someone as sharp as Ye Ling, he wouldn't dare try too many tricks. Wen Zhengyu moved only within that small, select circle of collectors and rather looked down on operators like Xu Xiangling who dealt in forgeries and fakes. Their relationship was one of mutual awareness but minimal interaction. However, since she had asked, Xu Xiangling still shared some information about Wen Zhengyu. He said that this eldest miss was considered somewhat renowned in the local collecting scene. Whenever someone acquired a fine piece, they liked to invite her. Partly because she was attractive and spoke with propriety—people enjoyed her company—but most importantly, because she kept her mouth tightly shut, had extensive connections across the trade, yet cared little for money and was not someone who could be bought by profit.

After dinner, Wen Zhengyu took Qi Wei to Mr. Wang's residence.

One party was eager to buy, the other willing to sell. The pieces were of decent quality, and Qi Wei was generous with pricing, so the transaction proceeded smoothly.

After they left Mr. Wang's, she and Qi Wei arranged times to visit the other sellers—one per day, leaving time to examine things slowly.

The next morning, when Wen Zhengyu arrived at the art studio, she noticed Ye Ling's car was already there. After finishing her immediate tasks, she went to knock on Ye Ling's office door. If someone was inquiring about her affairs, she still needed to inform Ye Ling. She also mentioned Qi Wei seeking her out to purchase antiques.

After hearing everything, Ye Ling stared at Wen Zhengyu, speechless for a long moment. Finally, she let out a deep sigh and said, "My uncles' reach isn't that long—they can't extend this far. These collectors only sell a limited number of pieces each year. She's muscling in on my exclusive business, and she has the nerve to call it helping you solve a problem. Asking someone for a favor while making them feel indebted to her—Qi Wei truly is one of a kind."

Wen Zhengyu saw that Ye Ling's displeasure and objections were written all over her face and was herself at a loss for words. Still, if people hadn't been asking about her, Qi Wei wouldn't have phrased it that way. If Qi Wei wanted her help buying antiques, for the sake of her maternal grandmother, she would help regardless.

Ye Ling thought for a moment, then beckoned Wen Zhengyu over. She invited the eldest miss of the Wen family to relocate to the guest sofa, poured her tea, and then, at a leisurely pace, elaborated.

She said, "It's true that my uncles have been asking about you, but they're not the only ones. In the antiques trade, without an insider to guide you, you can't even find the door to genuine, high-quality pieces. Many families have their own channels for sourcing these things. I only built my foundation in the last few years, so my roots are shallow. Your channel is a recent discovery, and it's already yielded several exceptional pieces—naturally, those with vested interests would want to learn more. Business is business: you can do it with me, or you can do it with someone else. Qi Wei manages her family's finances, so she undoubtedly needs to gather such items as well."

She paused, then added, "As for Ye family matters, my uncles' hands don't reach this far. Even in official circles, there are rules. If someone wants to investigate or target someone, they first need leverage and evidence. You run an art studio—conducting your business honestly and lawfully. They could check for tax evasion, bribery, fire safety codes, industry standards... none of those investigations could touch you. If they didn't follow the rules, they'd be handing you ready-made leverage to use against them." She paused again. "That said, it's actually a good thing that you're taking on Qi Wei as a client."

Wen Zhengyu made a puzzled "Mm?" sound.

Ye Ling said, "There are only so many pieces out there. Once she's inserted herself into the mix, there won't be room for anyone else to interfere." That Qi, always everywhere. Even a small collecting circle's antique trade—she had to stick her hand in. It left Ye Ling with nothing to say. That Qi Wei had come under the banner of Old Madam Zhang clearly meant she had communicated with her beforehand, and it was highly likely—even probable—that Old Madam Zhang's intentions were behind this. Ye Ling thought about how, when she partnered with Wen Zhengyu to open an art studio, the Wen family wedged Wen Li into the mix. Now, when she wanted to buy antiques through Wen Zhengyu, the Lian family wedged Qi Wei in. And then she looked at Wen Zhengyu's placid, unhurried demeanor, which only added to her frustration.

Ye Ling's tone shifted. With a half-smile, she fixed a sidelong glance on Wen Zhengyu and said, "I hear that yesterday, the boss of our studio—Boss Wen no less—was flirting and canoodling with a great beauty in the conference room, very diligently pouring tea and fetching water, even getting her ears and face touched affectionately in return?"

Wen Zhengyu, who had been sipping tea because she saw Ye Ling wasn't speaking, promptly sprayed a mouthful at these ominous, sharply edged words. She hastily pulled out a tissue to wipe up the mess, then was entirely at a loss for words. So this is how rumors start? She had barely let Qi Wei siphon off some of Ye Ling's antiques, and now Ye Ling was firing this salvo at her. Wen Zhengyu's heart immediately sank with guilt. She said, "Nothing of the sort. I still have things to do—I'll be going now."

Ye Ling drawled, "Of course. You have an appointment with Qi Wei, after all. She's prettier than me."

Wen Zhengyu: "..." Had she knocked over a jar of vinegar?

Ye Ling said, "It's fine. You go ahead. After all, your maternal grandmother has already invited me to dinner."

Wen Zhengyu: "..." Listening to Ye Ling's tone—spectral, haunting, as if summoning a spirit—she could only continue sitting there, watching a certain someone radiating sour jealousy as though she had opened a vinegar factory.

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