Chapter 45

Yang Bo arrived at Jiyatang, and Mr. Liu and Cao Yuande were already sitting in the hall, drinking tea and waiting.

Mr. Liu pointed at the hastily arriving Yang Bo and laughed, "Yuande, look, I told you he would come, but you didn't believe me?"

Cao Yuande held his teacup. He was slender and leaned against one side of the chair, making it seem as if the chair could hold two of him.

"Yang Bo, have you thought it through? Are you really going to take over?" Cao Yuande ignored Mr. Liu and instead spoke directly to Yang Bo.

Saying he didn't want to take over would be a lie! Yang Bo had worked as an apprentice in an antique shop for two years and had often fantasized about having his own shop one day. He never thought it could become a reality so soon!

Cao Yuande put down his cup, leaned back, and turned to look at Mr. Liu, "Liangyu, young people these days are too eager for quick success. There are fewer and fewer who can truly settle down to study."

Mr. Liu laughed and scolded, "You yourself ran out of the ivory tower. Do you still expect young people to starve for their studies?"

Cao Yuande replied, "Didn't we all starve for our studies in the past?"

"That was in the past! Times have changed, and no one would do that anymore!" Mr. Liu said.

After saying that, he pointed at Yang Bo again, "Look, what a good young man! If he can run an antique shop for a few years, it won't be any worse than being in the ivory tower!"

"But you should know, staying in the ivory tower is easier for building a reputation! Why, over the years, have we been at the same level, but my fame is greater than yours? It's because I've always stayed in the ivory tower!" Cao Yuande said.

These words left Mr. Liu speechless, because Cao Yuande was telling the truth. At the same level, Cao Yuande, as a professor at a prestigious university, always received more attention, while others could only introduce him as "This is Mr. Liu Liangyu, a folk collector!"

A slight difference made a huge difference in treatment!

Mr. Liu's face turned sour, and he said to Yang Bo, "You decide!"

Yang Bo hadn't expected such a difference, but for him, pursuing a reputation in the ivory tower seemed too abstract. To stand out, it would take at least ten to twenty years, and the academic path was not easy, involving publishing papers, building a reputation, and so on.

Cao Yuande looked at Yang Bo, "You didn't finish your undergraduate degree. If you want to, I can recommend you to a slightly less prestigious university for two years of undergraduate studies, and then you can apply for my graduate program."

Yang Bo had never been fond of this path, and hearing Cao Yuande's words made him even less willing. Two years of undergraduate studies covering four years of content would be tough, and the graduate entrance exam would be a long and uncertain journey.

After a moment's thought, Yang Bo bowed slightly to Cao Yuande, "Thank you, Professor Cao, but I haven't been in school for two years, and my mind has wandered. It might not be easy to pick up books again."

Cao Yuande was about to persuade him further, but Mr. Liu stopped him, "Yang Bo is right. However, learning can happen anywhere. Does he not need to read books just because he's not in school?"

"By the way, how much would it cost to take over Jiyatang?" Yang Bo changed the subject.

Mr. Liu paused, then raised his head, "I didn't consider it thoroughly before. You need to be mentally prepared; the amount of money required is not small."

Yang Bo nodded. He had over 2.3 million yuan, which should be enough.

"The transfer fee is around 400,000 to 500,000 yuan, and there are many items in the shop. To take it all over, it would cost over a million yuan." As he said this, Mr. Liu himself was stunned, because he knew Yang Bo's financial situation. He had only sold a few items here, and they hadn't made much money, far from this amount.

Mr. Liu turned to look at Yang Bo, saw him stunned, and quickly waved his hand, "Forget it. I should have thought it through before notifying you. This amount is astronomical!"

Cao Yuande laughed, "Liu Liangyu, you're really funny, to make such a muddled decision?"

Mr. Liu looked helpless, "It's not that I wanted to scheme for the inkstone in your possession. I just didn't think about the cost, because I subconsciously felt you were the right person!"

Cao Yuande was stunned, "Liu Liangyu, what do you mean? What inkstone? What scheme?"

"Yang Bo has a Gu Erniang Dragon Inkstone." Mr. Liu said.

Hearing this name, Cao Yuande immediately understood and was greatly surprised, "What? A Gu Erniang inkstone? Where is it? Quick! Let me see it!"

Yang Bo sat to the side, feeling helpless. The two of them were talking back and forth, not giving him a chance to speak, "I've already sold it, so the funds I have should be enough."

"What? You've already sold it? To whom? How so quickly?" Mr. Liu was surprised, stood up, and quickly walked to Yang Bo, almost grabbing his neck.

"Previously, I needed to raise money for medical expenses, so I sold it to Luo Yaohua!" Yang Bo explained.

"Ah!" Mr. Liu slapped his thigh, "I was too reserved. If I had known, I would have spoken up earlier!"

Cao Yuande laughed without restraint, pointing at him, "You reserved? If you're reserved, no one is unreserved!"

...

After chatting for a while, the three of them went to Jiyatang. Yang Bo stood outside and looked around before entering.

When they entered, they saw two people sitting in the hall: Li Ling and a middle-aged woman.

Li Ling stood up quickly when he saw Mr. Liu and Cao Yuande, "Mr. Liu, Professor Cao, hello!"

Then, Li Ling turned to introduce the middle-aged woman, "Aunt, this is Mr. Liu of Jiyatang and Professor Cao Yuande from Jinling University. They are both appraisal experts!"

The middle-aged woman stood up and nodded, though she didn't say much, everyone could guess that she was likely Jia Huairen's wife.

Li Ling was somewhat surprised to see Mr. Liu. He was handling the transfer of Jiyatang on his aunt's behalf, under great pressure, and didn't expect someone who already had a shop to want to get involved!

They shook hands, and when it was Yang Bo's turn, Li Ling's expression was complex. He wasn't entirely clear about everything, but he had heard that Yang Bo seemed to be involved in this matter.

"Hello!" Yang Bo smiled and extended his hand. They had always been on good terms, but it was strange to see each other again like this.

"Yang Bo, are you joining Mr. Liu?" Li Ling laughed.

"No, he's the main character today." Mr. Liu explained.

Li Ling was greatly surprised. His hand, halfway extended, froze in mid-air, and he was stunned.