Chapter 6

Last night, the internet was down, which is really strange. I'm making up for it today with a full first update! Your support is greatly needed for the official ranking list!

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Initially, Su Mu thought about just leaving, but upon hearing those words, he immediately stopped in his tracks. A joke, forty thousand yuan, such a large sum of money could build a decent primary school in Black Mountain Town. What kind of seal could be so valuable? And who could be so bold as to come up with forty thousand yuan?

Driven by curiosity, Su Mu didn't hesitate and turned to follow the sound, entering a nearby antique shop called Auspicious Luck.

On this antique street, anyone who can afford to open a shop is not only wealthy but also has a background. Without a powerful backing, it's impossible to establish a foothold here.

Inside the Auspicious Luck shop, a man stood, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, looking strong and powerful. He had a very delicate face, with slightly long hair parted to cover his eyes, giving him a very lively and spirited appearance.

Even standing still, the man exuded an aura that suggested he came from a noble family.

This man was now playing with a pair of seals. The seals were very pure in color, as white as sheep fat jade, with a bright and delicate texture. The carvings were also very exquisite and lifelike, featuring auspicious beasts, giving off an ancient and simple vibe.

"Whatever you say is true, how would I know if it's real or fake? What if it's fake, and I come back to you, and you deny it?" the man said calmly.

The owner of the Auspicious Luck shop was a bald man with a smiling face, round and chubby, looking like a villain. Hearing the man's words, the bald man raised his eyebrows and said, "Sir, our Auspicious Luck does business with integrity. If you want them, take both for forty thousand yuan. If you don't want them, just put them back. If you don't want to buy, someone else will. I don't believe such good things won't be wanted."

Hmph, trying to out-talk me, old baldy? You don't know who you're dealing with. Our Auspicious Luck will sell anything, even if it's fake. If you want a refund, who will acknowledge it?

Li Letian played with the seals, hesitating for a moment. He didn't understand antiques and came here just to try his luck. If he bought fake goods, the money would be secondary; the real issue would be losing face. Once he lost face, it would be hard for Li Letian to regain it.

Believe?

Or not believe?

As Li Letian hesitated, the bald man added fuel to the fire, "Sir, if you can't afford it, leave now! Otherwise, look at other things in the shop. There are cheaper ones that might suit you."

A blatant provocation!

Sure enough, upon hearing the bald man's words, Li Letian's eyebrows shot up, and he shouted, "Who said I can't afford it? It's just forty thousand yuan, right? I won't haggle, I'll take them. Wrap them up for me!"

"Sure thing!" The bald man excitedly started to wrap them up. Once Li Letian paid and left the shop, it would be none of his business.

In fact, the bald man had been in the antique business for a few years and had a good eye. He knew the seals were fake. He bought them for six hundred yuan. How could something that cost six hundred yuan be real? If he could sell them for forty thousand yuan, he'd make a huge profit.

"Wait!"

At that moment, Su Mu's voice quietly sounded. Honestly, he wasn't driven by a sense of justice. His intuition told him that this man was not ordinary. If he could help him, it might benefit him in the future. Besides, he still had one chance to appraise something today. It would be a waste not to use it, so he might as well make a good connection.

"Kid, what do you want?" The bald man turned sharply, staring at Su Mu with a threatening look, warning him not to speak out of turn.

"Brother, do you want these seals too? Too bad you're late, they're mine now," Li Letian said with a smile.

"I do want them, but they're too expensive for me. However, I have some knowledge of antiques. Can I take a look?" Su Mu smiled.

Li Letian initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Su Mu's smile, he changed his mind. It wouldn't hurt to let him look, especially since it was forty thousand yuan. If he bought fake goods, he'd be throwing away his money. After all, he didn't have much money. Forty thousand yuan would make a big splash, so why not be cautious?

"Brother, can you give me your opinion?" Li Letian smiled.

The bald man watched as Su Mu approached, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He handed the seals to Su Mu with a forced smile, "Brother, where are you from?"

"Where could I be from? Just wandering around here," Su Mu smiled.

"Be careful, these are genuine. They're made from high-quality white芙蓉stone from General Cave. Don't drop them," the bald man's smile carried a hint of threat.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Su Mu took the seals and began to examine them. He picked up the first one, but the Official List didn't react, so he shook his head and put it down.

Under the watchful eyes of the bald man and Li Letian, Su Mu naturally picked up the second one. Instantly, the Official List appeared, and a few lines of text gave him a clear idea.

Category: Seal!

Seal Name: General Cave White芙蓉Auspicious Beast Button Pair

Authenticity: 1.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, 5 cm high, genuine!

The first seal was completely fake, but the second one was real. According to the Official List, there were two such seals. They only had meaning when both were together. Since he had found one real one, he might as well take it.

"Kid, what do you think? Can you tell anything?" the bald man said disdainfully.

He didn't believe that a young man like Su Mu could have knowledge of antiques. Besides, the seals were so well-made that even experienced collectors might not be able to tell. Su Mu definitely couldn't!

"Brother, what do you think? Are they real or fake?" Li Letian asked urgently.

Su Mu didn't answer but stared at the bald man, his expression serious, "Are you the owner of this Auspicious Luck shop?"

"Yes!" the bald man said, "What's the matter?"

"Hmph, what's the matter? These two seals, give them to this brother for two thousand yuan," Su Mu said casually.

"What? Two thousand yuan!"

The same shocked words came from both the bald man and Li Letian. Li Letian stared at Su Mu and said, "You're saying these seals are fake?"

"I didn't say that. I just said to take them for two thousand yuan," Su Mu said calmly.

"Bullshit! Brat, are you here to cause trouble? What do you mean by two thousand yuan? This is a forty-thousand-yuan item. You're trying to devalue it to two thousand. Where are you from? Do you think I'll let you leave this antique street if you keep this up?" the bald man shouted angrily.

"Shut up!"

Su Mu's smile vanished, and he glared at the bald man, "Who are you calling names?"

Being insulted like this, anyone would find it unbearable, especially someone like Su Mu, who had deep feelings for his mother.

Initially, Su Mu didn't plan to do much. If Li Letian bought the seals for two thousand yuan, the shop would still make a profit. Now, however, he wouldn't let the shop sell them.

"Hey, you're challenging me here? Brat, do you know whose territory this is? You dare to cause trouble here? You're asking for it. If you don't pay forty thousand yuan today, no one will leave this shop," the bald man said viciously, tearing off his mask.

Seeing a potential deal ruined by Su Mu, the bald man couldn't tolerate it. Forty thousand yuan was a huge sum.

"You're giving me a face, but you don't want it. Xing Tang County is backward because of scum like you. Can you guarantee these seals are genuine? If you can, I'll eat them right in front of you," Su Mu said coldly.

"You?"

The bald man was speechless.

If Li Letian still didn't understand what was going on, he'd be a fool. He had never been cheated like this before and was furious.

"Scoundrel, you dared to cheat me? Do you know who I am? Do you think you can cheat me and get away with it? I'll smash your shop right now!"

Bang!

Li Letian grabbed one of the seals and threw it to the ground, shattering it. He then took out a few hundred yuan and threw it on the ground.

"Don't say I'm being unreasonable. This three hundred yuan is enough to compensate you!"

Su Mu stood by, admiring Li Letian's actions. He was reasonable and justified, and no one could argue with him.

If you sell fake goods and someone smashes them, it's normal. By leaving three hundred yuan, he sealed the mouths of others, ensuring they would stand by him, not the bald man.

To act so thoroughly in such a short time, Li Letian was definitely not simple.

"Brother, let's go. If it weren't for you, I would have been cheated. No more talk, I'll treat you to lunch today. If you don't come, you're not giving me face. By the way, what's your name?" Li Letian walked up and asked with a big smile.

"Su Mu!"

"Su Mu, good name. Let's go have a drink," Li Letian put his arm around Su Mu's shoulder and started to leave. Just then, the bald man, who had been in shock, rushed forward, blocking their way, his face full of anger.

"Stand still, you think you can just walk away after smashing my stuff? Dream on. Even if you pay forty thousand yuan today, you won't leave here in one piece."

"Scumbag, get out of the way!" Li Letian shouted.

"Who are you telling to get out?" The bald man jumped forward and, without warning, started to hit Li Letian's face. If he hit, the force would surely cause immediate swelling.

"Get out!"

Li Letian didn't think twice and kicked the bald man, sending him flying. "You dare to hit me? Are you trying to get me to tear your shop apart? Do you think I won't? Get lost!"

Bang!

Li Letian turned and kicked the nearest ceramic vase, shattering it. Still angry, he rushed at the bald man, clearly intending to beat him up.

"Damn, you dare to touch me, baldy!"

"Scumbag, I'll show you."

Bang! Bang!

Amid the sounds of punches and kicks, Li Letian and the bald man fought, neither gaining the upper hand. In fact, Li Letian was the one taking more hits. The bald man was clearly skilled in fighting and, after regaining his composure, was determined to get even.

Su Mu stood by, initially not intervening. As the fight became more chaotic and more people gathered to watch, he found an opportunity to step in and separate them. Just as the bald man was about to hit him, Su Mu elbowed him to the ground.

"You're not good enough to play with me!" Su Mu said coldly.

"Brother, that's how you do it! Scumbag, bullying me because I'm from out of town? If this were in the capital, I'd kill you!" Li Letian's white shirt was covered in blood, but despite the pain, he shouted loudly.

"Let's go!" Su Mu said quietly, not wanting to be the center of attention.

"Let's go!" Li Letian said angrily.

"Go? I want to see where you go." Just as they were about to leave, the crowd suddenly parted, and a few people walked in. The leader was a young man with a pale face, his eyes slanted, walking with a swagger, looking extremely arrogant.

Seeing these people enter, the onlookers quickly moved aside. In Xing Tang Antique Street, everyone knew who these people were. Offending them could be fatal.

"Little Hao, you're here! If you had come any later, you wouldn't have seen your brother," the bald man shouted, his face bruised and swollen.

Xie Minghao glanced at the bald man disdainfully, "Baldy, look at you. Being beaten by two outsiders on this antique street? Don't say you're with me, it's embarrassing."

"Little Hao, I've embarrassed you, but it's not my fault. This guy ruined my forty-thousand-yuan deal and that scumbag smashed my seals. Little Hao, you have to do something for me!" the bald man added.

Forty thousand yuan! Xie Minghao's high and mighty expression changed when he heard the bald man mention this amount. Damn, forty thousand yuan, no wonder the baldy was fighting like a madman. That's real money. If I could get it, I'd make a fortune.

So, these two scoundrels caused trouble, especially the one who disrupted my business. They're asking for it! This can't be left alone.

"Gentlemen, let me introduce myself. I'm Xie Minghao, the general manager of Tianwei Company in Xing Tang County. You caused such a big commotion today, probably not knowing the rules of this antique street. Ignorance is no excuse. Pay fifty thousand yuan, and I'll let you go as if nothing happened," Xie Minghao said calmly.

"Fifty thousand yuan? You're robbing us!" Li Letian shouted.

"What? You're not paying fifty thousand yuan? Then you're not leaving. Pay when you can!" Xie Minghao's face turned fierce.

"I don't care who you are. Listen, this is Xing Tang County, under the management of the Party. Who do you think you are, defying the law? Are you not afraid of the law?" Su Mu stepped forward and said sternly.

"Law? The law?"

Xie Minghao laughed as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world. When he stopped laughing, a sinister light flashed in his eyes.

"In Xing Tang County, I am the law. You disrupted my business, smashed my stuff, and hit my people. You think you can just walk away? No way! Take them down and send them to the police!"