The Era of Hard Work

In the quaint shop, a middle-aged man with a flat head sat beside the fan and put down the white porcelain plate: Young man, are you willing to sell it? I'll keep it for ten yuan. If you don't want it, just take it away.

sorry to bother you.

Lu Dong picked up the white porcelain plate and put it in his bag.

Half the morning passed like this.

After leaving Shiban Street, Lu Dong was thinking whether to go back, but when he looked up, he found that the banner in front of the antique building had been hung back.

Experts from the Imperial City Museum are here to appraise antique calligraphy and paintings for free, and identify heirlooms for you!

Lu Dong stopped unconsciously.

Free identification?

A vague memory emerges. It seems that one year the Commercial Daily saw that the national TV station organized experts to come to Quannan for free appraisal activities. It is said that the scene was crowded with people.

It's definitely not now, but Lu Dong doesn't remember more.

This industry is too far away from him.

In the past, he didn't like or care about it, and he was running around all day for his livelihood. Who would have nothing to look at these things.

I never thought that when I became an all-knowing and all-powerful information encyclopedia, who knew I would return to 1998.

Half the morning passed, and there was no one at the door.

Lu Dong thought for a while, and walked towards the antique building on the second floor.

Check it out for free.

Although the free ones are often the most expensive, but he doesn't have ten yuan all over his body, and the situation is wrong, just leave.

As soon as he entered the door, there happened to be two people coming towards him.

The woman among them saw the black bag in Lu Dong's hand, and immediately greeted her: Hello, comrade.

The voice is as crisp as an oriole.

She is not very beautiful, but the half-high heels, one-step skirt and slim white shirt set off her exquisite figure, which is easy to attract people's favor.

Next to him was a man in his twenties, wearing glasses, and his shirt, trousers and leather shoes were more upright than Yang Liewen, and he looked very decent.

These two people are dressed like white-collar workers in foreign companies in this era.

The decent man smiled brightly: Comrade, are you here to appraise antique calligraphy and painting?

Lu Dong maintained the previous persona, nodded shyly: Yes.

Please come inside. The decent man was very enthusiastic.

He took a quick look at Lu Dong, cheap clothes, swarthy face, young age, simple and honest with rustic, and came to a judgment in his heart.

Passing through the foyer, Lu Dong's eyes lit up. Behind the mahogany door, a line of golden characters stood out - Taidong Zhengda Art Auction Co., Ltd.!

Come in. The decent man invited.

Upon entering the door, a pretty girl at the front desk greeted her with a smile: Welcome to Zhengda Auction.

The young woman made a gesture of invitation: This way.

Turning around the front desk, the sight suddenly becomes brighter. This is an exhibition area of ​​more than 100 square meters, with Bogu racks and various glass showcases, which are full of artworks.

Lu Dong couldn't help but went to look at it. Porcelain, calligraphy and painting, seals, jade, jewelry, coins, wood carvings, etc. were all available.

It can really be described as high-end, atmospheric, and upscale.

Lu Dong was dazzled by the sight of so many things that didn't know if they were antiques or real ones, and he couldn't help being a little dazed.

The young man waited for the visual impact to ferment for a while, and then introduced with a sunny face: I am the manager of Taidong Zhengda Art Auction Company, and my name is Zhao Wei, and she is my assistant Huang Cuicui.

These words immediately aroused Lu Dong's vigilance, but he seemed to be overwhelmed by the grand arrangement, and he didn't speak.

Seeing Lu Dong sweating, Huang Cuicui brought Rising Sun from the freezer: Drink some water, it's very hot today.

Lu Dong took it, stuffed it into the bag, did not open it, but replied with a smile: Thank you.

Who dares to drink a drink from a stranger?

Although the poor don't even have ten yuan, it's a small thing to lose money...

Huang Cuicui asked, What's the name?

Lu Dong was a little cautious, and according to rural habits, he withdrew his first name: My name is Dongzi.

This is not the first time for Zhao Wei to show a sunny smile when facing rural customers: Dongzi, just came out of the market?

Um.

He was vigilant in his heart, Lu Dong was the same as when he was in the market, he looked simple and rustic, and he was shy and reluctant to say more when he first met strangers.

Zhao Wei asked: The market doesn't think highly of your stuff?

Lu Dong told the truth: The asking price is really low!

If you go to the countryside, you will be paid 50! The highest is only 25! It's dark!

Zhao Wei said: You are here for the first time? I don't know the situation. There is a tacit understanding in the antique market. Even the best things will not charge high prices. Even if your things are of high value, you will only charge one-tenth, or even one hundred percent. One of the low prices, they call it picking up leaks. This business pays attention to not opening for three years, and opening for three years, they would rather not charge, nor set prices that meet the value of antiques, because they can’t make a lot of money.”

Lu Dong deliberately scratched his head: Really?

Zhao Wei further said: There are few people who understand antiques, so it is difficult to judge the value. Dongzi, I suggest you read more, ask more, and have multiple choices. It is best to choose a regular trading place.

Have you ever heard of an auction house? Huang Cuicui's crisp voice sounded at the right time: Sotheby's, Christie's, and Zhengda.

Zhao Wei invited Lu Dong: Come here and have a look.

He leads the way and enters a compartment with a TV and VCR inside.

Press the remote control, the TV screen will play.

Zhao Wei said with a smile: There are many people on the expert side, wait a moment, you can take a look at the Yanjing and Gangcheng auctions held by Zhengda.

The people on the TV speak Cantonese, but it can be seen from the screen that this is a large-scale auction. The name Zhengda Auction can be seen everywhere in the venue. There are hundreds of people participating. From time to time, someone will call for the price, and the competition is fierce.

Then came Yanjing's auction...

Lu Dong just watched, subconsciously maintaining a shy and honest protective look. When the other party spoke, he also seemed to be dumbfounded when he answered, as if an ignorant bumpkin was suppressed by Gao Dashang.

Zhao Wei is very satisfied with this effect: Chia Tai is incomparable with Sotheby's and Christie's, and its business is only carried out in China. But Zheng Da's purpose is to get value for money.

Worried that Lu Dong would not understand, he specifically explained: We strive to maximize the value of our customers' antiques or works of art, sell them at a higher price, and Zhengda can get a commission, and you, like Dongzi... I'm using an analogy, you can get a lot of money. --money!

The last word has a particularly strong tone.

Lu Dong didn't get dizzy, and asked out of curiosity, Are you also helping to sell things?

Zhao Wei is not afraid of people asking questions, but he is afraid that people will not ask, but he is not in a hurry: The premise is that the antiques are valuable and willing to entrust them to us. He seems to have a professional ethics: We should also be responsible for the buyers, right? So you have to make sure that the antiques are valuable.”

Lu Dong smelled a strong smell, and his first thought was to withdraw, but he thought it would be okay to take a look.

Money and things will not be left to others anyway, and there is no money.

If the expert does not charge money, you can also listen to what the expert has to say about the white porcelain dish.

Zhao Wei acted very calmly: We are a cooperative unit with the Imperial City Museum, and we are collecting artworks, preparing for exhibitions and auctions, and now an expert just happens to come to Quannan to sit in charge.

Huang Cuicui handed over a copy of Taidong Weekly, opened it and said, Look, there are also reports in the media.

This is the largest weekly magazine in Taidong Province. Lu Dong rolled his eyes. The report on Zhengda Art Auction Company took up two full pages.

All of these are very reliable, the auction company, collection of artworks, big media reports, experts from top contract units, exhibitions and auctions, and commissions...

But anyway, it's not about their lips moving.

Zhao Wei finally proposed: Can I see your antiques?

Lu Dong took a little look at the two of them, making sure they wouldn't pose a threat, and took out a small white porcelain dish.

Zhao Wei didn't answer: I can't do it, Dongzi, take it from me.

His external temperament, words, and actual actions make people feel reliable in every way.

Putting away his smile, Zhao Wei looked at the white porcelain dish with a serious face, and nodded slightly.

Lu Dong deliberately asked: How is it?

Zhao Wei is very cautious: My eyesight is limited, so I can't see it right. But he firmly grasped the key point: Sotheby's has a similar shallow dish in the spring auction this year, which sold for a high price of 300,000!

As soon as these words came out, Lu Dong's heart skipped a beat, isn't this a trick?

So expensive? Of course he didn't believe it, but he put on an extremely excited look.

Zhao Wei remained calm: It's just for reference. He glanced at his watch: Dongzi, wait a moment, Cuicui and I will go to see if the experts are free?

Okay. Lu Dong sat on the sofa, staring at the TV, attracted by the high prices.

The price is good, the truth is cruel.

Zhao Wei and Huang Cuicui went out to another cubicle to exchange ideas.

Huang Cuicui first said: Wearing poor-quality jerseys and sneakers, the whole body is not worth 20 yuan. It should be from the countryside. Not in Quannan City, not rich, not sensitive occupations, fully meet the requirements!

That's right, I observed very carefully. Zhao Wei looked like Teacher Huang Cuicui: You are around twenty years old, and you are selling antiques by yourself. What does that mean?

He gave the answer: Urgently need money! People who come to the antique market to sell things are either short of money, greedy for money, or in urgent need of money. If you grasp the word money, you will be everywhere!

Huang Cuicui has doubts: Too young, right? Still in the countryside.

Zhao Wei understood the meaning of the words: It doesn't matter, it's good to be young, and the needs are great. If he is a student, he needs high tuition fees at this age. If he doesn't study, in rural areas, he has reached the age of engagement. Rural human society, neighbors and relatives Friends move around closely, and the family can borrow more than ten or twenty money for business. And he can come alone, which shows that he has autonomy.

Huang Cuicui was taught: Mr. Zhao, I can always learn a lot with you.

Zhao Wei said with a smile: Don't underestimate the rural people, the ignorant rural people are the best to fiddle with! Do you know why I closed three orders in a row last month? All of them are rural customers! Let me reveal a secret, the ignorant rural people, The rate is even higher!

After waiting for a while, the two went back.

The expert is free, let's go there. Zhao Wei said with a smile: It's not easy for the expert. The appraisal will start at 7 o'clock this morning, and more than 30 works of art will be passed.

Since Lu Dong is here, he has to take a look anyway, picked up his handbag and left, Zhao Wei led the way and told: This is a top expert from the Imperial City Museum, you can ask if you don't understand, but don't talk nonsense.

Lu Dong nodded again and again: I understand.

Zhao Wei and Huang Cuicui took Lu Dong up to the second floor.

The rural fools came, and basic trust was established. Expert appraisal is an important part of strengthening confidence.

These days, people are willing to trust experts, and experts give appraisals, so that follow-up work can start.