Da Jin Ya stared at the contents of the box for a long time without saying a word. After coming to his senses, he glanced at Ying Zi, his meaning clear.
Lao Hu laughed and said, “Jin Ye, feel free to speak your mind. There are no outsiders here. Ying Zi is Xu Xiao Zi’s girlfriend.”
Da Jin Ya slapped himself hard, saying, “Old Jin is a fool! Since these things are all dug up from the General’s Tomb, they must all be authentic. Their value is astronomical.”
Gently stroking the large Zong Zi mask, Da Jin Ya’s eyes seemed to sparkle. His expression made the others feel a chill. If they hadn’t stopped him, he might have even licked it twice. He had already licked the two jade pieces...
This Da Jin Ya is a real wolf!
Putting down the Zong Zi mask, Da Jin Ya switched to another pair of gloves and carefully examined the porcelain. Some were patterned, and some were plain. He paid no attention to the others, just silently studying the objects.
After nearly half an hour, the Fat Man couldn’t help but ask, “Jin Ye, what are you thinking?”
Da Jin Ya came to his senses and sighed, “They are all good things. Today, I, Da Jin Ya, have opened my eyes.”
Lao Hu asked, “Jin Ye, it is said that gold has a price, but jade is priceless. Are these things really worth more than the pair of jade?”
Da Jin Ya said, “That’s not entirely wrong, but jade also varies. For example, the legendary He’s Bi, the Imperial Jade Seal, the Golden Thread Jade Burial Suit, etc., are all priceless treasures. But this pair of jade...”
Da Jin Ya didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.
Lao Hu continued, “Is this black and dingy mask worth more than the pair of jade? Don’t you see all the black rust on it?”
Da Jin Ya smiled and explained, “Hu Ye, you don’t understand. Anything that develops black rust is a precious metal. This mask should be made of gold. Even if it’s bronze, it’s valuable. But bronze doesn’t rust. I don’t recommend touching it. Just keep it as it is, in its original condition.”
“The black rust on it has fused with the mask after years of erosion, giving it great historical significance. This natural formation over time is something no forgery can replicate.”
“There’s another reason. This kind of mask is extremely rare in domestic excavations. As the saying goes, rarity breeds value. That’s the reason.”
“This mask is also known as a ‘death face,’ and it has great collecting value. Because many ethnic groups don’t have the custom of wearing death faces for burial.”
“It seems Hu Ye doesn’t understand the ins and outs. It’s good that you brought all these things back. In the future, you guys can learn from me. No other meaning, just to understand the ins and outs, at least know the basic value of the items.”
“These porcelain pieces are undoubtedly Song Dynasty porcelain, and each piece is a gem, perfectly preserved. These things are worth millions at a rough estimate.”
“Song Dynasty porcelain is highly collectible, and its value will definitely increase in the future. Even if you sell it, you need to release it gradually.”
Lao Hu said, “We’ve already agreed to sell them all. We have other uses for this money.”
Da Jin Ya volunteered, “That’s no problem. These things are easy to sell on the market, but I recommend placing them for auction at the New Moon Restaurant. That way, you can maximize your profits.”
“Although it’s called a restaurant, the New Moon Restaurant also holds regular auctions. With the quality of these items, they can be auctioned there without any problem.”
“You know, people who receive invitations to the New Moon Restaurant are all rich and powerful. Ordinary people can’t even get in. And ordinary items aren’t qualified to be auctioned by the New Moon Restaurant.”
“Gentlemen, please take the items back first. If anything happens, Old Jin won’t be able to afford to pay. If they’re here, I won’t be able to sleep soundly.”
Xu Lang spoke up, “We trust Jin Ye. Whether you put the items in your safe or help deposit them in the bank, the more hands make light work.”
“You also said that we’re brothers from today onward. There will be many such things in the future. We won’t be stingy with the commission. We are also upfront. If Jin Ye cheats us, then Jin Ye will have the money but won’t have the life to enjoy it. Also, give us some money for now. We’ll treat you tonight, as an apology for what happened earlier.”
Lao Hu and the Fat Man agreed with this plan, and Ying Zi naturally supported their decision.
Da Jin Ya quickly waved his hands, “Where did Xu Ye get that idea? You guys trust Old Jin, and I am already grateful. Give me a chance to welcome you. Let me treat you to a meal.”
Xu Lang smiled and agreed, “Anyway, the New Moon Restaurant’s auction won’t be held anytime soon. We’ll discuss the details later. Also, there’s another thing I need your help with, Jin Ye. I need a sword, and I have already prepared the design. The only requirement is that it’s strong and sharp. Money is no object.”
Lao Hu could also handle this, after all, he had connections in this area. But Xu Lang still thought Da Jin Ya was the right person for the job.
The blueprint showed a blade about two feet long and a hilt about eight inches long. It was slightly shorter than traditional swords, and Xu Lang felt it was the most suitable size, more elegant and practical than his usual hunting knife.
A weapon that’s both stylish and practical, that’s important.
Da Jin Ya agreed, “There’s one more thing. Our country is going to organize an archaeological team, led by an old professor named Chen. He’s very close to my dad, and they’ve been discussing antiques together…”
Xu Lang knew this was about Shirley Yang’s expedition to find the City of the Devil. Although he was also curious about the City of the Devil, he hesitated due to other factors.
In fact, Da Jin Ya was just mentioning it. He knew they didn’t lack money now, and it was up to them to decide whether to go or not.
Anyway, Lao Hu was very interested in the archaeological team, so it depended on whether they were interested in the archaeological expedition.
Da Jin Ya meant that they should go and meet them, whether they were interested or not, as a courtesy to him. He would just act as a bridge, and Da Jin Ya wouldn’t be responsible for the specific matters.
After making everything clear, Da Jin Ya gave them some cash, and they left Da Jin Ya’s small shop.
In the private room at Dong Lai Shun’s mutton hotpot restaurant, the table was filled with meat and vegetables. They had money, so they wouldn’t skimp on their appetites. They chatted and ate.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food.
Lao Hu was the first to speak, “Actually, I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I plan to divide the money. I know we’re all not outsiders. My suggestion is to divide the money into six parts. Xu Xiao Zi gets two parts, the three of us get one part each, and the remaining part goes to the old village chief, for him to distribute to the villagers.”
“We said we would lead the villagers to prosperity. We can’t just talk the talk, we need to walk the walk. The money Xu Xiao Zi left behind was enough to get the villagers electricity. This time, we’ve earned so much, it might not be enough to build a road for the villagers, but we can build as much as we can. It’s our intention.”
“That’s basically my idea. What do you guys think?”
Lao Hu’s road was from Gan Zi Ying to the county town. If it was just a few kilometers, it wouldn’t cost that much.
The Fat Man said, “I totally agree with Lao Hu. We were stupid back then, and we caused a lot of trouble for the villagers. They knew we were from the city, and we couldn’t eat the food in the countryside, so they gave us all the good things. They really treated us like their own children.”
Xu Lang smiled, “You two were always freeloading at my place back then. I remember Fatty stayed the longest in the village. To get back to the point, I can eat alone and the whole family doesn’t starve. I’ll keep a few thousand, that’s enough for me. The rest should be enough to build a road for the village.”
“If it hadn’t been for the old village chief and the villagers, I, Xu Lang, wouldn’t be where I am today. Money is just material possessions. I’m still young and I can make more money later.”
“Something big just happened at Niu Xin Mountain, and we’re donating money to build a road for the village. We need to plan carefully. At least we need to give this money a legitimate source. You know this money is no small sum, and if we’re investigated, it won’t look good. In fact, we can’t even show our faces. We have to donate under someone else’s name. At least we have to wait until the heat dies down.”