Chapter 127: The Treasure Hunting Pavilion [Third Update]

But the excitement on Xia Mengyan’s face vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a trace of worry.

"The last round of investment negotiations didn't go very well. They drove the price down extremely low, wanting to take forty percent of our Xia Corporation’s equity in exchange for a mere hundred million. If that were to happen, the risk of our Xia family losing control would increase significantly, so the talks ended on a sour note without any agreement."

At this point, a flicker of excitement suddenly emerged on her beautiful face.

"But just a moment ago, I received a call from the Liu family. They invited me to the birthday banquet of Liu Quan, the head of the Liu Group. This is a clear sign that their stance has softened, and I must take this seriously."

"The problem is, selecting a gift has left me stumped. I’ve learned that Liu Quan is an avid antique enthusiast. Whether it’s famous landscapes, paintings, ceramics, or jade, he collects them all."

"As the saying goes, 'cater to their interests.' Since he loves antiques, we should naturally choose an antique as a gift. But I’ve spent ages researching and still can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s fake. These waters are truly murky."

Hearing this, Fang Nian’s lips curled into a slight smile. He suddenly took Xia Mengyan’s hand and began walking outside.

Xia Mengyan was startled. In the past, she would have certainly pulled her hand away, but now, she didn't seem to resist Fang Nian, letting him lead her along.

"Where are we going?" she asked, looking a bit bewildered.

Fang Nian smiled helplessly. "Reading books here won't help you. Why don't we try our luck at the antique market? We might actually stumble upon a treasure."

Xia Mengyan hesitated, still feeling uneasy. "Will that work? I don't know the first thing about it."

Fang Nian smiled faintly. "Don't worry, you have me. By the way, do you know where the District 16 antique market is?"

Xia Mengyan nodded. "It’s at Pan Tao Yuan in the East District. That’s the hub for the antique trade."

Fang Nian nodded. "Good, let’s head to Pan Tao Yuan."

***

Pan Tao Yuan was located within an ancient ruin in the east of the city, an independent courtyard enclosed by walls. Outside, the perimeter was guarded by powder-washed walls and weeping willows, featuring a three-bay gatehouse and covered corridors on all sides, exuding an antique charm. Inside, stone-paved paths connected the grounds, dotted with rockeries, creating a scene that stood in stark contrast to the dilapidated reality of the surrounding area. A prominent sign reading "Pan Tao Yuan" hung above the main entrance.

As Fang Nian and Xia Mengyan stepped inside, it felt as though they had traveled back in time to an open-air market from the 1970s or 80s. Stalls were laid out along the corridors beneath the towers, filled with a dizzying array of ancient objects.

This was Xia Mengyan’s first time visiting such a place. Looking at everything around her, her excitement was palpable.

"These things are so disorganized, and they all look so dirty and old. I really don't understand why anyone would want to collect them."

Seeing her less-than-impressed expression, Fang Nian found himself both amused and helpless. He knew that for those who collect antiques, it wasn't about the objects themselves, but the sentiment behind them—much like how some women collect beautiful dresses or various stockings, how some elderly people collect stamps or old coins, or even how some men collect women’s clothing. Their purpose wasn't necessarily a deep love for the item, but an indulgence in a specific sentiment.

The two wandered around for a long time. While there was plenty of stock, there wasn't much of real value. They found two decent jade pendants, but the vendors’ asking prices were simply outrageous, so they didn't pursue them further.

After her legs grew sore from walking without finding anything worthwhile, Xia Mengyan pointed toward the larger shops within Pan Tao Yuan. "I don't see anything good at the stalls. Why don't we try the larger shops? The items in there should be much better."

Since she wanted to go, Fang Nian agreed. After all, there really wasn't anything of quality at the stalls today.

In his previous life, while Fang Nian hadn't studied antique appraisal, he had been an avid fan of related books and television dramas. He wasn't exactly an expert, but he knew enough to navigate the antique circle. Plus, his senses had been heightened; not only had his basic abilities improved, but he could even perceive subtle, hidden details.

For instance, he had seen a snuff bottle at one of the stalls earlier. Even though the object itself had no obvious marks, Fang Nian could judge its age by observing the subtle fluctuations in the energy around it. That was the confidence he had in bringing Xia Mengyan here.

After walking for a while, they chose a shop called "Treasure Hunter Pavilion." As soon as they entered, they saw a Buddha statue carved from a rough piece of jadeite. Though the jade didn't look particularly translucent or high-quality at first glance, a piece of that size was likely worth well over a million.

Once inside, they realized the difference between these large shops and the street stalls was night and day. The shop spanned about 300 square meters, filled with a dazzling variety of ceramics, jade, ironware, paintings, and calligraphy—covering almost every category of antique.

Xia Mengyan couldn't help but sigh. "No wonder people say, 'Business is good, but trading antiques is better.' Look at all these antiques; if you added them all up, wouldn't it be worth hundreds of millions? Look at our Xia family—we run such a massive hunting ground, yet our net worth might not even compare to this little shop. It’s truly discouraging."

Fang Nian looked at her disappointed expression and smiled. "You’re overreacting. While the items in this shop look valuable—and yes, if they were all authentic, they would be worth a fortune—that’s simply impossible."

Xia Mengyan paused, then looked at him in surprise. "What? Are you saying all the antiques in this room are fake?"

Fang Nian waved his hand. "They aren't all fake, there are definitely some real ones, but the authentic pieces here won't exceed twenty percent."

Xia Mengyan hesitated, then remembered an important question. "Wait, do you actually know how to appraise antiques, or are you just faking it?"

In truth, Fang Nian wasn't entirely sure himself. He understood the theory, but he had never put it into practice. As for his confidence in coming here, it was entirely due to the enhancement of his senses.

He replied with a helpless smile, "It's fifty-fifty."

Xia Mengyan frowned, wanting to pinch him, but Fang Nian, having anticipated the move, dodged. Just then, a sales clerk from the Treasure Hunter Pavilion approached them.