America: Starting with Daily Intelligence
Chapter 69 - 69 69 The Business of Networking

69: Chapter 69: The Business of Networking 69: Chapter 69: The Business of Networking Before they could fully digest the information, Wal immediately picked up the ceramic horse again.

Examining it for a moment, he seriously commented, “This one is different!

This is a typical Shang and Zhou Dynasty ceramic horse, with a history of over three thousand years.

This ceramic horse also has extraordinary significance, symbolizing ‘thousands of horses galloping, success upon arrival’.”

“Looking at the imagery and crafting of this ceramic horse, it likely is not an official kiln porcelain, but a civil kiln reproduction that circulated within the palace, and it is a piece of black pottery.

The pottery culture can be traced back to the Neolithic period.

In ancient times, they were mainly crafted with black soil and clay to make pots, mostly used for cups, bowls, and ceramic musical instruments.

Look at the residual traces of the splendid color and the unique cultural depth of this ceramic horse; it’s very valuable for collecting!

This ceramic horse definitely comes from an antique shop in Chinatown, and it has been buried in the ground for a very long time!”

“If it were an intact ceramic horse, I could offer an auction price of 500,000 US Dollars.”

“Ah?”

The three of them were a bit dumbfounded.

Allen Zhang was also astonished.

Not to be rude, but that’s quite the exaggeration!

You should be clearer than me about the sort of things found in the antique shops of Chinatown.

“Unfortunately, one of its hooves has been damaged, making it a defective item; it’s no longer perfect and doesn’t have much value anymore.

I suggest a collection price of 500 US Dollars,” Wal said with regret.

“…”

Old George was a bit dazed.

Hold on, do the prices for this Chinese ceramics fluctuate this wildly?

Just because of a damaged hoof, it plunged from fifty thousand down to five hundred bucks?

Don’t scare me now.

Old George began to doubt the true level of expertise regarding this porcelain appraiser.

“How about this ink paper then?

How much could it be worth?” Old George immediately asked him to start appraising the Ming Dynasty banknote.

“This is incredible!

It’s a silver note issued during the Ming Dynasty.

Historically, as far back as the Song Dynasty, there was a custom of using ‘jiaozi’ (early paper money).

A person named Cai Lun used bark, old hemp cloth, and fishing nets to improve the paper.

However, due to inflation, the Ming Dynasty banknotes also caused quite a bit of harm to ordinary people at the time, being almost equivalent to toilet paper.

The court was ruthless in their money-making schemes, so it’s not a rarity to have them preserved till today.”

Wal did not continue to boast this time but earnestly picked it up and started to examine its script and construction.

“This is a one-string banknote, 34 centimeters long and 22 centimeters wide, with dragon patterns along the border, as well as the words ‘Universal Ming Dynasty Banknote’ printed on it.

This banknote also has a history of over six hundred years.

Considering the state of preservation of this banknote, it’s one hundred percent authentic!

Because normally, banknotes that have survived to this day would not be so intact, and they would show signs of corrosion.

And this banknote shows the authentic signs of weathering and rot typical of genuine pieces, with many characters also not clearly visible.”

Wal gave his own opinion on the price, “I think the preservation state of this one-string banknote and its market price is quite reasonable in the range of 4000-6000 US Dollars!”

Hearing this price, Allen Zhang’s eyes lit up, and he was instantly satisfied.

5 US Dollars for this ink paper, and its value suddenly boosted to thousands of dollars, this profit has increased by more than a thousand times.

Thank you, Brother Black.

“Alright, Wal, thanks for your advice.

I’ll wire the money to your company’s account.”

Old George shook hands, personally seeing Wal off after he had completed his mission.

Before leaving, Wal also gave Allen Zhang a meaningful look.

Allen Zhang responded with a slight smile, You’re the man.

When Old George returned, he continued to negotiate.

Rubbing his hands together, he first sought the lady’s opinion, “How about this bronze artifact lamp for 700 US Dollars?”

“Didn’t the expert suggest that the bronze should be sold for 1500 US Dollars?” the pawnbroker was a bit stunned.

“That was just a suggestion, which I’m choosing not to follow.

Besides, the store I run needs to break even.

Suppose I actually paid 1500 US Dollars for it and the item really was worth that much.

In that case, wouldn’t I not make any money at all?

I wouldn’t even be able to pay the rent or utilities.”

Old George immediately started to play the pity card.

The two started playing a game of push and pull.

“1200 US Dollars.”

“750 US Dollars.”

“1150 US Dollars?”

“850 US Dollars.

That’s the highest I can go.

If you don’t agree, then unfortunately, this deal will have to end here,” George stated his ultimatum firmly.

After a moment of hesitation, the lady agreed with a smile, “Alright, 850 US Dollars!”

“Pleasure doing business with you.”

George went back into the room, handwrote a receipt, counted out 850 US Dollars, and gave it to her as he saw her out.

In the shop, Allen Zhang was left smiling at him.

George said in resignation, “How about 3500 US Dollars for all three items?”

“What exactly are you referring to?” Allen inquired.

“The Platinum Pocket Watch for 800 US Dollars, the ceramic horse for 200 US Dollars, and the Ming Dynasty banknote for 2500 US Dollars.”

“Do you think that price is reasonable?” Allen immediately countered, “This one-string note can sell for 6000 US Dollars on the market!”

How can you slash right through the artery?

Are you even human?

I really want to beat the hell out of you.

“Yes, you’re right.

It could even sell for more, but I need time to deal with it.

Besides, its origins are unclear, and you don’t possess any authoritative certificates.

Unless you can produce an expert appraisal certificate!

Of course, I could pay you 6000 US Dollars or even more!”

George confessed honestly, “Other places will offer you much less for it than my offer of 2500 US Dollars here.”

“Ming Dynasty banknote for 5000 US Dollars!

A total of 6000 US Dollars for the three items, let’s round it up.”

Allen had lost hope the ceramic horse could be worth much, anyway.

After all, it was all profit for him.

Whether the ceramic horse is real or fake, wasn’t it all fired from the earth’s clay?

What’s so fake about that?

But most likely, it was produced by an unknown civil kiln inside the country or unearthed from a rich landlord’s burial pit as a grave good.

Even if it were an official kiln porcelain, if not used by the royal family, it would only be worth tens of thousands of RMB.

The price wasn’t that outrageous; a civil kiln’s would be even cheaper.

“Ming Dynasty banknote for 2800 US Dollars?”

“4500 US Dollars.”

“2950 US Dollars, and I’ll give you an extra 50 US Dollars for the ceramic horse, making it a total of 4000 US Dollars.

I can’t give any more,” said George.

“4200 US Dollars, all together 5200 US Dollars!

You don’t have to add the 50 US Dollars for that ceramic horse!

250 is unlucky, just make it 200 US Dollars!”

The two of them started a relentless tug-of-war negotiation.

One genuinely wanted it; the other did not want to bleed.

In the end, George, too, was at his wits’ end, “Alright.

I need to consult some experts again to confirm whether it’s really worth 6000 US Dollars.”

Allen told him to feel free to consult.

Six hundred years of history, even if it was just a piece of toilet paper, it would still be worth a lot of money!

A few minutes later, George came back, straightforwardly stating, “All three items add up to 5000 US Dollars!”

“Why are you so readily agreeable?” Allen was suspicious, seriously doubting there was something fishy going on.

But George stubbornly refused to reveal any insider details, and after some consideration, Allen chose to accept his offer.

George handwrote a receipt, carefully counted out 5000 US Dollars in cash, and even threw in a wallet as a bonus for holding the money.

The deal concluded, ensuring there was no room for regret, George finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With a beaming smile, he revealed, “A private savings bank in Montana is currently collecting and auctioning antique silver notes and receipts from various countries on the market, offering at least 8000 to 35000 US Dollars.

All you need is to find an appraisal organization and spend a few hundred dollars on a certificate, and this banknote of yours would have no trouble finding buyers.”

“…”

Allen was instantly left speechless.

You sneaky bastard, when it comes to being underhanded, I really can’t outdo you.

But even if he sold it himself, he didn’t have the channels; the pawnshop business is all about connections.