The first item scanned was a large but not enormous vat, on which two red flying dragons played with a pearl above five-colored seawater.
The system displayed: Qing Dynasty, Kangxi period, underglaze red double dragon playing with pearl large vat with polychromeRüyadasea waves pattern, transaction price 24.38 million.
Chen Lan silently grumbled to herself, "Too small for storing rice, and the opening is too wide for salt. It really is a treasure!"
Chen Lan then scanned a pair of flat, green, patterned vases.
The system displayed: Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, blue and white lozenge-shaped eight auspicious symbols and lingzhi mushroom pattern flat-eared hu vases, transaction price 23 million.
Next, she scanned a large dark green plate.
The system displayed: Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, black ground green-enameled double happiness with precious white head lotus supporting eight auspicious symbols pattern large plate, transaction price 28.75 million.
"Shopkeeper Qian really has a good eye, these are all genuine," Chen Lan mused inwardly.
Just then, Shopkeeper Qian's two sons entered from the back, each carrying a wooden box.
Shopkeeper Qian opened a box and took out a small-mouthed vase with a large belly and slender body, placing it on the table for the mother and daughter-in-law to see.
The system displayed: Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, blue and white underglaze red entwined floral plum vase, transaction price 29.90 million.
The remaining item was a bronze-colored gilded vase. After scanning, the system displayed:
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, imitation bronze glaze gilded relief double dragon embracing fortune ear vase, transaction price 37.95 million.
"Shopkeeper Qian, why are you only showing vases and plates? Oh, right, and a small vat," Chen Lan said, deliberately emphasizing the word "small."
After Chen Lan finished speaking, she paused to look at her mother-in-law. The mother-in-law understood, coughed, and gave a cold smile before speaking.
"Shopkeeper Qian, you're being a bit insincere. I want good items from your shop. While these can be considered antiques, their quality is average. They are hardly the absolute best your shop has to offer!"
Shopkeeper Qian gave an awkward smile, "Not at all, Madam Xu, you misunderstand. Su Dan Novel Network."
"Enough! Shopkeeper Qian, we haven't known each other for a very long time, but it's not short either. I'll give you a warning. If you have any good items you want to keep, hide them quickly. If you don't want to keep them, sell them quickly. Don't let them cause trouble."
Shopkeeper Qian's face turned red and then pale at his mother-in-law's words.
"Fine, I can't tell you what to do. Shopkeeper Qian, what's your best price for this one?" the mother-in-law asked, pointing to the entwined floral plum vase.
"Thirty silver dollars," Shopkeeper Qian replied unconvincingly, holding up three fingers.
The mother-in-law stood up angrily and said to Chen Lan, "Let's go, we'll go to Wang Ji Pawnshop in the west of the city and have a look."
"Wait, Madam Xu, let's talk some more!" Shopkeeper Qian hurriedly stood up and blocked the mother and daughter-in-law.
"Shopkeeper Qian, we've come this far, and you're still not being honest. Thirty silver dollars is almost enough to buy an ounce of gold. This vase is worth an ounce of gold, but you probably didn't spend more than eight silver dollars to acquire it, did you?"
Shopkeeper Qian was embarrassed, coughed dryly, and said with a forced laugh, "Madam Xu, we can't say that. Business isn't done like that, is it? Who in Gu'an County doesn't say that I, Qian Yonggui, am a fair person?"
Chen Lan inwardly scoffed, "Fair? If you, Qian Yonggui, were fair, your pawnshop would have closed down long ago!"
"I say, Shopkeeper Qian, what time is it? You're still haggling over prices. I'll tell you this today: aside from me, who else would buy your items at this time? If you sell them to me today, you can at least get your money back and make a little profit. Perhaps tomorrow, you won't even be able to hear a gunshot."
The mother-in-law, with her bold and commanding demeanor, bluffed Shopkeeper Qian, while Chen Lan watched the show leisurely. Both mother and daughter-in-law appeared indifferent, finally wearing down Shopkeeper Qian!
In the battle of wits between the mother-in-law and Shopkeeper Qian, the latter was completely defeated. Amidst Shopkeeper Qian's sighs, the mother-in-law emerged victorious. For sixty silver dollars, she bought all five antiques, and on top of that, she also got a few small jade pieces and a small carved pear wood box as extras.
While they were repacking the five antiques, Chen Lan glanced at the pear wood box that served as an extra. The pattern on the box was a fish transforming into a dragon, symbolizing "a carp leaping over the dragon's gate." She estimated that this box was probably worth more than all the small jade pieces combined.
Habitually, she scanned it with her mind. Sure enough, the system displayed: Qing Dynasty, Xuantong period, huanghuali wood carved fish transforming into a dragon pattern, transaction price 108,000.
"This extra is far too generous. Not to mention the eight or nine meticulously crafted, good-quality small jade pieces. Shopkeeper Qian has really bled himself dry this time!"
The mother and daughter-in-law asked Shopkeeper Qian to help deliver the goods to the back door of the grain and oil shop. Payment would be made upon delivery.
Because her mother-in-law had given Chen Lan 200 silver dollars that morning before they left, asking Chen Lan to keep it for her father-in-law for safekeeping while traveling, the actual money was in Chen Lan's system warehouse, and it wouldn't be convenient to take it out in front of Shopkeeper Qian.
Shopkeeper Qian saw that the delivery location was not far from his pawnshop and that they were acquaintances, so he asked his two sons to help with the delivery.