“Mr. Bolton, right? Do you want to consign the item or sell it outright?”

Kevin Clark was using industry jargon here. To consign means to leave the item here for sale, and if it sells, the shop takes a 20% commission. Selling outright means selling the item directly to the shop, but of course, the price will be a bit lower.

“Outright,” the middle-aged man with glasses replied.

“Alright, then Old Thompson, let’s go inside and talk.” Kevin Clark nodded. Generally, if it’s an outright sale, they don’t accept items from strangers, but with Old Thompson vouching, there’s no problem at all.

Kevin Clark led the elderly man and the middle-aged man with glasses toward the second floor, but halfway there, he remembered there was still someone else waiting.

“Brother, my old man isn’t in the shop today. If you really need to see him, come back tomorrow.”

Kevin Clark called out to Brian Carter, but at this moment, Brian Carter’s gaze was fixed on the wooden box in Mr. Bolton’s hands. Although Kevin Clark and Old Thompson were speaking quietly, he heard every word clearly, and a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes.

“You can’t accept this item.” After a moment, Brian Carter withdrew his gaze and said to Kevin Clark.

As soon as Brian Carter spoke, Kevin Clark was stunned, and Old Thompson was also taken aback. Only Mr. Bolton’s body trembled slightly.

“Brother, are you confused? This is my Huabao Pavilion. Whether I accept something or not is my business—what does it have to do with you?”

After coming to his senses, Kevin Clark glared at Brian Carter in annoyance. He knew that even his own father wanted to build a relationship with Old Thompson. Even if Old Thompson’s student brought in a piece of scrap metal, he’d treat it as a Ming or Qing dynasty antique, let alone something from someone of Old Thompson’s status, who would never do anything questionable.

“I suggest you contact your father before accepting this item.” There were some things Brian Carter couldn’t say outright, at least not in the main hall.

“No need to contact him. I can accept it. I’m the young boss here—there’s nothing I can’t accept.”

Kevin Clark was amused by Brian Carter, feeling as if their roles had been reversed and he was the one who wasn’t the young boss of Huabao Pavilion.

Faced with Kevin Clark’s attitude, Brian Carter frowned. If it weren’t for his master’s instructions, he would have turned and left by now.

It’s hard to persuade someone who’s determined to make a mistake.

“This young man, what’s your relationship with Boss Clark?” Old Thompson spoke up at this point, asking with some confusion.

“Old Thompson, I don’t know what his relationship is with my old man. He knows my old man’s name but says he doesn’t know him personally,” Kevin Clark replied from the side.

“Can you stop making trouble? Believe it or not, I’ll call security to throw you out.” Kevin Clark glared at Brian Carter, then turned to Old Thompson with a smile. “Old Thompson, let’s go upstairs to talk.”

“Forget it, I’ve already fulfilled my master’s instructions.”

Seeing Kevin Clark’s attitude, Brian Carter shook his head and said nothing more, turning to walk straight out the door.

“When your father returns, just tell him that the descendant of an old acquaintance from Miaohe Village has already been here.”

“Ridiculous.”

Kevin Clark rolled his eyes at Brian Carter’s departing figure, then led Old Thompson and his student upstairs.

Less than an hour after Brian Carter left Huabao Pavilion, a Mercedes S400 pulled up at the entrance. From the car stepped a middle-aged man in his fifties with a square face.

The two sales assistants at the door immediately lost their lazy expressions when they saw the man get out, straightening up and calling out, “Boss.”

This middle-aged man was none other than the owner of Huabao Pavilion, David Clark.

“Old Thompson, long time no see. I heard from my Kevin that you came by, so I rushed over specially.”

In a tea room on the second floor, David Clark pushed open the door and greeted Old Thompson. He had already learned from his son over the phone that Old Thompson had brought a student to sell an antique.

Inside the tea room, besides Old Thompson, his student, and Kevin Clark, there was also an elderly man in his sixties wearing glasses.

“Kevin, since he’s Old Thompson’s student, the item can’t be fake. Why did you ask Teacher Thompson to come up?”

David Clark looked displeased. This elderly man was the appraisal expert employed by Huabao Pavilion, responsible for authenticating jade antiques.

“Boss Clark, I requested it. Business needs rules. We can’t break the rules just because of me. If it needs to be appraised, it should be appraised,” Old Thompson said with a smile.

“With Old Thompson here, is there even a need for appraisal? Everyone knows you have a discerning eye,” David Clark flattered.

“The antique business is full of pitfalls, and I’m not that knowledgeable about jade. Besides, if you skip the appraisal because of me, what if I bring a pile of porcelain from the craft market next time—would you accept it all?”

“Haha, as long as it’s from you, Old Thompson, I’ll take it all. No matter real or fake, I’ll just tell the buyers it came from Old Thompson’s collection. I bet I could even sell it for a higher price.”

“You really do have a businessman’s mind…”