"How much is it?" David Carter asked. If an insider is buying something, they first need to inspect the item, and it's best if the whole story behind it can be explained clearly. Buying an item and hearing its story—that's the true pleasure for antique lovers. To make money and enjoy oneself at the same time is naturally captivating.

Of course, not all antiques come with stories. After all, our country has a long history, and the people and things that have appeared throughout ancient times are as numerous as the stars. It's impossible for every item's story to be passed down. But the Chinese people have never lacked for cleverness—if there's no story, can't one be made up? Some people even hear a story and deliberately craft objects to fit it.

"I think this item is fated for you. To be honest, someone once offered five thousand yuan for it, but I couldn't bear to sell. Now that I've met you, young man, I'll grit my teeth and let it go—I'll give you a special price, two thousand yuan." The vendor sized up his customer before naming a price. If he asked too much and this naive kid just turned and left, it would be a loss.

Chapter 3: A Lucky Find?

"Two thousand?!" David Carter exclaimed, standing up and turning to leave. Altogether, he had just over two hundred yuan on him, and this inconspicuous clay trinket was going for two thousand—this really opened his eyes. He'd have to tell the old man about this when he got home—even a lump of clay in the province was pricier than anything at home. The last time he bought an ancient jade in the south, it was only two hundred yuan.

"Hey, don't go!" The vendor saw David Carter get up to leave as soon as he heard the price and hurriedly called out. He hadn't expected that just two thousand yuan would completely kill David Carter's interest.

"I don't have that much money," David Carter said helplessly. Although he had been attracted to the item just now, he could only look and sigh.

"Then how much do you have?" the vendor asked casually. It was the first time he'd met such an honest buyer. Even though he didn't have much money, it still made the vendor happy. This child-bathing-ox ornament was something he had picked up from a rural picker. These pickers specialize in going from village to village buying antiques. He'd paid almost nothing for it, since it was a bamboo piece—just a throw-in.

"I only have... seventy yuan. If you want to sell, that's all I've got," David Carter said as soon as he opened his mouth, immediately understanding the vendor's meaning. He was kind but not stupid—when it came to cunning, even the old man at home could be outsmarted by him.

"Seventy?" The vendor frowned. This child-bathing-ox piece had almost zero cost, so whatever price the buyer offered, it was still a profit. For people like him, the value of the item didn't matter—even if it was a fake, as long as he could make money, that was enough.

Seeing David Carter about to leave, he was afraid to let a sure thing slip away. He sighed, frowned, put on a pained expression, and reluctantly said, "Fine, fine. You seem like an honest young man—let's be friends. Seventy it is." Even a little is still meat, as they say, and since this was pure profit, as long as he could make money, it was good enough for him.

David Carter held the ornament in his hand and handed over a one-hundred-yuan bill. The vendor took it without a second thought and immediately gave back thirty yuan in change. But as David Carter was about to walk into the rice noodle shop with the item, the vendor suddenly realized, "Didn't you say you only had seventy?"

"I have to eat, don't I? Besides food and a place to sleep, I really only had seventy left," David Carter turned his head and said with a grin.

Their transaction was complete. The vendor hadn't expected that this seemingly honest young man would be so shrewd, and could only smile wryly to himself. He'd been in the antique market for years, but this was the first time he'd met someone like David Carter. Even though he made a one-hundred-percent profit, he no longer felt the excitement he had earlier.

This rice noodle shop was right on Antique Street, so its decor couldn't be out of place. From the outside, it looked quaint and old-fashioned—the sign, the door, the pillars were all in antique style. Inside, all the tables, chairs, and benches were rustic. There was even a folding screen in the main hall.

As soon as he walked in, David Carter first glanced at the wooden price tags hanging on the wall. Seeing the reasonable prices, he felt at ease. Only then did he have the mood to look around the hall, and with one sweep, he spotted a familiar face. Since arriving in Tanzhou, he'd only been here a few hours, and the only person he could call an acquaintance was the old man he'd met at the train station exit. David Carter didn't think much of it—seeing that there was an empty seat next to the Eight Immortals table where the old man sat, he walked over and casually set the ornament down.

"Sir, is this seat taken?" David Carter asked.

"No, young man, it seems we really are fated to meet," Henry Brooks said with a smile. He had noticed David Carter as soon as he walked in.

"Thank you, sir. You just got off the train—why are you eating out?" David Carter asked in surprise. Since the old man had been picked up by his family, surely he'd have a good meal at home? Every time he went home, the old man would cook something nice for him—how could he just make do with a meal outside?

"I like the handmade noodles here. I've been away for several days and have been craving them. May I take a look at this item?" Henry Brooks pointed at the child-bathing-ox ornament that David Carter had casually placed on the table. He was an archaeology expert, passionate about antiques all his life. With his eye, he felt this might be a genuine piece.