Hearing this, Shen Qiang felt a surge of anger rising.
In fact, of the thirty-six Store Treasures, even the least expensive had a market value of over seventy million. Let's not even speak of such expensive antiques. Even for a shopping mall decoration or a white shirt costing a hundred or two, a note would be attached stating: "Afraid of dirt, don't touch."
What about these treasures, then?
What are ceramics most afraid of?
Falling, bumping.
What if a custor spends 188 yuan to enter the shop, picks up an antique worth several hundred million to play with, and then accidentally breaks it?
They couldn't afford to compensate for it.
Reaching into their pocket, they find no money.
What can be done?
Even if you win a lawsuit, if they only have an inco of a few thousand yuan a month, what can you do?
Kill them? Execute them by firing squad?
Therefore, in any antique shop, it's always the rule that you can't touch any high-value antiques without permission.
This is how both Ancient Moon Pavilion and Elegant Charm operate as well.
But now that they've co to Happy Treasure, their story changes. They don't even ntion these industry rules that aren't formally established as rules.
Instead, they insist, claiming that Shen Qiang doesn't allow custors to handle ancient artifacts worth hundreds of millions in his shop because Shen Qiang is selling fakes.
This ignited Shen Qiang's fury, and Bianyi's expression also turned ugly.
"Anyway, there are a lot of people here now; there are quite a few from both Ancient Moon Pavilion and Elegant Charm. Since you spoke your minds, I will certainly give you the opportunity," said Shen Qiang calmly, raising his eyebrows, "It's the sa rules I ntioned before, you co to pick faults, I let you inspect three items."
"After that, we from Happy Treasure will go to your places and inspect three items. Right and wrong, black and white, will be clear at a glance. If you agree, we continue; if not, get out of my Happy Treasure imdiately."
Hearing this, the owner of Elegant Charm's face darkened, "Elegant Charm is the big boss of Antique Street. I will not allow others to inspect goods in my shop."
The eldest son of the owner of Ancient Moon Pavilion laughed and said, "If your shop has fake goods, you have no right to co to ours."
Hearing their responses, the people present were not pleased.
Owner Ma sneered, "Stop pretending. Even though you claim Elegant Charm is the big boss of Antique Street, half of the items in Shen Qiang's place would crush you."
Sun Kaiping said, "Elegant Charm is afraid to accept the challenge from Happy Treasure, which ans Elegant Charm definitely has fakes. Ancient Moon Pavilion insists that if Happy Treasure has fakes, they have no right to look at theirs, which ans they're not clean either. I am a professional at selling fakes; I can tell. So you two better scram, clean the shit off yourselves before talking about others stinking."
Hearing Owner Ma and Sun Kaiping's words.
The people present imdiately began whispering among themselves:
"Right, those two ca here to make trouble, but keep making excuses. I bet they're not clean."
"Ha, definitely. Otherwise, why have they co on so strong, and now the boss of Elegant Charm is chickening out?"
"Hmm, very possible."
In the midst of everyone's discussion, the eldest son of the Ancient Moon Pavilion owner pulled the proprietor of Insight over and whispered in his ear, "Brother, what are you afraid of? Which antique shop in the whole country doesn't have fake goods? A check would prove everyone guilty. Just agree to it, and if he finds fake goods, he's done for."
"Moreover, even if Xiduobao has no fakes, what do you have to fear? Our people are responsible for the appraisal. They can declare the real as fake, and the fake as real."
Hearing this, the wavering owner of Insight said gravely, "Alright, I hope you are right."
After exchanging opinions, the proprietor of Insight declared, "Fine, then let's proceed according to the agreent. Our appraiser will randomly inspect three items from your shop, and if no fakes are found, we will allow you to co to our shop and examine three items."
Shen Qiang smiled, "Deal."
The owner of Ancient Moon Pavilion was about to speak with a smile, but at that very mont, Xu Nan of Wanxin Hesheng chuckled and interjected, "Well, since everyone has agreed, let's proceed with that. However, regarding the choice of appraiser, I believe it must be sufficiently impartial."
Drawing the appraiser of Wanxin Hesheng over, Xu Nan said with a smile, "The appraiser of our Wanxin Hesheng should be familiar to everyone. He has ample experience and qualifications."
The owner of Insight frowned.
Almost at the sa ti, Bai Jiao also pushed forward the appraiser from Cheng Xinyi Auction House and said, "I'm very sorry, but I don't trust your people, because it seems you've had grievances before, which makes it hard to be fair. Therefore, our appraiser from Cheng Xinyi Auction House also needs to join to avoid your baseless claims."
The face of the owner of Insight turned cold as he said harshly, "I refuse because you and Shen Qiang are in cahoots, and it is very likely that you will declare fake goods as real by foul ans."
Upon hearing this, anger surged within Shen Qiang.
It was at this mont, accompanied by a cough, soone ca down from the second floor and spoke calmly, "Rejection is futile, as our Bureau of Industry and Comrce, Quality Supervision Bureau, antique market managent office, and the Municipal Criminal Police Team are conducting a crackdown on counterfeit antique production and sales."
"Since Insight, Ancient Moon Pavilion, and Xiduobao represent the weathervanes of Antique Street, we will start today's crackdown operation with your three establishnts."
Hearing this, Sun Kaiping quickly tried to make a phone call.
But just then, the elder who had co down from the upstairs smiled faintly, "The rest of you need not be nervous; I'm not interested in small fry."
The proprietor of Insight looked at him astonished and asked, "Who are you? How co I don't recognize you? You're talking nonsense, aren't you?"
The elder who had co down from upstairs smiled and signaled his companions to show their identification. The people following him not only presented credentials from the Bureau of Industry and Comrce, the Quality Supervision Bureau, and the market managent office, but one of them actually showed a police badge.
That wasn't all.
What was more surprising to everyone was,
The elder then made a phone call, and three highly esteed scholars from Provincial City arrived.
"The appraisers from Insight, Ancient Moon Pavilion, Wanxin Hesheng, Cheng Xinyi, along with our invited experts, will form an appraisal team to begin random inspections of the antiques currently being sold by Xiduobao, Ancient Moon Pavilion, and Insight. If anyone is found to be producing and selling forgeries, they will be severely punished."
In an instant, everyone fell silent.
The owner of Insight covertly tried to make a phone call.
But at that mont, the person who had shown a police badge, standing behind him, said, "Sir, please cooperate with our work. Since the items for sale are of considerable value, once established as fakes, it constitutes a criminal case. Therefore, please ask everyone to turn off their mobile phones."
The proprietor of Insight had no choice.
Shen Qiang laughed, "Our Xiduobao has absolutely no fakes. You can start now, inspect as you like."
Hearing this, the elder smiled, turned, and gazed at the eldest son of the Ancient Moon Pavilion owner, giving a slight smile and said, "I've heard that those who sell fakes possess a nearly intuitive keen Insight towards fakery, and I also overheard your earlier discussion."
"So, proceed with your earlier agreent. Now you and the owner of Insight point out three pieces you suspect might be fakes, and let our team of appraisers take a close look."
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