Fang Zheng didn't have many friends, and Dapeng was definitely one of them. The two were neighbors when they were kids and practically grew up together.
However, their personalities were different. Fang Zheng was more introverted and went to university in the provincial city, while Dapeng 'graduated' early and started working.
Now, apart from holidays, they rarely meet up.
Moreover...
Zhou Dapeng was the second generation of demolitions, with seven or eight apartments in his family. While that might not count for much in the provincial city or Kyoto, it made for a carefree life in Qu City.
Ever since he stopped going to school, he began to let himself go, changing girlfriends one after another. Just those Fang Zheng knew numbered over ten.
Bringing a woman over was nothing unusual.
"How long will it take?"
"Not more than an hour!"
"Alright."
Hanging up the phone, Fang Zheng walked over to Elder Lu and the others.
"Sorry about that."
"No problem." Elder Lu stroked his beard, casually.
"Xiao Zheng is very sincere; forty thousand for this pair of bracelets seems fair to me. Of course, it's your stuff, so it's up to you whether you want to sell."
"Since Elder Lu said so, there's no reason for me not to want it." Fang Zheng nodded in agreement and asked:
"There's one more thing, do you two buy gold?"
He called Elder Lu intending to sell these items. Since the price was right and even far exceeded expectations, why wouldn't he agree?
As for the other party cheating him...
With the backing of an Otherworld, there were plenty of ways to get rich.
In the future, he would sell more jade artifacts, and an initial mistake was not much for Fang Zheng; he was willing to try trust.
Being cheated once would mean losing the future opportunity, which he sees as the other party's loss.
This also provided Fang Zheng his confidence!
In just a few days, he had undergone many changes invisibly, able to remain calm in the face of a large sum of forty thousand.
In the past, he definitely couldn't have handled it so calmly.
Not just confidence, but also courage.
Experiencing life and death situations and bloodshed can transform a person remarkably.
A recently graduated university student facing the unfamiliar society often carries a sense of naivety and confusion. Just days ago, facing people like Da Wei would leave him flustered.
Now Fang Zheng could handle things calmly.
These changes occurred subconsciously; he did not notice them himself, but Elder Lu beside him raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise.
"Gold."
Zheng Yubo spoke:
"If it's not much, I can help you sell it, ten dollars cheaper than the market price."
"Does five hundred grams count as much?"
"Not at all."
Fang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.
This was the advantage of being on Antique Street; elsewhere, one could hardly sell unused gold without certification for this price.
"Do you have a printer here?" Zheng Yubo took out his phone:
"Let's print a contract."
"Yes."
Fang Zheng hurriedly nodded.
For a forty thousand deal, it couldn't be that casual; certainly, paperwork needed to be signed.
Bracelets, gold, and some odds and ends were all packed together by Zheng Yubo for a total of sixty-two thousand.
Evidently, this sum was not insignificant even for him, as he was reluctant while transferring the money.
"Remember to pay taxes."
Putting away his phone, Zheng Yubo reminded:
"If you have more good things to sell, don't forget to notify me. As long as they're suitable, we can discuss the price."
"Sure, sure."
Fang Zheng nodded repeatedly.
He appeared calm, but his phone was almost squeezed to pieces; it was his first time seeing a sum of 'over sixty thousand.'
Moreover,
This sixty thousand belonged to him!
"I didn't expect Boss Fang to leave so many assets." Elder Lu stood up, patted Fang Zheng's shoulder:
"So, are you still going to rent the shop here? The rent of several thousand isn't a problem for you anymore."
"Rent." Fang Zheng nodded:
"Please let Manager Sun know, and I'll take care of the procedures in a couple of days."
"Alright." Elder Lu agreed:
"Don't forget to inform me if you have good stuff too. Although I, this old fellow, can't compare with Master Zheng's wealth, I'd still make a move if I come across something I like."
"Elder Lu jokes." Zheng Yubo shook his head repeatedly:
"How can I compare with you?"
They obviously assumed Fang Zheng's items were inherited from his uncle Fang Jian; otherwise, a university student couldn't have obtained such things.
Fang Zheng didn't clarify, smiling as he saw them off.
At this moment,
A man and two women just happened to arrive on the street.
*
*
*
Dapeng had a naturally square face and rough skin, yet his gift of gab and willingness to spend meant he was never without women.
"This time it's different."
Dapeng leaned close to Fang Zheng, whispered:
"This time my second uncle introduced me to someone; he specifically warned me to date seriously, or I'd get a beating if I mess up."
"Your second uncle still beats you now?"
"Don't mention it!"
Dapeng made a pained expression:
"Anyways, later just go along with me, entertain these two ladies well, and after a few days, I'll find an excuse saying it's not suitable."
"You never intended to seriously date," Fang Zheng was speechless:
"Which one?"
The two women ahead were both tall; one wore glasses and looked scholarly, the other was lively and kept looking around.
"The one on the left." Dapeng gestured toward the scholarly woman:
"Her name's Xu Jiao, her family's situation is pretty good; they say they're from a family of scholars. Marrying her would be suffocating."
In this regard, Fang Zheng agreed.
Since childhood, Dapeng disliked studying, particularly girls who performed well academically, although his family clearly disagreed.
"Her friend is Nannan, a real estate agent."
Dapeng licked his lips, saying:
"Now that's my type!"
Fang Zheng understood.
This friend of his seemed interested in Nannan, but his family wanted him to pursue Xu Jiao, so he pulled Fang Zheng over to create an opportunity for him.
"Hey!"
Nannan paused and turned around:
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing." Dapeng grinned:
"Just discussing where to eat."
"What's good to eat around here?" Nannan curled her lip, said:
"It's in the middle of nowhere, except for locals, who comes here? I'd never heard of Antique Street near Celestial Plate Mountain."
Fang Zheng chuckled awkwardly.
Indeed.
Five out of ten shop fronts were closed on Seven Miles, with more people doing business than window shopping. No one knew what kind of whimsy the district had when building a market here.
For over a decade, the rent never increased, and in the entire Qu City, except for Seven Miles, there might not be a second place like this.
However, today Fang Zheng learned something; despite the sparse business on this street, many had bulging pockets.
Tens of thousands can be produced at a moment's notice.
His uncle had also mentioned before, the antique business was like that; not a single trade for three years but eat well for the three starting days, outsiders can't discern wealth and poverty.
"Fewer people, better environment."
Dapeng laughed:
"Look over there at the main mountain of Celestial Plate Mountain, packed with people, what's worth seeing there? This side is picturesque and pleasing."
"Come on, come!"
"Let's eat first, then we can climb the mountain."
Upon entering the restaurant, before the dishes were ordered, Dapeng first ordered a bottle of baijiu.
Xu Jiao tried to stop him, but Nannan was excited, pouring herself a full glass once the liquor was served, indicating a good alcohol tolerance.
With a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere turned lively.
At this point, Fang Zheng observed that Xu Jiao hadn't taken a liking to Dapeng. Instead, it was Nannan and Dapeng who appeared flirty.
But they had to consider Xu Jiao's feelings, not daring to be overt about it.
Quite interesting!
"Miss Xu."
"Just call me Xu Jiao."
"Well, Xu Jiao..." Fang Zheng accommodated Dapeng, putting up a feigned front anyone could see through:
"What do you do?"
"Jiaojiao's family runs a pharmacy dealing in herbal medicine." Nannan interjected:
"The Longsheng Pharmacy is theirs."
"Oh!" Fang Zheng's eyes lit up. He didn't know the Longsheng Pharmacy, but happened to need a traditional healer, so he asked:
"Your family runs a pharmacy then Xu Jiao, do you know medicinal herbs?"
"Of course I know them." Xu Jiao looked curiously:
"Why, Boss Fang, are you interested in herbal medicine too?"
"Yes." Fang Zheng nodded:
"I have a batch of medicinal herbs; I'm actually looking for someone to help identify them. Can you help?"