The early autumn morning is still a little cool, and the maple trees in the east city have been slightly red, and I believe that the city will be full of red glow in a few days. One of the places with the most maple trees in the east city is still on the Maple Street in the west of the city, also known as the antique street.

After the reform and opening up, Maple Street, which was originally just a thrift market, has gradually become an antique street. After years of development, it has become one of the famous attractions in Dongcheng.

A young man with short hair, about twenty years old, stood at the counter of an antique shop, yawning boredly as he watched the growing number of pedestrians outside the street.

The young man's name is Zhao Ming, nicknamed Bulb. After graduating from high school and not being admitted to college, he had no intention of studying, so he was entrusted by his family to become an apprentice in the antique street of this antique shop called "Babao Zhai". Helplessly, Zhao Ming's talent is limited, and after two years, he can only be regarded as a layman.

Babaozhai's store is in the antique street, which is medium, and there are four or five guys in the store in addition to the two appraisers. Because Zhao Ming was not liked by an appraisal master, he could only do some things at the guest beast counter, but he didn't care, but he was happy.

In the antique industry, I think it is important to pay attention to "not opening for three years, opening and eating for three years", so there are also some tourists who don't know how to go in and out of the store, all of which are handled by Zhao Ming.

"Hmph, I'm going to doze off just after I go to work, won't I find something to do?" A man in his thirties with gold-rimmed glasses suddenly walked in outside the door, and when he saw Zhao Ming's appearance, he said a lesson.

The man with gold wire glasses is named Huang Shaofeng, and he is one of the two appraisers in the store. Huang Shaofeng's family used to be engaged in antique jade, which is a family heirloom. A few days ago, another appraiser, Mr. Wang, went back to his hometown, so there was only one appraiser in the store in the past few months, so Huang Shaofeng was more confident, and he had to play majestic from time to time.

Zhao Ming didn't want to offend this person, the appraiser was much more important than the clerk. If he provoked Huang Shaofeng, he could just find a reason to drive Zhao Ming out, and the boss wouldn't say anything.

"Master Huang has learned a lesson. Zhao Ming nodded, full of dog-legged fan.

Huang Shaofeng's chin was raised, and his nostrils were about to go to the sky, "It's good to know." With that, he went in with his hands behind his back.

Zhao Ming breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Huang Shaofeng enter. When I looked outside again, I saw a short, plainly dressed old woman standing outside the store, who looked into the store from time to time, looking hesitantly.

"Business is coming to the door. Zhao Ming said secretly in his heart, so he hurriedly greeted him.

Usually in this case, it must be that the old man is planning to come and sell some good family heirloom. Antique shops sometimes make their fortunes off of this.

Zhao Ming took a closer look, only to find that the old woman was withered, her face was pale, and the whole person looked a little depressed, and his heart couldn't help but tremble, and he asked softly: "Old man, is there something wrong with coming here?"

The old woman raised her cloudy eyes and glanced at Zhao Ming, and said tremblingly: "The old man in the family has broken his leg and is waiting for money for surgery." After saying that, he opened his coat and took out something wrapped in a flower cloth from his arms.

"The ancestors handed down a piece of jade, and I want to give it to ...... I sold it. At last the old woman seemed to be choked and could not speak.

"What about your sons and daughters, don't they pay for it?" Zhao Ming asked with sympathy and confusion.

The old woman wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, pulled a smile at the corner of her mouth, and said, "Their family is also in difficulty, and they can't afford it." ”

Zhao Ming nodded, sighed secretly in his heart, and immediately said: "Then old man, come with me, I believe that the master in the store will give you a fair price." ”

The old woman nodded, and followed Zhao Ming into the store.

Zhao Ming said to Huang Shaofeng first, and then took the old woman to Huang Shaofeng's counter.

Huang Shaofeng very kindly invited the old woman to sit down, and his expression was also very kind. If he receives something good, he will also have a large bonus, and he will naturally be very enthusiastic.

The old woman's expression eased when she was treated like this, but she still said word by word: "My old man is still short of 3,000 yuan for the operation......

Huang Shaofeng was obviously a little impatient, and urged: "The old man hurry up and take out your baby, as long as it is a good thing, the price will definitely not be less than yours." ”

The old woman nodded, put the flower cloth bag on the counter, and after peeling it off layer by layer, the true face of the ancient jade appeared in front of everyone.

It is like an earthy yellow round jade the size of a teacup, with some cloud patterns roughly carved on it, and it is still tattered all around, and there is no value to be seen.

After Huang Shaofeng saw the appearance of the jade, his face was not good-looking, he pursed his lips as if he was thinking about something, and even Zhao Ming's heart on the side sank.

After the old woman sensed the change in the expressions of the two, she was also a little panicked, and asked eagerly, "Can you sell it for three thousand yuan?" I really need this money. ”

Huang Shaofeng said stiffly: "Old woman, you are all over the street, and it is too much to give you fifty." After speaking, he turned his head to Zhao Ming and said, "Where to bring it, where to send it." Damn, I really thought there was something good?" He got up to leave.

Unexpectedly, the old woman suddenly stretched out her hand and grabbed Huang Shaofeng, and begged: "This master, please do well, buy my piece of jade." ”

Huang Shaofeng's face became even more ugly, he glared at Zhao Ming fiercely, and squeezed out a sentence from his teeth, "Don't you want to do it?

The old woman turned her head to look at Zhao Ming with a pleading look on her face.

Although Zhao Ming didn't feel good in his heart, he still hurried over to persuade the old woman to let go, and helped the old woman pack up the ancient jade, and after handing it over to the old woman, he sent the old woman out of the store.

"Thank you, little brother. Sorry to bother you. The old woman said goodbye to Zhao Ming with a wry smile, her face full of disappointment and loneliness. Then he turned and walked home.

Zhao Ming looked at the old woman's gradually smaller figure, and felt a little empty in his heart. Finally, he gritted his teeth and ran back to the lounge, opened his cabinet, took out the 3,500 yuan salary he had just received, and chased him out.

When Zhao Ming stopped the old woman, the old woman was still at a loss, "Young man, who are you?"

Zhao Ming looked at the old woman, smiled, and said, "Old man, I like your piece of jade very much, can you sell it to me?"

The old woman was stunned, unable to believe what Zhao Ming said.

Zhao Ming repeated it again, and the old woman took out the ancient jade tremblingly. Zhao Ming took the ancient jade from the old woman's hand, and then stuffed the envelope containing money in his pocket into the old woman's hand.

"Take the money and give the old man treatment. Zhao Ming said softly.

The old woman felt the weight of the envelope, opened it and looked at it, and tears came down her eyes, "Thank you, young man. Originally, I shouldn't have asked for your money, but I'm afraid that my old man won't be able to hold ......" As he spoke, he was about to kneel down and give Zhao Ming a look.

Zhao Ming hurriedly pulled the old woman up, stopped a taxi for the old woman, and after asking the old woman to explain the address, he let the car drive away.

After watching the car drive far away, Zhao Ming breathed a sigh of relief and turned around and went back to the store.

Back in the store, Huang Shaofeng walked out with a sneering face and said, "What a fool, maybe people are lying to you." I really think I'm a bodhisattva. ”

The old woman held Zhao Ming's hand tightly before the car drove away, and kept saying words of thanks. Zhao Ming believed that the old woman was not lying. Hearing Huang Shaofeng's sarcasm, Zhao Ming just smiled slightly and ignored it.

Seeing that he was being ignored, Huang Shaofeng wanted to say something more, when a tall and beautiful woman suddenly walked in from outside the door.

"Zhao Ming did a good job, although he was a little stupid, but I appreciate it, and I will give you a salary increase next month. The long-haired woman said with a smile.

She is the only daughter of Sun Dade, the owner of Babaozhai, named Sun Qing. I'm only 23 years old this year, and I'm also studying archaeology. After graduating, he came over to help Sun Dade take care of Babao Zhai, which is equivalent to a small boss.

Hearing her words of encouragement, Zhao Ming felt flattered, and hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, little boss." ”

Sun Qing nodded, and then chatted with Zhao Ming for a few more words, Zhao Ming often dealt with people, and made Sun Qing cover his mouth and laugh without saying a few words.

However, Huang Shaofeng, who was secretly observing on the side, looked more and more ugly, he had been pursuing Sun Qing, but Sun Qing was unapologetic to him, but now Sun Qing was chatting with Zhao Ming hotly. He couldn't help but hate Zhao Ming.