Chapter 23 Touching the melon along the vine

Andrei looked at Miyaaibe, shook his head and said, "Miyaai-kun, Miss Li has forgiven your faux pas. But you know I'm not here just for drinking and smoking cigars, right? ”

"Where's the word? Andrey, of course I have really good things to offer you. ”

"So where? To tell you the truth, Miyai-kun, I also have a general understanding of your family's situation, and even if I don't doubt that you have full ownership of the good things you say, I am worried about the quantity and quality of what you are able to have. If it's just me coming here for nothing this time, it's okay, and it's not bad to travel all the time, but if I even miss Li for a trip in vain, I'll be very guilty. ”

Miyaaibe raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by that?" Do you doubt my abilities? ”

"Haha, don't be angry, brother. I hope my concerns are unnecessary, and I am willing to apologize for my words! So, let me see the real treasure! ”

Miyaaibe's anger at the hurt pride flickered, and he didn't speak, lighting the extinguished cigar again, taking a deep breath, and slowly exhaling a wisp of green smoke that rose in front of everyone.

Li Qiutong sat back and gently waved away the smoke with her hand, picked up a cup of green tea, did not speak, and carefully observed the expression of Miyai Inobe, she must follow this vine to find Ali Baba's treasure cave.

Andrei tilted his head and looked at Miyaaibe, "Miyaai-kun, I don't understand a little, do you have any difficulties?" ”

"Nope."

"No, my brother, there is no need to hide your inner hesitation with a firm tone, I can already see your hesitation in your eyes. Are you worried that I can't afford it? Or are you worried about selling it too cheap to me like last time? You can rest assured, I invited Miss Li to come over this time, on the one hand, it is to identify the authenticity of things, on the other hand, she will also set a reasonable price that you and I can accept as a professional intermediary, you know that she is an appraiser of the auction house, I promised to give her a high commission of 5% of the early transaction and 8% of the later auction amount as a reward, so you will not suffer, if you have good things, just take it out! I just want to remind you that I am here to find valuable goods, and not to waste everyone's time with ordinary or even fake things. ”

"Well, give me two or three days, and I'll bring it in three days at most."

"Why does it take so long? Isn't it okay in the afternoon? Or what about tomorrow? I don't think the city of Sukuda is so big that it takes three days to get a thing. ”

"Because it's not in Suda, it's on a small island, so I'm going to get it."

Li Qiutong keenly captured the message in Miyaai's words.

She immediately put pressure on Andre, "Andre, please understand, I am the president of the 'Oriental Society' at school, and I work at the Drouot auction house, there are often meetings, and my time is limited......"

"Yes, Miss Lee, not only is your time limited, but my time is also precious. Miyaai-kun, could you please bring me something as soon as possible? Unless you can't take it out, it won't take three days so long. ”

"Well...... there's a bit of a hard part here." Miyaaibe was urged to be a little overwhelmed, "It's not easy to take it." ”

Li Qiutong immediately guided the direction of the conversation, "Is it too big or too valuable?" Inconvenient to take it? Mr. Andre and I can inspect the goods where you put them. ”

Andrei also immediately chimed in, "That's right! You don't need to take it, we'll go over and see it live. ”

"Oh, no! I'm sorry that there was something inconvenient for you to go there. I'd better go get it as soon as possible. Miyaai's subconscious hurriedly waved his hand.

Li Qiutong said again: "Gong Hejun, may I ask where you got the two things you brought today?" ”

"It's at Suda's house."

"Have they been in your house all this time? Not somewhere else? ”

"That fake is in my house all along, and the other pottery bowl I brought from the island a while ago."

Andrei interjected: "Then do you have any valuable antiques in your house?" ”

Miyaai Ibe smiled bitterly, "No, you know my situation, if there is anything valuable, I would have sold it a long time ago." ”

Li Qiutong said again: "Gong Hejun, first of all, please forgive me for my offense, I want to ask you a question. ”

"You're welcome, Miss Li, please ask."

"May I ask Miyahe-kun, how much do you know about antiques? Can you tell which ones are genuine? Which are fakes? Which ones can be sold at a good price in the market? What are the worthless things? ”

"Well...... to be honest, I'm not sure about that. I'm just feeling. ”

"Haha, brother, you are honest in this statement! You can't laugh at my ignorance anymore! Andrei immediately seized the opportunity to pay tribute to Miyaaibe's previous belittlement of himself.

Li Qiutong continued: "Miyahe-kun, Mr. Andrei, we came to Japan to do business, and for the common interests of everyone, we should be honest with each other and not waste time needlessly. Let me analyze the current situation, Miyaai-kun, you have some things in your hands, maybe for safety reasons, you hide them in a safe secret room on a small island, just like the treasure cave of Monte Cristo Island in Alexandre Dumas's novel, you don't want to take outsiders there, you just want to take them out and sell them little by little. But my concern is that you can't really be sure of their value, and you don't even know if there's any really valuable antique, maybe the vase and the silk painting are just good luck, and what if we wait for you for three days and you get something worthless? Do you have to wait another three days for you to go back to the island and get another one? ”

Miyaheibe looked at Li Qiutong and nodded helplessly, "Maybe it's like what you said." ”

"Oh! Oh, God! Andrei slapped his forehead with his hand and leaned back on the couch. This is ridiculous! ”

Li Qiutong also shook his head, "Andre, it seems that I shouldn't accompany you to Japan, I should wait in France for you to bring things to me for appraisal, that will save a lot of trouble." I was thinking, maybe it's time for me to book a return ticket. ”

Andrei leaned forward and leaned straight into Miyai Iobe's eyes, "Brother, you have disappointed me so much!" This is not the courage of a man! You're not open enough! ”

"So what do you suggest?" Of course, Miyaai Ibe didn't want to lose this buyer, in fact, he only had Andre as a way to make money, and he was very short of money right now.

"You, take me and Miss Li to some small island, go to your secret room or treasure cave or whatever, and let Miss Li and I help you pick out something worth our deal! That's the fastest way for you and me to make money, isn't it? Gong Hejun, we have been friends for many years, I am a merchant from France, this is your territory, no matter what, you won't worry about me robbing your treasure, right? ”

Miyaaibe was silent for a long time, squeezing the cigar head out of the ashtray. "Well, it doesn't hurt to tell you the truth. On one island there is a secret room, but that is not my island of Monte Cristo, it is my grandfather's Dorjee. The secret room and all the things in it belonged to my grandfather, and I only sneaked in once, and took out a total of three things, except for the two that I had already sold for you in France, which was this worthless pottery bowl. ”

Andrei's eyes widened as he looked at Miyai Ibe, "So, you stole those things?" ”

"It's not stealing! How can you say that? That's my grandpa's stuff! I am his grandson, and his favorite grandson, and if grandpa chooses an heir, it will undoubtedly be me! So I'm not stealing! Ibe said with a flushed face.

"But you didn't tell your grandfather."

Miyaaibe covered his face with his hands and took a deep breath. "Yes, I don't dare tell grandpa yet, but even if grandpa knew, it wouldn't be a big deal. The reason I didn't say it was because I didn't want my father and eldest brother to know. That's why I don't sell in Japan and go as far as France to find you. ”

Andrei patted Miyaai's shoulder, "Okay, Miyaai-kun, there's nothing to be ashamed of!" I agree with you that at least part of your grandfather's stuff belongs to you, and it makes sense for you to use it. Maybe even your grandfather wouldn't object to it even if he knew you were doing it! Ha ha! And I, you see, not only did I sell my grandfather's things, but I also wanted to sell the castle left by my ancestors, shouldn't the property of my ancestors be enjoyed by future generations? Ha ha! ”

Miyaaibe also smiled bitterly.

"So you don't have to hide anything from me at all, I hope you can get me more antiques, and I can sell as many as I can in France!" I'll give you a good price, and of course I'm going to make a profit, you see, how perfect the two of us are working together! ”

Miyaai Ibe snorted coldly, "Hmph, we're two identical bastards!" ”

"Hah! So what? There are a hundred times more jerks in this world than we are. Why can't we do something for ourselves? We have to survive too, don't we? ”

"Looks like I'm going to have to learn from your cheekiness. This incident really made Miss Li laugh! ”

Li Qiutong was expressionless and took a sip of tea, "I'm just a middleman hired by Mr. Andre to get a commission, and I have no interest in your family's internal affairs." And I'm a scholar of antiques, and I just hope to see something that surprises me this time, not a waste of time. ”

"Haha!" Andrei slapped his face and laughed: "Miss Lee is a smart person!" Miyahe-kun, now you don't have any worries, right? Can you take us to your treasure room? ”

"It's not entirely impossible to take you there, there aren't many people on the island, only grandpa and some inconsequential servants. But let me think about it before I reply to you. ”

"When will you answer me?"

"Tomorrow, if you want to go, I will arrange it too, and we can go by boat the day after tomorrow."