Chapter 579
“About three hundred thousand?” Jiang Yexun frowned as he thought for a moment before giving an answer.
Since he had been away for several months, he had gradually handed over thirty-five antique items. Xiaoxiao had estimated their prices beforehand; the cheapest could fetch about 8,000 to 9,000, while the more expensive ones could go for around 200,000.
He deliberately mentioned “three hundred thousand” to test Big Gao’s trustworthiness in the face of a huge temptation.
Then he saw Big Gao frown, as if dissatisfied with Jiang Yexun’s lack of ambition.
“Your vision is too narrow! The cheapest one sold for 12,000, and the most expensive one sold for 630,000,” Big Gao said in a low voice, clearly excited.
He then took out a letter and handed it to Jiang Yexun.
“The antiques you gave me—I sold a batch just before the New Year. I missed the auction, and I didn’t dare hold on to them for too long, so the prices were a bit lower. Three pieces were bought by one family, each for 12,000. Two of the expensive ones sold for 130,000 each. Four pieces sold for 65,000 each, and two more sold for 36,000 and 48,000. Altogether, that’s 640,000.
After the New Year, I went again and took ten pieces. Due to the snow, I didn’t bring any porcelain or paintings, but I still managed to sell some things. Two items sold for 16,000 each, four sold for 22,000 each, and two more sold for 26,000 each. That brought in another 172,000.
The last time was in early March, just in time for the spring auction. I took fourteen pieces. One sold for 36,000, five sold for 48,000 each, three sold for 52,000 each, and two more sold for 88,000 each. The remaining three were sold for 330,000, 460,000, and 630,000 respectively. Altogether, that brought in 2,098,000.
In total, I made 2,910,000 from all three trips. I gave 10,000 to the people in Harbor City who helped me out, since they had to fight several times, and some even ended up in the hospital. Of the remaining 2,900,000, I took 10% as my share, and the rest—2,610,000—I’ve brought back for you.
I’ve packed it all into bamboo baskets and sealed them in the room next door, the one with no windows. You’d better move the money quickly; I’ve been barely sleeping, keeping one eye open. It’s been exhausting.”
Big Gao rambled on, listing the accounts in detail.
“Brother Gao, thank you! I’ll come by tonight to move the money,” Jiang Yexun said, his smile now even more genuine, seeing that Big Gao had not only refrained from taking any of it for himself but had also only taken a modest share.
But then he teased, “But Brother Gao, with all this tension, do you really dare to go back to Harbor City to sell antiques again?”
“What’s there to fear? If you don’t make money, you’re a fool! Let me tell you, I’ve already gotten the contact information for a dozen or so wealthy collectors of antiques. Next time, if we have goods, I can show them first. But they don’t really like carved wooden items, jade, or accessories—they prefer porcelain, paintings, that sort of thing. If we have more of those next time, it would be better,” Big Gao shared, outlining the demands of the buyers.
Jiang Yexun didn’t outright reject it but instead sighed, “We can’t really control what we get, can we? We’ll take whatever comes our way. But, as Xiaoxiao said, rare and precious items, national treasures, we wouldn’t sell them abroad.”
Jiang Yexun then told Big Gao about his brother-in-law’s situation.
Big Gao immediately slapped his chest, promising, “Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of people here. I’ll have them keep watch around your brother-in-law’s factory. Every member of the finance department will have two people shadowing them. No one will have a chance to scheme against your brother-in-law.”
“Thanks a lot, Brother Gao,” Jiang Yexun said with a grateful smile.
He then handed over the items he had chosen earlier to Big Gao. Seeing the antiques, Big Gao’s smile almost stretched from ear to ear.
Before they left, Big Gao handed Jiang Yexun a basket.
“It’s full of imported goods—chocolate, donkey-hide gelatin, deer antler, fish maw, abalones, bird’s nest—these are all things my buyers sent me as gifts. I kept some for myself, but the rest are in here. They say they’re good for the body. Your sister’s pregnant, and your wife is still so delicate. Your mother’s health isn’t great either; you’d better take these and let them all have some,” Big Gao said, beaming with generosity.
Jiang Yexun looked down at the basket in his hands, a warm feeling spreading through him.
Not daring to delay, he glanced at the time and hurried to his sister and brother-in-law’s house.
Jiang Xinyue had already told Aunt Guo about Hua Shoucheng’s situation.
So as soon as Jiang Yexun returned, Aunt Guo rushed to meet him.
“Well? Have you contacted the people you needed to?” Aunt Guo asked anxiously.
“Yes, everything’s in place now. They should be watching by now,” Jiang Yexun nodded, then handed over the basket to her. “Here, this is from Big Gao in Harbor City. Some supplements that were sent by others. You and my sister, Xiaoxiao, should have some and take care of your health.”
Aunt Guo immediately opened the basket to take a look.
“These are good quality donkey-hide gelatin, much better than what you bought last time. But this stuff promotes circulation, so neither your sister nor Xiaoxiao should take it right now. As for the deer antler, neither you nor your brother-in-law should have it. We can soak the abalones and eat them instead. Chocolate is just a snack, so eat it quickly, and burn the packaging. Fish maw and bird’s nest are both excellent, I’ll figure out how to prepare them later. Let your sister and Xiaoxiao have some for now. The rest can wait until after your sister gives birth; it’ll help her recover.”
Aunt Guo had come from a wealthier background when she was younger, so she was familiar with such products. She knew they weren’t ordinary gifts.
However, this also made Aunt Guo realize something.
“So, the antiques we sold in Harbor City fetched a pretty good price?”
“Thirty-five items in total, divided into three batches, sold for 2,910,000. Big Gao gave 10,000 to his people in Harbor City, took a 10% commission, and brought back 2,610,000 for us. Tonight, Xiaoxiao and I will go and collect the money,” Jiang Yexun explained without hesitation.
At first, Aunt Guo seemed quite pleased with the news, but upon hearing the last part, her face immediately darkened.
“Good heavens! You fool! Your wife’s pregnant, and you took her along for such a dangerous errand. Are you trying to scare her to death?” Aunt Guo raised her hand and gave Jiang Yexun a couple of sharp slaps on his arm.