Chapter 164: The Fool Gives Away Money
This box was just a piece of junk he'd randomly picked out from a salvage station. As for the ceramics inside, they were just cheap items he had bought for five yuan each. But now, in the blink of an eye, things had taken such a strange turn.
He looked at Liu Ergou, forcing a calm expression as he said, "So what if it's spliced wood! It can't possibly be worth 10,000 yuan! A broken box is a broken box. I think you've gone mad with anger!"
However, Liu Ergou couldn't be bothered with him at the moment. He just kept scraping at the box with his small knife. In just a few minutes, his blade had shaved a thin layer off the once dark, unremarkable little box.
Beneath it, a completely different color was revealed.
When Liu Yunxi saw the color of the box, she couldn't help but gasp, her pupils constricting as she muttered, "Huanghuali wood? Is that for real?"
The scammer, who was standing nearby, heard her loud and clear. A tidal wave of shock crashed through him.
Fuck! Huanghuali wood? That's considered the gold standard of wood! If this entire box is made from it, it has to be worth at least... 30,000!
The thought struck him like a bolt from the blue.
Just then, Liu Ergou stopped what he was doing and held the box up to the sunlight for a closer look. Then, he suddenly shouted to the surrounding crowd.
"Come on over, everyone! I have a piece of Huanghuali wood here, about three jin in weight and in perfect condition! You could definitely make a bracelet from it. Anyone interested? It's guaranteed authentic! If it's a fake, I'll pay you back ten times the price!"
As soon as he said this, Liu Ergou was instantly mobbed by a crowd three layers deep.
Many people were shouting, "Huanghuali wood? For real? Let me see, let me see!"
Hearing the crowd's clamor, Liu Ergou held up the box in his hands for everyone to see. "What I have here is a box made of Huanghuali. You've all seen it, so let's start the bidding!"
The words silenced the entire scene in an instant.
A full minute of silence passed.
Finally, someone shouted, "I'd say that box weighs about three jin, so based on the market price, I'll offer 30,000!"
But no sooner had he spoken than another person yelled, "Shit, 30,000? This is genuine Huanghuali, and I've had a look—the quality is excellent! I'll offer 40,000! If you agree, I'll get the cash for you right now!"
Hearing the bystander's offer, Liu Yunxi and the scammer were so astonished their mouths fell open. They had never dreamed that such an unassuming box could be so valuable.
At that moment, Liu Ergou shouted, "The high bid is 40,000! Is anyone going higher? If not, I'm selling it to this friend here!"
As he spoke, the bidder pushed his way through the crowd to stand before Liu Ergou. As expected, no one offered more than 40,000.
Seeing no higher bids, Liu Ergou nodded in satisfaction and prepared to hand the box to the man.
At that moment, the scammer looked at the 10,000 yuan in his own hand and then at the box in Liu Ergou's. He suddenly felt like a complete clown.
He immediately lunged in front of Liu Ergou, reaching out to snatch the box while yelling, "Give me back my box! I don't need your compensation for the ceramics anymore!"
But just as his hand was about to touch the box, Liu Ergou moved like a flash, grabbing the man's wrist in a vise-like grip.
"Do you take everyone here for a fool?" he said coldly. "I already paid you in front of all these witnesses! You agreed to the deal! This box is mine now. Trying to take it back is just plain robbery!"
With that, Liu Ergou's hand suddenly tightened its grip. A sickening, grating sound came from the scammer's wrist. The man screamed in agony and tried to struggle free, but Liu Ergou's strength was immense. There was no way he could break loose.
It wasn't until this moment that Liu Yunxi finally understood.
No wonder Liu Ergou was so quick to pay him. He was waiting for this! A happy smile bloomed on her face at the thought. Serves this scammer right! In the end, he's the one who turned out to be the fool!
Just then, Liu Ergou violently flung the scammer to the ground and was about to give the box to the highest bidder. But the scammer wasn't about to give up.
He immediately scrambled up from the ground and yelled at Liu Ergou, "You dare sell that box to someone else? It's my box! You better believe I'll call the police right now!"
Hearing the word "police," a scornful smile touched Liu Ergou's lips. "Call the police?" he scoffed. "Use that brain of yours. Plenty of people here can testify to what just happened! If you don't believe me, go ahead and try!"
No sooner had Liu Ergou spoken than someone in the crowd shouted. "That's right, I can testify!"
"Yeah, me too!"
"Exactly! You're the one who agreed to hand over the box for 10,000 yuan!"
Ignoring the man, Liu Ergou handed the box directly to the highest bidder. The man didn't hesitate, pulling 40,000 yuan out of his bag and stuffing it into Liu Ergou's hand.
This took Liu Ergou by surprise. Well, I'll be. There are actually tycoons in this counterfeit market. I really underestimated this place.
Looking at the four thick stacks of red bills in his hand, Liu Ergou laughed. "Man, my luck is pretty good today! Just when I'm short on cash, some fool shows up to hand me money!"
With that, he turned to Liu Yunxi with a grin. "Yun Xi, we can't have you coming to town for nothing. I'm taking you shopping! Pick out whatever you like. Everything's on me!"
He waved the red banknotes in his hand. "After all, some fools are just eager to give their money away!"
The scammer nearly coughed up blood when he heard that. He never imagined a beat-up old box would be worth so much. Not only had he failed to get one over on Liu Ergou, but he had also lost a fortune. He was afraid his boss would skin him alive for this.
It turned out he was the biggest fool of all. At this thought, the man was filled with utter despair. He felt as if his world had just collapsed.
But Liu Ergou paid him no mind, simply taking Liu Yunxi and leaving the secondhand market, heading straight for the fertilizer store.
As he walked down the road with Liu Yunxi, Liu Ergou pondered what the scammer had said to him.
It was obvious someone was targeting me. And as for who it was... Liu Ergou had already figured it out.