Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

After Xu Damao finished his explanation, he reached out to take out the pear juice and took a sip.

"Well, I'd better sell it. It's only a silver dollar."

Lou Xiao'e is not as enthusiastic about these antiques as Xu Damao. She thinks these things are just historical relics. Although they have certain value, they are not worth being too obsessed with. In contrast, she pays more attention to things in real life, such as family, work and interpersonal relationships.

On the other hand, Xu Damao has a strong interest and love for antiques. After all, if he didn't have a strong interest, he would not have become a well-known appraiser in his previous life.

He thinks these things not only have economic value, but also are a kind of cultural heritage and historical testimony. He likes to study the stories and meanings behind them, and feel the passage of time and the progress of human civilization.

"Okay, let's sell it at the stall. I'm just worried that someone won't know the value of it. It'll be hard to sell this thing, oh."

Xu Damao sighed helplessly and carefully placed the Shanghai one-liang silver dollar in his hand on the stall. He knew in his heart that this silver dollar was sold at a high price of nearly three million at the auction in his previous life!

If he really wanted to sell it, he would have to offer a price of more than 100 yuan to match its current value, but selling a silver dollar for more than 100 yuan was too high a price to accept. Thinking of this, Xu Damao couldn't help but feel a headache.

Lou Xiao'e looked at her husband's worried face and couldn't help asking, "Why is it so hard to sell?" She didn't know much about these things and naturally couldn't understand Xu Damao's difficulties.

Xu Damao explained with a wry smile: "I know the value of this thing and I can't sell it cheap, but others don't know that! If a customer asks the price and I say it's over a hundred yuan, I'll probably be treated as a fool and thought I'm crazy about money."

Lou Xiao'e nodded in sudden enlightenment, indicating that she understood the reason. Then she asked curiously: "What should we do? Should we just give up and sell it?"

"Well... I think I can try to tell the customers about the origin of this thing and let them know how rare it is. Maybe this can increase the selling price a little. After all, rare things are expensive. But I can't guarantee that it will be successful." After saying that, Lou Xiao'e gently stroked the silver dollar, with a trace of reluctance in her eyes.

She believed that as long as Xu Damao could explain the origin and value of this silver dollar to the customers, perhaps he could find someone who truly knew the business to buy it.

"Xiao E, this is what I often say about buying things in the ghost market. The stall owners tell stories. Even if what you tell is true, the buyers will just listen to it as a story and will never take it seriously. They will even think you are a liar..."

As Xu Damao spoke, he gently patted Lou Xiao'e on the shoulder, reminding her not to take it too seriously.

“If you don’t believe it, walk forward and find a stall selling old items to ask the price. The stall owners can tell you the origin of everything on their stalls. This is storytelling, and it really tests a person’s ability to respond.” Xu Damao added that he wanted Lou Xiaoe to understand that doing business in the ghost market requires some skills and experience.

"Ability to respond? According to you, the origins of those old items were also made up by these stall owners on the spur of the moment?" Lou Xiao'e asked in disbelief, her eyes wide open.

"The origins of some things have to be made up on the spot, but some stall owners do have real skills. They can identify the age, value and other information of some antiques, and make them into stories to tell customers, thereby attracting customers to buy. Of course, this situation is relatively rare, and most stall owners make money by talking. Therefore, you must be cautious when buying things in the ghost market, and don't easily believe what the stall owners say." Lou Xiao'e explained.

At this time, a customer came, and Xu Damao told Lou Xiao'e to keep an eye on the stall and be careful of the three hands, and he went to serve the customer.

This is a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit. As soon as he arrived at Xu Damao's stall, he was attracted by the dark blue porcelain vase. He has been looking at it with a lantern for about two minutes.

"Hey, big brother, can you help me hold this bottle? I want to see the bottom."

The middle-aged man held the bottle, but his eyes were looking at an old man next to him who was looking intently at the beads in his hand.

"No, no, this is the stall owner's stuff, and it's porcelain. I dare not take it carelessly. You should go to the stall owner."

When the old man heard the voice, he looked up at the middle-aged man, then looked at the bottle in his hand, and quickly waved his hand and said.

What a joke. There are so many traps set in the ghost market. If I really reach out to take it, what if this guy is the stall owner's agent and the two of them team up to set a trap for me...

"Big brother, do you like this Cong bottle?"

Just then, Xu Damao came over and asked.

"Yes, this thing is very beautiful, but I haven't seen the bottom pattern yet." The middle-aged man replied.

"Oh? Then you can pick it up and take a look." Xu Damao suggested.

"Oh, no, no, I only have one hand and I have to hold the lantern with the other hand. Besides, this thing is quite expensive. It will be troublesome if I accidentally break it." The middle-aged man said helplessly.

"Is that so..." Xu Damao frowned and said to the middle-aged man, "How about I help you pick it up and have a look?"

"Well... okay, then I'll have to trouble you, brother." The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, and finally agreed.

Xu Damao walked to the stall, carefully picked up the Cong bottle from the ground, and let the middle-aged man see the inscription on the bottom.

"Thank you, brother." The middle-aged man said gratefully, holding up the lantern and looking carefully at the pattern on the bottom.

"You're welcome. We all come here to shop on Taobao." Xu Damao replied with a smile.

"Well, it's really good, and the bottom pattern is also very clear." The middle-aged man nodded with satisfaction.

"Haha, it seems you are very interested in this collection." Xu Damao put the Cong bottle back to its original place and said to the middle-aged man with a smile.

"Yes, I think this Cong vase is very beautiful. If the price is reasonable, I plan to buy it." The middle-aged man replied.

The middle-aged man turned and said to Xu Damao.

"Fuck, what are you talking about? What is a reasonable price and what is an unreasonable price?"

"Hey, this bottle is not mine. A friend of mine asked me to sell it on his behalf. The price is four hundred yuan, no bargaining!"

"Hey, four hundred? That's too expensive! Make it cheaper, please."

"Brother, take a good look at this. This is a Cong vase from the official kiln! I believe you are also a fellow practitioner and should know what Cong vases are used for. I have no problem selling this thing."