Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

"Two hundred? Who are you trying to fool? I've seen many copper incense burners like yours along the way. They all claim to be Xuande incense burners, but none of them are real! Make it cheaper!"

The middle-aged man was delighted in his heart, but his face remained expressionless. He felt that he had taken the initiative and was secretly thinking about the bottom line of the price.

The middle-aged man's eyes swept over the copper incense burner. He knew that although this burner was not a real Xuande burner, it was also a fine imitation of the early Qing Dynasty. From the craftsmanship to the material, it was a top-notch work, and judging from the patterns on it, it was definitely something from the palace.

More importantly, the price this stall owner asked for the first time was not high, unlike other stall owners who asked for three or four hundred yuan as soon as they opened their mouths, as if what they were holding were really Xuande furnaces.

"This is a genuine Xuande furnace, I really can't sell it cheaply. How about this, I haven't opened the shop yet, you are my first customer, even if it's just to ask for a good start, I'll sell it to you for 180 yuan!"

Yan Bugui looked embarrassed, as if he was very reluctant to give up the price, but wanted to make the deal. His performance was very good, making people feel that he really didn't want to give in too much.

"One hundred and eighty is too expensive! I think fifty is the most!"

The middle-aged man was not moved at all and continued to lower the price. As an old ghost, he knew that this kind of transaction required patience and skills, and he could not be fooled by the other party's acting. He believed in his own vision and judgment, and as long as he persisted, he could get a satisfactory price.

"Fifty? This is no joke, brother. Don't say I disagree. My brother definitely doesn't agree either. It's at least one hundred and fifty!"

Yan Bugui looked at the middle-aged man seriously, stretched out a finger and shook it, indicating that he would never accept such a low price. He pointed at Xu Damao at the next stall, indicating that the two of them should do this business together. If they only sold it for fifty yuan, it would be a joke.

The middle-aged man glanced at Xu Damao, then turned to Yan Bugui and said, "Forget it, brother. I won't hide it from you. This is not a stove from the Xuande period at all. It is an imitation of the Qing Dynasty. Seventy yuan is very reasonable for me to give you. This is the highest price. If it works, I will pay. If not, I will leave." After saying that, he put on an impatient look, as if he was ready to leave at any time.

Yan Bugui hesitated when he heard this. He originally thought that the incense burner could at least be sold for a good price, but now it seems that the situation is not as optimistic as he imagined. He scratched his head and said to the middle-aged man, "Seventy is too little, add a little more!"

At this time, Xu Damao just walked up to them. Hearing Yan Bugui's words, he immediately agreed: "Yes, add a little more. Even if this stove is a replica of the Qing Dynasty, it is still a fine product. Seventy yuan is still a bit too little!" As he spoke, he looked at the middle-aged man with a sly look in his eyes.

The middle-aged man frowned, as if he was somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Damao's appearance. But he still nodded and said, "Okay, I'll add another ten yuan! Eighty! No more!" After that, he took out his wallet and prepared to pay.

Xu Damao nodded implicitly to Yan Bugui.

"Okay! Eighty is eighty, I'll take a slight loss, deal! Do you want me to wrap up this stove?" Yan Bugui said with a satisfied look on his face.

"No need to wrap it, what if your hand slips and you hit your foot!" the middle-aged man waved his hands repeatedly.

The middle-aged man took the copper incense burner and began to count the money. After counting it twice, he handed the money to Yan Bugui.

"Brother, count and see if it is enough." said the middle-aged man.

"Okay!" Yan Bugui suppressed his excitement, took the money and counted it.

"Eighty is exactly right. Brother, please see if you need anything else." Yan Bugui asked.

"No need, but since I paid so much, you might as well give me this little thing as a gift!" The middle-aged man stretched out his gloved right hand, held a bronze knife coin between his index and middle fingers, and shook it at Yan Bugui!

Yan Bugui was about to nod in agreement. After all, he didn't expect to sell this little thing for much money, so it would be fine to take one out as a souvenir!

"Oh, that won't do. Even though this thing looks small, it's a valuable item and can be sold for a lot of money. We can't just use it as a gift!"

"Brother Li, you can't take this thing away. After all, we brothers worked hard to make it!"

Xu Damao on the side quickly interrupted and pulled Yan Bugui's sleeve.

"Brother, it's not that I don't want to give you this thing as a gift, but this thing is actually an old item with considerable value. I'm sorry!"

When Yan Bugui heard what Xu Damao said, he immediately understood and said to the middle-aged man with an apologetic look on his face.

"Oh, if I had known, I wouldn't have paid so readily! I really like this little thing. Just tell me how much it costs. I'll take it if it suits me!"

The middle-aged man said this with a look of annoyance and an impatient tone.

"This……"

Yan Bugui turned his head and looked at Xu Damao, meaning to ask Xu Damao what would be a suitable price.

"Let me take a look at the things. Even though they all look similar, they are different and have different values." Xu Damao said as he stretched out his hand.

The middle-aged man didn't waste any words and directly handed him the ancient coin.

After Xu Damao took it, he pretended to examine it carefully with the light of the lantern.

He muttered to himself, "You know what, this middle-aged man really knows how to choose. Three Qi knife coins, two three-character knife coins, and one four-character knife. The one he picked is the four-character Qi knife!"

Thinking of this, Xu Damao couldn't help but sighed: "Brother, you have a good eye. This Qi knife coin is much better than the two just now. The price should be at least twice as expensive. It is more than enough to sell it for 20 yuan, but brother, you have already sold the copper furnace, so just count it as 18 yuan!"

When Xu Damao quoted this price, he felt a little distressed. After all, in the previous life, this three-character Qi State knife coin could be sold for at least more than 10,000 yuan, and the four-character one was as high as 100,000! Not to mention those with five characters or more, which were simply national treasures...

"I'm in a hurry to leave, so fifteen dollars is enough. If you agree, I'll buy it!"

The middle-aged man looked at the tall man in front of him, who was holding the knife coin in his hand and shook the four words on the coin in front of him.

He couldn't help laughing in his heart, knowing that although the other party was young, he was also an expert, and it would be unlikely for him to get any bargains.

Since they have said so, it is not easy for me to lower the price any further.

"Okay, fifteen is fifteen."

When Yan Bugui heard the middle-aged man's words, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.