Chapter 1237 - 1110: Hard to Speak Of?

Chapter 1237: Chapter 1110: Hard to Speak Of?

As soon as they left the living room, Zhang Guoqing followed his buddies into the study.

"When are Ping’an and his brothers coming back?"

This question had been asked by several people today already, Zhang Guoqing laughed and glanced at him sideways, "Soon."

Yi Jiefang, hearing this, looked at the door and subconsciously lowered his voice, "Jiao Jiao still doesn’t know where the kids went for their internships, right?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head.

His wife surely had an idea, but she didn’t want to say it out loud.

"That’s good."

Zhang Guoqing smiled noncommittally.

"Actually, I wanted to take my wife out with you guys today, but who knew you’d all be gone."

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at him, "Why didn’t you say it at the workplace yesterday? You could’ve called me a bit earlier this morning."

"Let’s not talk about that," Yi Jiefang touched his nose.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing teased, "Is that guilty behavior? Did you sleep in because you were hugging your wife?"

Yi Jiefang, annoyed and embarrassed, glared at him, "Do you think everyone is like you?"

Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow, smiling but saying nothing.

"Alright, let me tell you something."

Zhang Guoqing gestured for him to start.

Yi Jiefang cleared his throat, "The buddies want to buy a house, they’ve already put the word out."

Zhang Guoqing restrained his smile, tilted his head, and thought for a moment: "Help me inquire too, keeping money idle isn’t right."

"You’ve got so many yards already, want to buy more?"

"Just two yards, but they’re still state-owned, nothing excessive. I have three sons; whether or not they get housing from their workplaces in the future, there should be reservations."

"Okay, I’ll keep an eye out." With that said, Yi Jiefang fell silent.

Zhang Guoqing watched him curiously, "Hard to say?"

Yi Jiefang shook his head amusingly, "I don’t know if I should bring this up."

Zhang Guoqing assessed his expression, "How much is lacking?"

"It’s not about money," Yi Jiefang had no secrets to keep from him.

An old friend he made years ago came over quietly last night to tell him something on the grapevine.

Now, these things are stored in a secluded place, all ownerless. They want to deal with some of them cheaply. They certainly won’t claim any items for themselves, but they can pocket some money from the sales.

Zhang Guoqing, hearing this, didn’t hurry to answer. He tapped his fingers a few times before saying, "You want them?"

"Even if we don’t, outsiders will get them."

Zhang Guoqing frowned slightly, "If you really want them, you can only keep some calligraphy, paintings, or antique furniture that you particularly like. Other national treasure-level artifacts should be donated to the state after these years have passed."

Yi Jiefang was stunned; why donate things that were paid for?

"Why?"

Zhang Guoqing knew he hadn’t thought of a certain point, so he had to explain carefully, "There’s no wall in the world that can stop the wind, and since they’re on the grapevine, many knowledgeable people are aware."

"We all know that someday these antiques and artifacts will be valuable, but collecting things from scrap stations or the black market is usually no big deal. Not many marks are left behind there.

But things that have been transported through several hands, money can tempt people, and can’t be kept secret."

Yi Jiefang, a clever man, immediately understood. If this matter becomes a scandal someday, things might be okay if the handlers value loyalty, but what if someone has ill intentions?

Zhang Guoqing smiled approvingly, "Exactly, that’s the point. Although the items are good, honestly, at our level, material things are just icing on the cake.

It’s better to have stuff from official channels, even if they’re valued at millions in the future, you can face everyone confidently and have no guilt in your heart.

I suggest you don’t get involved. If someone wants to buy, let them, and don’t envy their opportunities later. Being prudent is always best."

Yi Jiefang squinted his eyes and nodded in agreement, "You’re making sense. Better to be careful. Alright, I’ll listen to you and not go see them."

Zhang Guoqing joked, "Not bothered?"

"It’s said to be furniture made from huanghuali wood, zitan wood, jinsi nanmu from the Ming and Qing dynasties, along with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, even rare books, porcelain, and jade. Wouldn’t you say it’s a shame?"

As Yi Jiefang spoke, his shoulders dropped, "But I’ll listen to you; following your advice all these years has never gone wrong."

Zhang Guoqing was instantly delighted and laughed.

Yi Jiefang, annoyed and embarrassed, kicked him, "Laugh, laugh, laugh, what’s so funny?"

"Really want them?"

Yi Jiefang gave him a sidelong glance and took a sip of tea.

Zhang Guoqing looked at his watch; it was still early. "Why don’t we go take a look?"

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, in disguise, buying a couple of small items shouldn’t be an issue."

Yi Jiefang’s eyes lit up, and he jumped up in surprise, "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go. I’m telling you, I just want to buy some calligraphy and paintings for my wife; she and my sister both love these old things."

Zhang Guoqing gave him a sideways glance in resignation, waving his hand, "Wait here. I’ll go prepare some stuff."

"Hurry up; it’s getting late," Yi Jiefang said, pushing him out while smiling broadly and continuing to sip his tea.

During this time, Zhou Jiao, who was trying on clothes and chatting with Miao Lishan and Yi Tangtang, got a hint from Zhang Guoqing and discreetly exited the room.

"Wife, that’s pretty much it. We’re not planning to buy everything, just spend a little money to get one or two items — do you think it’s feasible?"

After hearing Zhang Guoqing’s idea, Zhou Jiao hesitated a moment, then grabbed him without a word and took him to the bathroom. Closing the door, she retrieved disguise powder and potion from their space, and decided to get two ordinary sets of clothes and pants as well.

Money?

He had never carried less than a hundred bucks, so Zhou Jiao didn’t give him any more.

Zhang Guoqing grabbed a bag, called Yi Jiefang, and the two walked out arm in arm.

After the car drove five or six hundred meters outside the Big Courtyard, the two began swapping out their outfits and disguises. Arriving near their destination, they parked the car and retrieved a bicycle from the car.

If you met with anyone in this era by car, you truly had a screw loose.

Extra cautious, confirmed to be free of suspicion, the pair of "buddies" wrapped themselves up and went over, without looking for Yi Jiefang’s so-called old friends.

Instead, they borrowed their name.

With the habitual offender Zhang Guoqing, the duo smoothly entered the warehouse, holding flashlights, but didn’t look at any furniture. Large pieces they didn’t want, nor did they dare to take.

Given their "illiteracy" in these matters, relying on flashlights alone, they couldn’t really differentiate between genuine and fake art and porcelain.

Error leads to fortune.

Zhang Guoqing didn’t say much; he just picked the ones with the best preservation — ones wrapped in oil paper, ones placed close to safe areas.

Although these amateurs each spent a high price of a hundred bucks, taking home a pair of porcelain pieces and ten pieces of calligraphy and paintings, they weren’t worried about being cheated.