Chapter 186: I Have Yet to See a High-End Scam Get Past Me Right Under My Nose

After Gu Shengsheng spoke, he instantly flew into a rage. "Don’t you go making baseless accusations! What would a damn woman like you know? A young girl like you really thinks she’s gotten this far on passion alone?!"

Gu Shengsheng smiled. "You’re a dirty person with an even dirtier mouth. Looks like I wasn’t wrong about you."

"I saw it, and I’m just telling the truth. Besides, I saw him just now at the midpoint of Shuanglong Bridge. This may be a night market, but there are security cameras, right?"

"Selling fakes is one thing, but if you’re knowingly breaking the law, then this matter becomes much simpler to handle."

As she spoke, Gu Shengsheng touched the artifact:

[System]:

Item: Imitation Crane Top Red (Helmeted Hornbill Head) from the period of the Republic

Era: Republic

Description: The casque of the Helmeted Hornbill Head is solid, beautiful, and fine-textured, making it easy to carve. They were widely hunted to be made into snuff bottles for sale. Current laws clearly prohibit the commercial trade of such items. Fortunately, this is a replica, so you won’t go to jail. Rest assured, Host.

Market Price: 10,000

Buyback Price: None

He was furious with this troublemaker, Gu Shengsheng, but there was nothing he could do.

Because according to the young woman’s account, she had indeed seen everything, and with crystal clarity.

"Are you sick in the head? Who stares at people like that?" he said sullenly. "Alright, fine. I’ll give you an extra ten or twenty thousand. A little something for the witness, right? I get how it works. It’s not a big deal."

Gu Shengsheng shook her head. "I don’t want that."

"If you don’t want this, then what do you want? Don’t tell me you want even more. I’m telling you, don’t be so ridiculous."

"Forget it. I’ll concede one more step. I’ll give you forty thousand... no, you!" He pointed at the big sucker who was buying the Crane Top Red. "You give me a hundred thousand and give her forty thousand. Otherwise, the two of us will team up and send you to jail!"

Gu Shengsheng: "..." It was the first time she had ever felt so utterly speechless.

The mark also found this ridiculous. "I may be scared, but I’m not an idiot! If I give this young lady the six hundred thousand, she can still testify against you! Then you and your boss will be the ones going to jail."

"You’re the ones threatening and swindling. The artifact is yours. This has nothing to do with me."

He continued, "Why wouldn’t I just give the six hundred thousand directly to this young lady?"

Gu Shengsheng felt a bit gratified. ’He’s finally showing some sense.’

She could tell from the start that he knew nothing about antiques, which was why he was so easily duped.

So it was only natural to think he was brainless. Now, seeing him show a glimmer of rationality made her happy!

Then Gu Shengsheng said, "Don’t worry, I don’t want your money."

"In this matter, whoever is at fault should take full responsibility."

Gu Shengsheng looked at the shill and said, "Everything you’re saying is based on the premise that the artifact is real. What if I told you it’s a fake?"

"What are you talking about!"

"Why don’t you think before you speak, you little brat!" he roared, flustered.

"Real or fake, you know the truth in your hearts. While this thing is called a Crane Top Red, it’s not a genuine antique, but a replica from the period of the Republic."

"It’s certainly worth ten or twenty thousand, but several hundred thousand? Absolutely not."

Hearing Gu Shengsheng’s analysis, he blurted out, "You’re full of shit."

"What kind of crap are you talking? You think you can just stand here spouting nonsense and everything will magically work out?"

"This is the real deal! If it’s not, I’ll drop dead right here!"

Gu Shengsheng mused, ’Do people these days really curse themselves to death just to win an argument?’

Just then, Li Bai spotted Gu Shengsheng. A large crowd had gathered around her, and it looked like the situation had escalated.

Li Bai asked, puzzled, "Shengsheng, what’s going on?"

The shill saw Li Bai and quickly greeted him, "Ah, Mr. Li! How’s business at your appraisal house today? My buddies and I will stop by tomorrow to trade some things!"

Li Bai nodded.

Then the shill asked curiously, "Mr. Li, you know this woman?"

"This is Miss Gu, the one who’s famous around Pan Garden for finding hidden gems. You don’t recognize her?"

"So, what’s the beef between you two today?"

Gu Shengsheng said, "It’s not a beef. I just can’t stand watching them use fakes to look down their noses at people."

Others might not know their story, but Li Bai certainly did.

Most of their replicas were sold to Li Bai. The prices weren’t high, but it was enough for them to scrape by.

As for genuine articles, they certainly couldn’t get their hands on any.

At this, Gu Shengsheng took the initiative. "How about this? Since you don’t trust me, what if Mr. Li and I take it to be appraised by someone else? You were so certain it was real just a moment ago, weren’t you?"

He immediately snatched the Crane Top Red artifact back.

He yelled, "Forget it! To hell with it, I don’t want it anymore!"

"It’s just my damn luck to get tangled up with a crazy woman like you today! My loss, alright?!"

Then he tried to run off with the Crane Top Red. The victim, unwilling to let him get away, immediately gave chase to get his money back.

Gu Shengsheng figured that since the money was lost through fraud, the authorities would surely help get it back.

She wasn’t going to worry about it.

So, she continued strolling along with Li Bai.

Li Bai said, "Those two brothers did get their start selling fakes. They come here to scam newbies for extra cash. They don’t have any powerful backing, but they’re still dangerous."

"Shengsheng, next time, if something doesn’t concern you, it’s best to stay out of it. One person is willing to cheat, and the other is willing to be cheated. Nobody can do anything about that kind of situation."

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "I know. I tell myself that every day, but I just can’t stand to watch it happen. I wish I could just beat those scammers senseless and leave them on the ground. The sight of them just disgusts me."

Then she thought, ’Getting their start with fakes means they must have channels for producing them. Maybe I can see more of their work next time, get a better look. Knowing more about the counterfeiting trade wouldn’t be a bad thing for me.’

Yang Jiao also nodded in agreement. She was normally very cautious, but she felt that what Gu Shengsheng did was right and had no issue with it.

Li Bai nodded. "I was the same way when I was young. The older you get, the more you change. I don’t even know how much longer I have left."

Gu Shengsheng looked at him, noticing his mismatched shoes, pajama pants, and a formal jacket on top.

She asked bluntly, "Got kicked out by the wife, didn’t you?"

"...You kid. Why do you have to say the quiet part out loud?"

"That’s normal. Men like you, kicked out by their wives in the middle of the night, always get all philosophical. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you could preach all night. I saw it at first glance."

Gu Shengsheng had an all-knowing look on her face.

"Not to be blunt, but men are supposed to be tough. Don’t get so emotional. You have to look ahead. And what’s all this about dying? Everyone dies eventually!"

Perhaps their conversation wasn’t quiet enough, as the nearest stall owner had been staring at Gu Shengsheng’s group the whole time.

Just then, a stall owner called out, "Come on, over here! Come buy some Taixu from my stall! The real deal! Eat this and you’ll live to be a hundred!"