53: What a Coincidence

Zhou Peiyuan was a bit surprised as he looked at Shen Hao. He hadn't expected Shen Hao to have such a rich collection.

The box was made of Huanghuali wood.

Earlier, his mind had been focused on the ginseng, so he hadn't paid much attention to the box. But now that Xiao Ran mentioned it, Zhou Peiyuan took a closer look.

Sure enough, it was Huanghuali, the so-called "wooden gold." He smiled and said,

"It really is Huanghuali, famous for its golden sheen. The texture is clear and beautiful, and the scent is strong. The patterns are symmetrical, and it has the rare 'eye of heaven' pattern. This is top-grade Huanghuali, no doubt.

The market price for Huanghuali is at least 15,000 yuan per kilogram. For this one, I'd say 18,000 per kilogram is fair. But that's just the price for the wood itself. The craftsmanship adds extra value.

This type of box is called a 'baobao box' in ancient times. You might have heard of Du Shiniang sinking her baobao box in anger—that refers to this kind of box. Of course, Du Shiniang's box was made from Small-leaf Red Sandalwood, which isn't as good as Huanghuali.

I estimate this box weighs around 15 kilograms, so its value is at least 350,000 yuan."

Although Zhou Peiyuan was a well-known doctor, he wasn't an expert in antiques. However, he had seen enough valuable items to recognize their worth.

Xiao Ran chimed in, "This material is definitely Huanghuali, and the craftsmanship of the baobao box is quite vintage. I can't quite place the era though.

I really like it. How about 500,000 yuan, Shen Hao? What do you think?"

Shen Hao nodded, "I'm not interested in collecting, but that price seems fair. If you like it, I'll sell it to you."

Shen Hao had another similar baobao box in his space, one given to him by Lai Yuejing. It had originally been used to store gold.

The only thing that disappointed Shen Hao was that, unlike Du Shiniang's famous baobao box, this one didn't have an intriguing story. If it had been the actual box that Du Shiniang threw into the river, its value would have multiplied tenfold! But he quickly dismissed that thought. After all, these were two different worlds—such stories were highly unlikely.

Seeing Shen Hao's willingness to sell so quickly, Xiao Ran was pleased. He immediately transferred the money.

A few seconds later, Shen Hao received a text from the bank.

"Shen Hao, if you come across any fine furniture or antiques in the future, you can contact me. The price isn't an issue."

Although Xiao Ran appeared to be in his early twenties, he spoke and acted in a very mature manner, without a hint of frivolity. He had unique tastes as well.

Zhou Peiyuan explained, "This kid is really into antiques and furniture. He studied history in college and is in the business of selling such things."

Shen Hao didn't care much about what business Xiao Ran was in. As long as the money was right, he was happy to sell.

"Alright, if I find any good stuff, I'll sell it to you," Shen Hao replied.

Zhou Peiyuan said, "Well, we'll call it a day then, Shen Hao. We'll be leaving now."

"Sure, let me walk you out," Shen Hao said.

The three of them entered the elevator. As they stood inside, Shen Hao asked, "Is your car parked in the underground garage?"

"No, it's parked outside the community," Zhou Peiyuan replied.

Shen Hao added, "That road outside has been getting a lot of complaints recently, so the traffic police tend to come around and issue fines, especially in the afternoon."

Xiao Ran laughed, "No worries, it's just a small issue. A 100 yuan fine."

Since money wasn't an issue, Shen Hao didn't comment further.

Soon, Shen Hao noticed that Xiao Ran was driving the very Rolls-Royce he had once crashed into. The license plate had several sixes in a row. The car was parked on the side of the road and was quite noticeable.

Even a Porsche 711, which cost less than 800,000 yuan in a small town, would stand out when parked on the side of the road. Let alone a Rolls-Royce.

The license plate was even more eye-catching. It was from the provincial capital, and it had a string of sixes. Anyone who knew a bit about the market would recognize that plate.

This license plate was expensive, and not everyone could get one—even with money.

Indeed, many people were staring from afar, some even secretly snapping pictures with their phones.

Shen Hao noticed that several traffic police officers were nearby. They didn't approach, but their eyes kept darting toward the car.

Seeing this, Shen Hao couldn't help but marvel—Xiao Ran's connections were impressive.

Xiao Ran seemed used to the attention, even enjoying it a little.

Zhou Peiyuan shook his head helplessly.

At that moment, a man in his forties, wearing a blue T-shirt, walked over with a smile.

"Xiao Ran, what are you doing here? Oh, Zhou Lao, you're here too!"

Xiao Ran smiled and greeted, "Ah, it's you, Lao Liu. I'm here to take care of something."

Zhou Peiyuan chuckled. "Liu Xihong, what a coincidence! This is your turf, isn't it? You're everywhere."

Liu Xihong, without taking offense, smiled as if he didn't hear the teasing.

He said, "Zhou Lao, Xiao Ran, since you're here, let me treat you to a meal. How about it?"

Xiao Ran shook his head. "Not today. We're here to buy some stuff, and we need to head back before it gets dark. Next time, maybe."

His words weren't just polite; his grandfather was still waiting for the ginseng.

Liu Xihong seemed a bit disappointed. "Alright, next time then."

Once they got into the car, Zhou Peiyuan didn't respond to Liu Xihong's offer. Instead, he waved at Shen Hao.

"Shen Hao, let's stay in touch."

Shen Hao nodded. "Sure, will do."

Xiao Ran nodded at Liu Xihong, then waved at Shen Hao. "Shen Hao, if you need anything, just text me. Keep the good stuff for me!"

With that, he waved goodbye and drove off.

Shen Hao wasn't interested in standing in the sun, especially in the summer when mosquitoes were a real nuisance.

Just as he was about to leave, Liu Xihong hurriedly ran over.

"Hey, young man, wait a moment!"

Shen Hao stopped. "What's up?"

"I've known Xiao Ran since he was a child. I didn't expect him to have friends in this town. Let me introduce myself. I'm Liu Xihong, just transferred here," Liu Xihong said with a smile, extending his hand.

Not one to reject a friendly gesture, Shen Hao shook his hand. "Shen Hao, but I'm not really familiar with Xiao Ran."

Of course, Liu Xihong didn't believe this. How could Xiao Ran, such a proud young man, take the initiative to greet someone if they weren't close?

He hadn't expected Shen Hao to be such a figure in this small town.

Liu Xihong was eager to make connections, so he laughed and said, "I have some influence in this county. If you need anything, feel free to call me. Here's my number."

Shen Hao nodded. "Alright, here's my number: 1XXX6."

Without hesitation, Liu Xihong immediately dialed the number, but after a long pause, he looked at Shen Hao in confusion.

"Hey, why isn't your phone responding?"

Shen Hao sighed inwardly. He really dialed it!

Clearing his throat, Shen Hao replied, "Maybe I left my phone at home."