Chapter 589 Visiting the Antiques Shop

The money for the hot pot was paid upfront after they placed their order. The three of them spent less than three hundred yuan in total, which was quite cheap. When they went out, they all put on their jackets that they had taken off. It wasn't cold inside, but it was quite chilly outside. As they walked out of the hot pot restaurant, a gust of cool air swept over them, and Xia Qianqian tightened her clothes. The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors was indeed significant. Fortunately, she was dressed warmly, otherwise, she would have suggested going back immediately. Liu Yifeng asked Tongtong if he was cold, and if so, they wouldn't go shopping. However, Tongtong's physique was different from that of ordinary people, and he wasn't afraid of the cold. Even in temperatures below minus ten or twenty degrees Celsius, he would wear only an undershirt and a thin down jacket and wouldn't feel cold. Seeing that Tongtong wasn't cold, Liu Yifeng then took his hand and they walked forward. Xia Qianqian also wanted to hold Tongtong's hand, but she was afraid of being misunderstood as a family of three, so she gave up the idea. On the way, many people recognized Tongtong. As locals, they were accustomed to watching Mango TV. Therefore, they had all watched the show "The Brain," and the numerous talented contestants were enough to shock them. But among them, Tongtong was the most memorable. He was the youngest on the show yet performed the most brilliantly. Furthermore, Tongtong was handsome and cute, and so polite that no one wouldn't like such a child. Although they didn't remember the appearances of other contestants, Tongtong's image was deeply imprinted in their minds. Seeing Tongtong out with the special guest star next to him, they all became excited, as if they had won the lottery. Tongtong was already good-looking on television, but in person, he looked even more handsome and adorable. His fair, delicate face made one want to kiss him. However, he wasn't their child, nor was he the child of their friends or relatives, so they felt too embarrassed to do so. They could only request a photo with Tongtong as a memento. Seeing more and more people wanting photos, they realized they wouldn't be able to go home that night if this continued. Liu Yifeng had no choice but to take Tongtong away, citing an excuse that they had something to do. Watching Tongtong's popularity, Xia Qianqian couldn't help but sigh, "People who don't want to be in the entertainment industry become famous just by saying it, while I, who want to make a name for myself in the entertainment industry, can't even manage to do so." "Aunt Xia, don't worry. One day, you'll also be recognized by fans on the street, and they'll ask you for autographs until your hand gets tired!" Tongtong said from the side. Xia Qianqian smiled slightly, "Actually, I don't like this feeling of being mobbed. I just hope that my songs will be recognized and accepted by everyone, and that more people will enjoy listening to my singing. That's my original intention for entering this industry. I don't want to encounter situations like strangers chasing me for autographs and photos." This was also why Liu Yifeng didn't want Tongtong to be in the entertainment industry. After just one episode of the show aired, Tongtong was recognized by so many people. If he were to act in more TV shows and commercials, Tongtong wouldn't be able to go out anymore. Now, he just hoped that after the show ended, Tongtong would be forgotten by the public and his normal life wouldn't be affected. After escaping the crowd, Liu Yifeng deliberately put a mask on Tongtong, making him less recognizable. Moreover, wearing a mask in the cold weather wouldn't attract much attention from passersby, as many people wore thick masks during this season, making it a common sight. As the three of them walked, they unknowingly arrived at a deserted street where the shops nearby were all antique stores. For someone who doesn't know the trade, buying things at an antique shop is like paying an intelligence tax. Even those who understand the industry sometimes make mistakes, let alone amateurs. However, many people who know a little bit about it specifically come to antique shops hoping to find a bargain to fulfill their dreams of getting rich. But the chance of finding a bargain is like winning the lottery in the entire industry. As a result, many people have invested their money, only to hear no sound. Xia Qianqian was completely clueless about this trade. Liu Yifeng was slightly better. Tongtong had previously educated him on some knowledge in this area, but he hadn't taught him much since then due to various busy schedules. However, he was completely incapable of authenticating artifacts; at best, he could only point out some general aspects. Xia Qianqian, who was not interested in this, said, "How did we end up here? Let's go back. Most of the items in these shops are fakes, and there's nothing worth looking at!" Liu Yifeng was also planning to leave. He had no intention of finding a bargain. In his opinion, if there were any good deals to be found, they wouldn't just fall into his lap; they would have likely been snatched up by people who understood the trade long ago. However, Tongtong walked directly into a shop called Gu Bo Jin Tong. Liu Yifeng and Xia Qianqian had no choice but to follow him in. Xia Qianqian thought that Tongtong was attracted by the items inside, which was why he went in. But Liu Yifeng knew that Tongtong's expertise in appraising treasures was no less than that of experts. Since he entered this shop, did it mean Tongtong had spotted a genuine artifact? This made him feel expectant. The shop owner was an old man in his fifties, wearing glasses, sitting on a chair, sipping tea and reading a book, looking very leisurely. Seeing guests entering, he immediately put down his teacup and book, stood up from his chair, and said with a smile, "Welcome. What are you looking for today? You all look new to me, so this must be your first time visiting my shop, right?" Liu Yifeng nodded, "Yes!" After hearing Liu Yifeng's answer, the shop owner's eyes crinkled into a smile as he began to praise his shop profusely, "Then you've come to the right place! Among all the antique shops on this street, my shop has the most genuine items. Don't believe me? Go and check out other shops. Many items are bought wholesale from wholesale markets for mere cents or a few yuan and then passed off to those who don't know the trade. But my items are different; most of them are genuine. Take this flute, for example. It was played by an imperial prince in the Qing Dynasty. The sound it produces is so beautiful it could make your ears pregnant! And this copper coin is over three hundred years old. Not only is its collection value high, but you can also make a lot of money by selling it after buying it. And this..." Listening to the shop owner's relentless sales pitch, Liu Yifeng thought to himself that if he didn't know a little about this field, he might have believed him. For instance, Xia Qianqian, who knew nothing, looked very enlightened after listening to the shop owner's introduction, and even seemed a little tempted. She looked like a student listening to a teacher, even if the teacher gave the wrong answer, she would still believe her own correct answer was wrong. Yet, she had just said herself that the items in such antique shops were all fake. But after the shop owner's honeyed words, she believed him. Seeing her like this, Liu Yifeng seriously suspected that she would buy one of the antiques. After speaking, the shop owner, fearing they wouldn't believe him, produced a large pile of artifact appraisal certificates. "These have all been appraised by experts, so you can rest assured. My shop is about to close for the day. You're lucky today. No matter what you buy, you'll get a 30% discount!"