"No, boss. You instructed me that you would be solely responsible for appraisal and acquisition matters, so I've been managing the shop," Er Dong replied, momentarily stunned before shaking his head. "Besides, my appraisal skills are limited, which I'm well aware of. How could I dare to accept items carelessly?"
"Then where did this item come from?" Li Yang walked towards the shelf and reached out to pick up a small blue and white porcelain bowl with a begonia pattern and a gold rim.
Although blue and white porcelain is highly renowned today, it is also quite common. Due to its sheer quantity, ordinary blue and white porcelain pieces do not fetch high prices.
Only the rare ones, especially those marked with imperial use from the palace or specific residences, are valuable.
Of course, the most valuable are Yuan Dynasty blue and white pieces. In the early 2000s, when a month's work in inland cities generally earned around a thousand yuan, a Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain depicting "Guiguzi Descending the Mountain" sold for tens of millions!
Today, that would be worth at least over a billion yuan.
Seeing the blue and white porcelain bowl in his hand, Er Dong was taken aback. "Huh? Didn't you appraise this item? I don't seem to recall it."
"Of course you don't recall, because this is the first time I've encountered this item," Li Yang said. "Think back, before the cleaning, was this item on the shelf?"
"No, because I remember very clearly that a brush pot from the Republic of China imperial kiln was originally displayed here. It was sold this afternoon, and there hasn't been any replenishment for this spot yet. It should be empty," Er Dong became more certain as he spoke. "Yes, it was definitely empty."
Since Li Yang had smashed all the fake and shoddy antiques, the number of antiques acquired in recent days was limited. Many shelf spaces were filled with jade ornaments. After Er Dong sold that brush pot, he couldn't even find an antique to replace it.
"If that's the case, then perhaps this originally empty spot was filled by a ghost out of kindness?" Li Yang remarked.
Er Dong's expression changed as he understood the implication of Li Yang's words. He immediately glared at the store employees present. "Who was cleaning this shelf just now? Step forward!"
"This, this..." Everyone looked at each other, unsure who had cleaned it, and none remembered it being them. "Boss, store manager, I was cleaning over there. I haven't been here, so it definitely wasn't me."
"Me neither, I was over there the whole time."
"It's definitely not me. I was just polishing the floor inside."
After much back and forth, no one confessed.
It was difficult to discern who was lying and who was telling the truth from their expressions.
Er Dong said coldly, "Since you all claim to be innocent, I will review the surveillance footage."
"Surveillance!?" Everyone's faces immediately changed.
When Su Qianqian and her mother were in charge of the shop, they had disabled the surveillance cameras early on to prevent their illicit activities from being exposed. Although they appeared to be present, they were non-functional, merely a deterrent.
Er Dong stated, "That's right. Ever since Boss Li took back the antique shop, I proposed reinstalling the surveillance cameras. They are installed discreetly, so even if you look up, you won't see them. No need to bother."
"However, to be honest, we've worked together for many years. If possible, I truly don't want to use the surveillance to catch a thief. If the person responsible steps forward and confesses, I can help plead for leniency, and they will only be asked to leave the shop without further repercussions."
"Boss Li, is that alright?"
"You are the store manager, you have the final say." Li Yang nodded and sat down on a nearby office chair. He actually knew who it was from the start but deliberately didn't say anything, purely wanting Er Dong to demonstrate his capabilities.
Allowing Er Dong to perform and establish his authority was beneficial for Li Yang to be a hands-off owner. This was a good thing.
If Er Dong couldn't identify the culprit, it wouldn't be too late for Li Yang to step in.
Er Dong said gratefully, "Thank you, boss."
He then addressed the crowd again, "Did everyone hear what Boss Li just said? If I find the thief through surveillance, don't say I didn't consider our past relationships. I will directly report it to the police, and you'll end up in jail."
"Store manager, I'm not afraid of an investigation. Please proceed!" some employees who were certain of their innocence immediately declared loudly.
"Yes. I definitely didn't do anything like this. I welcome the investigation!"
"Me too!"
One by one, they stepped aside, asserting their innocence.
Only the person who had revealed a flaw in Li Yang's eyes looked somewhat pale, glancing around furtively. He suspected Er Dong was bluffing about the surveillance, but if it were real, the consequence of going to jail would be too great.
Finally, with a dejected expression, he said, "I, I admit it. I did it."
"Xiao Xiang?" Er Dong looked at him in surprise. "How could it be you?"
"I didn't want to, but someone threatened me, saying they would kill my entire family if I didn't do this! I had no choice but to comply!" Xiao Xiang cried, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to Li Yang. "Boss Li, please, spare me!"
"I was also forced into this."
"Who threatened you to do this?" Li Yang asked, staring at him.
Xiao Xiang glanced outside, fearfully saying, "That person told me not to say."
"You can choose not to say, I won't force you, and you will still be allowed to leave," Li Yang said calmly. "However, you should think carefully. If you don't speak, and that person, seeing that you failed to do as instructed, goes back on their word and still takes your life, no one will vindicate you in the afterlife."
"I, I'll tell you! It was a bank president named Chang Wei. He has a secretary named Jin. They said you ruined their plans and wanted to teach you a lesson, to make you suffer." Xiao Xiang's expression shifted, and he quickly revealed the information.
"Chang Wei?"
Li Yang's brow furrowed. "Oh, I remember now."
This was the guy who tried to use loans to threaten Tang Xinyu into marrying his nephew or something. But because Li Yang had given the money to the Tang family, his threat plan had completely collapsed.
"Putting a fake item in my shop, I thought it was Qin Yuliang. I didn't expect his methods to be so cliché."
"Boss Li, I've told you everything. Can you help me now?" Xiao Xiang looked at him expectantly.
Li Yang glanced at him. "When you were being threatened, you should have told me. Now that you've been caught red-handed, you only realize to beg for help, which is a bit too late."
"Boss Li..."
"Store Manager Dong, as you suggested, I will not pursue this matter. Escort him out," Li Yang waved his hand.
He could choose not to pursue it, but offering help was out of the question.
Xiao Xiang's face fell dramatically. "Boss Li, I told you everything, yet you won't save me? You're so cold-blooded and heartless, you're abandoning me to die!"
"What kind of boss are you!"