Chapter 85: Making The Best Use Of All Resources
Translator: AstralGhost Editor: Kurisu
"Oh, in that case, would you like to prepay a little more? 1 million yuan would only be enough for a few meals..."
Bei Feng looked at Huang Lin with a serious expression as he advised.
"What do you mean? How many meals is 'a few meals'?"
Huang Lin was taken aback. He was trying to prepay 1 million yuan, but the boss actually told him that this amount of money was only enough for a few meals?!
"Since you're a friend of Boss Wang, I'll give you a discount. We'll just go with today's pricing of 100,000 yuan per meal. Calculating based on that, 1 million yuan is only enough for 10 meals."
Bei Feng replied lightly, oblivious to the darkening face of Huang Lin who looked as though he were about to explode on the spot.
'Am I mistaking something? A meal like this costs 100,000?!'
Huang Lin felt like his world view had been expanded this day. It was not the first time he had ever tasted a 100,000 yuan meal. But it was all food from the star rated hotels, cooked by incredibly famous top chefs, with exceptionally precious ingredients! But this was only a mere private restaurant! Granted, the atmosphere could be considered quiet and beautiful. Coupled with the feeling of antiquity from eating at an old mansion at the foot of a mountain, the experience was truly not bad. But apart from that, and the fact that the food truly tasted formidable, the other factors which were necessary to demand such a price was practically non-existent!
With just these few elements, he actually dared to demand 100,000 yuan a meal! Furthermore, this 'meal' only had one f*cking dish!
"I'll deposit 1 million first. But what do I need to do before I come? I need a super filling meal prepared for me."
Against all expectations, Liu Ziyun was the first person to step forward and ask.
"No problem. Just drop me a call before you come."
Bei Feng looked at Liu Ziyun with a strange expression on his face. Who would have thought that this fellow was actually so rich?!
"What's your account number? I'll transfer the money to you right away."
Liu Ziyun felt that he might as well be straightforward and settle the bill on the spot.
A short moment after he gave his account number to Liu Ziyu, Bei Feng's phone lit up with a message from the bank, indicating that the money was transferred successfully.
"I'll prepay 5 million as well."
Zhang Bao Jun was actually the person who spoke next.
"Eh? Old Zhang, when did you become so generous with your money?!"
Zhang Bao Jun's move had left Huang Lin completely shocked.
"Ok."
Bei Feng was slightly taken aback. The rich were truly willful!
He quickly passed his account number to Zhang Bao Jun.
"However, I have a request."
Zhang Bao Jun did not transfer the money immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Bei Feng with a serious expression.
"What request?" Bei Feng asked nonchalently, not seeming to mind the question.
"I hope that you can sell me that contemporary artifact, the cauldron in your yard, to me."
A brilliant gleam flashed through Zhang Bao Jun's eyes as he asked calmly. Finished with his request, he stared intently at Bei Feng's face, hoping to catch any signs of irregularities in his expression.
However, Zhang Bao Jun was left disappointed. The youngster appeared completely unperturbed. Not even the slightest ripple appeared on his face!
"Oh. You don't have to deposit the money in that case. The cauldron is not for sale."
Bei Feng's voice was laced with annoyance. This old fellow was really not simple! It turned out that he was only a willy old fox at the end of the day!
'Saying so much, but his true motive is actually my medicine cauldron! But, I really gotta applaud this old fellow for his great eyesight, spotting the real treasure!'
Bei Feng thought as he narrowed his eyes.
"Young man, are you not going to listen to my offer first?"
Zhang Bao Jun blurted in shock. He had not thought that Bei Feng would reject him outright. But as he regained his calm and thought about it again, this might also be part of a ploy to trap him and draw him in like a helpless prey, knowing his interest in the cauldron. Once he was caught, the other party could easily squeeze him for as much money as he wanted!
"Not interested!" Bei Feng harrumphed coldly, causing Zhang Bao Jun's temper to flare involuntarily. If he were 20 years younger, he would have sent a fist towards that snotty brat's face long ago!
"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse. If you sell that cauldron to me, I'll give you 30 million dollars! American dollars!" Zhang Bao Jun declared huffily.
'Hmph! I don't believe that you won't budge in the face of $30 million! You just need to nod your head, and you can obtain wealth that normal people cannot even imagine to gather in a lifetime! Let's how a snotty brat like you can still continue being so stubborn!'
'30 million USD!'
Both Huang Lin and Wang Jian gasped in shock as they turned to look at the large cauldron sitting in the yard.
'This old bastard could really bear to spend! I know that he's not one to loose the falcon until he sees the hare. Looks like I've really underestimated the value of this cauldron!' Huang Lin thought in his heart.
'Holy cow! This cauldron is worth so much money?'
Wang Jian could not prevent a line of expletives from bursting forth in his heart. This amount of money, when converted to Renminbi, was worth around 100 million!
Such a large amount of money... if it were deposited into the bank, it was enough for a person to live in comfort for the rest of their life just from the interest!
"Not selling!" Bei Feng replied with the same impassive expression, causing the few old fellows to all feel a sudden urge to throw a solid punch at his face.
'This is f*cking illogical!'
Zhang Bao Jun was unable to retain his composure. How could an old fox like him possibly not tell that Bei Feng really did not want to sell the cauldron? Apart from a brief moment where he appeared to struggle mentally, Bei Feng's face remained calm throughout.
'Haiz, looks like it's really not fated for me to obtain this cauldron...'
Zhang Bao Jun shook his head dejectedly as he let out a heavy sigh.
30 million USD was already the limit of what he could offer in such a short period of time. But with how determined and steadfast the young man was, it was unlikely that he could buy the cauldron from him even if he offered more money.
"Young man, such a rare treasure should not be left here to gather mold. Its place shouldn't be here, out in the mountainside, being used as a cooking pot! A masterpiece like this deserves to be displayed proudly for the public to admire!" Zhang Bao Jun advised sincerely.
The moment his 30 million USD offer was rejected steadfastly, he no longer held any more hopes of obtaining the cauldron.
As a senior who had spent almost his entire life dealing with bronze artifacts, Zhang Bao Jun really did not wish to see a national treasure like that being used for cooking.
"I know its value much better than you think. This cauldron will only be able to be put to its greatest use in my hands!"
Bei Feng was also slightly affected by Zhang Bao Jun's virtuous advise. As such, he also decided to reply sincerely
'Ai! The youngster is promising, but there's no point if he cannot be taught!'
The words which sounded so serious in Bei Feng's mind was extremely jarring in Zhang Bao Jun's ears. What do you mean by the cauldron will only be put to its greatest use in your hands? Were all his well-meant words just a waste of breath? Could it be that that d*mned brat still intended to continue using the antique as a pot to stew meat?!
Bei Feng did not bother to reply anymore at this point. There was no point trying to argue with this old man. Since they had extremely differing views from the start, there was no way for him to convince the old man.
Only, Bei Feng felt quite some heartache about the deal. That was 30 million in US dollars!
To a covetous character like himself, to decline such an offer was akin to cutting off a piece of flesh on his own body! Despite the pain, there was nothing that Bei Feng could do about it. Compared to money which could be earned, he felt that the medicine cauldron was much more important!
"Old partner, so there is a day where you would end up having to eat a loss too. I knew from the start that there was something wrong with you. Can you tell us about this cauldron now?" Huang Lin patted his buddy on the shoulder and laughed. Wang Jian also perked his ears, curious to learn what was so special about the cauldron.
"You've all heard about the Houmuwu Rectangle Cauldron from the Shang Dynasty right? Zhang Bao Jun did not answer the question, but instead asked in return.
"Of course I've heard of it. How can anyone not know the famous national treasure?" Huang Lin had only just finished replying when he suddenly gasped aloud and turned around in shock. "Are you saying that the cauldron just now is... the Houmuwu Rectangle Cauldron?!"
Both Huang Lin and Wang Jian was shell-shocked as they stared at Zhang Bao Jun with incredulous expressions.
One had to know that the Houmuwu Rectangle Cauldron was supposedly kept in the national museum of China, and was considered a priceless treasure!
"Even worse! That cauldron appears to be far superior to the Houmuwu Rectangle Cauldron in every single aspect! If it's proven to be an authentic artifact, the entire world's collector circle would be stirred up and go crazy for it!"
Zhang Bao Jun explained passionately as he pointed at the large cauldron. But even as he felt his heart bubbling over with excitement, whenever he remembered Bei Feng's resolution, he found that he was unable to maintain his fervency.
Bei Feng stood to the side silently, watching as the group discussed heatedly. Although he didn't know what they were talking about--what's up with rectangle cauldrons and natural treasures?--he still understood that the large medicine cauldron in his yard was some formidable stuff!