"What's the price for this set of Yuan Datou?"
"Haha, my friend, I was right, wasn't I? I knew you would be interested. Rest assured, Sang Jia Yi is the most trustworthy in business. How about this, since you like this set of silver coins so much, I'll transfer it to you for five thousand US dollars, consider it as us becoming friends."
Upon hearing this price, Jian Muchen felt like spitting in the face of this Indian guy, with his seemingly sincere but pitch-black face.
Seeing that Jian Muchen finally took an interest in something, Candice also approached with interest. However, seeing the two of them starting to haggle, she didn't speak up, just watching from the side.
Although Jian Muchen didn't know the current price of signed versions of Yuan Datou coins in China, he had heard about the price of ordinary Yuan Datou coins. Excluding the factor of signed versions, the price of this set of Yuan Datou coins, based on their condition alone, would be at most around seven hundred yuan each.
Moreover, because it was a complete set in good condition, it should fetch a considerably higher price. However, even so, it would only be about double or triple the price.
For such a set, if it wasn't a signed version, it would fetch at most over ten thousand. Now, this was a complete set of signed versions, which could double or triple the price, making it only about twenty to thirty thousand.
This guy was asking for five thousand US dollars right off the bat, was he treating himself as a high roller from China?
If he bought it at this price, he wouldn't be buying Yuan Datou coins, but rather, he would be the one being taken advantage of.
However, this was a market, one of the few places in the US where you could demand sky-high prices and still get paid. Following the principle of bargaining to the death, Jian Muchen made a counteroffer of five hundred US dollars.
Hearing this counteroffer, the Indian man wasn't angry, but his head shook like a tambourine: "Four thousand five hundred."
This guy immediately dropped the price by five hundred, indicating that his previous offer had been too high. Seeing that Jian Muchen was genuinely interested in buying, he began actively lowering the price to bring it closer to both parties' expectations.
Jian Muchen quickly sized up this guy and realized that he was just a small-time operator. He might only know that this set of Yuan Datou coins was a set of silver coins used in China in those years, but he definitely didn't know the difference between signed versions and ordinary Yuan Datou coins.
So Jian Muchen directly offered eight hundred as the final price...
The price was quickly compressed to around two thousand US dollars, getting closer to Jian Muchen's mental price.
"One thousand two hundred US dollars."
"One thousand eight hundred US dollars, I really can't go any lower."
At this point, the expression on the Indian vendor's face seemed like he was about to cry, but Jian Muchen knew there was still room for negotiation.
"..."
"One thousand five hundred US dollars."
The vendor finally shouted out Jian Muchen's mental price, so Jian Muchen smiled and extended his hand.
"Deal!"
When the Indian vendor received the fifteen hundred US dollars given by Jian Muchen, the constipated expression on his face from before had long disappeared. Instead, he smiled like a chrysanthemum in full bloom, it was indeed a Chinese tycoon, always enjoying doing business with such people.
The vendor was very happy, and Jian Muchen was equally delighted. This was a complete set of signed version Yuan Datou coins in good condition. If it were a single coin, its price would have increased several times compared to ordinary Yuan Datou coins. Now he had a complete set, and such sets were often the most popular in the collectibles market. For collectors who liked them, this was definitely a rare treasure. Getting it for fifteen hundred US dollars was a big bargain.
"How about you? You seem very happy? What exactly is this set?"
Candice, who had been silent all along, noticed that Jian Muchen's mood seemed very good at this moment, so she asked with a smile.
"It's a set of Chinese silver coins from a hundred years ago, which are very valuable in the Chinese market..."
Seeing Candice's curiosity, and eager to share his joy, Jian Muchen began to explain the origin of this set of silver coins to her.
Originally, he thought Candice would find it boring after a few words, but unexpectedly, this girl listened with relish, which made Jian Muchen have an even greater fondness for her.
"Wow... I didn't expect that this set of silver coins would have such historical significance. So, this set should be very valuable, right?"
After listening to Jian Muchen's brief explanation of the origin of this set of silver coins, Candice widened her blue eyes and asked, her eyes full of surprise, while Jian Muchen just chuckled.
"It should be very valuable, but I'm not sure exactly how much. I'll have to ask Fang Bo when I get back."
The two of them had already unconsciously walked in the direction of the Brooklyn Bridge.
"Oh, by the way, thank you today for taking me to such an interesting place. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get this set of silver coins."
"Haha, don't say that. As long as you come across something interesting, it's worth it."
Candice waved her hand nonchalantly, seemingly very happy for Jian Muchen.
"No, you can't say that. Here, take this."
Jian Muchen reached into his backpack and took out a cloth bag to hand to Candice.
"Wow, is this a gift on our first outing?"
Candice was very happy with this unexpected surprise and took the cloth bag without hesitation. When she opened it and saw what was inside, she screamed.
"Oh my God, this is... so beautiful."
Then she looked up, her eyes a little red as she looked at Jian Muchen.
"How did you know I liked this?"
It turned out that the small bag contained a silver coffee pot that she had seen on the Indian guy's stall earlier, with a strong Victorian style. Her family used to have such a coffee pot, but after her father went bankrupt and committed suicide, their house was seized by the bank, and of course, the coffee pot couldn't be taken out.
Previously at that stall, she had looked at the coffee pot for a long time and really liked it, but when she saw the price tag, it was over three hundred dollars, which she couldn't afford, so she could only sigh with regret.
Who would have thought that Jian Muchen had secretly noticed her, and when she wasn't paying attention, he took down the coffee pot and gave it to her as a gift.
Candice's heart was filled with indescribable emotions. Originally two strangers who had just met, had only spent a short ten hours together, but now in her heart, the image of Jian Muchen was becoming clearer and more full.
But when she looked at the coffee pot
in her hand, she finally gritted her teeth and handed it back to Jian Muchen.
"I'm sorry, Muchen, although I really like this coffee pot, I can't accept it, it's too precious."
A three hundred dollar item, given their current relationship, was indeed a bit too precious. Candice knew the meaning of restraint, she was different from those women who liked to hang around men for free meals.
Looking at the coffee pot being handed back to him, Jian Muchen was stunned for a moment, then scratched his head and said, "Candice, the price of this pot is indeed not cheap, but I gave it to you because one, I saw you really liked it, and two, to express my gratitude to you. You know, you brought me to this place, and I happened to buy this set of silver coins, which may be worth far more than what I bought it for. Maybe with just one turn, I can sell it for several times the price, all thanks to you. So if you don't accept such a gift, I would feel very sad..."
Hearing Jian Muchen's explanation, Candice felt much better in her heart.
"Well then, what's this? A profit-sharing arrangement?"
"What do you think? If you think so, then yes! You'll accept this gift, won't you?"
"Hey, you little rascal, don't quote what I said. Well, seeing how sincere you are, to ease your conscience a little, I'll reluctantly accept it!"
"Oh? Did you say that? I don't seem to remember! Hey! So does this mean you really like this gift?"
"Hmph! I won't tell you!"
The originally somewhat stiff atmosphere softened again, and amidst the laughter, the two of them walked to the subway station not far from the Brooklyn Bridge.
The subway wheels clattered against the rails, and the carriages swayed rhythmically with the impact. After a day of wandering, Candice was tired. She didn't know when she had leaned her head on Jian Muchen's shoulder and fallen asleep.
Smelling the fragrance of the girl beside him, Jian Muchen couldn't help but sigh, what a perfect day.
After reaching the station, Jian Muchen reluctantly sent Candice back to the Good Taste Bakery, then stood at the door for a while before slowly turning back to Fang Bo's antique shop.
And Fang Bo was still sitting behind his desk, flipping through magazines introducing antiques, but when he saw Jian Muchen return, he immediately perked up.
"Hey kid, how was your day? From your expression, it seems like things went well with that girl!"
"Come on, Fang Bo, you're so old, why are you still so gossiping!"
"Hey! You kid, which law says old guys can't gossip? Quick, tell me, where did you two go today?"
"Hehe, I won't say, but I did pick up something very good today. How about it, Fang Bo, can you take a look?"
Upon hearing that Jian Muchen had picked up something again, Fang Bo couldn't help but look stunned for a moment, then quickly became stern and serious.
"Alright, bring me what you said and let me have a look!"