Noticing that the two of them had strange expressions, Cao Yuande couldn't help asking, "Is there anything inconvenient?"
Guo Baba looked at Yang Bo and said, "The String - Patterned Jue was just bought by Yang Bo at an outdoor stall for a few dozen yuan. It's nothing special, and he's just a shop assistant here."
Cao Yuande also looked strange. Before, he hadn't been able to figure out the relationship between Yang Bo and Guo Baba. He simply thought that they might be relatives or partners. It was really because Yang Bo's performance in the early morning that day was so astonishing that it was hard to accept the fact that he was just a shop assistant at first.
The meaning in Guo Baba's words was clear: Yang Bo was just a young shop assistant of Good De Zhai. You are a great professor, don't over - praise him.
Cao Yuande was stunned for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Oh, I see."
Guo Baba felt relieved, thinking that the other person finally understood the situation.
However, Cao Yuande went on to say, "It doesn't matter. He's young. It doesn't matter if he makes mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes at first. The more you buy, the better your skills will be. Young man, don't you think so? Can you show it to me for appreciation?"
Yang Bo couldn't figure out Cao Yuande's strange intention. He seemed to have said both good and bad things, forcing Yang Bo to take out the String - Patterned Jue.
Guo Baba smiled reluctantly and awkwardly, "Yang Bo, look, Professor Cao is so interested. Just bring it over and let Professor Cao have a look. Maybe it's genuine, and it could be sold for a good price, right?"
Yang Bo had no choice but to say to Cao Yuande, "As the boss just said, that String - Patterned Jue was indeed found at a stall. Since Professor Cao is willing to help identify it, that would be great."
After saying that, Yang Bo went upstairs, took down the String - Patterned Jue, and handed it to Cao Yuande. When handing it over, Yang Bo winked at Cao Yuande.
Cao Yuande, who had a thin face and wore thick glasses on his nose, also smiled slightly at Yang Bo and raised his eyebrows in response.
Guo Baba signaled to Yang Bo, and the two of them walked aside. Guo Baba whispered, "Yang Bo, tell me the truth. Did you know Professor Cao before?"
Guo Baba was very shrewd. At this time, he could see that Cao Yuande had been protecting and supporting Yang Bo since he entered the shop. This made him confused. How could a small antique shop assistant make a top - level domestic university professor do this for him?
Yang Bo was stunned for a moment, then pretended to ask, "Where is Professor Cao from? I haven't attended university, so how could I know a professor?"
Guo Baba nodded, thinking to himself that it should be like this. He added, "He is a professor in the Archaeology Department of Jinling University and also a top - level cultural relics identification expert in China. Be more respectful!"
After saying that, Guo Baba walked back as if nothing had happened.
After they both sat down, Cao Yuande looked at them as if he hadn't noticed these little maneuvers. He solemnly placed the String - Patterned Jue on the table and said to Yang Bo, "Is it Xiao Yang? Congratulations. This is an early - Shang - Dynasty String - Patterned Jue!"
Guo Baba's butt, which had just sat down, seemed to be burned, and he jumped up, "What? It's genuine?"
Cao Yuande nodded, "It's genuine."
Although Yang Bo had expected it, he was still very excited when he heard Cao Yuande admit it himself because this could be used as a basis for bargaining, and it could at least sell for a lot more money.
"There are three inscriptions on the handle of this String - Patterned Jue, which increases its value a lot," Cao Yuande explained again.
Guo Baba found it hard to believe, "Professor Cao, is it really genuine? In that case, it should be worth a lot of money, right? Yang Bo is really lucky!"
"Oh, by the way, Yang Bo, you haven't said where you found this bargain. I'd like to go and see if I can find a matching one," Guo Baba suddenly asked eagerly.
"Boss Guo!" Cao Yuande sighed lightly, "Boss Guo, even if you know the address, do you think you can still buy it?"
"You never know!" Guo Baba had a strong hunch that he would definitely be able to find a bargain. After all, Yang Bo could find one, and his level was much higher than Yang Bo's. He was sure to find more bargains than Yang Bo!
Cao Yuande looked at Guo Baba and thought to himself with a smile. He even thought about dissuading the other person. Wasn't he cutting off someone's source of wealth? Guo Baba seemed not to understand his meaning. He wanted to say that with Yang Bo's level, would there still be any missed items left for you to find? But Guo Baba clearly didn't understand, or rather, he didn't think in that direction at all.
Yang Bo, seeing Guo Baba's impatient look, was also annoyed and wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible. So he said, "I found it at a stall on Zhanyuan Road in the Confucius Temple. I just don't know if that stall is still there."
"It doesn't matter. I can find it!" Without waiting for Yang Bo to say anything more, Guo Baba rushed out in a hurry, shouting, "Take good care of the shop!"
After Guo Baba left, only the two of them were left sitting opposite each other in the room, and it was quiet for a while.
Cao Yuande looked at Yang Bo with a half - smile, "I really didn't expect it."
Yang Bo was helpless, "Didn't expect what? Didn't expect me to be an antique shop assistant?"
Cao Yuande nodded with a smile, "That's just one aspect. Just now, when I heard Boss Guo say that you were a shop assistant, I thought that Boss Guo was behind the scenes when you went to Ji Ya Tang to sell the fish - basket - shaped zun. I had some contact with Boss Guo before, and he didn't seem like that kind of person. Looking at his eagerness, it seems that it was really your own doing that day."
Yang Bo smiled and didn't say anything. There was no need to explain.
"Brother Yang is indeed young and promising. At such a young age, your achievements in cultural relics appraisal have reached such a level," Cao Yuande praised.
Yang Bo had always disliked the false modesty in such situations, so he just nodded, "You overpraise me."
Cao Yuande laughed, "While Boss Guo is away, let's talk about the price of this String - Patterned Jue. Since you sold the fish - basket - shaped zun that day, I believe you won't be reluctant to sell this String - Patterned Jue to me today."
Yang Bo was secretly happy. He had been thinking about how to sell it. This was really like having a pillow when he was sleepy. However, he had also guessed before. After all, the price of the String - Patterned Jue wasn't high, and Cao Yuande wouldn't have gone to so much trouble for it for no reason.
"Professor Cao is a straightforward person. You can offer a price as you like," Yang Bo said, being a bit clever.
Cao Yuande pointed at Yang Bo and smiled, "You're quite clever. However, I'm not buying this String - Patterned Jue for myself but for a friend. This one is suitable, and I won't let you suffer."
"Thank you, Professor Cao," Yang Bo said.