After leaving Huabao Pavilion, Fang Ming didn't rush to leave. Instead, he leisurely strolled among the vendor stalls, curious about their wares.
The displays were diverse: rusted bronze artifacts, vibrantly colored porcelain, ancient coins, and jade pieces. Almost anything that had existed in history seemed to be available here.
Unlike the hawkers on typical market streets, these vendors rarely shouted to attract customers. They sat quietly by their stalls, watching silently even as people browsed their goods.
In the antique market, everything hinged on the buyer's discerning eye. About 90% of the items were replicas or modern crafts, and vendors respected the unspoken rule of letting customers "discover treasures" on their own.
Fang Ming finally stopped at a stall selling ancient coins. He crouched down, sifting through the coins with his fingers. After a while, he picked out five coins and set them aside.
"How much for these five?" he asked.
The vendor, a middle-aged man, twitched his lips slightly, annoyed. He was intimately familiar with his stock—out of over a hundred coins, fewer than ten were genuine. And now, this young man had somehow managed to pick out five real ones in an instant.
"Young man, you seem to know your stuff. These are from the Small Five Emperor Coins series. Individually, they're 800 yuan each, but the full set is 5,000 yuan."
For those unfamiliar with antiques, the price might seem inconsistent. But seasoned collectors would know that complete sets were significantly more valuable than individual pieces. The Small Five Emperor Coins also had specific cultural and symbolic uses, adding to their worth.
"That works," Fang Ming said, pulling out a cloth pouch from his bag. He counted out 5,000 yuan in cash and handed it to the vendor.
Some might wonder why the vendor didn't try to overcharge, given the reputation of antique markets for inflated prices. The answer was simple: Fang Ming's expertise intimidated the seller. Being able to pick out genuine coins so effortlessly marked him as an expert, and any attempt to deceive him would likely backfire. It was better to sell at market price.
As Fang Ming pocketed the coins, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. While these Small Five Emperor Coins were not the rarer Large Five Emperor Coins, they were still highly valuable. Finding a complete set was no easy task, even for a collector.
"Looks like this antique market has its gems after all," Fang Ming thought, deciding to continue exploring.
Chaos in the Market
"Stop! Don't run!"
A sudden shout interrupted Fang Ming's thoughts. Turning around, he saw a middle-aged man clutching a young girl, fleeing frantically while several police officers chased after him.
"A child trafficker?" Fang Ming's first thought was grim. Without hesitation, he stretched out his foot, tripping the man.
Unable to stop himself due to his momentum, the man fell forward. The little girl flew from his arms, heading toward the ground—only to be caught by Fang Ming's swift hands.
"Got you," Fang Ming said, holding the girl securely.
The police officers quickly caught up, pinning the man to the ground.
"It's okay now," Fang Ming reassured the girl. But to his surprise, the girl glared at him angrily.
"You're a bad man! You hurt my daddy!" she shouted, struggling out of his arms.
Fang Ming frowned but released her. She ran to the man restrained by the officers, tears streaming down her face.
It became clear to Fang Ming that this wasn't a trafficking case. The girl was the man's daughter. But if that was the case, why were the police after him?
"A thief? A robber?" Fang Ming shook his head, dismissing the possibility. A thief or robber wouldn't bring their daughter along for a crime. The man's panic suggested he might be a fugitive.
"Let my daddy go! My daddy didn't steal anything! You're wrong about him!" the girl cried.
One of the officers knelt beside her, speaking gently. "Little girl, if your dad didn't steal anything, we'll find out. The police don't falsely accuse people. We just need to take him in for investigation."
Fang Ming turned his attention to the man, noting his grayish complexion and the security uniform he wore. His face was marked by fear and despair.
"I didn't steal anything. I swear I didn't take the gold! Please, don't hurt my daughter!" the man pleaded.
"If you didn't steal, why did you run?" an officer asked sharply, silencing the man. His flight had only deepened their suspicions.
The Accusation
Fang Ming stepped forward. "Excuse me, officer. Can I ask what he's accused of?"
The officer, recognizing Fang Ming as the one who helped catch the man, replied politely. "Theft. He's suspected of stealing gold jewelry from Baoyuxuan."
"Gold jewelry?" Fang Ming looked at the man thoughtfully. Based on his uniform, he seemed to be a security guard.
"He's a security guard at Baoyuxuan, isn't he? Stealing gold jewelry wouldn't be easy for someone in his position."
The officer sighed. "He was trusted by the owner, Mr. Cai, and was in charge of guarding the gold. Who else could it be? If it weren't for the boss trusting him, how would he have had the opportunity to steal it?"
From the officers' account, Fang Ming pieced together the story. The man, named Yuan Minsheng, had been the head of security at Baoyuxuan for over a decade. Trusted by the owner, he was given access to the store's second floor, where valuables were kept.
Three months ago, Baoyuxuan had received a shipment of gold jewelry for its anniversary sale. These items were stored in a secured vault on the second floor. Only the owner and Yuan Minsheng had keys to the room containing the vault.
However, when the owner returned from a trip abroad and checked the vault, the gold was gone.
The owner immediately suspected Yuan Minsheng. Even if Yuan didn't have the key to the vault itself, he could have observed the owner entering the code or found another way to access it. When confronted, Yuan denied everything but fled with his daughter when police arrived.
To the officers, his escape confirmed his guilt.
Doubts Arise
Fang Ming watched the scene unfold, his mind racing. While the evidence pointed to Yuan's guilt, something didn't sit right with him.
"If he stole the gold, why was his daughter with him? No thief would risk implicating their child in such a crime," Fang Ming thought.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke firmly. "I don't know who stole the gold, but I can say with certainty—it wasn't him."