Chapter 91: The Value Of Art (Part 2) Iii (1/2)
”I shouldn't be telling you this, Boss Chalk, but I'm still going to,” he said softly.
”Speak.”
”The ceramic pieces you sold us... we auctioned them off a total of 63 times and failed almost 61 times.”
”What do you mean?” I asked, baffled.
”Simply speaking, we couldn't sell them.”
”What? What does that mean?”
”Because Boss rarely manages to sell your art, he doesn't earn from it. I think that he got someone to take on your ident.i.ty so that he could raise the works' value,” he explained.
”Why does he still keep buying my stuff then?”
He could only shake his head.
”Don't you find that strange?” I asked.
”I only found out about this last night and that's why I'm telling you now.”
I waved my arm dismissively, my mind preoccupied. ”Got it, you can leave now.”
”If you still plan to sell your pieces, mail them to this address and we'll send the money over. We won't be coming back again,” he stammered a bit fearfully before placing a name card on the table.
”Leave,” I said again.
He bolted out of my shop and handed his friends their cards.
I watched them rush down the street before I closed my shop.
I bought some fis.h.i.+ng tools and waited for the next day.
Looking down at my clothes, I wondered if I was dressed too shabbily.
Frustrated, I visited a clothing shop and found a more suitable and casual outfit.
The next morning, I left for the reservoir early and got myself situated.
Gradually, I noticed more and more people arriving, much more than I expected.
I figured that at this rate, I wouldn't get alone time with the boss even if I did find him.
I was just about to pack my stuff up and leave when I discovered something strange.
These people weren't really fis.h.i.+ng, they were just all acting perfunctorily.
Some simply threw their lines in without any bait and sat around idly. It seemed that they weren't really here to fish.
I leaned over to a guy close to me and asked, ”Will you catch any fishes like this, brother?”
He gave me a weird look before answering, ”You're really here to catch fishes?”
Surprised, I asked, ”You're not?”
He smiled and shook his head. ”I'm just here for fun. Fish or no fish, I don't really care.”
”A lot of them are like you, yeah? They don't care about the fishes?”
”What's your name?” he asked.
”Chalk.”
”Where do you do your business? Coming all the way here...”
”No, I'm here to fish.”
”You aren't simple, are you? Do you know how long it's been since someone came here to fish for real? I've been coming here for two years now, once every month. No one really fishes here and I'm sure you know it.”
I kept quiet.
He continued faintly, ”Tell me, who introduced you to this place? What do you normally do?”
”I'm a ceramic artist.”
”Do you earn much? Coming here at such a young age... I'm guessing that you earn more than me. I buy and sell unlicensed vehicles. Bring me along when you do your business in the future and I'll teach you what you need to know, aye?”
I nodded.
”Is this really your first time? The first time I came here, I had someone to guide me along. Come, scoot over. You can call me Director Chen,” he introduced.
I adjusted my chair and sat opposite of him.
Just then, a car drove over.
Turning around, I saw a Benz with the car plate number 7777A.
”He's here,” I mumbled.
”Looks like you do know a little something. I'll introduce you so don't speak. Just watch and learn,” he said.
”I should keep quiet?” I asked.
”Boss Ma only mingles with familiar people. Things run deep here after all.”
”Alright, thanks.”