Chapter 333 The Tang Dynasty Chamber of Abundance (1/2)
Chapter 333: The Tang Dynasty Chamber of Abundance
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After closing the deal, Hans and Chicano shook hands in parting.
Once they were out of the building, Li Du asked, ”Who did you sell the umbrella to? Has the price been settled?”
He had asked as he felt that Hans was acting uncharacteristically.
It was true that treasure hunters valued their honor and that once a deal had been established, they could not back out.
The deal for the umbrella would normally still be up for negotiation. Under such circumstances, based on Li Du’s understanding of Hans, in order to pick the best buyer, he should have at least found out what Chicano’s offer was.
To answer Li Du’s question, Hans said, ”A buyer has been found, but the price has not been set.”
Li Du was puzzled. ”Then why did you not find out Chicano’s offer?”
Hans pointed at his head. ”Bro, the mind is a wonderful thing—”
”Spit it out!”
”Alright, alright. Just like the Spirit of Ecstasy, there is a serial number on the umbrella too, and the one on it could not be changed. If he were to see the number and realize it did not match that of the hood ornament, what would he think?
”Also, this fella didn’t really want to buy the umbrella—he was testing our integrity. So I presented the image of a rule-abiding, trustworthy businessman. He’s satisfied and so are we. That’s how we’ve got ourselves a closed deal.”
Li Du nodded. Indeed, Chicano had only asked a few superficial questions relating to the umbrella and had stopped asking once Hans rejected him.
If Chicano had really been interested in the umbrella, he would not have given up so easily.
Although he had the little bug’s assistance, Li Du lamented that he still had a long way to go in terms of mastering this trade.
Having left the building, they went in search of a hotel to rest in—the transaction for the umbrella was to happen later that night.
In the evening, after dinner, Hans took them on a bus ride into a bustling street.
”This is Broadway, buddy. You didn’t see it the last time—now you can take a good look.”
As Li Du pressed his face against the window, he asked, ”Where are we going?”
”To your hometown,” Hans answered.
Li Du reacted immediately. ”LA’s Chinatown?”
”Yeah.”
After traveling north for less than one mile, they arrived in Chinatown.
LA’s Chinatown was adjacent to the former city center. It was one of the several major Chinese enclaves on the west coast of America. Large numbers of immigrants from China lived in and around here.
Nowadays, Chinatown was no longer only meant for the Chinese. Many immigrants from all parts of Asia liked to live there. Chinatown had also gradually become where the American public would show respect for and recognition of Asian culture.
Since the second half of the 20th century, the number of Chinese immigrants in LA had surged and Chinatown was divided into three separate parts.
Among them, the one they were going to visit was the oldest, where Chinese immigrants from Guangfu had relocated. The other two were ”Little Taipei,” with mainly Taiwanese people, and ”New Chinatown,” dominated by new immigrants who had come to LA in the 21st century.
This Chinatown had adopted the traditional Chinese architectural style, with an antique palatial archway at the entrance, red lanterns flanking the streets, and shop signs all in Chinese characters.