Chapter 679 As A Gif (2/2)

Li Du said, ”I'm planning to give it to Sophie. She likes having music as accompaniment whenever she plays the piano. She usually uses the CD player, but I think this phonograph would complement the piano much better.”

Hans said, ”Even so, no need to buy it here. Forget it, and give it up. Later, I'll get you one for 2,000 dollars from any store out there.”

Having gotten Li Du's promise, he was no longer as interested in the machine.

Fawkes was listening to their conversation and heard Li Du mention that it was meant to be a gift. He looked at Li Du's expression, and felt that he was indeed telling the truth.

”Buddy, you can have it,” Fawkes said, shaking his head.

The auctioneer shouted the price out thrice, and no one else offered any more bids—the phonograph was now Li Du's.

”Hey, what's going on with this machine?” Hans whispered to Li Du. ”What is its value?”

Li Du said, ”It's beautiful, and well-preserved, with great sound quality. I think Sophie will like it.”

Hans was dumbfounded. ”You're really planning to give it to Sophie?”

Li Du said, ”Yeah, didn't I just say that? That it's meant for Sophie when she is on the piano?”

Hans slapped his forehead with his hand and moaned, ”D*mn, I thought you said it to fool that guy who was eavesdropping, and so I played along with you.”

Li Du broke into a laugh. ”You did a good job helping me get the phonograph.”

Hans reluctantly said, ”If it's just for Sophie, why did you spend so much money on it? There are plenty of such phonographs in the stores. You could get one for less than two grand, for sure!”

The phonograph was not that rare; a few decades ago, almost every family in Europe and America had one.

Li Du said, ”Those in the stores may not have been as well-preserved.”

He had used the little bug to check; the phonograph was hardly used. After being bought by a family, it had been kept in the attic. An old man maintained it regularly, and used it from time to time—it had been extremely well-kept.

This was the reason why he was willing to pay such a high price for it. The brass phonograph had been well-preserved and could still be used. Having been kept for so long, there was an aged feel to it, which complemented the use of it for playing classical music.

Hans shrugged in resignation, while Fawkes and the rest, who were eavesdropping on their conversation, laughed.

Fawkes was lucky—he had very nearly buried himself in the pit he had dug.

The auction proceeded. Li Du had no interest in the other items that were being auctioned. He didn't bid for anything else and only bought that phonograph.

At the end of the auction, he went to pay for the phonograph. Suradi asked regretfully, ”Mr. Li, the phonograph was the only thing that caught your eye?”

He had brought forward the auction date on Li Du's account, hoping to make a quick buck. It had, however, really turned out to be only a buck, only ”one.”

Before Li Du could reply, a treasure hunter nearby laughed, ”Boy Wonder's the affectionate sort. He buys such things to chase after skirts. If you have other instruments, maybe he'll be interested.”

Someone came up and put his arm around Li Du. Laughing, he said, ”Hey, Boy Wonder, there's an old accordion in my house. My grandfather brought back from the Soviet Union. How about I sell it to you for six grand? I bet that chicks would dig the accordion even more.”

Li Du slanted his shoulder to shake the man's arm off. He looked at him out of the corner of his eye and said, ”Do we know each other that well? Please keep your distance.”

The big man was both embarrassed and offended. ”You're so unsociable. Something's wrong with you.”

Having been pushed off by Li Du, the man was not just embarrassed but also insulted. Since he was surrounded by many people, he stretched his arm out once again, wanting to put it around Li Du's neck once again.

Seeing that, Brother Wolf, who had been standing at one side, grabbed his wrist and tugged his arm. The man stumbled twice before falling to the ground.