Zhao Laosi, also known as Reed, was initially reluctant to engage in conversation with the old man. However, the moment he noticed Willie pull out a hundred-yuan bill, his demeanor shifted positively.


    With a smile, he epted the one hundred yuan from Willie and replied nonchntly, “The subway is indeed the quickest option, but since it’s already past ten o’clock and the morning rush hour is over, taking a taxi to the city is now a better choice. It will take about half an hour, which is quicker than the subway. Since money isn’t an issue for you, I suggest you go with a taxi.”


    “Sounds good!” Willie responded with a polite gesture, saying, “Thank you, brother!”


    “No problem,” Mr. Reed replied, quickly tucking the hundred-yuan bill into his pocket. He thought that if he didn’t secure the money right away, the old man might try to take it back.


    At that moment, Willie pointed to the jade wrench adorning Reed’s right thumb and asked curiously, “Brother, that wrench looks impressive. How much is it worth?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Despite his usual dealings involving deception and abduction, Reed prided himself on his keen eye for valuable items. He casually remarked, “This piece is from the Qing Dynasty. It’s not extremely valuable, but it’s not cheap either. The market value is around ten thousand.”<fn8ef6> This content belongs to Find★Novel</fn8ef6>


    Sheng Bo,cking knowledge in antiques, inquired, “What does ‘Zhongwan’ mean?”


    Mr. Reed exined, “Zhongwan refers to the middle figure of ten thousand, which can fluctuate by one or two, typically around fifty thousand. Wandu falls under Zhongwan.”


    “Oh, I see,” Willie said with a grin. “You speak about it so casually, brother. You must be in the antique business, right?”


    “Yes,” Zhao Laosi (Reed) confirmed without hesitation. “I’ve been in the antiques trade for over ten to twenty years.”


    Willie, intrigued, asked, “Since you’re an antique dealer, what brings you to the airport to pick someone up?”


    Zhao Laosi (Reed) narrowed his eyes and assessed Willie before responding, “Old man, you ask a lot of questions. Shouldn’t you be more focused on finding the quickest way to the city? We should get moving.”


    Willie felt a pang of realization, understanding that he might have been talking too much and raising Reed’s suspicions.


    He quickly apologized, “Oh, I’m sorry! I tend to ramble in my old age. I just enjoy chatting with everyone, so I hope you don’t mind.”


    What Willie didn’t realize was that Zhao Laosi (Reed) was subtly hinting that if he wished to continue the conversation, he would need to offer more money. The hundred yuan he had already received was considered spent.


    With a knowing smile, Zhao Laosi (Reed) added, “Master, it’s fine to talk a bit more, but the important part is who you’re talking to and how you approach the conversation.”


    As he spoke, he intentionally used his thumb and forefinger, adorned with the jade wrench, to count imaginary money.


    Willie snapped back to reality, feeling foolish for underestimating the situation. Realizing the need for a more straightforward approach, he decided to get right to the point.


    Without hesitation, he pulled out a few more hundred-yuan bills from his pocket and handed them to Mr. Reed, smiling as he said, “Honestly, I’m quite interested in antiques as well. That wrench you have really caught my eye. I’m very fond of it and was wondering if you’d be willing to part with it. Let’s discuss the price!”<h3 ss="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading" id="chapter-list"><strong></strong>