The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 647: Fight against counterfeiting, a way out!!!
At this moment, the electronic clock in Hong Kong jumped to three o'clock in the morning, and Liu Shudong's blue laser pen moved across the map of London.

"Have the Singapore tankers reroute to Port Klang," the light spot stopped at the Strait of Malacca, "notify the freight forwarder at Tokyo Port to withhold the customs declaration form for the Chilean cathode copper."

A few days later, Reuters broke the news.

Within 7.2 hours, the global futures market exploded. While people were focusing on Liu Shudong's acquisition of a 3000% stake in HSBC, LME copper inventories were disappearing at an average rate of tons per day.

Crawford discovered that HSBC's short position had been locked by physical delivery, while Liu Shudong's dark web agreement had bought out the production capacity of the entire Southeast Asian dismantling factories half a year ago.

As the morning mist once again filled the Victoria Harbour, Liu Shudong opened today's morning paper with a smile.

On his dining table was a HSBC equity transfer agreement and an audit report marked with the "Busan Port copper plate smelting loss rate".

Dark clouds are gathering outside the window, and a new round of ionospheric disturbances is brewing over the Pacific Ocean.

……

It’s the end of the year in a flash.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, snowflakes were falling in Qianmen Hutong. Han Ming turned into the courtyard on his 28-bar bicycle with a bunch of freshly bought sesame straw dangling from the handlebars.

Uncle Guan squatted under the eaves and smoked a pipe, squinting at him and said, "Mingzi, it's getting late today, you have to spread the sesame straw quickly, don't delay the New Year's Eve!"

"Okay, look how solid this bundle is, it will surely make a crackling sound when stepped on!" Han Ming grinned and took out a jar of Erguotou from the basket, "Master, let's drink this on New Year's Eve."

The window of Su Meng's house next door creaked open, and a pretty face popped out: "Han Ming, my mom asked you to help write Spring Festival couplets!"

"Okay, is the ink ready?" He looked up and answered, but saw a figure flashing behind Su Meng - Cheng Xiaojun walked out holding a teacup and said sarcastically: "Oh, the rag-and-bone king has become a cultured person now, and even dares to show off his calligraphy?"

Han Ming did not respond. He just spread the sesame straw in the middle of the yard and made a crisp "crackling" sound when he stepped on it.

Uncle Guan knocked on the pipe and said, "Junzi, please be more careful with your words at the end of the year. Our ancestors said that a happy new year brings peace and prosperity. Please don't be so mean with your mouth!"

At noon on New Year's Eve, the alley was filled with the aroma of meat.

Han Chunming was squatting in the Guan family's courtyard helping to paste the door gods when he suddenly heard a clang in the house - Uncle Guan was trembling as he held up an empty wooden box, his face pale: "Mingzi, my Geyao Octagonal Cup... is gone!"

This cup is what Uncle Guan has been dreaming about for half his life. When "Junk Marquis" wanted to buy it, he would rather smash it than give it up. Now it has mysteriously disappeared at the end of the year.

Han Ming stared at the half mud footprint on the windowsill, his heart sinking: Cheng Xiaojun came to give a New Year gift last night, saying it was two boxes of Daoxiangcun, but he lingered in Guan's side room for a long time.

"Master, don't worry, I will find it back for you." He grabbed his down jacket and rushed out, bumping into Su Meng who was carrying New Year's goods.

"Why are you in such a hurry during the New Year? Have you caused trouble again?" Su Meng pulled his sleeve.

"Mr. Guan's lifeblood is lost. It's most likely a traitor." He lowered his voice and glanced at the closed gate of the Cheng family's house.

After lunch, there was a sudden commotion in the alley.

Cheng Xiaojun carried the brocade box and went from house to house, saying in a loud voice: "My fellow men, I have received a rare item. Please take a look at it!"

When the lid of the box was lifted, it was the Ge Kiln Octagonal Cup!
Uncle Guan was trembling all over. Han Ming rushed over and asked, "Cheng Xiaojun, where did you get this cup?"

"Hey, this is what Mr. Bai gave me as payment for a debt the other day. It's clearly written in black and white!" Cheng Xiaojun shook out a piece of paper, and the crowd of onlookers buzzed with discussions.

Mr. Bai was squatting in the corner, chewing a candied melon, when he suddenly blurted out, "I, Bai, never owe debts, and I never sell fakes!"

Han Ming was stunned when he heard this. He picked up the cup and held it up to the light. The glaze was flowing like a galaxy, but he saw a hairline repair mark on the bottom of the cup - it was obvious that Cheng Xiaojun had replaced it with a high-quality imitation!
He sneered: "Cheng Xiaojun, you are really good. You are good at making antiques. You can even imitate 'flint red' quite well!"

"Tell me, did you steal my master's Geyao octagonal cup?"

"It doesn't matter if you don't admit it, I'll call the police right now!"

"Hehe, besides, let me tell you, do we know 'The Broken Marquis'? I think you must have heard of his name, right?"

"If you offend him, you should think carefully!"

Cheng Xiaojun's face suddenly changed when he heard this. He was not afraid of anything else, but he was really afraid of offending this big shot in the antique world.

Who exactly is this "Ragged Marquis"?

This legendary figure in the Yanjing antique world is rumored to have been involved in the antique art trade decades ago.

In that era when cultural relics were not yet valued by the world, this gentleman had a unique eye. Whenever he came across valuable antiques, he would definitely put them in his pocket and never be picky.

Over the years, he has collected so many rare treasures that even his peers cannot tell him.

The treasures he stored in his warehouse included everything from bronzes from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to calligraphy and paintings from the Tang and Song dynasties, from porcelains from the Ming and Qing dynasties to imperial objects.

The most amazing thing is that there is a story circulating in the world: in the early 1980s, "Marquis of Broken Wallets" spent a huge amount of money to purchase more than a dozen courtyard houses in Beijing, specifically for storing his priceless collections.

To ensure that nothing goes wrong, he not only built a secret underground treasure room, but also hired a professional security team to guard it day and night.

Where exactly these mansions are hidden in the capital remains an unsolved mystery.

When Cheng Xiaojun heard that Han Ming and Mr. Guan knew such a big shot, he suddenly felt a little scared.

So he said stubbornly: "Han Ming, don't slander me. Which dog eye of yours saw me stealing things?"

Su Meng squeezed into the crowd and shouted, "I saw someone climbing over the Guan family's wall last night. The soles of his shoes were stained with yellow mud from the entrance of the alley!"

Everyone looked at the pair of brand new leather shoes on Cheng Xiaojun's feet - there was a mud mark on the upper, which was exactly opposite to the mark on Guan's windowsill.

With the authenticated physical evidence in hand, Cheng Xiaojun had no way to deny it and had to admit his guilt.

Uncle Guan took back the cup and held it in his arms, tears streaming down his face: "Good things don't leave Xia Country, let alone leave Zhengyang Gate!"

Cheng Xiaojun fled in disgrace, but Han Ming was dragged to a shady place by Su Meng: "You knew it was him who set it up, why didn't you break up with him right away?"

"If it were me, I would take him to the police station and make sure he gets cured of this bad habit!"

"Forget it. It's New Year's Day. Let's just save some face for our old neighbor." He stuffed a clove of garlic into his mouth and inhaled with a hiss from the spiciness. "Besides, it's enough to just find Master's cup. There's no point in making things worse."

"Tsk! Just be the nice guy you are!" Su Meng stomped her feet in anger, rolled her eyes at Han Ming, turned around and went back to her own house.

Han Ming watched her back as she left, smiled and shook his head, then walked home.

“Crackle!” “Bang!” “Bang!”

It was almost time for lunch, and the sound of children on the street were still rising and falling, mixed with the sound of firecrackers that filled the entire city.

In the main hall of the Han family, dumplings with three kinds of fresh stuffing were placed on the eight-immortals table, but Han's mother looked worried.

When Han Ming asked, he found out that his mother was worried about Aunt Zhao in the backyard.

Aunt Zhao's husband has been laid off for more than half a year, and the family can't even afford to chop meat for the New Year.

"Mingzi, go take some meat to your Aunt Zhao's house later. Hey, we have to eat dumplings during the New Year, right?"

"Okay!" Han Ming put down his chopsticks, picked up two pieces of pork belly and walked out: "Mom, I'm full, let me take a walk to digest it!"

"Ok!"

The stove in the Zhao family courtyard was cold. Han Ming threw the meat on the chopping board and said, "Aunt, this is the New Year's gift from our restaurant. We can't finish it!"

When he turned to leave, Aunt Zhao grabbed his sleeve.

This woman, who had been a fierce person for half her life, choked up for the first time: "Mingzi, I've bullied you a lot in the past for collecting junk... I'm sorry."

"What about me? Our restaurant is hiring for the new year. I have a good relationship with Mr. He, so you can let your uncle apply for the job!" He waved his hand and stepped out of the door, leaving a trail of deep footprints in the snow.

The Changdian Temple Fair on the first day of the new year was crowded with people, and Han Ming accompanied Uncle Guan to visit the stalls.

Suddenly, I saw Cheng Xiaojun setting up a stall on the corner of Liulichang Street, with a banner with the words "Exhibition of Treasures Returned from Overseas" written in large letters.

There were a lot of people surrounding the stall, including some foreigners.

Cheng Xiaojun was holding up a Jun kiln bowl and spitting: "This is a treasure from the Old Summer Palace. I want US dollars to pay!"

Uncle Guan was so angry that he was shaking all over, but Han Ming held his arm and said, "Master, don't be anxious, just watch me!"

After pacifying Mr. Guan, Han Ming turned around and shouted to the crowd, "Excuse me, does anyone have a lighter?"

"Thank you!" Han Ming took the lighter handed by a passerby, squatted down, picked up a bowl in front of the stall, and "popped" it to the bottom of the bowl - green smoke rose and the smell of glue was pungent.

"Look, everyone, the genuine Jun kiln uses agate in the glaze, which does not crack when exposed to fire.

This thing emits a chemical smell when it is baked. Tianjin just seized a kiln of fake goods last week! "The crowd was in an uproar!

Cheng Xiaojun yelled, "... Grandma, Han Ming, you dare to ruin my business, I will fight you!" As he picked up the bowl to hit him, he was stopped in time by the police who arrived.

Su Meng emerged from the crowd. She winked at Han Ming proudly and said, "I just reported it using a pay phone. Wasn't that timely?"

Uncle Guan glanced at these imitations and murmured, "People from the Zhengyang Sect must do the things of the Zhengyang Sect..."

On the morning of the fifth day, Han Ming squatted at the gate of the yard chopping cabbage stuffing.

Su Meng came over wrapped in a red scarf: "My mother said that after the New Year, the Cultural Bureau will recruit people to organize the archives of old objects..."

"No, our restaurant is too busy."

"The salary is high and there is also a house for you."

"My doghouse is worse than any other place."

"Han Ming!" Su Meng kicked him, "Can't you just find a decent job?"

Han Ming handed over the rolling pin with a smile: "I'm rolling out the dumpling wrappers for you. Isn't that respectable?"

Then, Han Ming said seriously: "I know you are doing this for my own good, but Boss He has been very kind to me. He told me that after the Chinese New Year, he will let me manage a branch of He's Catering!"

"Oh! Great! You're getting promoted! Well, 'He's Restaurant Chain Group' is also a large company. Being a branch manager means you're considered a senior executive of the company, right?" Su Meng's eyes lit up.

"That's right. I heard that our boss He is planning to provide each branch manager with a car!"

"real or fake?"

"real!"

"Can I ride in your car from now on?"

"Of course, it's a great honor!"

"Hehehe... can talk!"

Amid the steam, Uncle Guan walked into the courtyard carrying a birdcage with a new thrush in it.

The smell of dumplings on the fifth day of the New Year has not yet dissipated, and strings of red lanterns have been hung on the brick walls of Qianmen Hutong.

Han Ming rode a tricycle back from Liulichang with a load of old books. Two newly-made rabbit lanterns dangled from the shaft of the tricycle, their paper ears trembling with the bumps.

Uncle Guan squatted on the threshold to tease Huamei. When he saw the light, he hummed a little tune: "Zhengyang Gate, the glass lamp, illuminates the little ghost to reveal his true form——"

Su Meng flashed out of the courtyard gate wrapped in a red woolen coat and poked the belly of the Rabbit God with her fingertips: "Are you dealing with junk again? There is a lantern riddle competition in Changdian today, and the teacher of the Cultural Palace specifically asked you to go and support the event."

"No, I don't want to show off my half-baked knowledge." Han Ming tried to refuse, but his eyes were looking towards the entrance of the alley - Cheng Xiaojun was moving a brocade box onto the cart, with half a piece of yellow silk sticking out from the corner of the box, and faintly showing the earthworm-like mud patterns of the Jun kiln.

"If you don't go, I'll find Cheng Xiaojun as my partner." Su Meng pretended to turn around, but Han Ming grabbed the handlebars and said, "Okay, I'll go with you! But we have to go around Zhengyang Gate and bring some sorghum seeds to Grandpa Guan's bird."

The sea of ​​​​glass lanterns at the Changdian Temple Fair was as bright as day. Han Ming squatted in front of the sugar painting stall and painted an eagle with spread wings. Before the sugar syrup solidified, he heard a commotion in the east.

The stall set up by Cheng Xiaojun was crowded with foreigners. He held up an enamel bowl and shouted loudly: "This is a teacup used by Emperor Kangxi, certified by the New York auction house!"

Han Xiaoming squeezed into the crowd and tapped the edge of the bowl with his fingertips: "Cheng Xiaojun, your 'fragrant tea' is not right.

The bottom of the genuine bowl has the hidden mark of "Made in Julongchang". Is the gilding on the edge of your bowl electroplated?" He took out his reading glasses and pointed them at the sunlight, "Look at the crackle pattern. It has been soaked in chemical reagents. Three pieces cost ten yuan in Panjiayuan!"

Cheng Xiaojun blushed and said angrily, "Ah! Why are you here?"

Su Meng pulled out a stack of documents from the inner layer of the brocade box: "Is there an enamel bowl with the same serial number as this one on the list of smuggled goods intercepted by the customs last week?"

The crowd was in an uproar, and the local policeman, Old Zhou, walked over. Cheng Xiaojun was so scared that he hurriedly packed up his stall and got away.

Before dawn on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the sound of footsteps could be heard in the alley.

Young girls and wives wrapped in headscarves were rushing towards Zhengyang Gate. Aunt Zhao, a neighbor, pulled Su Meng's arm and teased her, "Meng Meng, go touch the door nails. You'll definitely give birth to a big fat boy next year!"

Han Ming was leaning against the wall, chewing a candied haws. Seeing Su Meng's ears turn red, he deliberately shouted at the top of his voice, "The county annals of the Qing Dynasty can be written now. You have to close your eyes to feel for the nails, and those who sneak a peek will not have children!"

Just then, he heard a sudden cry from the stone steps in the distance.

Han Ming looked up and saw that Master Guan's new apprentice Taozi stumbled and bumped into Cheng Xiaojun.

Cheng Xiaojun pretended to be unstable and leaned backward, holding a blue cloth bundle in his arms.

"Oh, my darling!"

With this throw, the bundle broke apart, and four delicate enameled small bowls rolled down the bluestone slab with a clanging sound, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight.

"The fragrance of tea", "Drinking wine", "Gathering with friends", "Returning to the building" - the inscriptions on the bottom of the four bowls are clearly visible, and the paste on the seal still has a moist luster.

Cheng Xiaojun got up in a panic, patted his dusty collar, and smiled meaningfully: "Brother Taozi, this is not going to be easy.

These are all treasures passed down from my great grandfather, and each one has been registered with the Cultural Relics Bureau."

He bent down to pick up a bowl, and gently stroked the seal on the bottom of the bowl with his fingertips. His tone suddenly turned cold: "You have destroyed all the hard work of our ancestors by hitting it.

How do you think this matter should be settled?"

Taozi's face turned pale when he heard this, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.

He took two steps back tremblingly, his voice changing tone: "Han, Brother Han, I really didn't mean it!

My family is poor, and even if I were to sell myself I still wouldn't be able to pay for your antiques!"

"Okay! Are you going to blame me? Let's go to the police station to seek justice!" Cheng Xiaojun grabbed Taozi by the collar and pretended to go to the police station.

Taozi was an honest child and was so scared that he begged for mercy quickly.

At this time, Han Ming came over and stopped Cheng Xiaojun.

"It's you again!" Cheng Xiaojun thought to himself that things were not going well when he saw Han Ming. Every time he encountered this "bastard", he would ruin everything.

really!

As soon as Taozi saw his senior brother Han Ming, he felt that he had found a backbone, "Senior brother, please help me!"

Han Ming smiled and comforted Taozi, "Don't worry, Taozi, let me see what kind of treasure this is!"

As he spoke, he took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and looked at the bowls carefully.

After a while, Han Ming laughed and said to Cheng Xiaojun: "Wow, your great grandfather is really good. How dare he engrave the Qianlong period on the enamel imitation made in the Republic of China?
Besides, if it was really handed down from my ancestors, the tea stains on the edge of the bowl should have seeped into the glaze, but your tea stains can be wiped off with vinegar!"

The old neighbors who were watching burst into laughter, and then they suddenly realized that Cheng Xiaojun was clearly acting out a "scam" scene!

Cheng Xiaojun glared at Han Ming fiercely, and amid the laughter of the crowd, he didn't even bother to take the imitation antiques and ran away in shame.

"Brother, I am so grateful for your presence today!" Taozi excitedly held Han Ming's hand, "If it weren't for your sharp eyes, I would have almost been blackmailed by that bastard Cheng Xiaojun!
This bastard is nothing. He is a neighbor after all, but he only targets people he knows. Does he have any conscience at all?"

Han Ming frowned thoughtfully and patted Taozi's shoulder gently: "From now on, let's stay away from this guy.

I always feel like there's something wrong with this guy. Where did he get so many high-quality imitation antiques? I'm afraid this matter is not that simple."

"Okay, senior brother, I'll listen to you!" Taozi nodded.

Han Ming looked at Taozi sideways, frowned slightly and said: "Taozi, I remember you just graduated from high school last year, right? Why don't you find a decent job? Collecting junk is not a good thing!"

Taozi lowered his head when he heard this, his voice a little hoarse: "Yes, Senior Brother, a high school diploma is not popular nowadays.

My father is bedridden and my mother works in a textile factory. I just can’t bear to see them suffer so much…” As he spoke, his voice got lower and lower, and his eyes turned slightly red.

"Don't worry, take your time, everything will be fine!" Han Ming patted Taozi's shoulder and said gently, "By the way, I heard our boss He mentioned a few days ago that the 'Beijing Automobile' Group will expand its recruitment after the new year.

Their recruitment threshold this time is quite high, requiring a high school diploma or above. Would you like to consider giving it a try?

Besides, our boss has a good relationship with Liujiazhuang, so maybe he can help."

Taozi's eyes lit up, and he excitedly grabbed Han Ming's arm: "Brother, are you saying that the famous Beijing Automobile Group in Liujiazhuang is recruiting people?"

(End of this chapter)