Hearing the voice, Ye Chen frowned and looked up in its direction.


He saw a young man dressed in a white linen Tang suit and black cloth shoes, adorned with numerous bracelets of various materials, striding toward them.


Despite it being broad daylight, he wore a pair of antique-style gold-rimmed glasses with round, dark lenses—just like the “civilized glasses” favored by late Qing dynasty scholars.


Behind him followed four or five bodyguards, each looking fierce and imposing. As they walked, bystanders quickly stepped aside, avoiding trouble.


“Oh, it’s Young Master Qin!”


Upon seeing the young man, the vendor’s face lit up with a flattering smile, words of praise flowing effortlessly from his mouth. “Young Master Qin, why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I would have welcomed you at the entrance of the street…”


“Enough with the nonsense. I’m just here to browse.” The young man waved him off impatiently.


He strode forward and glanced at the stone in Ye Chen’s hand. Then he turned to the vendor and commanded, “Zhang Ermao, pack up this stone for me! My father’s desk is missing a paperweight—this will do just fine.”


Hearing this, Ye Chen finally learned the vendor’s name—Zhang Ermao. It seemed he was familiar with this Young Master Qin.


But what really amazed Ye Chen was Zhang Ermao’s talent for smooth-talking.


He truly embodied the phrase: “Different words for different people, different tactics for different situations.”


Zhang Ermao quickly pulled out a jade horse—clearly fake—and began pitching it enthusiastically. “Young Master Qin, this belonged to a noble consort from the previous dynasty! Just look at the flawless jade—such treasures belong in the hands of discerning collectors like you. As a token of respect, I’ll offer it to you at the same price as the chicken cup you bought yesterday—just nine thousand yuan!”


Hearing this, Xiao Changkun’s jaw nearly dropped.


The same fake chicken cup that he had bought for three hundred yuan, this fool paid nine thousand for?!


“Shut up and get lost!”


Impatient, Young Master Qin kicked Zhang Ermao aside, then turned to Ye Chen and ordered, “I want this stone. Give it to me, and I’ll pay you twenty thousand!”


Hearing the price, Zhang Ermao’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He quickly turned to Ye Chen with a pleading smile. “Brother, why don’t you let Young Master Qin have it?”


Ye Chen frowned and coldly said, “This is something I purchased. I’m not interested in selling it.”


“Who asked for your permission? You haven’t even paid yet. Whoever pays first gets it!” Young Master Qin scoffed. He then pulled out his wallet, grabbed a stack of red banknotes, and tossed them at Zhang Ermao’s face.


“Here’s twenty thousand—keep the change.”


Zhang Ermao’s eyes sparkled as he caught the money. He quickly turned back to Ye Chen and tried to persuade him again. “Brother, I still have a Kangxi Emperor’s inkstone—it’s definitely better than this.”


Ye Chen smirked and replied, “Zhang Ermao, let’s not play games. I don’t need to expose all your tricks, do I? I bought this first, and I’m not selling it.”


Seeing Ye Chen’s firm refusal, Zhang Ermao could do nothing.


Antique trade customs dictated that whoever paid first owned the item. If Zhang Ermao broke this rule, word would spread, and he’d be finished in the antique market.


Frustrated, he turned back to Young Master Qin, bowing and scraping, “Young Master Qin, this isn’t really a good paperweight. I have even better ones—”


Before he could finish, Young Master Qin kicked him hard in the waist, scolding him angrily.


“You dare defy me?! I’ve bought so much from you, and now you’re siding with this penniless loser?”


Zhang Ermao was sent sprawling onto the ground, clutching his waist in pain. “Young Master Qin, I’d help you if I could, but he won’t let it go!”


As he spoke, he kept frantically winking at Ye Chen, signaling him to back down.


It was clear from Ye Chen’s ordinary attire and demeanor that he wasn’t wealthy or powerful.


But Young Master Qin was different—he was a notorious second-generation rich kid in the antique world, someone who had never lacked money since birth.


Zhang Ermao didn’t want to offend Young Master Qin, nor did he want to break the rules, so he kept signaling to Ye Chen.


Ye Chen noticed but ignored him completely.


With a calm expression, he simply said, “No.”


Zhang Ermao sighed and stayed on the ground, avoiding further trouble.


“Look at you—useless!”


Young Master Qin scowled and then turned his sharp gaze to Ye Chen, sizing him up with contempt.


With an arrogant smirk, he raised his offer:


“You bought it for three hundred yuan, right? I’ll give you thirty thousand!”


The crowd gasped.


All eyes turned to Ye Chen, filled with envy.


A three-hundred-yuan purchase had instantly turned into thirty thousand?


That was a hundredfold profit!


Besides, anyone with a bit of knowledge could tell this stone was just an ordinary river rock.


Even Xiao Changkun was tempted. If Ye Chen sold it, they could recoup yesterday’s loss and even make a small profit.


Ye Chen smiled and looked at Young Master Qin.


Then he calmly said, “I’ve already said—I’m not selling it. Even if you offer three hundred thousand, my answer won’t change.”


“You…!”


Young Master Qin’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger.


The crowd held their breath. Ye Chen had publicly rejected him twice, making him lose face.


“You country bumpkin!” Qin sneered venomously. “Do you really think you can go against me? Do you even know who I am?”


“In this antique market, whatever I want—I take!”


“Today, you’ll sell it, whether you want to or not!”


With that, he waved his hand.


The bodyguards immediately surrounded Ye Chen.


The crowd gasped in shock.


Even Xiao Changkun froze.


The Qin family of Jinling?!


That was an even bigger powerhouse than Wang Yunfei’s family!


No wonder Young Master Qin casually spent nine thousand yuan on a fake chicken cup.


To him, money didn’t matter—real or fake, he was just buying for fun!


The bodyguards loomed over Ye Chen, exuding menace.


Xiao Changkun, fearing trouble, frantically signaled to Ye Chen to just hand over the stone.


But Ye Chen remained calm.


He swept his gaze across the bodyguards, then smirked and said,


“I’ll say it one last time: I’m not selling.”


“If you think you can bully me into handing it over, I’ll tell you this—”


“No one can take my things. Not even if the ‘Heavenly King’ himself comes.”


“Hah!”


Young Master Qin burst into laughter, his eyes brimming with arrogance.


“The Heavenly King?” he mocked.


“You fool, you’re looking for death!”


“I am the ‘Heavenly King’ around here!”


He tilted his chin arrogantly, his tone dripping with disdain.


“Some dirt-poor loser dares challenge me? You must be tired of living!”