My Antique Mirror Is A Portal To Another World - Chapter 424

Chapter 424: Having Too Many Good Things Is Also A Kind Of Trouble
Seeing Li Qin’s curious expression, Bai Hanyun explained, “Master Li, to tell you the truth, I recently met a partner who wants to open an antique store. I wonder if you can answer a few questions regarding this matter.”

Li Qin raised his brows slightly at her words.

After a brief pause, he said, “Miss Bai, opening an antique store isn’t simple. Not only do you need special business permission from the government, but you also need an expert appraiser to work with you.”

“Do you have an appraiser in mind?” he asked with interest.

Bai Hanyun shook her head. “This is one of the reasons I wanted to meet you, Master Li. Do you perhaps know someone suitable? It would be even better if the person could also help manage the antique store while I’m away.”

Rubbing his chin, Li Qin thought for a moment before replying, “I do have a few friends who might be interested in working with you, but I doubt they’d be willing to help manage a store. At most, they could stop by occasionally to appraise antiques.”

Bai Hanyun’s slight frown did not escape his attention. Smiling reassuringly, Li Qin added, “Miss Bai, don’t worry. If you are determined to open this antique store, why not post a job opening on the National Antique Association’s website?”

Bai Hanyun hesitated for a moment, then responded, “Master Li, I’m not sure those experts would be willing to reach out to me.”

Understanding her concern, Li Qin offered, “How about I help you post it? If I serve as the guarantor, I believe some will be interested. After all, I still have some standing in this circle.”

Thinking about how Li Qin could even be friends with a legendary figure like Yu Tianshuo, Bai Hanyun reasoned that he must indeed have his own connections.

After considering for a moment, she nodded. “Then I will trouble Master Li with this matter.”

Happy to be able to help her, Li Qin chuckled and replied, “Miss Bai, you are too polite. This is just a small matter. All I need to do is tell my grandson to post the job opening on the website.”

Although Li Qin was right, Bai Hanyun didn’t want to owe anyone a favor.

Opening her backpack, she reached inside and discreetly retrieved a small box from her Qiankun Pouch, pretending to take it from the bag.

Placing the exquisite little box on the low table, she pushed it toward Li Qin and said with a smile, “Master Li, please accept this small token of appreciation from me.”

Li Qin looked at the box and could tell at a glance that it wasn’t an antique. Assuming the contents were just as ordinary, he gracefully picked up the small box and opened it.

However, the moment he saw the archer’s ring carved from imperial jade, which was so translucent it seemed to glow, Li Qin was stunned.

Based on his years of experience, he could immediately tell that this archer’s ring was carved from a whole piece of superior-grade imperial jade. To craft an archer’s ring of this size, the original piece of imperial jade must have weighed at least 120 carats.

Recognizing it as an antique from the Yu Empire, Li Qin’s hands trembled violently as he held the small box in astonishment and shock.

Terrified he might drop this priceless treasure, Li Qin carefully placed the box back on the low table.

After taking several deep breaths to calm himself, Li Qin looked at Bai Hanyun and asked, “Miss Bai, do you know the price of this archer’s ring?”

Bai Hanyun shook her head and smiled awkwardly.

Scratching her cheek, she honestly replied, “I’m not an expert in antiques, so I don’t know its specific value. When I was sorting through some antiques yesterday, I saw this archer’s ring and thought it would be suitable as a gift for an elder, so I brought it today.”

Listening to her explanation, Li Qin thought, ‘No wonder she is willing to give it away. She doesn’t know its value…’

As a professional appraiser, Li Qin had his own bottom line and ethics. Since he could tell Bai Hanyun had no idea about the archer’s ring’s worth, he pushed the small box back toward her.

“Miss Bai, this archer’s ring was carved from a perfect piece of superior-quality imperial jade. Its color is vivid and pure, and based on the luminous glow, its translucency has reached perfection.”

“This particular green shade, combined with its translucency, color, and purity, can easily fetch tens of millions of yuan per carat at auction.”

Letting out a sigh of admiration, he added, “This archer’s ring contains at least 100 carats based on its size. Taking into account the design and historical value, it could be priced at more than one billion yuan.”

Bai Hanyun was speechless after hearing the appraisal result. Looking at the archer’s ring lying on the cheap red cloth inside a twenty-yuan wooden box, she swallowed hard.

‘Heavens… I found this archer’s ring inside one of the huge wooden boxes in the Ji Clan’s secret room and thought it was just a cheap trinket since it was stored so casually. Who would have thought this is more expensive than Feng Xiyan’s handwriting?’

‘If one archer’s ring is already this expensive, how am I supposed to sell the rest of the antiques I found at the Ji Clan’s secret room? Won’t the government arrest me if I try to sell them later?!’

While Bai Hanyun was worrying about the antiques piled up inside her Qiankun Pouch, Li Qin was also worrying about her.

Staring at the ring, he couldn’t help but think, ‘Miss Bai said she wants to open an antique store. Could it be that all her antiques are on this level? If that is the case, she won’t be able to open the store at all.’

‘This level of artifact is considered a national treasure. Even if someone has the money to buy it, would they dare?’

Shifting his gaze from the archer’s ring to Bai Hanyun’s troubled expression, Li Qin sighed inwardly.

‘Alas… Having too many good things is also a kind of trouble.’