Chapter 1: Trap

He quickly took out his hand, and Jian Heng carefully took a look. Then he rummaged in his pocket a couple of times, and the originally palm-sized jade ornament seemed to vanish into thin air

Tightly gripping the broken jade, Jian Heng nearly crushed his own finger joints. It was only after a few moments that he managed to regain control of his emotions. About ten seconds later, Jian Heng instinctively moved his fingers a couple of times, and suddenly froze in place.

I fork!

If you like someone, I can get you two pieces when you return to the country next time. The level of imitation in the country right now is truly remarkable. They say that if it can be identified without instruments, a full refund will be given. The level of forgery is just so ridiculous!" a young person said with a smile

As soon as the young woman entered the elevator and immediately dialed her phone, she put down the call and addressed the male assistant, saying "Brother Heng".

Everyone is an adult and naturally knows what he is alluding to, which made them laugh involuntarily

Following the direction in which Luo Min was looking, Jian Heng couldn't help but tense up. A familiar figure was now seated next to Diao Jiahui, and this person was his partner, Zhang Yiping, who had just been mentioned by everyone!

Unfortunately, Jian Heng is not interested, yet that client is quite stubborn and has repeatedly confirmed the desire to purchase this item

In that very moment, Jian Heng realized that he had fallen into someone else's trap! All the so-called friendships and connections were actually part of their meticulous calculations! They had used Zhang Yiping as an insider, causing him to lose 10,000 dollars!

Having already spent 10,000 dollars, no one was left to be foolish enough to compete with Jian Heng. After three calls, this worthless stone fell into Jian Heng's hands

Good morning, Mr. Jean

Subconsciously, Jian Heng tightly gripped the item he had placed in his pocket, the broken jade pendant he had purchased for ten thousand US dollars

The usually gentle-spoken Luo Min suddenly let out a curse at this moment

Of course, Jian Heng and his group are unable to secure business from the so-called "big names" in the domestic market. What they can take on are projects from the third or fourth tier, which may not bring in much money but are aimed at promoting their own interests, whether for professional title evaluations or to enhance their personal reputation. The work from such individuals can be somewhat trivial, yet the profit margins are considered quite good

After completing a few simple procedures, the three of them casually took their auction paddles and found a spot to sit down quietly, waiting for the auction to begin

Today, the goal of Jianheng and the two others is to acquire a stone carving piece, with the client's requirement to secure it for no more than 10,000 US dollars

This person's name is Diao Jiahui, a first-generation immigrant from Hong Kong to New York, who has been living in New York for nearly twenty years. He has always been quite averse to others calling him by his Chinese name, preferring instead to be referred to as Brad Williams, which, if one does not see him, sounds like a name belonging to a Caucasian.

This line of work has been engaged in for nearly four years, which, in domestic terms, means being quite resourceful. As a result, I have accumulated a number of regular clients. Since the year before last, life in New York has been quite satisfactory. While I cannot be considered a tycoon, I can definitely be classified as middle class, and I even have some connections with minor affluent individuals. For a young person who has not even graduated from high school in China, this is quite commendable

"Let's work a little harder!" Jian Heng said with a smile, quite fond of this independent and confident girl.

He spoke while giving a thumbs up

It is evident that the doorman who opened the car door recognized the young man. Upon seeing the young man emerge, his face immediately broke into a broad smile as he greeted him, while retracting his hand that had just been shielding the car roof.

The three people sat down for a short while before the auction began. The foreigner was straightforward and efficient, chatting casually for a moment before immediately starting the bidding. The first item up for auction was the piece that Jian Heng wanted, that broken piece of green jade for play.

In summary, the prosperity of New York is evident to all and requires no further elaboration

Luo Min gently adjusted her glasses on her face and shook her head: "I am not going back. With such high tuition fees, how can I have the heart to return? It is better to stay here and earn more money with my brother, to alleviate some of the pressure on myself!"

As Jianheng shouted out "10,000," the surrounding white individuals, South Americans, and some Asians immediately gasped in astonishment. Many of them were players, and they naturally knew the general price of such items; around 1,000 dollars was about the limit. But 10,000? That surely indicated an excess of money to burn

The young man may not be particularly handsome, but he is adorned in luxurious brands such as Kainleibo. What stands out even more is the large sapphire ring on his hand, as well as the diamond-studded Rolex Greenwich II watch on his wrist, valued at several tens of thousands of dollars. Most striking, however, is the young man's expression, slightly tilting his head back, wearing a look that suggests he sees everyone as impoverished.

There is none

Before the young people had exited the vehicle, two young individuals, one male and one female, had already disembarked from the front passenger seat and the left rear seat. Both were approximately the same height, around 1.75 meters, although the woman was wearing high-heeled shoes. They both had above-average appearances and were dressed in expensive dark professional attire. They appeared to be in their twenties, and their expressions and movements were quite conventional, clearly indicating that they were professional assistants who had undergone training in physical presentation.

The rotten jade that was originally kept in my pocket and held in my hand is gone

Do not misunderstand! The Morgan here has no relation whatsoever to the well-known Morgan Stanley in China. In the United States, the surname Morgan, while not as common as Zhang, Wang, or Li in China, is still comparable to surnames like Zhou or Wu. Many individuals with the surname Morgan have no connection to the Morgan family of Morgan Stanley, just as in China, not every person with the surname Li is a relative of Li Ka-shing.

One hundred dollars! Mr. Twenty is offering one hundred dollars!

Countless young talents from America and various corners of the world have come to New York, not only carrying their impressive academic credentials, including those from Ivy League schools, Cambridge, and MIT, but more importantly, they bring with them a fervent ambition

The car door swung open, and after a pause of two to three seconds, a foot lazily stepped onto the ground. The first thing that caught the eyes of the pedestrians by the roadside was the black leather shoes that shone almost like mirrors, followed by light gray trousers. It took nearly ten seconds for the person inside the car to lazily emerge from the vehicle.

The young man, known as Brother Heng, pointed with his hand and laughed, saying: "I can only fool the foreigners a bit; when facing Chinese people, let's not mention anything else, just your standard Bay accent when you open your mouth, no matter how you play the rich second generation, it's all in vain!"

When mentioning the financial capital, many articles add "one of" after New York. In fact, there is no "one of"; whether it is Tokyo or Frankfurt, they are far from New York. The only city that can barely be compared to New York is London, the center of the old world, which represents the fading glory of the British Empire.

The voice of the young person seemed to come almost from the nasal cavity, and after a brief pause, they asked again

Jian Heng maintained his composure, suppressing the nausea within as he tugged at the corner of his mouth, inwardly cursing: "Stirring stick! With this old thing, the price is sure to reach its peak"

While speaking, the young man supported himself with one hand on the escalator handrail and placed the other hand on his waist, exclaiming phrases like "Ouch, my waist"

Jian Heng murmured softly

Upon seeing that Diao Jiahui had fallen silent, Zhang Jialiang immediately let out a light laugh and said

Hmm

The young man nodded slightly, lifted his foot to adjust his suit a few times, and stepped towards the door.

Two individuals closely followed behind the young man. As they passed by the doorman, the male attendant took a green bill out of his pocket and handed it to the doorman

For Jianheng, the sky is vast, the earth is vast, but the customer is the most important! Not earning money would be foolish.

The lecherous old man was taken aback, staring at Jian Heng for a few seconds, and then a look of sly satisfaction, akin to that of a rat that has stolen oil, appeared on his face

"By the way, Luo Min, are you going back this year?" Jian Heng asked the young woman.

Three young individuals with Asian features swaggered into the lobby and stepped into the elevator

At that moment, the elevator emitted a sharp ding. This sound was like a signal for a change, as Jian Heng's face regained that arrogant expression that seemed deserving of a slap, while Luo Min and Zhang Jialiang also replaced their expressions with their original professional smiles

This outfit combined with this expression will immediately evoke a not-so-favorable label of "China rich kids" in the minds of any American who sees it

At this point, Jian Heng raised his hand and directly shouted at the auctioneer: "Ten thousand!"

Indeed! New York is a dream factory for some, but it is destined to be a dream factory for only a small portion of people; in a more general sense, it serves as a burial ground for the majority. Here, you might take a taxi, and the driver could be a physicist from a former country, a down-and-out streetwalker from a certain neighborhood, or quite possibly a stage artist who was well-known in her own country.

With a Bay Island accent, Zhang Jialiang replied, "Not going back, it's meaningless. It's better to stay here and make money with Brother Heng!"

Why is there only one item in this commission, this is unbelievable

Wow

At 2:30 PM in New York, just two blocks away from Fifth Avenue, a black Mercedes S560 came to a stop in front of a five-story Victorian building. As soon as the car halted, a white doorman standing at the entrance swiftly approached and gently opened the car door.

However, the members of Jianheng have somewhat different identities; in domestic terms, they can be referred to as "shills." At times, they are responsible for helping auction houses inflate prices, at other times, they assist clients in bidding for items they are interested in. More often than not, this group of people makes their earnings from the domestic art circle.

Ten thousand dollars shouted out, Jian Hengxin said, if you add more, I won't take it!

The doorman, upon clearly seeing the ticket, smiled even more broadly and said to the young man, who was already on the verge of entering, "Thank you, sir"

Ding!

Moreover, Jianheng has encountered even more absurd business situations, so let's not discuss this further! Given that this client was introduced by our own partner Zhang Yiping, and that Zhang Yiping has repeatedly advocated for this, Jianheng even agreed to advance the funds first, and settle with the client after the purchase is completed

Oh! As Jian Heng heard that someone else was bidding, he turned his head to look in the direction of the bidder and thought to himself: There is actually a second fool competing for this item!

Facing the gaze cast by Jian Heng, the old man provocatively lifted his chin

However, most of them do not know, or are unwilling to contemplate, what New York truly represents for them

At the small auction, the items were immediately settled upon being photographed. A few minutes later, Zhang Jialiang returned with a broken stone, handing both the stone and the card from Tushujianheng back to Jianheng, who casually tucked them into his pocket

A young man of Asian descent emerged from the car, approximately twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, standing at a height of 1.87 meters. Even among foreigners, this height is quite impressive. As for his appearance, it is rather average; one cannot say he is unattractive, nor can one claim he is handsome, as he falls around the passing mark.

A ghost has appeared

New York - When mentioning this metropolis, everyone may have different labels, but they inevitably revolve around a few clichés such as fashion, dreams, and diversity. However, the most significant and impressive label remains its title as the financial capital of the world

Certainly, the auction house of Jianheng is not comparable to those of renowned establishments like Christie's. Despite its seemingly high status, those who are knowledgeable understand that this building is merely a replica and not an authentic piece from the Elizabethan era. Some unscrupulous American merchants use this to deceive newly wealthy individuals from other countries.

For tourists, this question is much simpler. When they think of New York, a few words inevitably come to mind: the pilgrimage site for luxury goods enthusiasts—Fifth Avenue. Here, you need not worry about not finding the brands you desire; the only concern you should have is your own wallet. Additionally, there are places like Central Park and Broadway.

As Jian Heng waited for the person to reveal themselves, he couldn't help but feel a wave of nausea! The person accompanying him was someone Jian Heng recognized, sharing the same yellow skin and black hair. In the eyes of foreigners, the two had identical Asian features, but Jian Heng knew that this individual was a quintessential old-school "banana person"!

Are we definitely going to lose money on this trip?" The male assistant chuckled lightly and said, "Heng Ge, you are becoming more and more like a China Rich Kid!

Coward!

The old man, in his fifties, sports a classic "Mediterranean" hairstyle, completely bald on top, with only a few solitary strands of gray hair remaining at the temples. He has a weasel-like appearance, yet he seems to think he looks quite impressive, speaking with an air of superiority.

As the elevator doors slowly opened, a more than 200-square-meter foyer appeared before the three individuals, along with a beautiful blonde girl. The girl greeted the three with a beaming smile as they entered.

Although the tone is that of Taiwan, the vocabulary used follows the mainland's customary expressions, no longer referring to New Zealand as "Niu Xilan" or calling a taxi "jichengche", and has been largely assimilated by a few others

This line consists of three individuals. The leader, a young man named Jian Heng, hails from the Chinese mainland. The young woman named Luo Min also comes from the mainland and is a student at New York University. Zhang Jialiang, on the other hand, is from the Bay Province of China and is not yet considered a banana person. A group of Chinese individuals is collectively making a living in the United States

The sign at the elevator entrance prominently reads: Morgan Auction House

As the elevator doors closed, the arrogance on the young man's face immediately vanished, accompanied by a long sigh, revealing a hint of worry in his expression

Before the words had even left his mouth, the auctioneer said again: "Mr. Fifty-Four bids two hundred dollars!"

The key point is that your watch is too flashy

This meaning is easy to understand. If you see news in the country about a painting by a domestic artist called "Everyone" selling for hundreds of thousands or even millions of US dollars, it is all nonsense, almost none of it is genuinely supported by people like Jianheng.

The smile on the doorman's face remained unchanged, still full of warmth and cheerfulness

In the eyes of these people from Jianheng, this rough stone Chinese collectible is worth no more than two hundred RMB on the street. It is a piece of mixed green jade, lacking both craftsmanship and history, and no discerning person would want such an item. As for the stories about it originally belonging to a British tycoon, being obtained from an ancient Taoist temple in China, or being the favorite of its previous owner, these tales are so mixed and repeated that Jianheng would naturally not be foolish enough to believe in them.

Those who come to the auction house are either there to bid on items or to sell items; this statement is undoubtedly correct

New York, the world financial center, is a true embodiment of America's dominance in the world, and only a global superpower possesses such confidence and strength. The financial elites gathered here far exceed those in other similar cities, and every day countless ambitious young people flock here from all corners of the globe, firmly believing that this is their place to achieve fame and the grand stage to realize their life aspirations. The financial elites gathered here far exceed those in other similar cities, and every day countless ambitious young people flock here from all corners of the globe, firmly believing that this is their place to achieve fame and the grand stage to realize their life aspirations

The first items to be presented are usually just for warming up and are not particularly valuable. Jian Heng did not pay much attention to this and immediately raised his paddle as soon as the auctioneer called out the starting price

"Zhang Jialiang, how about you? Are you going home this year?" Luo Min turned and asked

Jian Heng, Yi Ping's phone is unreachable

Jian Heng waved his hand dismissively: "Forget it, this guy just brought his wife over, and she probably doesn't know where to get warm right now! Anyway, it's just a single order this time, worth about a thousand dollars; if he doesn't come, then he doesn't come!"

Holding the handle, Jian Heng wore a smile on his face, constantly reminding himself: they are doing this just to see me flustered and irritable, I must endure and not fulfill their wishes

A young person with a Bay Island accent jokingly remarked, "When we see Ping Ge next time, will he be leaning against the wall while walking?"

Has it started?