Road to becoming the wealthiest: Starting From Treasure Hunting in the Cabinets
Chapter 283 - 237: So expensive? Impossible, right?

Chapter 283: Chapter 237: So expensive? Impossible, right?

Melvin Richardson was really glad.

He had appreciated the things that Sean Knight had done.

However, there was one thing he felt the need to verify.

So, when Howard Richardson and Sean Knight came to visit him, he pulled Sean aside, and asked in a low voice:

"You haven’t really sold those ancient books and bamboo slips, have you?"

Seeing the concern in Melvin Richardson’s eyes, Sean Knight was initially planning to be vague in his response. However, he eventually chose to tell the truth:

"They’re still with me."

"That’s good, that’s good!" Melvin Richardson’s heart felt light as a significant weight was lifted. He said with a smile,

"I knew you wouldn’t be so short-sighted."

Sean Knight didn’t explain that there was still a case associated with these items, and he didn’t want to create any loopholes.

After resolving his concerns, Melvin Richardson felt delighted. While asking his family members to prepare dishes, he inquired,

"What brings you here this time?"

"I’ve procured some new old things and would like to get them appraised."

"Do you want to sell them?" Melvin Richardson was really interested.

"Yes." Sean Knight thought for a moment, then said, "These items don’t have much use for me. They’re not rare items like the Acupuncture Bronze Figure or the Tang Sword, so I plan to sell them."

"Okay." Melvin Richardson said with a smile, "Times are good now, and there are more rich people entering the collection business. In the past, it was the items looking for people, but now, it’s people looking for items."

Sean Knight understood what Melvin Richardson meant.

They say gold is worth more in troubled times and collection is worth more in prosperous times.

This is a prosperous time, and while common people worry about their basic necessities, wealthy people, especially those with money and time, have keenly noticed that the prices of antiques have been rising in recent years.

Not just antiques, including jade, jadeite, gemstones, and such, their prices have also been on the rise.

What does this indicate? It indicates a greater number of buyers.

Speculative capital is pouring into these areas, much like stocks. The greater the surge, the more people buy.

The same goes for the collection business. Some people speculate to make money, some treat them as appreciating assets, and some genuinely like them. Previously, they didn’t have the money, but now they can afford to buy what they like.

Of course, there are those who buy to show off as well.

But there are only so many antiques, the number of people who want to buy them has increased many-fold, especially for good items. Naturally, they easily get hyped when there is competition for them.

When some people see the value rise, they really hold onto it, thinking it can still appreciate.

So, it is a seller’s market now.

"What are the main treasures that you’re bringing out this time?" Melvin Richardson personally poured tea for Sean Knight, then handed the teapot to Howard Richardson, signaling him to pour his own.

Howard Richardson, used to this by now, took over the teapot and while pouring tea for Melvin Richardson, hastily said,

"This time Sean brought over a Wooden Buddha Statue, seems like some Bodhisattva. The carving is really good and it has patina. I believe it is from at least before the Qing Dynasty."

"From before the Qing Dynasty, huh? That’s not bad." Melvin Richardson’s response was somewhat perfunctory, his tone containing a trace of disappointment.

Sean could understand.

Melvin Richardson’s understanding of him ranged from the Tang Sword, to the Acupuncture Bronze Figure, followed by the bamboo slips and ancient books.

These items, not one of them was not of a national treasure level.

So, the sudden appearance of a wooden statue from the early Qing Dynasty really was not too appealing.

"These items, in terms of quantity, are quite substantial." Sean explained.

"How many?" On hearing about a substantial quantity, Melvin Richardson’s mind immediately started racing.

Sean’s main focus is treasure hunting abroad, with this large quantity, it shouldn’t be part of someone else’s collection.

So, the provenance...

There was a hint of scrutiny in his gaze.

Could it be from an unexcavated tomb?

Sean thought for a moment; these two individuals were relatively reliable with secrets, and so he said,

"As for the origin, I found a site of a Buddhist Temple, and then dug them out from underground..."

"From a subterranean palace?" Melvin Richardson was taken aback upon hearing this and immediately asked.

"Really?" Howard Richardson was also shocked.

He didn’t know much about what a subterranean palace inside a temple was.

But the most famous subterranean palace within the country, in his view, should be the one at Famen Temple, right?

The treasures excavated from there could be considered national treasures!

Sean knew that there had been a misunderstanding, and hurriedly said,

"No, no. Not a subterranean palace, rather, a cellar."

He described the basement in that courtyard, and Melvin Richardson and Howard Richardson looked at each other in sudden realization. However, they also felt a tinge of disappointment.

If Sean really had found a subterranean palace in a Buddhist Temple, they too wanted to see the treasures inside!

"Okay, bring the items here tomorrow, and I’ll get an expert to appraise them." Melvin Richardson said after taking a sip of his tea.

He wasn’t very interested in cultural relics related to Buddhism, and so he didn’t continue to inquire.

By this time, the dishes were ready, Melvin Richardson invited Sean to the table.

Seeing that there were three different kinds of liquor on the table, Maotai, Wuliangye, and aged Huadiao wine, Howard Richardson laughed and said,

"Uncle Melvin, when I came to wish you a Happy New Year, you didn’t prepare such a rich spread!"

"If you can get me a good treasure like the Tang Sword, you can pick whatever wine you want to drink from here!"

Howard Richardson was immediately silenced by this statement.

The food and drinks were sumptuous, and the uncle and nephew from the Richardson family were very hospitable. Fortunately, Sean’s capability to hold his liquor had increased significantly. By the end of the meal, he was still clear-headed, and then took a cab back to his hotel.

Howard Richardson, who originally intended to send him off, shook his head,

"Sean’s capacity for alcohol has really increased! Does going abroad train people better?"

Melvin Richardson shook his head slightly, without saying a word.

The next day, when Howard Richardson arrived at the hotel to pick up Sean, he saw a large suitcase in his room and asked,

"Are the items all inside this?"

"Yes."