in2ebook Chapter 443 Street Vendor Goods?!
Chapter 443 Street Vendor Goods?!
Three days later, late at night.
On the dark sea of the Special Economic Zone Bay, a small sampan without any markings moved silently across the water like a ghost, heading from the Special Economic Zone towards a deserted coastline in Yuen Long District of Hong Kong Island.
Currently, the legitimate underground passage from the mainland to Hong Kong Island is through the various border crossings. However, those who "walk themselves to death" or attempt to illegally cross the border have other routes, often using waterways to sneak into the mudflats and mangroves along the Yuen Long coast.
The land route might cross the heavily guarded Wutong Mountain, but this small sampan takes a secret waterway, which only takes half an hour.
Under the cover of night, the small sampan barely made it to the rocky shallows. Three dark figures jumped off the boat with swift movements, preparing to work together to drag the small boat a little further ashore and completely hide it.
at this time,
A blindingly bright beam of light suddenly shot out from behind the bushes on the shore, locking onto the group of people and the small boat.
"Don't move! Customs officers, hands behind your head!"
A sharp shout pierced the silent night sky, followed by a flurry of rapid footsteps approaching from several directions, flashlight beams flailing wildly, indicating a large number of people.
The three men on the boat were terrified by this sudden turn of events. They no longer cared about the boat or the cargo, and with a shout, they turned and fled for their lives into the denser undergrowth and darkness on the other side of the shore.
In the early 1980s, large tracts of land in Yuen Long were undeveloped, consisting of farmland, fishponds, and wasteland. The terrain was complex, and once someone ventured into it, it was indeed difficult to track them in the dark.
Two officers in anti-smuggling uniforms, the one leading the charge, made a move to give chase, but were stopped in a low voice by Wang Tian from behind:
"Stop chasing, our target is the goods!"
They had been lying in ambush here for three days and three nights, enduring mosquito bites and the dampness of the sea breeze, all for this moment. It didn't matter if the people ran away, as long as they got their hands on the "cargo" on the ship.
Moreover, since they are imposters, we must act quickly. If we make too much of a commotion or delay too long and attract the attention of the real customs or marine police patrols, we will be in big trouble.
Wang Tian quickly gave orders to his men:
"Quickly! Unload the boxes from the ship and load them onto the truck, and get to it!"
Several men hurriedly jumped onto the small sampan, which was still rocking with the waves, and carried two rather heavy-looking wooden crates out of the cabin. They quickly transferred them to the trunk of a black sedan waiting on the shore.
The whole process took less than five minutes. The car started and quickly drove away from the desolate coastline, disappearing into the winding country roads.
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In the middle of the night, in a secluded abandoned warehouse in Kowloon.
Superintendent Robertson had been waiting here for almost a night. Although exhausted, he was wide awake, pacing anxiously back and forth.
On the one hand, he was itching to know what the treasures those tomb raiders from the mainland had hidden away looked like, and whether they really contained the legendary Spring and Autumn Period artifacts.
On the other hand, he felt a vague unease, worried that something might go wrong with the operation. If Wang Tian failed, or if the operation was intercepted midway, not only would the treasure be lost, but the tomb raiders would surely retreat to the mainland like startled rabbits. In that case, he would lose both his money and his life, having for nothing, and his 50,000 yuan deposit.
Time ticked by, and just as he was about to lose patience, the sound of a car engine approaching from afar came from outside the warehouse.
Robertson perked up and strode to the warehouse door.
A black sedan sped in, and before it had even come to a complete stop, the passenger door was pushed open, and Wang Tian nimbly jumped out, his face showing excitement and a sense of accomplishment after completing his mission.
"Sir!"
"How about it?"
Robertson eagerly stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the trunk of the car.
"Did you receive the goods? Did everything go smoothly?"
"Got it! Sir, everything went smoothly!"
Wang Tian could not hide his smugness.
"I opened the box and did a quick check on the way back. Everything was there. Judging from the style and condition, it's pretty much what Li Dequan described. There shouldn't be any problems!"
Upon hearing this, Robertson's face instantly broke into a smile. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally felt half relieved. He eagerly gestured for Wang Tian to open the trunk.
The two men got to the back of the car, lifted the trunk lid to reveal two sturdy old wooden crates inside. Wang Tian and one of his men lifted one of the crates out, placed it on the ground, and pried open the lid.
Robertson practically pounced on her, as if he'd seen a beautiful woman, and in the dim light of the warehouse, he bent down to examine her.
The box was lined with hay, and inside were indeed several objects: a rusty bronze artifact, resembling a small tripod or jue; several vases of various colors; and a pile of ancient coins in a cloth bag, etc.
There are quite a few varieties!
Robertson's smile widened, as if he could already envision these treasures shining brightly in his private collection. He reached out, preparing to pick up the bronze artifact for a closer look.
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the cold "copper rust," his movements suddenly stopped.
Under the light, the rust on that bronze artifact... seemed too uniform, lacking the layered texture and natural peeling of true millennia-old rust.
He frowned, then picked up a celadon vase next to him. The feel of it... seemed a little light? The glaze, though lustrous, lacked the understated, refined luster of age; instead, it had a cheap, artificial sheen, like that of a newly made imitation porcelain.
My heart skipped a beat. I quickly put down the vase, grabbed the bag of ancient coins, and poured out a few coins into my palm. The coins were indeed covered with "verdigris" and "dirt," but when I rubbed them hard with my fingers, the "green rust" actually started to crumble!
Furthermore, the wear marks on the edges of the coins appear too regular upon close inspection, unlike those that would have formed naturally during circulation.
Robertson's smile gradually froze and disappeared, replaced by gloom and a rising, cold anger.
He abruptly raised his head, looked at Wang Tian who was still basking in the glory beside him, and his voice was forced out through clenched teeth, filled with anger:
"Your Majesty...have you examined these things carefully?"
Wang Tian was still immersed in excitement, thinking that he should be promoted for making such a great contribution to his boss. However, upon suddenly hearing his superior's angry tone and face, his smile immediately vanished, and he was somewhat at a loss.
"Sir, is there...is there something wrong with this?"
"These are all counterfeit, fake, worthless junk!"
"Fake? Fake? That can't be right?!"
Wang Tianru was struck dumb. He knew nothing about antiques and had no interest in them. He just felt that the items in the box looked "real" and had some rust and dirt on them, giving them an antique feel.
"I think it's...it's pretty good!"
"What do you know?!"
Robertson interrupted him sharply, his face so dark it could drip water.
In terms of appreciating cultural relics, he boasts that he has been immersed in this field for many years, has a sharp eye, and is absolutely confident.
"How could I be wrong? The glaze is too superficial, the patina hasn't faded, the patina crumbles easily when rubbed, and the wear and tear on these coins... It's all cheap aging techniques, not even a high-quality replica, it's just cheap street vendor stuff!"