After Su Yang had a clear direction, he went to the class counselor's office to ask for leave.

Knowing the unfortunate circumstances Su Yang was facing at home, the counselor, Mr. Li Yuanming, took out a hundred yuan and forcefully handed it over to him while comforting, "Don't face difficulties alone, let's find solutions together. Don't let this affect your university entrance examinations, okay?"

"Thank you, teacher, I will definitely work hard," the visibly moved Su Yang replied.

Teachers nowadays only earn about a hundred yuan a month, and Mr. Li Yuanming himself was struggling financially at home.

Not only was his wife laid off, but they also had two young children to raise.

The teacher, in order to help Su Yang, had emptied his savings. Su Yang knew he had to remember this kindness!

After his leave was granted, Su Yang made use of his memories from his previous life and came to the antique street in West City, directly entering the Book Fangzhai antique shop.

He knew clearly that this antique shop was having a clearance sale these days.

Within the shop, there was a genuine calligraphy piece from a Song dynasty emperor.

Unfortunately, no one could discern the true value of the piece, even the owner of the antique shop thought it was a fake.

Who would expect a genuine piece of calligraphy from a Song Dynasty emperor to appear in this soon-to-be-closed antique shop?

This calligraphy piece was bought by a coal mine owner for two hundred yuan at that time.

However, it was sold at auction for eighty million twenty years later.

Su Yang walked quickly, silently praying in his heart that this calligraphy piece had not been sold yet.

When Su Yang arrived at the antique shop, he found out that there was indeed a sign for a clearance sale at the entrance of the shop.

Numerous antiques and calligraphy were scattered around, but not many people were at the entrance of the shop.

From this, it's not difficult to see just how dismal the antique market was during this period.

During this time when it was good enough just to keep warm and fed, who would be collecting antiques and calligraphy?

Even those who got rich first, due to their low level of education, wouldn't be wasting money on these things. Suddenly, there was a racket from inside the shop.

"For a broken piece of calligraphy, you're charging two thousand bucks? Are you robbing me?"

Su Yang walked in and saw a rotund middle-aged man.

The man was puffing on a pipe and clutching a briefcase, a typical image of a nouveau riche.

The shop owner, on the other hand, was a gentle looking man wearing glasses.

He calmly explained, "You're joking, sir. This is a calligraphy passed down from my grandfather. It's said to be a genuine piece from Emperor Zhao Ji of the Song Dynasty. If I weren't in need of money, why would I sell it?"

The rich man sneered, "Stop talking nonsense. Are you making fun of me because I can't read? Your shop is on the verge of bankruptcy, and you dare to claim this as a genuine piece? Dream on! I can offer no more than a hundred bucks. Take it or leave it."

With this, the man pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from his case and threw it arrogantly to the shop owner.

The shop owner adjusted his glasses with a troubled look, shaking his head and saying “Sir, I really can't agree to that.”

Seeing the refusal, the arrogant man glared and said gruffly, "You should know better."

The shop owner forced a smile, silently cursing to himself, thinking that he had indeed run into a robber.

"Boss, I'll take this calligraphy painting."

Just then, Su Yang's voice came from the entrance.

The shop owner and Coal Boss turned their heads at the same time, only to see Su Yang, dressed in his school uniform, walking towards them.

Coal Boss stared at Su Yang with his eyes slightly squinted, coldly saying, "Which penniless student came here to make trouble? If you can pull out two thousand yuan today, I'll give you this calligraphy painting."

A regular worker might not even make two thousand yuan in two years.

Coal Boss clearly did not believe a pauper student could afford this sum.

Su Yang, however, didn't even look at Coal Boss, only asking the shop owner, "Is this what you think too, Boss?"

The shop owner gave a bitter smile, "I can't help it, since this Boss here said so, if you can pull out two thousand yuan, I'll sell the painting to you of course."

Surely, the antique shop owner didn't believe Su Yang had the financial ability either.

"Alright, count it up."

Without wasting any words, Su Yang directly handed over two thousand yuan to the boss.

In this era, the sight of twenty one-hundred-yuan notes in a student's hand is absolutely mind-boggling.

Even Coal Boss went into shock at the scene, his jaw dropping.

The shop owner who came back to his senses hurriedly took the money, checked, and then excitedly confirmed, "Indeed, it's two thousand yuan, the painting is yours!"

Su Yang nodded, took the painting, and then swaggered away.

The coal miner boss, coming back to his senses, quietly cursed, "Damn, I really misjudged, this kid is actually a rich second generation!"

Leaving the antique street, Suyang hailed a taxi directly to the train station, heading to the capital overnight.

Because in Jianghai City, Suyang couldn't find someone who could buy his calligraphy and painting.

So he was going to the Capital to meet an old acquaintance from his past life, Qian Dajiang.

Though Qian Dajiang wasn't as famous at this time as he was in his previous life, at least he owned an antique shop.

After an overnight journey, Suyang arrived in the capital early the next morning.

When Suyang stepped out of the train station, it was already eight in the morning.

He hailed a taxi and headed straight for Qian Dajiang's antique shop.

Fortunately, Qian Dajiang was just opening for the day.

"Hello, Boss Qian, I am Suyang. I came from Jianghai City to ask for your expertise on this calligraphy and painting," Suyang said politely, sizing up the slightly plump Qian Dajiang.

"This young man is pretty bold. Let me see what kind of calligraphy and painting you have brought?" Qian Dajiang said with a smile, nodding his head.

He took a brief look at Suyang.

Much to Qian Dajiang's surprise, the young man in front of him was not only composed and mature, but also looked energetic.

Su Yang didn't beat around the bush, taking out the painting and calligraphy piece and carefully spread it in front of Qian DaJiang: "Mr. Qian, could you please appraise this for me?"

"Hmm?"

Initially, Qian DaJiang didn't pay much attention, not expecting a student to have such treasured artwork.

However, when he saw the painting, his facial expression suddenly turned stupefied.

He immediately leaned in for a closer examination.

After a moment, Qian DaJiang's body shivered with excitement, he couldn't help but gasp.

He simply couldn't believe that this painting was actually an original Zhao Ji!

Based on the recent market conditions, he quoted an estimate at around 300,000 yuan.

To be honest, Su Yang was somewhat disappointed with the price.

After all, this painting auctioned for the astronomical price of 80 million yuan in an auction twenty years later.

But in this era, a quadrangle courtyard in the imperial capital is also around 300,000 yuan. By twenty to thirty years later, it would be at least worth hundreds of millions.

Upon working out the math, the price of 300,000 yuan didn't seem low after all.

Moreover, he desperately needed capital. He didn't want to miss buying a subscription certificate under any circumstances, hence he must sell this painting.

"Mr. Qian, I want to pawn this painting to you for 300,000 yuan, and redeem it back in five months. I will also give you an additional 150,000 yuan for your trouble. What do you think?"