Chapter 13: Transaction

Li Yingtang put down the items and made a move to leave.

Seeing that she was serious, the stall owner hurriedly called out to her, "Alright, alright! One yuan it is."

"You'll sell it for one yuan? That means your cost is only a dime. If you throw in one more, I'll buy it." Li Yingtang put down the bracelet, acting as if she didn't really want to buy it.

As a businessperson, she understood customer psychology better than anyone. Now that her identity had changed, she was extremely careful to hide her true thoughts, fearing that the other party might see through her and affect her strategy.

The stall owner was so angry his mustache twitched. "Two for one yuan? Why don't you just go rob someone?"

"Forget it then, I don't absolutely need it anyway." Li Yingtang turned to leave again.

Treasure hunting is all about psychological warfare.

It’s a matter of who breaks first.

Regardless, the money was in her pocket; whether she bought it or not was up to her.

The stall owner was incredibly annoyed and casually picked out a few pieces for her to choose from, among which was that *wushi pai* (a plain, uncarved jade plaque).

Li Yingtang felt a secret thrill. To be safe, she first picked up the white jade bracelet and pretended to fiddle with it, then used a light to examine a green jade pendant, and only then, unhurriedly, picked up the *wushi pai* she had set her sights on from the start.

"I'll take this one; it has a good meaning."

The boss waved his hand. "Take it, take it."

Li Yingtang paid readily and walked away with the goods. Leaving the second-hand market, she unfolded a map, followed the road to the end, and stepped into an antique shop. "Is the boss in?"

The boss looked her up and down—a gaudy, floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket and handmade bright red cotton shoes.

Draped over her wrist was a coat that was neither new nor old.

A country bumpkin.

Yet, her face was exquisitely delicate, and the exposed skin was clearer and more translucent than the jade displayed in his shop.

Her overall air made even the floral cotton jacket look valuable.

He couldn't quite read the person in front of him and didn't dare to fool her, so he replied formally, "That would be me. Does the young lady have goods to sell?"

Li Yingtang nodded and sat down in a chair with a generous, lazy, and casual posture. "Take a look at this *wushi pai* and tell me how many steamed buns it's worth."

The boss examined it from both sides. "The quality is decent. Is it an heirloom?"

"I just snatched it."

The boss chuckled. "That’s not what I meant. How much do you want for it?"

Li Yingtang couldn't gauge the price and didn't intend to name a figure first. "You give me a price."

The boss pondered. "Fifty. If you're willing to part with it, I'll take it."

Li Yingtang’s eyes brightened. If he could offer fifty on the first try, it meant the price could still be pushed higher. "It’s rare for me to come out; make it higher."

"It can't go any higher. Not many people play with these *wushi pai* nowadays."

"How are there not many? My grandfather used to handle them all the time." Li Yingtang didn't want to drag it out. "Sixty-five. If you can pay that, I'll sell it."

The boss hesitated for a moment. "Fine."

That easy?

Li Yingtang suddenly felt she had sold it too cheaply.

But she had already named her price. If she went back on her word and walked out, she figured no one else in the entire market would buy her goods once she stepped out that door.

After parting with the plaque and getting the money, Li Yingtang headed toward the ancient city, which looked just like the city gate tower in her memories.

She stepped up onto the desolate, winding city wall to look into the distance.

There were few people, just a scattering here and there.

It was far from the bustling, prosperous scene of decades later.

So cold!

She needed to find a place to stay to rest and keep warm.

The small inns had questionable hygiene and no heating. The guesthouses that were heated and clean required an introduction letter.

Li Yingtang walked for two streets before a guesthouse was willing to take her in.

The price was double what it would have been with an introduction letter.

Three yuan a night, plus a ten-yuan deposit.

Fortunately, they provided hot water and toiletries. She tidied up a bit and went to sleep.

When she woke up, it was already broad daylight. She stared blankly for a while, got up, packed her things, checked out, and continued to browse the second-hand market.

As soon as she entered the market, she set her eyes on a smoky-purple jade Buddha pendant with green accents.

It was likely carved from the center of a bracelet.

The shape was excellent, and the craftsmanship was quite refined, but the surface was very rough, like a semi-finished product intentionally made to look old, which was why it was tossed in a corner, ignored by everyone.

But it was definitely real jade. When the light swept over it, the jade structure inside was very clear.

If she had it re-processed and the luster turned out as she expected, it should be worth quite a bit.

However, she wasn't in a rush to pick it up. Her grandfather had told her that the merchants selling antiques early in the morning were seasoned travelers who had seen it all and were very shrewd.

If she showed even a hint of excitement, the boss would surely see through her.

At that point, it would be hard to get her hands on this piece of jade.

Thinking of this, she steadied her mind and picked up a flashy pendant to examine with a light.

"Girl, what are you shining that at so early in the morning? You've been fiddling with it for ages. Are you buying or not?"

Li Yingtang phrased her response carefully: "My husband's birthday is coming up, and I want to buy him a piece of jade as a gift. Can you recommend one?"

"The 'Good Fortune' pendant you're holding is quite good. It's genuine yellow jade. If you want it, give me thirty yuan."

Li Yingtang: "Cheaper."

"If you're sincere about wanting it, twenty-five."

"Too expensive." Li Yingtang countered: "One yuan."

"Get out, get out, get out!" The boss impatiently shooed her away.

Li Yingtang said with a cheeky smile, "I'm just joking. I don't want to waste your time either. Ten yuan, and you throw in that white jade buckle for me." She reached out and picked up the white jade buckle.

The boss snatched it away. "No, no, this piece is worth at least twenty just for its luster."

"Then can I pick one with lower quality?" Li Yingtang asked for his opinion.

The boss let out a long sigh and said helplessly, "Sigh, it's early in the morning, and you're my first customer. I'll give it to you as a gift; consider it a good omen for my opening."

Only then did Li Yingtang reach for that inconspicuous smoky-purple pendant.

After paying, she took it to a nearby jade processing shop and asked the craftsman to polish it.

After waiting for about two hours, she received the polished pendant.

The luster was surprisingly good. Looking closely under the light, it was exceptionally translucent.

She was rich!

Li Yingtang walked quickly to the shop she had traded with yesterday and asked the boss for an appraisal.

After the boss finished his inspection, he held up three fingers.

Li Yingtang’s eyes sparkled. "Thirty thousand? That's fine."

*Cough, cough!*

The boss choked on his own saliva. "Do you think you're holding top-tier jadeite? Three hundred!"

Li Yingtang was disappointed; she had almost become rich. "Can't it be any higher?"

"That's the absolute limit."

"Deal."

Money and goods were exchanged.

Li Yingtang’s purse was now bulging. She headed straight for the department store, which she had wanted to visit yesterday but didn't have enough time for.

Entering the department store, she stopped by the clothing section.

Anything that caught her eye cost over a hundred yuan when she asked the price.

If she wore such nice clothes in the village, wouldn't it make people jealous?

Don't flaunt wealth; better not buy them.

She had to buy something for her A-Xian.

She pondered for a moment.

She decided to buy him a wristwatch.

With that in mind, she walked to the watch counter and picked out a few models, asking the clerk to take them out so she could choose up close.

The clerk said, "The white dial sells the best, and it goes with everything."

Li Yingtang had her eye on a model with a deep blue dial; it was steady and cool, very fitting for his temperament. "How much?"

"One hundred and twenty."

Li Yingtang secretly gasped. So expensive?

Dressing up a man is really costly! "Can you make it cheaper?"

"These are imported; we don't haggle." The clerk took the watch back. "If you want something cheap, turn right when you go out. The watches in the clock shop are five yuan at most."

Li Yingtang: "..." What kind of attitude is that?

The service industry staff here were truly arrogant.

They would give customers a cold shoulder at the drop of a hat.

"What are you putting it away for?" Li Yingtang slapped a stack of ten-yuan bills onto the counter. "Wrap it up for me!"

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