There are many treasures in Qilin Pavilion, and every item is exquisite.
The shopkeeper led Qin Wanrou into the inner room and said with a smile, "The things outside are all vulgar. We don't display the real treasures. We only show them to noble people like you."
Qin Wanrou's vanity was satisfied, and she straightened her back a little. "Shopkeeper, thank you for the compliment. I wonder which one you ordered?"
"Please wait a moment. I will bring it to you, Madam."
After a while, the shopkeeper brought out a two-foot square box. The box was made of golden nanmu wood and had gilded patterns on it. It was obvious that it was not an ordinary item.
"Madam, please take a look."
As the shopkeeper spoke, he opened the wooden box. Inside was a white jade Guanyin statue, crystal clear without a trace of impurities. Even more amazing was the carving technique of this white jade Guanyin. The expression was different when viewed under different light, which was truly a work of art.
Qin Wanrou had never seen such a good thing in her life. She touched it with her fingertips and it felt warm to the touch. It was a rare and beautiful jade.
Compared with this Guanyin statue, the gift she originally prepared was nothing compared to it.
Xiang's mother was also stunned. She swallowed and asked, "Boss, how much does this Guanyin statue cost?"
The shopkeeper stretched out his hand and made the number eight.
"Eight hundred taels?" Qin Wanrou was shocked.
The shopkeeper smiled slightly and said, "This Guanyin statue is a treasure from the previous dynasty. The master who carved it is the world-famous Master Li. The eight hundred taels are all lost."
Qin Wanrou was speechless.
Seeing Qin Wanrou's frightened expression, the shopkeeper's smile faded a little. "If you think it's too expensive, please go downstairs. There are plenty of small items on the counter."
Qin Wanrou felt embarrassed and tried to save her dignity by saying, "The shopkeeper is too dismissive. I just think this Guanyin is too ordinary and I want to see something different."
The shopkeeper's attitude immediately changed 180 degrees. "Yes, yes, I made a mistake." He turned to the apprentice and said, "Go, show the lady the treasure I just found."
After a while, the apprentice came in panting, holding a glass flower pot covered with a red cloth.
The flowerpot was about a meter tall, and it was filled not with soil but with pearls and jade. The shopkeeper lifted the red cloth, revealing a shimmering coral, so beautiful that Qin Wanrou and Xiang Mama were stunned.
The shopkeeper said, "This coral comes from the South China Sea. It was carved on the original coral form. The technique was introduced from the West. It is not visible during the day, but at night, it is brighter than candlelight."
My mother's throat tightened and she said dryly, "How much does this coral cost?"
The shopkeeper gestured, "One thousand and one hundred taels."
One thousand taels?
Although Qin Wanrou didn't say anything, she was already backing down in her heart.
These days, she had been buying things for Nie's mother's birthday, and out of the one thousand taels of loan she had previously put down, she only had six hundred taels left. Originally, she had not planned to touch this money, thinking that she would pay back half of it once the general's salary came in.
But this coral is indeed a treasure. If I use it as a birthday gift for Mother Nie, then all the limelight will be hers...
Seeing Qin Wanrou's hesitation, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "One thousand one hundred taels is indeed not a small amount, but Madam, don't worry. If you don't like it anymore, as long as there are no defects, we can help you resell it."
"Can it be resold?" Qin Wanrou was surprised.
"Of course. Some time ago, the Marquisate bought a pair of antique vases from me. After enjoying them enough, they put them on my shelf to sell. As a result, they were spotted by a wandering merchant from the Western Regions. Not only did I get my money back, I also made a profit of three hundred taels of silver."
Qin Wanrou was tempted. If that was the case, she could just buy it first, wait until Mother Nie had had enough of it, and then secretly return it to her and resell it. If Mother Nie remembered it, she could just find an excuse to get away with it.
Seeing that Qin Wanrou was persuaded, the shopkeeper continued, "If Madam can make a decision today, then I am willing to give you a hundred taels and sell it to you at a loss."
Qin Wanrou thought about the white jade Guanyin statue and gritted her teeth, saying, "Okay, I want it. I'll give you half of the deposit today. I'll go home and get the other half for you later. You deliver it to the general's mansion."
When he came out of Qilin Pavilion, he asked his mother anxiously, "Miss, where are we going to get this thousand taels?"
"Go to the bank and deposit another 1,000 taels of silver to pay him the balance."
Looking at her mother, hesitant to speak, Qin Wanrou said impatiently, "I'll go if I say so. After the birthday banquet, I'll become his wife, so there's no need to be extravagant."
"yes."
After helping Qin Wanrou onto the carriage, Xiang's mother left.
The carriage drove off the street, and just as they left, a master and servant came out of the teahouse next door and entered Qilin Pavilion.
The apprentice was startled when he saw Su Man. "Didn't Madam just come here? Why is she here again?"
"Go! Go! Go."
The shopkeeper came out and scolded, then turned to Su Man and said with a smile, "Madam, you came at a good time. I have already prepared the things you ordered just now."
Su Man nodded, "Thank you for your help, boss."
Yinggu took the box.
"Goodbye, ma'am." The shopkeeper walked her all the way to the door.
When the shopkeeper returned, the apprentice was puzzled, "The lady didn't order anything just now."
The shopkeeper touched his chin and said, "You have a lot to learn."
He smacked his lips. He had seen people competing for attention in the backyard of a mansion before, but this was the first time he had seen someone using the attention to gain profit. It was such a pity that this lady had to stay in the backyard.
...
There is a market in the city these two days, and the streets are bustling with people.
Suman walked and stopped, looking at the gadgets on the stalls from time to time.
Yinggu shook the box in her hand, feeling it was light and empty. She asked curiously, "Madam, what's inside?"
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