Seeing that the two had no objections, the shopkeeper instructed the waiter to bring over a bottle of rice wine and two wine cups.
Liu Feng picked up the bottle, poured a glass for himself and Tong Miao, and then raised his glass and said, "Come on, Tong Miao, let's drink this!"
The two raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them down in one gulp. The rice wine was mellow and sweet, intoxicating.
“Tongmiao, for us cultivators, the most crucial thing is cultivating our minds. We don’t need to care too much about those worldly rules and constraints. Come, let’s have another drink!” Liu Feng said, pouring wine for himself and Tongmiao again.
Upon hearing this, Tong Miao raised his cup and laughed, "Junior Uncle is absolutely right! However, if Master knew that we were drinking here, he would probably scold me, saying that I have corrupted your tranquil Junior Uncle."
"Haha, if your master really says so, then let him come find me! Come, try my newly concocted medicinal wine and see how it tastes!"
Liu Feng laughed loudly, took the large gourd from behind his back, gently knocked open the stopper, and immediately a rich aroma of wine wafted out, intoxicating everyone.
He poured a glass of amber-colored medicinal wine and handed it to Tong Miao.
Tong Miao took the wine glass, took a small sip, and immediately felt a spicy taste flow into his stomach, but it quickly turned into a warm current that spread throughout his body, making him feel extremely comfortable.
"How is it?" Liu Feng asked.
"Junior Uncle, your medicinal wine is truly amazing!" Tong Miao savored it carefully. The slight spiciness flowed into his stomach and intestines, then turned into a warm current that spread throughout his body, making him feel unprecedentedly comfortable and pleasant.
"Since you like it, I'll pour you two more cups to try!" Seeing that Tong Miao liked it, Liu Feng took the gourd and filled his cup.
Tong Miao did not refuse and drank three cups in a row. He felt a slight heat on his forehead, fine beads of sweat seeping out, and his whole body was full of energy.
"Alright, Tongmiao, you can't drink anymore. Too much of a good thing can be bad. This medicinal wine has the effect of cleansing your meridians and marrow. It's a new formula I developed, but it still needs further improvement," Liu Feng said, reminding him.
"Thank you for the wine, Junior Uncle!" Tong Miao bowed and expressed his gratitude. He felt that his physical condition seemed to have really improved, and he was more energetic.
After the meal, Tong Miao insisted on paying the bill, which came to 32 yuan.
Although this meal seems cheap, most farmers still can't afford it. With 32 yuan, they could buy about ten kilograms of pork, enough for a family to eat for several meals.
In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, so the two decided to stroll around the nearby antique street.
The place was bustling with people, and various antique stalls lined up one after another, attracting many treasure hunters.
The sounds of bargaining rose and fell, adding a touch of life to this ancient street.
Liu Feng also had a keen interest in antiques. With sharp eyes, he carefully examined each stall, searching for potential treasures.
Tong Miao stood to the side, introducing him to the various interesting stories and legends of this ancient street.
When they reached a larger stall, Liu Feng suddenly stopped.
This stall is like a small art exhibition, with ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, bronze and iron ornaments, ivory and wood carvings, and even Taoist magic swords and whisks, all available in a dazzling array that is hard to look away from.
The area around the stall was bustling with people, the atmosphere was lively, and everyone's eyes gleamed with a desire for the treasure.
Some customers squatted on the ground, carefully examining each item, trying to find the hidden genuine articles; others were haggling with the stall owner, hoping to take away their favorite items at a lower price.
"Uncle-Master, I have visited this place several times, but I have heard rumors that genuine artifacts are not common here," Tong Miao whispered in Liu Feng's ear, his face showing a hint of wariness.
Liu Feng smiled slightly and said, "The difference between truth and falsehood often lies in chance and insight. Perhaps today, we will encounter a real treasure."
He looked around, his gaze wandering among the various objects, finally settling on a jade gourd.
The jade gourd was exquisite and translucent, and it bore a resemblance to the mysterious treasure gourd in his ancestral aperture in his memory. So he reached out and gently picked up the jade gourd.
However, when his gaze penetrated the warm, smooth jade and examined it closely, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment.
Although the jade gourd was beautiful, it was not as extraordinary as he had expected. It was just carved from ordinary white jade and had nothing special about it.
Liu Feng sighed softly, and was about to put the jade gourd back in its original place when he inadvertently caught a strange light out of the corner of his eye.
The light came from an inconspicuous object next to the jade gourd. It lay there quietly, unremarkable yet radiating an indescribable energy fluctuation.
Upon seeing this, the stall owner immediately approached enthusiastically, his face beaming with smiles: "You two Taoist priests truly have discerning eyes! This item is one of the treasures of my stall, absolutely worth more than its price!"
Liu Feng's lips curled slightly, but he secretly grumbled to himself.
He pointed to the wooden ruyi and several copper coins and asked, "How much are these items worth in total?"
The stall owner quoted a price, and Liu Feng and Tong Miao exchanged a glance and began to haggle.
"Three hundred!" The stall owner stared at Liu Feng, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, like a cunning fox eyeing its prey.
He noticed that Liu Feng and his companion were young and seemed to know little about the antique market, and he was secretly delighted, thinking this was a perfect opportunity to rip them off.
Tong Miao stood to the side, his eyes widening in shock as he listened to the stall owner's exorbitant price.
He quickly interjected, "Boss, your price is outrageous! Three hundred yuan? I could buy this whole stall of goods for that price!"
He glanced at Liu Feng, worried that his young junior uncle might be tempted by the exorbitant price.
Liu Feng, on the other hand, remained calm. He carefully examined the wooden ruyi and several ancient copper coins in the stall owner's hand, having already made his own calculations.
He shook his head and said to the stall owner, "Boss, your price is indeed a bit high. This wooden ruyi, although finely carved, is made of mediocre material and has obvious brown scars, which affects its overall value. On the market, such an item is only worth ten or twenty yuan. As for these ancient coins, although they are old, their condition is mediocre, and there are countless similar ones on the market. Their value is not high."
The stall owner's heart skipped a beat when Liu Feng's words hit the nail on the head, but he still maintained his smile, trying to salvage the situation: "Oh dear, you two Taoist priests are truly discerning! Since you've noticed the flaws in these items, how about I give you a discount? One hundred and fifty yuan?"
Liu Feng remained unmoved. He smiled faintly and continued to bargain, saying, "One hundred and fifty is still too expensive. I think fifty is a fair price."
Tong Miao chimed in, "Yes, boss, Junior Uncle is right! Fifty yuan is too much. I think these copper coins are worth at most twenty yuan."
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