Chapter 397: Have you verified your funds?

Li Pinzhi licked his greasy big tongue, one hand taking advantage of those nearby while he looked around for the source of the sound.

"Your cousin? Then I ought to get to know her well, baby, bring me over to say hello."

Lin Qianqian was led by Li Pinzhi toward the shop exit, and indeed she saw Lin Meng's profile in the shop diagonally opposite.

At this moment, Lin Qianqian once again lifted her proud chin, feeling full of confidence.

She had over a million brought from home in her hand, and beside her was an old sycophant with a net worth of over a hundred million.

Lin Meng, what do you have to compare with me?

"Qianqian, your cousin has quite the nerve, daring to enter that shop."

Suddenly, Li Pinzhi's voice rang out.

Lin Qianqian frowned, "Is there something wrong with that shop?"

Li Pinzhi couldn't help but say:

"That's the most particular shop in all of Yun Cheng, very expensive—even a plain pot of water lilies sells for six figures."

"What's more, they collect rare treasures from around the world, especially antique bonsai; any random piece is auction‑grade, and supposedly the shop's treasure is a pot of Chinese juniper bonsai over a thousand years old—someone offered twenty million and the owner still wouldn't sell."

After hearing that, Lin Qianqian was already trembling with fear.

She still lacked vision, unable to imagine that a bonsai could sell for astronomical prices.

Moreover, it's antique bonsai—just hearing the name feels like a scam.

"Could there really be a bonsai over a thousand years old still alive? How could I not doubt it?"

Li Pinzhi immediately put on an act of knowing what he's talking about.

"What do you know? As long as you have money, you can buy anything—any item from that shop displayed at home is a status symbol; your cousin probably has no money, so if she goes in she'll likely be looked down on."

Upon hearing that, Lin Qianqian immediately became excited, eager to see Lin Meng humiliated.

"What are we waiting for? My cousin loves to pretend to be rich despite having little money."

"She's not like me—I have Brother Li to take me out and see the world, Brother Li, let's go over there quickly."

Lin Qianqian's flattery was well received by Li Pinzhi, who immediately beamed and said:

"Baby, follow your Brother Li and I'll guarantee you die happy—come on, Brother Li will take you over to look, I'll buy you a pot of flowers to play with."

"Brother Li, you're the best, mua!"

Lin Qianqian endured her nausea and planted a kiss on Li Pinzhi's pig‑like face, and the two soon reached the entrance of the shop where Lin Meng was.

"Miss, what would you like to see? Our specialty is antique bonsai, which is very pricey—but if you can afford it, we can give you a rundown."

Lin Meng had originally just been strolling casually; today's main task of buying seeds was already done, and while wandering at leisure she unexpectedly ran into Lin Qianqian.

However, the boss spoke politely, without looking down on people, so Lin Meng didn't rush to leave.

"What kind of antique bonsai did you just mention? What's the exact price?"

Lin Meng thought, since she was already here, she might as well learn more.

Although she preferred golden trees, having some greenery at home adds vitality, and her aunt seems to enjoy arranging flowers and plants as well.

Hearing that, the boss patiently brought out a pot of uniquely styled bamboo landscape.

"Please take a look, Miss; this is our entry‑level antique bonsai, priced at 1.3 million including pot and bamboo, plus some replacement specialized nutrient soil and solution."

Hearing that, Lin Meng silently gasped, instantly realizing that the value of antique bonsai lies in the "ancient" aspect.

So she asked.

"This bamboo landscape design is indeed nice; I wonder how many years old it is?"

Seeing Lin Meng was young, the boss wasn't surprised to hear a bonsai cost 1.3 million, his expression blank as he silently wondered whether this young lady might truly be a child of a wealthy family out for a stroll and some shopping.

Although she wore nothing luxurious, just ordinary casual clothes, her bearing was exceptionally outstanding.

The boss immediately listed Lin Meng as a valued guest to be given special attention, answering each of her questions.

"Miss, you have good eyes; this shape is indeed the result of careful sculpting and cultivation, and according to records it has been 108 years from start to present."

Lin Meng couldn't help but gasp, never expecting that bamboo could survive this long.

But Lin Meng soon regained her composure, since vegetation's growth cycle naturally far exceeds human lifespan—several hundred or even a thousand years is nothing unusual.

Seeing how exquisite the bamboo landscape was, she thought it would be perfect on a tea‑room table and considered buying it.

"Then please note it down for me—I'll take this pot."

As Lin Meng finished speaking, before the boss could even smile, a burst of loud laughter rang from the doorway.

"Lin Meng, it really is you—you just said you wanted to buy this bamboo pot? Are you crazy?"

Lin Qianqian had originally wanted to see what Lin Meng was up to, but upon hearing she intended to buy that 1.3‑million antique bonsai, she could no longer stay seated.

She turned to the shop owner and said sarcastically:

"Boss, take a good look—she's just a pretentious fake rich woman, and you actually believed her when she said she'd buy from you? With your shop's goods so precious, shouldn't you verify funds first?"

Although Lin Qianqian had achieved nothing in the Jing Shi Socialite Class, she had at least picked up some basic knowledge of how the wealthy operate.

Moreover, after spending time with Li Pinzhi, she knew that many high‑end purchases require a proof of funds beforehand, otherwise one can't even meet the threshold.

She didn't believe Lin Meng could buy it without blinking an eye.

Upon hearing Lin Qianqian's voice, Lin Meng's eyelid twitched.

This aunt truly is a persistent nuisance, thick‑skinned to an astonishing degree—how can she still have the nerve to show up uninvited?

Lin Meng helplessly turned to face Lin Qianqian, her eyes showing no ripple.

"Auntie, long time no see—you just said I couldn't afford it; have you forgotten what happened when we ran into each other buying that dress?"

As Lin Meng finished speaking, Lin Qianqian's heart gave a sudden jolt—she had indeed forgotten that incident.

But so what? Who knows whether that time Lin Meng had hooked up with some man and someone else paid the bill?

"Lin Meng, stay away—I've long suspected your money isn't clean; as your older sister I ought to advise you well: you're young and narrow‑minded, so never engage in shady dealings, using dirty money to pretend to be rich abroad."

"This place is expensive—only someone like Brother Li with substantial wealth can get in; you'd better get out now!"

Lin Meng seemed to have heard a huge joke, her big eyes staring straight at Lin Qianqian.

My goodness, what kind of mindset does this woman have to be able to say such shameless words?

Sometimes Lin Meng really wonders just how thick-skinned this cousin of hers is, how flat her brain is, and with such low IQ, she can even manage to hook up with an ATM.

"Lin Qianqian, do you want to hear what you're saying?"

"My money isn't clean? How can you say that with a straight face? Shouldn't it be your money that's dirty?"

"Your brother's in jail, your mother ran away, your father is paralyzed in bed, your younger brother is only eight—you took all the family's money and ran off; how are they supposed to live?"