Chapter 272: with translation of chapter title

Ling Yue got the notice, but the production crew was still being mysterious, hiding the address so no one could know; she didn't care, unaware that a certain peer was about to explode with anger—aren't variety shows all scripted? He still wanted to lay groundwork early, to create a few iconic scenes.

The agent looked at the angry old man, who was about to faint, took a deep breath, held back his anger, and patiently explained: 'You think it's why? "Small Life" is now blazing hot, who knows how many stars are crying and begging to get on—even the previous director Yu is thinking of copying homework.'

'But what did he get? He was diagnosed with brain cancer, all because he offended Ling Yue, and you still want to step on others to rise? Your brain is messed up!'

Xu He's breath hitched, he irritably swept things off the table amid the crackling sounds, and he muttered sullenly: 'Then is that it?'

In this cute pet variety show, I have the lowest popularity—even the previous eye‑candy female star Song Youli is more popular than me.

As he spoke, his powdered face grew ever paler; since he dropped the sickly persona, his agent hasn't let him eat properly, almost giving him a stomach illness from hunger.

Impatient Xu He drove the agent away, blankly staring at the distant mighty Mysterious Cat; after a while he suddenly muttered under his breath: 'Damn it!'

If it weren't for the master suddenly losing contact, he would have long ago swapped this beast for a cuter, more obedient cat, making the show more eye‑catching.

Clearly, among the many people he sought out, the master was the only one who guaranteed he could cure him—so how did he suddenly go missing?

Xu He was extremely irritated, grabbing his hair and pulling his head down; no matter what, filming starts tomorrow, and it's too late for regret.

They gathered at the airport; according to the show's arrangement, it was a place with direct flights. Xu He inexplicably had a bad premonition, but he didn't take it to heart at the time, his eyes fixed on Ling Yue greeting the movie emperor and empress, his heart full of jealousy.

Scheming woman!

No wonder they're an internet celebrity—how come that person isn't me?

When the cameraman swung around, he quickly lowered his gaze and composed his expression.

Netizens who had been eagerly waiting a whole week were almost bored stiff; thus, upon learning the show had gone live, the online viewership instantly broke into the nine‑figure range, the popularity so high it left people stunned.

Fortunately the platform had prepared in advance, so it didn't suffer the server crashes that plagued the first episode.

Concerned peers beat their chests and stamped their feet, eyes red as rabbits, yet they held back, wary of Director Yu's past lessons, and dared not act.

Seeing the data, the production crew of 'Small Life' variety show grinned so wide their mouths couldn't close, their minds filled with just one word: 'Steady!' If it weren't for the assistant director taking leave due to illness, there might have been a lively accompaniment.

By then the plane had reached its destination, and everyone disembarked at a top‑tier airport dozens of kilometers from the city center.

A modern city surrounded by mountains and water, with breathtaking scenery, opened the curtain.

Many people were astonished upon seeing the airport.

【Water Creek! This is my hometown! Too bad I went off to college—ahhhh I regret it! How come I didn't leave earlier or later, but I had to go off to school this year!】

【Hehehe, I'm in Water Creek; if I keep watching the livestream I might be able to go over and get an autograph photo.】

【Water Creek, is that the area where the super‑famous giant panda base is located?】

【Exactly! It's only a few dozen kilometers from the airport, and the urban area is even closer—now our chestnut tree finally doesn't have to complain about too many mosquitoes; it's going to eat people!】

Ling Yue was also a bit surprised—what a coincidence! The panda breeding base she had arranged seems to be in Chenghua District of Water Creek, not far from here; I wonder if Tuan Tuan has set off yet.

Song Youli overjoyed: 'Hot pot! I heard the hot pot here in Water Creek is especially delicious! I want the beef‑oil version!'

The agent watching the show heard this, his eyes nearly shooting fire, he yelled at the screen 'No way!' But Song Youli had already flown over; the emperor is far away, and the agent can't do anything about her.

Actress Tan Ru and actor Qin Mingwei both brought up the giant panda base, and for a moment countless Water Creek fans proudly puffed out their chests, feeling honored.

Only one person, Xu He, upon seeing the familiar place, involuntarily clenched his fingers, his eyes full of irritation—who knows, the production crew must have lost their minds, why insist on this place!

He still couldn't shake off the dread in his eyes, and unconsciously glanced at the lazy mighty Mysterious Cat.

It had already climbed up one side of the brick wall, lifted its head, its pale yellow cat eyes gazing into the distance; that direction made his heart jolt, a chill like a poisonous snake winding around his whole body, his hands and feet turning ice‑cold.

'My Little Life with It' began filming its second episode; with the momentum from the first, the show gained more traffic and vowed to really nail the selling points—Water Creek's famous giant panda base was naturally their filming target, and they had already communicated in advance.

Water Creek's unique scenery, its lively human atmosphere, is also very appealing.

During the host's introduction, besides the scheduled giant panda base, they deliberately pointed at Xu He.

Xu He didn't react at first, stared blankly for a moment, then countered: 'Because of me? What does that have to do with me?'

The host thought he was hitting a joke spot, chuckling: 'We looked into it—Water Creek No. 1 High is your alma mater; this is also a surprise we prepared for you, to return to your long‑lost school, Teacher Xu must be thrilled, right?'

Xu He's face stiffened, he suddenly clenched his palm, almost making a creaking sound, yet he forced a smile and agreed: 'Yeah, yeah, our production team really put thought into this.'

Actually, he stared at the host's head, wishing he could lash out—was this a surprise or a shock?

【Is Xu He too happy, his face frozen in a smile?】

【I feel like he's actually angry, disliking the show's arrangements.】

【Impossible! Our Brother Bai He is the gentlest, most loyal!】

This is the 'good older brother' image Xu He once cultivated—how could he possibly act with a wolf's heart and dog's lungs? Many fans are immersed in the gentleness he fabricated, unable to extricate themselves.

This is also the fundamental reason why, despite his blunder in the previous episode, he still retains a large base of loyal fans.

The production crew seemed to understand everyone's thoughts, not assigning any tasks, but emphasizing they would take them to tour Water Creek's scenery.

'I want to eat!' Song Youli blurted out her demand without hesitation, staring at the snack stall next door, her eyes practically glued to it.

Spicy little noodles, boboji chicken, tripe hot pot—all kinds of bright, eye‑catching red‑broth dishes gave off a rich, spicy aroma that stimulated everyone's taste buds.

Everyone who had just gotten off the plane couldn't help rubbing their stomachs, as if they could hear the gurgling sounds.

The staff hadn't said anything yet when suddenly a male voice called out: 'Gray Gray!'

Actor Qin Mingwei's face flushed with shock and anger as a husky half his height drooled and ran forward, its bouncing energy so fierce that eight horses couldn't hold it back.

Everyone had no time to react, watching Qin Mingwei chase the husky headfirst into the snack street.

Song Youli jumped in fright: 'Ah!'

Ling Yue sprang into pursuit, and Tan Ru chimed in: 'Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and look for the person and the dog!'

Now no staff approval was needed—after all, it was a sudden incident, and the livestream chat was about to explode with laughter.

【No wonder I felt this episode was a bit off—turns out it was missing the husky's help, hahaha I died laughing!】

【I knew it, Gray Gray this unfilial pup—if it doesn't get a slipper whack for a day, its butt gets itchy! The old father is practically worried sick.】

【Movie Emperor Qin: You wretched creature, don't run!】

The stinky tofu vendor was packing boxes when he suddenly heard the customer in front of him shout: 'Enough! Enough!'

He froze, not looking up, and said: 'How could that be enough? I've only packed a few pieces of tofu!'

I didn't expect the customer to keep saying a few more times; the enthusiastic boss didn't dare to pretend anymore, but he still couldn't help defending himself: "Our stinky tofu is fragrant and spicy, especially delicious, and the portion is also affordable—everyone in the neighborhood knows my Old Wu's character! Customer, don't misunderstand, I don't overcharge! For this amount, charge five dollars."

The customer finally reacted, looking blankly at the boss who was talking nonstop: "What are you saying?"

The vendor who had finished packing the tofu looked over at him: "You didn't say to reduce the portion, so I gave you a discount——"

He paused mid-sentence, meeting a pair of bright, spirited dog eyes; a fluffy-haired husky had been squatting in front of the stall at some point.

Seeing the boss look over, the husky Huihui instinctively learned to fawn, grinning obsequiously; if it weren't for the drool dripping from the corners of its mouth, it might have been even cuter.

The customer asked him: "Why is the stinky tofu so little? Are you trying to cheat me?"

Upon hearing Old Wu's explanation, he burst out laughing and said: "I haven't said enough—I was talking about the dog; I was just greeting the dog earlier."

Surprisingly, the husky Huihui suddenly nodded, grinning like a little sun, constantly circling the customer, its big eyes fixed on the box in his hand.

When Ling Yue's group arrived, they saw this scene: Qin Yingdi, the dog's owner, stood to one side with a wonderfully expressive face.

Qin Mingwei rushed over, dusty and weary: "Huihui!"

The husky flopped to the ground at the sound, whimpering timidly as it turned its head toward its owner, then let out a pitiful whine: "Hungry hungry hungry~ I want to eat~ eat stinky!"

Ling Yue glanced at Qin Yingdi in surprise; seeing her look, he seemed to already know what the dog wanted to say, and said directly: "Is it pretending to be aggrieved again, claiming it's hungry?"

Ling Yue blinked and nodded.

Qin Mingwei strode over and grabbed the dog's head in one handful: "Hah! I knew it, you little rascal! You polished off a whole bowl of dog food this morning and haven't digested it yet, yet you're already crying hunger!"

He scolded the dog: "Look at yourself—you're basically a rice bin that's become a spirit!"

The husky instantly wilted, and in the end didn't get any stinky tofu; instead, it watched the crowd of people laughing and eating, drool continuously dripping from its mouth.

The dog: "I'm really feeling sour Q!"

Ling Yue and company ate and strolled, taking the husky's mishap as a cautionary tale; everyone made sure to bring their pets properly, especially Song Youli, who had heard before arriving that no rabbit could leave Water Stream intact.

Although she also liked eating spicy rabbit legs, she clearly knew that Baobao was different from other rabbits.

As they ate and wandered, they actually went deeper and deeper, because with their numbers they could buy a dish to share—food is always the best way to bring people closer, except for Xu He.

These snacks he's eaten since childhood are all low-brow street food; how could they compare to a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall costing over ten thousand, which is high-end and classy?

"Fengshui Turtle Master?" Ling Yue hadn't expected that, after the husky Huihui, the next person to run into trouble would be herself.

Originally, the Fengshui Turtle was being held by Ling Yue in her hand; it was bulky and usually didn't like to move, so she had prepared a bag to carry it around while playing.

Suddenly, the Fengshui Turtle seemed to have seen something, struggling desperately as if trying to crawl out.

Before Ling Yue could stop it, the sturdy bag was actually bitten through by the turtle; the Fengshui Turtle that fell to the ground went "gudaguda" as it crawled out, its large size drawing a crowd of onlookers.

Ling Yue could only follow and block its path: "What are you trying to do?"

The Fengshui Turtle Master twisted its head, anxiously saying: "Little disciple, do you feel it? There's an antique street nearby; Guigu's hands are itching! Hurry and take me to wander the antique street!"

Ling Yue couldn't help but rub her forehead, locked in a standoff with the Fengshui Turtle; they hadn't taken a few steps when others came over, and Song Youli poked her head out: "What's going on? What happened?"

【Holy cow, this turtle can really crawl fast! Could it be stressed?】

【A stressed turtle? I've never heard of that 【sweaty soybean】【sweaty soybean】】

Ling Yue glanced at the Fengshui Turtle, then at the production crew, and said helplessly: "It wants to go over to the antique street for a stroll."

The production crew looked completely clueless; obviously they didn't know there was an antique street nearby, and after Ling Yue continued: "The Fengshui Turtle Master can appraise treasures and loves to hunt for antiques."

!!!

That's pretty much nonsense.

Can a turtle appraise treasure? Nobody's an idiot; hearing Ling Yue's words, their first reaction was disbelief, and the production crew bluntly said: "Our planned location isn't here; we haven't checked, so we don't know whether there's an antique street around here."

Ling Yue pressed her lips, originally still hesitating, but hearing the crew's words she instantly became certain: "If the Fengshui Turtle Master couldn't appraise treasure, how could I claim there's an antique street nearby?"

Everyone exchanged glances; finally Tan Ru spoke up: "Ling Yue, is there really an antique street here? Anyway, we've wandered around for half a day, we've covered the snack street thoroughly—perfect timing to look for the antique street and settle our stomachs."

Xu He crossed his arms and sneered: "What antique street around here? I've lived here all my life—how could I not know?"

No sooner had he spoken than Ling Yue noticed a few tourists down to the right, apparently looking something up on their phones; hearing Xu He's remark, they actually walked straight over to her.

"Excuse me, do you know where the antique street here, aka Pearl Lane, is?" The speaker was a middle-aged woman wearing a duckbill cap, with four friends beside her—clearly close girlfriends.

Xu He instinctively replied: "What Pearl Lane antique street? There's none here."

The woman asking for directions, graceful and generous, smiled and said: "No wonder there isn't—we just saw the advertisement online; Pearl Lane in Water Stream has a full hundred-year history. Anyway, judging by your accent you're not a local, so let us ask again."

As she spoke, she greeted a companion beside her; her phone unexpectedly reoriented, and Ling Yue saw the navigation on it, unable to help frowning.

The screen clearly showed Pearl Lane; they seemed to have arrived, yet for some reason they couldn't find it, appearing to have gone in circles on the spot several times.

"Hmph! Looks like a white-eyed wolf—or are you a Water Stream local? Yet you're being mistaken for an outsider!"

The Fengshui Turtle said arrogantly: "Disciple, stop them; I'll take you there! Otherwise, depending on the situation, we might have to loop around a few more times."

Ling Yue startled, then realized, and called out to the woman: "You're looking for Pearl Lane?"

The woman smiled warmly: "Yes, little miss, do you know it?"

Ling Yue nodded: "If you don't mind, just follow us."

Everyone was overjoyed; supposedly, this half-month is Pearl Lane's centennial celebration, with many antique stall owners gathering, the scale unprecedentedly grand; they'd also seen the live broadcast then, which was extremely lively, plus some antiques of unknown dynasties that looked quite antiquarian.

What they hadn't expected was that, after rushing here with great effort, they couldn't even find the entrance; although they could have followed the crowd, this snack street was bustling with tourists shoulder to shoulder, leaving them no recourse.

Therefore, Ling Yue's words were like an unexpected blessing for the group; the leader of the main street laughed and said: "Great, great—thanks, little miss."

Guided by the Fengshui Turtle, although it crawled slowly, as the group chatted they all learned—not just Ling Yue but everyone else—that Pearl Lane's festivities lasted half a month.

The live stream had over a hundred million viewers; naturally some had seen it, and seeing how those tourists praised it to the skies yet still couldn't find the entrance, they couldn't help but feel a faint anticipation welling up inside.

【Pearl Lane? Surely it's a long lane; who knows how many antiques are inside?】

【This is still my first time seeing an antique street in a variety show livestream; host, keep it up—hurry and get to Pearl Lane early!】

【Some were excited, naturally others poured cold water: 'You don't really think that a place even navigation‑armed tourists following guides can't find, a single turtle could locate, do you?'】

【I don't believe it either! The pets here have never left the neighborhood—how could they know the address of a Water Stream local?】

【That's not necessarily true.】

In fact, it wasn't just the Fengshui Turtle—Ling Yue also noticed that in a nearby corner, a wisp of green smoke tinged with gold floated up against the azure sky; this phenomenon is invisible to ordinary people, clear only to cultivators like Ling Yue.

And that green smoke is indeed the fortune of Mingzhu Lane's antique street, mixed with gold; it can be seen that there are still many good things inside. This gathering of popular and wealth energy together forms this unique phenomenon.

Thus, she curled the corners of her mouth and said, 'We should have arrived.'

A group of people stopped before the open vermilion lacquered gate; two stone lions stood at the entrance, and on the stepped platform above, a wall emblazoned with 'blossoms bring wealth' stood silently, as people continually entered through it.

Song Youli slightly opened her red lips: 'Isn't this a scenic spot? Outside there's even a sign saying it's a 4A-level scenic area.'

Her words were exactly what others were thinking; everyone looked at Ling Yue, puzzled.

Tan Ru was sharp and careful; the feng shui turtle had already climbed the steps, and when it crossed the threshold, it couldn't help but turn its head toward Ling Yue: 'Hey, why are you just standing there? You'll know once they come in.'

Ling Yue stepped up and said, 'Yes and no; as for what's going on, you'll find out once you come in with me.'

After she said that, she gave a mysterious smile; not only the others, but even netizens watching through the screen thus felt their curiosity piqued.

【Hurry hurry hurry! Cameraman, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and go in! I want to see!】

【Ah ah ah, the streamer is teasing us again, and I always fall for it every time! Who let me have no resistance to a great beauty! \(≧▽≦)/】

A few seconds later, they easily crossed the screen wall, and the bustling street instantly came into view: a ten-meter-wide alley paved with blue stone bricks, its sides filled with antique stalls displaying a dazzling array of antiquities.

On one side of the wall, a sign for Pearl Lane hung on the wall.

One stall keeper shouted, 'Qing dynasty relics, Empress Dowager Cixi's snuff bottle!' Another stall keeper yelled, 'Tang dynasty Yang Guifei's grape-flower-and-bird patterned silver sachet!'

The bold ones directly picked up a bright green wine jar: 'This is a fresh Shang-Zhou bronze vessel! It even bears inscribed characters!'

【Hahaha, does anyone even flatter Cixi's stinky feet? Yang Guifei's grape-flower-and-bird silver sachet is still in the Shaanxi Museum! From this we can infer two possibilities: either the boss stole it from the Shaanxi Museum overnight to sell, or it's a fake—boss, you'd better clarify!】

【If that bronze vessel is genuine, I'll cut off my head and let people kick it like a ball!】

【Upstairs, how can you be so sure? What if it's real?】

【⊙﹏⊙ Are you missing a screw? Our country's law clearly stipulates that bronze vessels are cultural relics, prohibiting any market circulation or trade of bronze vessels! Minor offenses carry up to five years imprisonment and a fine; serious offenses carry five to ten years imprisonment and a fine.】

The viewers unknowingly learned some knowledge.

Looking again at the stallholder loudly hawking his wares, I couldn't help but laugh—'Shang-Zhou antiquities?' Not much different from last week's!

These stalls varied wildly, dazzling the eye; Ling Yue glanced over and saw that most were bought-in replicas, genuine pieces few and far between, while the antique shops on either side might have the real thing—but then, isn't the point of such an antique street to pick up bargains, to win big with small stakes?

Not only her, but others were also itching to act.

Each stallholder described their own wares as heavenly and earth-shaking, fabricating tales that were half true, half false.

A small vendor held a delicate porcelain cup, smiling narrowly as he beckoned customers: 'Sir/Madam, come take a look—this is a genuine Song dynasty official kiln piece, with a mark on the base, for only 1,999!'

'Real or fake?'

The delicate little teacup looked quite lovely, its porcelain body translucent and lustrous; the stallholder exclaimed in surprise, 'What are you saying? Just the other day a customer bought a Ru ware teacup—this tiny one—for a thousand and sold it for over a million! The news has spread all through Mingzhu Lane!'

As he spoke, the two little mustaches on his lips twitched, comical yet lively.

The surrounding stallholders, hearing his words, chimed in: 'Yeah, don't believe me? I'll point him out to you!'

Saying this, he pointed to a middle-aged man forcing a smile on one side: 'That's him—he sold a teacup for a thousand and got over a million for it!'

I don't know if it's Ling Yue's illusion, but she always felt a hint of mockery in the stallholders' tones; thinking about it, exchanging a thousand for over a million—these street vendors scraping a living would hardly not be depressed.

While thinking, the feng shui turtle went 'gudaguda' running to a small stall—a pottery stall with various ceramic items; Xu He, quick-eyed and quick-handed, followed it before anyone else could react.

He still remembered, Ling Yue had said before that this old turtle could appraise treasures—and now it was doing just that.

The feng shui turtle's gaze swept over the ceramics one by one, finally settling on a small teacup; Xu He couldn't help but recall the stallholder's earlier words—'pick up bargains, win big'—and how such things would boost his popularity.

As the saying goes, one need not look far: earlier, an ordinary person rose to fame in the entertainment world through marketing, becoming a minor celebrity in the circle.

For the current paper-thin top streamer Xu He, he urgently needs more popularity.

In just a few seconds, he had already been thinking about how to buy a hot search, and without stopping his steps, he strode over purposefully.

At the stall, the vendor kept boasting: 'Take a look, this is Song dynasty celadon; I collected it from the countryside—see, there's still mud on it, absolutely an antique.'

The small teacup in his hand was indeed pretty, its whole body simple and pure, showing a pale blue like water, glossy and lustrous.

The feng shui turtle master shook its head, and Ling Yue heard its voice: 'What celadon? It's just a replica, though the dynasty it imitates—'

Before it could finish, a male voice suddenly rang out: 'How much for this teacup?'

The vendor's eyes flashed with inspiration, and he eagerly said, 'Ten thousand!'

'If it weren't for my family's urgent need, I really wouldn't want to sell this—it's something my father left me.'

Ling Yue couldn't help but laugh: 'You just said you picked it up in the countryside, didn't you?'

The vendor startled, then quickly thought, he slapped his thigh: 'That's my father who picked it up in the countryside and left it to me as a family heirloom! If my family weren't in trouble, how could I do such a thing—forgetting my roots?'

Ling Yue looked at him with a half-smile, not believing a word.

Xu He had originally been frowning and hesitating over the price, wondering whether to haggle, but upon hearing Ling Yue's words, he outright agreed in one breath.

The vendor looked at him as if seeing a god of wealth, eagerly producing the payment code; Xu He scanned the QR code, and this episode of the program had completely relaxed its limits, with no spending cap.

Xu He only later realized he had been a bit impulsive; he gave Ling Yue a subtle glare, thinking it was all her fault—if she hadn't interrupted, he could have mistaken the other party for a competitor trying to snatch the treasure, leaving no time to haggle before paying!

If Ling Yue knew what he was thinking, she'd surely roll her eyes at him—'What nonsense?' she meant well to warn him, but he didn't appreciate it and instead maliciously smeared her!

Ling Yue stepped back a few paces; suddenly her pant leg felt tugged, she lowered her head and came face to face with the feng shui turtle biting her pant leg: 'Disciple, buy it!'

Ling Yue followed its gaze; her eyes wandered over to a pile of pottery shards scattered haphazardly on a coarse cloth— the pattern was nice, but they were far too broken, utterly rubbish!

The stallholder could be said to have taken 'plucking a goose passing by' to the extreme; under his glib talk, these things somehow became 'precious pottery shards!'

Ling Yue heard a pair of fat orange cats perched on the eaves laughing: 'Only a fool would buy broken pottery shards!'

'Those shards have been piled up at Old Li's stall for half a year; aside from that one blockhead who asked about them earlier, nobody's given them a second glance!'

'Oh dear, Old Li is really stingy! Clearly it's just his purchasing base, yet he's hyped it up as some important cultural relic shard—shameless!'

'Who knows which sucker will end up buying them.'

Ling (Sucker) Yue felt a complex moment: '…Boss, how much for these shards?'

The orange cat couple heard the sound and in unison turned their heads, their eyes wide with surprise.

Upon hearing someone ask about the shards, the proprietor was astonished; he had just been nervous, but now hearing her say that, he was sure she was a layperson.

He rubbed his hands together, about to deliver his prepared line.

Ling Yue gave a cold glance, then cut him off: "I wasn't thinking of buying antiques; I've recently gotten into ceramic‑shard decorative paintings. I've looked around, and you have the most shards here. If you give a fair price, I'll take the whole lot."

She blurted it out, and the boss was stunned by the suggestion—ceramic‑shard decorative paintings?

He came to his senses. No matter what she wanted, she was asking for a price. He knew deep down that if he couldn't sell it, he'd truly be stuck with it, especially since the stuff was worthless when he got it—just filler.

Besides, every time he packed up his stall he had to lug two catties of dead weight. Gritting his teeth, he forced a polite smile and said, "Miss, what you're saying—maybe there are a few ancient—"

"If you won't sell, I'll just check a few more places—ceramic shards are everywhere." Ling Yue made to leave; that kind of attitude is what a smart buyer shows, acting indifferent, so the seller ends up the anxious one.

Just like Xu He's earlier eager‑to‑please look, that's a major faux pas in bargaining—no wonder the seller started inflating the price.

As expected, Ling Yue scouted the ceramic‑shard stalls, moving swiftly; she hadn't taken two steps before the stall owner shouted, "Don't go, don't go!"

"Five hundred! Five hundred yuan for this whole pile of shards!"

Ling Yue: "Two hundred!"

"Two hundred yuan? I've already factored in my cost—no way, no way."

"Then I'll check elsewhere—by the way, this stuff at other stalls would probably be considered filler anyway; even if it's not as nice as yours, it'd still do for me."

The vendor's eyes darted about—he was obviously nervous, because what Ling Yue said was true; everyone knows who's who. Eager to unload it, he said without hesitation, "Forget it, forget it—since you're a pretty girl, two hundred it is!"

He chuckled to himself—even at two hundred, he'd still come out ahead!

The viewers watching the screen were stunned by the haggling—knocking five hundred down to half in one go! And they'd have to remember Xu He's earlier blunder as a cautionary tale……

"Oh my god, streamer, you're my deity!"

"Got it, I've learned—future haggling will be just like this!"

"Looking at the boss, he seems to still be making a profit—if we haggle some more, maybe we could push it down to a hundred."

"Oh my god!!!"

"Xu He: So am I the only sucker?"

What they said was indeed true—if Ling Yue were willing to haggle, the price would surely drop lower, but she had no time. The feng‑shui turtle master beside her feet was delighted, and Ling Yue's gaze fell on another stall; she headed straight over.

"How much for this cat?"

The stall owner eyed the fist‑sized little black cat—pitch‑black and truly ugly, its eyes dull and lifeless, wholly pure black, looking especially inauspicious.

He'd picked it up by the water, thinking it looked like an old artifact, but who knew it would sit unsold for half a year.

Hearing Ling Yue's inquiry, the stall owner immediately perked up and began introducing: "This cat, it's actually a spirit cat! Especially spiritual, we around here use it for worship..."

He gave a vigorous sales pitch, but Ling Yue turned her gaze to another pair of dolls: "How much for this one?"

Immediately after, Ling Yue repeatedly hopped sideways several times, leaving the stall owner parched and completely baffled—what exactly did she want to buy?

Ling Yue returned to her original question: "How much for this ugly cat?"

As the stall owner was about to speak, Ling Yue stared straight at him: "I know there's a cat temple around here, but I also know the cat deity used for worship is completely different from your little black cat—five hundred, will you sell it?"

The stall owner nearly shouted, "Five hundred! That's way too low!"

He had been busy all day, not even having time to drink water, and you'd sell it for five hundred? It should at least be one or two thousand!

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice a few more people gathering in front of the stall—other shoppers who had finished their purchases, seeing Ling Yue here, came over to watch as well.

Song Youli, innocent and cheerful, hearing Ling Yue wanted to buy a cat, looked in her direction and exclaimed, "How ugly!"

She pulled out her own heavenly bead bracelet: "Ling Yue, look, mine is so pretty, it even has a starry sky inside; this cat is too ugly, and still five hundred—it's practically robbery!"

Ling Yue coughed several times, not daring to look at the string of artificial pigment plastic beads on her wrist—as for the heavenly beads she mentioned?

Ling Yue said the difference was quite big, roughly as great as that between Mount Everest and the Somali Basin.

She didn't say it out loud, her face pondered for a moment, seeming to think as well, and the stall owner's heart leapt up.

Actually, this is just a stone cat he picked up casually, with a layer of black paint splashed on the outside; he tried, but later found he couldn't wash off the paint, and couldn't be bothered to clean it properly—might as well find a sucker to sell it to!

Ling·Plum Blossom Twice·Sucker·Month: "……"

The stall owner sighed, waved his hand, and said: "If you really like it, I'll sell it to you for a thousand—look, this cat is about as tall as my forearm; selling it to you would lose me money!"

"A thousand, no haggling!"

Unexpectedly, Ling Yue agreed, paid on the spot by scanning a code, and the bystanders stared in stunned silence; after a moment, Qin Mingwei furrowed his brow and reminded: "Just looking at this cat, it's clearly been splashed with something—pitch black, hardly different from a stone."

Ling Yue actually laughed: "Who said it's a stone?"

For some reason, hearing her words, the others—including the livestream netizens—instantly relaxed, thinking of Ling Yue's various abilities shown before, they actually began to grow curious.

Song Youli, simple-minded, was about to ask her when a voice interjected before her; taking a closer look, it was the smiling Xu He: "Such an ugly cat, picking it up feels heavy—if it's not stone, what is it?"

Speaking of which, this black cat is truly ugly; its well-proportioned, agile build could be somewhat elegant without the black paint, but with the paint and a pair of dark eyes that don't reflect light, it becomes especially glaring.

Ugly in a uniquely quirky way!

Anyway, Xu He didn't believe it could be anything good; thinking this, he curled the corner of his mouth, gripped the box holding the porcelain in his hand—this wasn't him pulling a stunt, but Ling Yue actively delivering herself to him.

Ling Yue was neither hurried nor agitated, her gaze like a dragonfly skimming the water, briefly passing: "In that case, let's decolor the cat right here."

Hearing her words, a group of people froze; meanwhile, Ling Yue had already prepared everything, using money to clear the way, she bought a basin of water with a hundred‑yuan bill.

The stall owner beside her warned: "Little miss, I don't know what this paint on the cat is; I've tried many methods and couldn't remove it, this basin of plain water simply won't——"

His voice cut off abruptly—not just him, but everyone around, the livestream netizens as well, after seeing Ling Yue's action, all stared wide‑eyed, stunned. 、，，.