Chapter 178: Buying Gifts

The land of Huangcheng, the market is indeed bustling.

The voices of the crowd are deafening, and all sorts of miscellaneous trinkets are everywhere.

Duan Fengyun and his companions, holding the mindset of sightseeing, strolled slowly through the market.

But after wandering for half a day, none of them had found a suitable gift.

Having gained nothing, the group, following Duan Fengyun's suggestion, arrived at the Underground Black Market.

Compared to the bustle of the regular market on the surface, this Underground Black Market appeared a bit more desolate.

However, this is only relative; the regular market targets common folk, while this Underground Black Market caters to high-ranking officials, nobles, and people of the pugilistic world.

The group began to stroll through the Underground Black Market.

"Hey, look everyone, how about this!"

Qin Shuang walked up to a shop and picked up a Golden Bull as thick as a human thigh.

This year is the Year of the Ox, so Qin Shuang chose this large golden bull.

"Don't underestimate this Golden Bull; it is crafted from solid gold, without a half-milligram of adulteration.

If you find even the slightest bit of adulteration, you can come and tear down my shop at any time."

The shopkeeper walked out to greet them.

His shop was the one with the best business and highest reputation in this Underground Black Market, so he spoke with great confidence.

Qin Shuang was also a veteran of the pugilistic world; he knew whether the Golden Bull was real or fake the moment he held it in his hands.

The exterior was brilliantly golden, the interior was solid, and it was indeed crafted entirely from gold.

"Boss, how much for this Golden Bull?"

"Not much, five thousand taels!"

The boss didn't even think, directly quoting a shocking price.

Qin Shuang felt the price was fine, so he prepared to take out his belongings to buy it.

But Duan Fengyun reached out and stopped Qin Shuang.

"Shuang, wait a moment."

"This boss, I know your bull is crafted from gold, but five thousand taels is truly a bit too expensive. See if you can make it cheaper."

The boss replied righteously:

"This shop does not haggle; this price is a sincere one. If you want it, take it; if you think the price is too high, you don't have to buy it."

Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"Boss, I also know your price is a sincere one.

But look here."

Duan Fengyun pointed casually at the bull's body and said:

"Look, the gold is peeling off the tail of this Golden Bull, and there is also a flaw on the horn.

If it were a flawless Golden Bull, five thousand taels would be no problem.

But now that it is a damaged bull, five thousand taels is truly a bit expensive.

Think about it, whoever sees this damaged bull, who would be willing to spend five thousand taels to buy it?

Cut your losses, boss."

The boss lowered his head and thought for a moment, feeling that Duan Fengyun's words indeed made sense.

"Four thousand five hundred taels, this is the final price I can agree to.

If it is lower than this price, I would rather take this Golden Bull and have it recast."

"Haha, deal, boss!"

"Shuang, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and pay."

Duan Fengyun gestured from the side.

After Qin Shuang bought a suitable gift, the group continued to browse.

This time, Bu Jingyun took a fancy to two wooden dolls carved from high-quality sandalwood.

As an enthusiast in this field, Bu Jingyun saw at a glance the extraordinary carving technique, and the sandalwood was not ordinary either; it was at least a hundred years old.

"Boss, how much for these two wooden dolls?"

Bu Jingyun asked.

"The customer has a good eye; these two wooden dolls are carved from hundred-year-old sandalwood.

Sandalwood can calm the mind, and it can also improve one's constitution and help improve skin quality.

Sandalwood emits a natural fragrance, which helps to alleviate negative emotions.

The carver of these wooden dolls is even..."

"Stop talking nonsense. I am asking for the price, not listening to you brag about these wooden dolls."

Bu Jingyun was too lazy to listen to the shopkeeper boast about these wooden dolls; he only cared about the price.

"Customer, you are truly a straightforward person.

These two wooden dolls are not expensive; the price is three thousand taels."

Bu Jingyun took three one-thousand-tael silver notes directly from his bag and threw them to the boss.

"Here are the silver notes; help me wrap them up.

If there is any damage, I won't take them."

The boss took the silver notes and smiled obsequiously:

"Sir, don't worry, I will definitely wrap them up in a grand and high-class way for you."

The boss hadn't seen someone as generous as Bu Jingyun for a long time, and his face was almost splitting from smiling.

Duan Fengyun did not help Bu Jingyun haggle this time; firstly, because these two puppet dolls looked truly excellent, and secondly, because Bu Jingyun had money and did not need him to worry.

Thinking back, his Yun, Senior Brother, once relied on the three characters "Bu Jingyun" to secure one hundred thousand taels of gold, which could be called the most valuable name under heaven.

Very quickly, the Boss respectfully handed the well-packaged gift box into Bu Jingyun's hands.

Bu Jingyun took the gift box and, without even a hum, strode away, just like an overbearing male CEO.

Bu Jingyun and Qin Shuang had both selected suitable gifts, while Duan Fengyun and Nie Feng had yet to see anything suitable.

Especially for Duan Fengyun, not only did he have to prepare gifts for his nephew/niece, but he also had to pick out a gift for his sister-in-law upon their first meeting; this was truly too difficult for him.

Nie Feng and Duan Fengyun were still searching everywhere with nothing to show for it.

While passing by a jade shop, Nie Feng suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Looking at the jade shop, he had decided what he wanted to buy.

He walked into the jade shop and looked around; seeing someone enter, the shopkeeper hurriedly came out to greet him:

"May I ask, honored guest, is there anything that has caught your eye?"

"All the jade wares in this shop are crafted from Hetian jade, all made of genuine materials."

"Hetian jade has the effect of nourishing the body and strengthening health, and wearing Hetian jade for a long time can also serve to dispel heat, moisten the heart and lungs, clear the Bloodline, improve eyesight, and calm the spirit."

"Hetian jade can also have the effect of beautifying the face, and long-term wear will make a person's complexion even better."

"Hetian jade can also serve to ward off evil spirits; many people in this Capital will have their young children wear Hetian jade ornaments."

"Honored guest, whether you are buying it to wear yourself or for your family, this will be an excellent choice."

As soon as the shopkeeper opened his mouth, he launched into a sales pitch for his own goods.

Nie Feng certainly knew the effects of Hetian jade, but these jade wares were all the size of copper coins and looked too small.

"These jade wares of yours are all too small; there is nothing here that catches my eye."

Upon hearing that Nie Feng was a big buyer, the shopkeeper smiled and said:

"These are just surface goods; the real stock is inside, honored guest, please follow me."

The shopkeeper led Nie Feng to the inner room, where the jade wares looked much larger.

At a single glance, Nie Feng took a fancy to a finely carved and polished Jade Buddha.

"Shopkeeper, how much for this one?"

"Honored guest, you have a good eye! This Jade Buddha..."

Just as the shopkeeper was preparing to pitch again, he was stopped by Nie Feng.

"Just tell me how much it costs."

"Not much, five thousand taels."

After hearing this, Nie Feng did not even think about it and directly took out the money.

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