Chapter 112: The Bargain Hunter Zhang Suannai

At this moment, the sky was already growing dim.

The streetlights along the road had all lit up.

What Chen Shu had taken a fancy to was a strangely shaped teapot.

The shape of this teapot was the head of a child with a long nose; it was not realistic, having undergone artistic treatment. The water spout was that long nose, and when pouring water, one would lift the handle growing on the back of the child's head, and water would flow out from the nose.

Ning Qing wore an "as expected" expression; as her gaze flickered slightly, she did not stop him, watching as Chen Shu walked forward and began to ask for the price.

"Boss, what's the story behind this?"

"Heh! The young brother has a good eye!" The boss hurriedly introduced it to him, "This is an object from the Yu Dynasty, used by the Emperor Wenzong."

"This Emperor is truly despicable enough."

"Young brother, how can you say that?"

"If you're unhappy, you can hit me."

"..." The boss was stunned for a moment, then immediately said repeatedly, "No need for that, no need for that. We business people value harmony to make money. Do you want it or not?"

"How much money?"

"That is an object from the Yu Dynasty, how should I put it, how about this much?"

"Five yuan?"

"Five million."

"Twenty, yuan, without the industry jargon."

"You person... this was used by Emperor Wuzong of the Yu Dynasty!"

"Just a moment ago it was Wenzong."

"..." The boss revealed a pained expression, "Fine, no matter what, this is still a high-quality handicraft. If you are sincere about wanting it, I will sincerely give you a price: one thousand yuan, take it away!"

"Twenty."

"You go to a shop selling small commodities and buy any clay pot this size, it's more than twenty!" The boss said angrily, "Even glass ones cost over twenty!"

"Fifty."

When Chen Shu quoted the price, he had a pained expression; sorry, little money, but it really suits my heart.

"Five hundred! Take it away right now!"

"Fifty at most, I just think it's fun..."

"Then forget it."

"Really can't?"

"Really can't! My cost price was eighty!"

"I've already walked two steps away, you know!"

"Go on then."

"I'm walking further away now."

"Watch out for cars."

"..."

Chen Shu left with a look of regret.

What a pity.

Ning Qing followed behind with an expressionless face. Fortunately, she knew this matter wouldn't succeed; otherwise, the first thing this person would do when getting home would be to brew tea for them. Just thinking about the scene of him holding such an object to pour tea for her made her want to beat him to death.

The sky was getting darker and darker.

Soon, they arrived in front of a stall selling rings.

The items sold at this stall were very miscellaneous, mainly some broken "ancient Artifacts" and some unknown items possessing Spirit Power.

It just so happened that someone was asking about that ring.

Chen Shu understood the principle of first come, first served. Cutting in line to grab the order not only makes people unhappy but also lets the boss see that you really want this item, leading to him quoting an exorbitant price. So, he simply squatted to the side to look at other items while listening to their conversation.

He only heard the boss speaking with great conviction: "Look at how strong the Forbidden Seal on this is; I still haven't been able to break it even now. From that, you know the things inside must be extraordinary. I guarantee you, there is an eighty percent probability that it is a Storage Ring."

"How much money?"

"Eight million, that's not much, right?"

"You really dare to ask; you truly don't treat money as money."

"Didn't I just say, it's highly likely to be a Space Artifact. Do you not know the price of a Space Artifact? A smaller one costs tens of millions, a larger one costs over a hundred million, and even larger ones you won't even see at an auction! You buy it back and gamble on the high probability—it's a huge profit!"

"I just think it looks good and is interesting. I don't believe the rest, and I don't dare to gamble, nor do I want to gamble."

"Then you name a price."

"Two thousand yuan."

"That's impossible! Are you a Cultivator? Take it in your hand and feel this Forbidden Seal. Even if it's not a Space Item, it's worth more than two thousand yuan!"

"Five thousand at most."

"The minimum I can accept is one million."

"..."

The way people in this place haggle is truly terrifying.

Clearly, this customer was not a fool either.

In this street, the whole street is full of items claiming to be Space Artifacts; how many are real?

Setting up a powerful Forbidden Seal, injecting Spirit Power into it, or even directly using materials with Spirit Power to forge it are all relatively common means of fabrication. After you buy it and take it home, it's not certain you'll be able to open the Forbidden Seal. And after you finally manage to open it, you might find it pops out a firework and displays four big characters—

"You've been scammed."

This boss doesn't know where he gets his stock from. Don't listen to him speaking so confidently; he himself doesn't dare to break this Forbidden Seal.

Breaking a Forbidden Seal costs money, which is a major expense. Once it is broken, its sense of mystery is gone, and it can no longer be sold for a high price.

In the end, the boss dropped the price to 500,000, but the other party still didn't buy it.

The gap between the two sides' intended prices was too large; they couldn't keep talking.

Chen Shu smiled and pointed at the mirror under his hand:

"How much for this Bagua Mirror?"

"Young brother, you have a good eye! This is a standard-issue Artifact for Daoist disciples from several hundred years ago. Even now, it's still useful and can guard a house and ward off evil. The only drawback is that the Talisman Array is a bit outdated, but as long as you refurbish it, it's still quite good. Even if you don't use it, it's nice for a collection; it will definitely appreciate in value later."

"Nonsense, the Daoist sects don't have this kind of standard-issue Artifact."

"Young brother, you're an expert!"

"I'm a student majoring in the Cultivation System at Ling'an Academy," Chen Shu said off the cuff.

"So that's how it is!"

"Give me a price."

"Then let's say 200,000."

"One thousand yuan, I'll take it back to play with."

"Hahaha, young brother is joking."

"..." Chen Shu silently shifted his target, "What about this piece of wood?"

"Young brother, you have a good eye! This is thousand-year-old Phoenix Wood. You can touch it; the spiritual energy inside is very abundant. If you are sincere about wanting it, give me 100,000."

"Where was this made? The grain is quite realistic. Two hundred yuan, I'll take it back to use as a paperweight."

"Eight hundred at the very least."

"..." Chen Shu turned his head, "This ring is also quite good-looking, the design is nice."

"This one is extraordinary. You heard me just now, young brother; I asked him for 500,000, and he didn't take it. If you want to take it, young brother, it's the same price."

"It really is quite good-looking, right?" Chen Shu turned back and said to Qingqing. Qingqing ignored him, but he didn't mind and continued to pick up the ring and stroke it carefully, "The material is also quite good."

"You really are an expert!"

The boss glanced at Ning Qing behind Chen Shu and smiled brightly. Regardless of whether the business could be concluded, he would flatter the guest's female companion first.

Chen Shu hesitated for a moment: "This one is indeed more reliable than the first two. At the very least, this material is quite valuable. How about this: 10,000 yuan. I'll consider it as buying the material and the craftsmanship."

"That won't do."

"How much do you say?"

"500,000, not a cent less."

"Let's keep talking, let's talk properly."

"400,000."

"Give it to me for 40,000."

"40,000 won't do. You heard me just now. Let me tell you, if you buy this and take it back, find a craftsman with good skills, and remove the Forbidden Seal—I'm not bragging—even if your luck is relatively poor, it's worth at least 800,000 or a million..."

"Old brother, don't treat me like a fool. The whole street is selling things with these Forbidden Seals. Who knows, maybe the Forbidden Seals were all made by the same person."

"I'll give you a little more leeway, 360,000. I'm considered a branch of the Daoist sects, and I like this number."

"80,000."

"..."

After some haggling, Chen Shu took it down.

The final transaction price was 120,000.

During the New Year, the copyright dividends for Crown Princess Zhusha and Wen Han were deposited, totaling a little over 100,000. The rest of the money was in a fund and couldn't be withdrawn for a while, so Chen Shu had Qingqing help him cover 20,000 yuan.

"I'll pay you back once I sell it and the money arrives."

"Pay back double!"

"So ruthless? Then I won't pay it back!"

"Not paying back is fine too; repay it in another way."

"What way?" Chen Shu became interested, tucked the ring back into his pocket, and said while walking, "Is it the kind I'm thinking of?"

"Make me a meal that satisfies me, and it can offset 1,000."

"That valuable? Then you don't know how much you've owed me since you were little. When will you pay me back that money?"

"Not paying back."

"Not paying back is fine too; use another way..."

"Xiaoxiao is here."

"Emmm..."

Both of them turned their heads to look behind them.

They saw the little girl who had been following them had somehow run to a stall opposite. She was holding a white cat, standing sideways in the crowd, listening earnestly to that stall owner's vivid introduction of his Phoenix Feather.

That bragging was truly impressive.

It was better to listen to than a crosstalk performance.

However, after the boss finished his crosstalk, all the guests dispersed, leaving only the little girl standing in place, silently watching him.

The boss said expectantly to the little girl:

"Little sister, buy one to take back? I'll give you a discount."

The little girl didn't say a word and walked back behind her sister while holding the cat.

Twenty minutes later.

The three people and one cat had already sat in the car for the return trip.

The little girl very proactively sat in the front passenger seat, so Chen Shu and Qingqing sat together, and he held Qingqing's Mobile Phone in his hand.

Zhang Suannai sent a message.

Chen Shu not only wanted to look, but he also typed a reply right in front of Qingqing.

Zhang Suannai: When are you coming back to Yujing?

Ning Qing: Yesterday.

After sending it, Chen Shu turned his head and said smugly to Qingqing, "Look, isn't it very similar to your tone?"

Ning Qing pursed her lips and ignored him.

Zhang Suannai: You arrived yesterday?

Zhang Suannai: What time did you arrive yesterday?

Ning Qing: Midnight.

Zhang Suannai: Then when are you going back to the Dormitory?

Chen Shu looked at Ning Qing.

Ning Qing said indifferently, "Tomorrow afternoon."

So Chen Shu typed a reply again—

Ning Qing: Tomorrow.

Zhang Suannai: Why aren't you coming back today? Are you in your little courtyard? What are you doing in your little courtyard?

Ning Qing: Went to Xinzheng Temple.

Zhang Suannai: Ah, you went to Xinzheng Temple!

Ning Qing:?

Zhang Suannai: I was planning to take you to Xinzheng Temple tomorrow. Let me tell you, there is a Wangxi Ancient Town at the foot of Xinzheng Temple, and there is a street specifically selling Artifacts and antiques. It's so much fun. Every time I go, I can pick up many good things for cheap. I was just thinking of taking you to see it.

You're the one getting scammed, right?

Chen Shu twitched the corner of his mouth and continued to type while imitating Qingqing's tone—

Ning Qing: Oh.

Zhang Suannai: Did you go today?

Zhang Suannai: Don't buy things randomly. There are so many scammers. If I'm not there to take you, it's very easy for you to get scammed.

Ning Qing: Mm.

Zhang Suannai: You are so... that.

Ning Qing:...

Chen Shu felt there was nothing left to talk about, so he returned the Mobile Phone to Ning Qing, held this ring in his hand, and stared blankly at the night flying past outside the window.

The Forbidden Seal inside this ring is quite profound; an ordinary person would likely find it difficult to break. Although Chen Shu is proficient in the principles of Spells and Runes, he usually does relatively little research on Forbidden Seal-type Spells and Formations. It seems he will have to look up quite a bit of information again.

This is also fine; he will just treat it as studying.