Li Yingtang put the items down and pretended to leave.
The stall owner panicked when he saw she was serious and quickly called her back. “Alright, alright! One yuan it is!”
“One yuan and you’re still selling it? That means your cost was only ten cents. Add one more piece and I’ll buy it,” Li Yingtang said, placing the bracelet down and acting as if she no longer cared.
As a businessperson, she understood customer psychology best. Now that she was the buyer, she was extremely careful to hide her intentions, afraid the other side would see through her and ruin her plan.
The stall owner was furious. “One yuan for two items? Why don’t you just go rob someone?”
“If you won’t sell, forget it. I don’t really need it anyway,” she said, turning to leave again.
Bargaining was a psychological game.
It all depended on who broke first.
The money was on her—whether she bought or not was her decision.
The stall owner, annoyed to death, randomly picked a few items for her to choose from, including the “plain peace plaque.”
Li Yingtang secretly rejoiced. To be safe, she first picked up a white jade bracelet and examined it casually, then shone a light on a green jade pendant. Only after that did she slowly pick up the plaque she had liked from the beginning.
“This one then. The meaning is good,” she said.
The boss waved his hand. “Take it, take it.”
Li Yingtang paid quickly and left with the goods.
After exiting the second-hand market, she unfolded her map, walked straight down the road, and entered an antique shop. “Boss, are you here?”
The shop owner sized her up—her flashy padded cotton jacket, handmade bright red cotton shoes, and a somewhat worn military coat draped over her arm.
A country bumpkin, clearly.
But her face was exceptionally delicate, and the exposed skin was so fair and smooth it looked even more lustrous than the jade in his shop.
Her entire presence made even the cheap floral padded jacket look valuable.
He couldn’t quite read her and replied cautiously, “I’m here. Do you have something to sell?”
Li Yingtang nodded and sat down casually. “How many steamed buns is this plaque worth?”
The boss examined it. “Decent quality. Family heirloom?”
“I just snatched it,” she replied.
The boss smiled. “I don’t mean that. How much do you want?”
She wasn’t sure of the price and didn’t want to name one first. “You decide.”
He thought for a moment. “Fifty. If you accept, I’ll take it.”
Her eyes lit up. Fifty already meant there was room to go higher.
“Rare chance to come out. Higher price,” she said.
“I can’t go higher. These plaques aren’t popular anymore.”
“Not popular? My grandfather plays with them often,” she replied. Then she stopped wasting time. “Sixty-five. If you can pay it, I’ll sell.”
The boss hesitated. “Alright.”
That easy?
Li Yingtang suddenly felt she might have sold it too cheaply.
But she had already named the price—if she backed out now, no one else in the market would likely take it.
She gave up the plaque and took the money.
After that, she went to the ancient city. It was just like the city gates in her memory.
She climbed the winding ancient wall and looked out.
There were few people—only scattered figures here and there.
Far from the bustling crowds of decades later.
So cold.
She needed somewhere to stay.
Cheap inns were unhygienic and unheated. Clean guesthouses required an introduction letter.
After walking two streets, she finally found one that would accept her.
The price was double.
Three yuan per night, plus a ten-yuan deposit.
At least it provided hot water and basic toiletries. She cleaned up briefly and went to sleep.
When she woke, it was already bright outside. She stared blankly for a while, then checked out and went back to the second-hand market.
As soon as she entered, she spotted a smoky-purple jade pendant with green undertones.
It looked like it was carved from a bangle core.
The shape was excellent and the craftsmanship decent, but the surface was rough—like a deliberately aged semi-finished piece—so it had been thrown into a corner, unnoticed.
But it was genuine jade. Under light, the internal structure was clearly visible.
If reworked and as good as she expected, it would be worth a lot.
However, she didn’t rush.
Her grandfather had told her that antique dealers who traveled everywhere were extremely sharp.
If she showed even a hint of excitement, the seller would notice immediately.
Then she would never get it cheaply.
Calming herself, she instead picked up a more decorative pendant and shone a light on it.
“Girl, what are you shining that for early in the morning? Are you buying or not?” the boss asked impatiently.
“I want to buy a jade gift for my husband’s birthday. Could you recommend one?” she said.
“This auspicious pendant you’re holding is good. Proper yellow jade. Thirty yuan.”
“Cheaper.”
“If you really want it, twenty-five.”
“Too expensive.” She bargained. “One yuan.”
“Get out!” the boss snapped.
She laughed. “Just kidding. Ten yuan, and throw in a peace buckle.”
She picked up a white jade buckle.
The boss snatched it back immediately. “No, no, this one is at least worth twenty.”
“Then I’ll pick a slightly worse one?” she asked.
The boss sighed helplessly. “Fine. You’re my first customer of the day—take it as a good start.”
Only then did she pick up the unremarkable smoky-purple pendant.
After paying, she went to a jade workshop nearby and had it polished.
Two hours later, she received the finished piece.
The wateriness was surprisingly good—clear and translucent under light.
She rushed back to the shop and asked for an appraisal.
The boss raised three fingers.
“Thirty thousand?” her eyes lit up. “Deal.”
Cough!
The boss nearly choked. “Thirty thousand? You think this is top-grade jadeite? Three hundred!”
She deflated instantly. So close to getting rich.
“Can’t go higher?”
“Absolutely max.”
“Deal then.”
Money exchanged hands, and she now had a fuller purse.
She immediately went to the department store.
She had wanted to visit yesterday but didn’t have time.
In the clothing section, everything she liked cost over a hundred yuan.
Such nice clothes would probably attract jealousy in the village.
Better to stay low-key and not buy.
She should get something for A’Xian instead.
After thinking it over, she decided on a wristwatch.
She went to the watch counter and picked a few for the clerk to show her.
“The white dial sells best. It’s the most versatile,” the clerk said.
Li Yingtang picked a deep blue dial. Calm and cool—perfect for him.
“How much?”
“One hundred twenty.”
She sucked in a breath. So expensive.
Dressing a man really cost money.
“Can it be cheaper?”
“These are imported, no discount.”
The clerk took the watch back. “Go outside and turn right if you want cheap ones. The cheapest there are five yuan.”
Li Yingtang: “…”
What kind of attitude was that?
The service industry people here were really arrogant.
Just throwing faces at customers like that.
“Why are you taking it back?” she said, slapping a stack of cash on the counter. “Wrap it up!”