Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Why didn’t he display the best he had?

Of course, it was to whet the appetite of all the ladies for the glassware and see how hard they’ll fall for them. Otherwise he would have a harder time quoting a high price.

The storekeeper kept a smile on his face as he calmly soothed them.

“Madam please forgive me, this isn’t meant to be rude, actually… If my humble store showcased the best items that sustain my store right off the bat, and set the standards impossibly high, when the time comes, what will this tiny shop have to attract my esteemed ladies to return?”

Madam Wu Liba blushed, and she answered, “Just bring out the best you have, why worry about these? Consider how many products I’ve bought from here, were they all a lie? Whether it’s good or not, when have I not patronised and supported your business?”

The storekeeper smiled gently, and turned to go up and retrieve the very expensive glass tea set.

The previous set had already attracted a lot of attention, but compared to this set, every little defect was magnified.

Madam Wu Liba said plainly, “This set is mine, storekeeper. Just tell me the price, I will not short-change you by a cent.”

The storekeeper smiled helplessly saying, “Any businessman who meets a Madam who’s such a generous customer, they will smile even in their sleep.”

She asked generously in return, “Will the storekeeper smile tonight because of me?”

“Definitely.”

Originally the businessman’s superior had set the price to 20000 to 30000 strings of coin, but the storekeeper felt there was room for inflation.

The most successful businessmen are those who can maximise the value of an item, isn’t it so?

He speculated in his heart and didn’t over-praise his item. It would be awkward for him if he were to obtain an even nicer set sometime down the road.

If these rich ladies quarrelled, his old body could not tolerate it, so he changed his plans and developed a counter strategy.

He remarked, “This set is the best one compared to the rest, it is slightly more expensive than the previous one. It is worth 40100 strings of coin.”

Madam Wu Liba wasn’t foolish, and she understood his underlying meaning. “Storekeeper means that there’s an even better glassware set?

How can this be?

If she was going to buy, she would only have the best which was befitting of her status.

The storekeeper was ready with his response, and he calmly said, “Do Madams know the origin of this glassware?”

Those ladies shook their heads. “We don’t know and have never heard of it.”

They were also used to seeing attractive items, the treasure house’s illegal items for sale were fairly few, but there was almost none like these splendid and magnificent tea sets. With just one glimpse, it revived their young hearts.

Though the glassware was expensive, they could afford it; they just wanted the highest value items or they would not be satisfied.

“The Xia dynasty has records in their mysterious book. Mei county had a strange phenomenon of a golden phoenix descending; concurrently a female babe would be born to the world. This baby later became the founding member of the country. When she passed on, she was designated the title of Duke Xu, Marquis of the frontiers.” The storekeeper briefly said, and then explaining in detail to the enraptured women, “These glass wares are the treasures found when the golden phoenix descended. Each item is unique and magnificent. It’s such a pity that the person who discovered these ornaments was impulsive and foolish, causing some glassware to be damaged somewhat and they’re less breath-taking than before.”

Madam Wu Liba was the most cultured of all the ladies and liked to show off her knowledge.

She remarked, “I’ve heard of this story. It is said that Duke Xu, Marquis of the frontiers is destined for a golden phoenix’s life. It is a goddess given by the heavens, these glass wares…perhaps they are divine items which descended from above with Duke Xu to earth.”

The storekeeper hesitated briefly, then remarked, “I am not too sure about this…these glass wares have been buried for hundreds of years. Recently, the Dongqing earthquake struck, which is how they were uncovered. Our small shop has used a lot of manpower to retrieve these few sets. We are still finding ways to obtain more… the set before us are the best quality this humble store has in possession.”

All the ladies heard and were astonished, their hearts that originally wavered, fell even harder for it.

Even without a mystical source, they were already moved and were considering buying a set. But once they heard the background story, they could not wait to possess it.

Madam Wu Liba registered the expressions on the other ladies’ faces, and regretted having spoken. Why did she suggest they were divine products for no reason?

The storekeeper registered all their expressions in his eyes, then gently smiled saying, “Would Madam like to buy?”

Madam Wu Liba decisively smacked the counter, and without waiting for others to speak up, she remarked, “Of course I will buy it, it is a mere 40100 strings of coins. Storekeeper, wrap these up and deliver them to my manor. Also, if you have superior glassware in the future, please remember to inform me.”

The other madams clamored to offer more for the same set, but the treasure house had rules in place for such an occasion. They could not transfer ownership of a promised item to another buyer. The risk of alienating Madam Wu Liba, or some other winner, based on the offer of a higher price, would cost more than the shop might gain in the short term.

Each valuable item had a fixed price. If a customer agreed to the stipulated price first and bought it, should the customers that come after offer a hundred-fold more, the ownership could not be transferred. These ladies were seasoned customers, and they knew the rules.

The more upright he was, the more his strength of character shone through. He was obsessed with earning money, yet he didn’t reek of greed. Numerous rich ladies in the North borders wished to employ him as their confidante but to no avail, as he was steadfastly loyal to his wife. The north border’s Princess Royal once offered to reach an agreement with him, yet still he was not moved.

Such mannerisms, sense of humour, handsome look and talents…

His entire being didn’t portray any signs that he was not a good man, so how could one not be smitten over him?

A plump lady asked, “Storekeeper, please bring out all the glassware you have.”

He smiled and consented, and he brought them out one by one personally.

When the nine sets of glass tea sets were placed together, that glimmering, wondrous sight caused even those madams who had no intention of buying to be moved.

Presently, everyone only had one thing in mind: don’t be afraid of the cost, just buy!

He had interacted with those noble ladies for years, so naturally he knew their extravagant spending habits. They always bought the most expensive, but not necessarily the best. Of the nine sets of glass tea sets, the cheapest was marked at 23000 strings of coins. Other than the set belonging to Madam Wu Liba, the next most expensive one was worth 33000 strings of coins.

A few ladies decisively bought five of the sets and only four of the cheaper sets were left.

It totalled 140600 strings of coins!

“This money is so easy to earn, it feels even better than robbing.” The storekeeper secretly sighed in his heart; he had increased respect for his young master.

He had witnessed the ways in which his old master Madam Gu did her business.

Ever since Madam Gu had passed away, the storekeeper had never seen someone who earned money more relentlessly than robbing a money farm, until he saw Madam Gu’s child and he was filled with emotions — family lessons go a long way! When Liu She entrusted this to him, his jaded heart came back to life.

He enjoyed earning money, but more so the exhilaration of sending someone to their death yet without consequences. He cheated them dry such that their bones and marrow became naught, yet they still thought they had gained a huge advantage… Based on Madam Gu’s appraisal of him, he probably gained intellectual satisfaction from less intelligent customers.

In any case, the storekeeper was immersed in a satisfied feeling.

The black-hearted storekeeper discretely mentioned, “All you esteemed ladies, hold on one moment, there’s one more item you have to see.”