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

Madam Wu Liba was startled for a second, then asked, “What else is there?”

The treasure house was the most famous in the North borders for selling smuggled goods and antiques. There wasn’t a “most expensive” item, only a more priceless one. Many wealthy there aimed to show off their status and thus frequented the shop. Truthfully speaking, it was a very resourceful little shop, and there was almost nothing it could not obtain. Most importantly — it was reassuring that behind the scenes of the shop, they were not corrupted.

“Please give me a while, ladies. I will fetch them for you to view.”

He went up to retrieve a small, red sandalwood case the size of a grown man’s hands. On the exterior there was a complex carving of an enchanting pattern. A mysterious scent floated in the air and many of the wealthy ladies’ curiosity was sparked so that they stretched their necks hoping to get a glimpse.

But they controlled themselves and remained seated, patiently awaiting the storekeeper to display it for them to admire.

“Please have a look, ladies.”

He completed his sentence, then his silky-smooth fingers opened the box to reveal the treasure within.

The hall was suddenly filled with many lights, the brilliant lights reflected made them blink momentarily, nearly blinding them. Moreover, one lady was frightened and covered her eyes, her complexion pale, her rough voice turned to a shrill.

She was shocked, and screeched, “Wow, what is this? It is so dazzling!”

After a while, everyone regained their senses, and the sound of people inhaling fresh air resounded in the hall.

As they came back to themselves, they could see an exquisitely designed hairpin featuring a dragon-phoenix lying silently within the small sandalwood case.

This hairpin was completely transparent, and surprisingly from the same source as the glassware. A dragon and phoenix intermingled together, the dragon scales and phoenix feathers were very well defined and were seemingly alive. With the phoenix flying gracefully, the dragon poised to soar to the highest heavens, they each held a transparent pearl in their mouths, which was attached to a tassel. Under the light, it was resplendent and shiny, too captivatingly beautiful for one to even look straight upon it.

The storekeeper carefully took it out, the pearls briefly hitting each other, and the crisp sound was pleasing to the ear.

Liu She gave him twenty tea sets made of glass, and only one such dragon-phoenix hairpin. He was given the autonomy to determine the price.

Gazing into the eyes of these wealthy ladies, he intuitively knew this intricate dragon-phoenix hairpin would fetch a high price.

Women may not be enticed by intricate antiques, but they certainly could not resist dazzling accessories.

The storekeeper smiled warmly, and said, “This is an item that this small shop spent a lot of effort to obtain, esteemed ladies. Please have a look. How do you feel about it?”

Madam Wu Liba stood tall and said, “I’ll buy it. Storekeeper, be spontaneous and quote me the price.”

The other ladies were displeased. How was it that after buying the best glassware, she still wanted to possess this, surely the treasure of the century.

A plump rich lady briefly jutted her chin out, and her eyes drifted.

She remarked unhappily, “Madam Wu, this is not right. The rest of us didn’t mention that we have no interest in purchasing. How can you possess them all? I wish to buy this hairpin also. Storekeeper, we’ve known each other for a long time, I know your rules, let’s decide based on who can offer a higher price.”

With his business acumen, he knew how to stretch to its maximum value. Also, such a transparent and dazzling accessory will be sold multiple times. Thus, it would be unwise to ask for an exorbitant amount at the first instance to prevent a scenario where the cost could not be further increased.

“Please hear me out, esteemed ladies. Based on news from the store, there is more than one of this accessory available.”

He spoke to lighten the atmosphere saying, “They are presently in the hands of another party, and it would require some time for its delivery. If Madams can wait, it will be the same if you buy it later. Please don’t let this affect your harmony.”

The ladies heard him, and they relaxed some. They believed in the storekeeper’s abilities to obtain anything they might want.

Nevertheless, the earlier you buy, the faster you can enjoy using it. Only a few sets of these precious were available, yet many were competing for it.

When news of these infamous dragon-phoenix hairpin got around, countless rich ladies would desire to own one. By then how many competitors would there be?

Speaking of which, each of them had their own concerns.

Just then, a familiar man’s voice was heard outside, and Madam Wu Liba’s expression changed to include a subtle hint of displeasure.

The storekeeper discreetly raised his brows, as he had heard of the general Wu Liba earlier. But this was the first time he was seeing the man in person.

If he were a common person, he would probably be frightened until the other man nodded in submission and bowed respectfully, or even unleashed his ugly side.

But who was this storekeeper? He had interacted with many noblemen in the North borders. Back in those days, the Princess Royal was smitten with him, desiring that he become her confidante. He had managed to overcome that tricky situation, so why would he fear Wu Liba?

On the other end, Wu Liba found out his wife spent 40,100 on an exquisite but impractical item, he was fuming.

“This is just an item to entice you. Such a generous woman, you have unknowingly been duped into buying and you don’t even realize it.” Wu Liba huffed angrily.

Madam Wu Liba sneered, rolled her eyes at her husband, and then pointed at the glass tea set and responded, “You said I was cheated. Then tell me what are the origins of these? Haven’t you been to Dongqing and understand their culture and associated items deeply? Don’t these look familiar to you? Why don’t you assess if these are valuable items?”

Wu Liba was publicly humiliated by his wife and was momentarily speechless. His black face cringed in frustration.

What felt like half a day passed, and finally he bashfully said, “It does look like porcelain…”

They already possessed the technique to kiln porcelain, only those products were mostly crude. Superficially, the cracks were visible, and there weren’t many presentable ones. Thus, most people in the central plains used ceramic products. Wu Liba had a porcelain set kept in his study room, and he often admired it. Porcelain was also considered a lavish item on the central plains.

A sly smile rested on the corner of the Shopkeeper’s lips, and with a gentle tone, he patiently replied, “Porcelain is mostly pale green or gray in color. Their quality and presentation are unsightly, and they’re made from normal mud, then kilned to be finished. I admit humbly that I don’t know what these glasswares are made of. Assessing from their transparent and shiny appearance, high quality and clear texture, they don’t appear to be a worldly item. How could they be compared to mere porcelain?”

Wu Liba heard this but couldn’t give an explanation.

He knew the items of the central plains; he certainly had never seen an item made of this quality.

The soil from the ground was mostly grey, black, yellow, or brown. It would have been impossible to achieve a transparent color.

Madam Wu Liba saw that he had no comeback and retorted in frustration, “Hmph, this isn’t even your money, why are you so uptight?”

Wu Liba felt humiliated, but he also dared not argue with his wife, to prevent others from laughing at them.

Observing the storekeeper frown and drop his gaze, he could not contain his raging anger.

The shallow culture of the North borders was apparent in their limitless extravagance. Somehow, they could not divorce themselves from this treasure house. Even if similar stores popped up all over, the treasure house would still reign supreme in its business. The profits it had earned over the years were innumerable. Wu Liba was exasperated, “This is the doing of all you cunning businessmen that resulted in this detrimental spendthrift habit here!”

He articulated very smoothly and calmly, “General’s words are incorrect. Life is short, if you have tens of thousands of silver at home, you can feast on all the delicacies in the world. Why do you settle for a life of suffering and poverty? Your honorable wife is rich beyond measure, her clothes are fashionable, and the items she uses daily should be commensurate with her status. Otherwise, what is the difference if she wears her fashionable clothes and then walks around at night?”

The storekeeper’s words could be interpreted as…

He didn’t have money to buy things for his wife, she bought it herself. If so, why was he making a big fuss?

Wu Liba’s face was so twisted in rage that he was hard to look upon anymore.