Chapter 34: The Item Is Acquired

Seeing Li Beichen appear, Shen Yi’an pointed at the sandalwood root and said, “I feel quite drawn to this item.”

“I’m just not sure if it’s genuine sandalwood. If the price is reasonable, I’ll take it.”

“Alright!” Li Beichen stood beside her, turning his gaze once more to the shopkeeper whose smile had frozen on his face.

“Shopkeeper, name your price.”

“As long as it’s reasonable, we’ll take it.”

Meeting his smiling eyes, the Antique Pavilion owner somehow always sensed a silent warning within them.

Recalling his earlier slip of the tongue, and looking again at this unknown tree root acquired for a single mixed-grain bun, he ultimately chose self-preservation as his priority.

Money could be earned anytime, but freedom wasn’t something one could have at will.

Having reasoned this through, the Antique Pavilion owner put on a pained expression.

“Since you want it, you can have it for eighty yuan.”

“Consider it making friends.”

“And I hope you’ll bring more friends to browse in the future.”

Hearing the eighty-yuan price tag for the sandalwood root, Shen Yi’an instinctively bargained, “Shopkeeper, that’s daylight robbery!”

“Asking eighty yuan for a piece of unknown tree root – this is clearly gouging.”

“If that’s how you’re going to be, then I won’t buy it!”

As she spoke, she puckered her lips in displeasure.

Wouldn’t eighty yuan be better spent buying meat for her family?

Or purchasing daily necessities?

Or buying snacks for her nieces and nephews?

Although her Space had reacted to this item, she still had the Spiritual Spring. At worst, she could just let the Space absorb more spiritual spring water.

There really was no need to spend eighty yuan on something of unknown value.

Hearing this, Li Beichen followed suit, “Since the shopkeeper isn’t sincere about selling, then we don’t want it.”

“There are plenty of shops on Antique Street. If we walk around, we might come across other items that catch our eye.”

Having said this, he made to leave with Shen Yi’an, but was quickly grabbed by the quick-handed Antique Pavilion owner.

“Young people, don’t be so hasty!”

“This is how business is done – there’s always going to be some bargaining involved.”

“Make me an offer. If it’s reasonable, I’ll sell it.”

With room for negotiation opened up, Shen Yi’an decisively activated her ‘halve the price’ mode.

Back in school, her teacher had explained that price is the monetary expression of value, while value represents the undifferentiated human labor crystallized in a commodity.

A commodity’s price is ultimately determined by its value.

All other conditions being equal, the greater a commodity’s value, the higher its price.

Conversely, the smaller its value, the lower its price.

The root being sold lacked the distinctive characteristics of sandalwood, meaning the product information provided by the Antique Pavilion owner was incorrect.

Since the product information was wrong, this indirectly confirmed that it might be very valuable, but could also be completely worthless.

Their starting points were different.

This led to Shen Yi’an growing more confident with each word, while the Antique Pavilion owner became increasingly apprehensive.

Before his deception could be exposed, he finalized the sale at five yuan.

Watching the two young people walk away, the Antique Pavilion owner shook his head helplessly.

It had been a long time since he encountered young people who could ‘reason’ so persuasively, especially in a place like Antique Street.

Fortunately, he hadn’t lost money on that unknown tree root.

He had originally acquired it for a single mixed-grain bun, which converted to money would be less than four fen.

Using four cents from back then to get five dollars now—not a loss, and even a gain.

Shen Yi’an, who had already left, had no idea what the Treasure Pavilion owner was thinking.

After walking a long distance away from the antique street, she finally turned to the man beside her with an excited expression. “I really have to thank you today.”

“If you hadn’t been there, I might have been ripped off by the owner.”

Hearing this, Li Beichen chuckled and shook his head. “It has nothing to do with me.”

“The price was negotiated between you and the owner. I didn’t even participate in your conversation.”

Although his reasoning made sense, Shen Yi’an remained skeptical. “I still think the owner only gave me a chance to bargain because he was afraid of you.”

“Otherwise, that tree branch wouldn’t have been sitting in the shop unsold for so long.”

“Even if experts didn’t buy it, amateurs would’ve been easily persuaded to take it.”

“It wouldn’t have been there waiting for me when I arrived.”

Under her suspicious gaze, Li Beichen simply shrugged helplessly. “So little faith in your own abilities?”

“You should know, you’re a top graduate from Jingshi Normal University. Your starting point is higher than most.”

“Persuading one Treasure Pavilion owner is nothing—even ten or eight more like him wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Don’t you think?”

Hearing such blatant praise, Shen Yi’an felt so flattered she unconsciously rose onto her tiptoes as she walked.

Seeing she was no longer dwelling on the matter, Li Beichen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course, he knew the Treasure Pavilion owner had given her the chance to bargain out of respect for him.

But if such a trivial matter could make his fiancée happy, he considered it a win.

Earlier, when communicating with the Treasure Pavilion owner—

whether it was because he acted too naturally or the owner was too relaxed—

they had been discussing the prospects of the antique street when, out of nowhere, the owner hinted at selling counterfeits to Japanese buyers.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Treasure Pavilion owner froze, and Li Beichen was equally taken aback.

Although they tacitly moved past the topic,

as long as he remained present, the owner would be on edge.

After all, as a businessman, his perceptiveness was no exaggeration.

Even though Li Beichen wasn’t in uniform, certain subtle habits—like his posture and movements—unconsciously revealed his identity.

That was precisely why leaving the Treasure Pavilion was the best course of action.

But Li Beichen had no intention of telling any of this to the person currently walking on her tiptoes.

First, it was unnecessary; second, it wasn’t worth it; and finally, there was no opportunity.

Because he was certain that as long as he wasn’t around, she would never venture into such places alone.

Although he had only arrived yesterday, he had already sensed the Shen family’s values:

Do what you can, avoid overreaching or recklessness, be down-to-earth and honest in all things.

In such a family atmosphere, even the most mischievous person would learn restraint.

Returning once more to the entrance of the Seed Market,

the crowd still seemed large, but it was noticeably smaller than before.

Sitting down at a small stall selling cold skin noodles, Shen Yi’an pointed toward the northwest corner. “I want to go over there!”

“You eat first when the noodles are ready. I’ll be back soon!”

Seeing the direction she pointed and the hint of embarrassment on her face, Li Beichen instantly understood what she meant and chuckled softly. “Alright, I’ll wait here for you. Hurry back.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an turned and dashed off.

Judging from the direction she had left, it seemed to be the way to the public restroom.

After making sure she was out of sight, she stopped at the corner and couldn’t help but pat her chest in relief.

Having a military boyfriend wasn’t always an advantage, especially when you wanted to do something discreet.