Chapter 2
“Of course, of course.”
Huo Zhiming’s smile grew much warmer as he served Shen You a cup of fine Huangshan Maofeng tea. He put on gloves and carefully examined the items for quite some time.
“These are genuine! So well preserved, where did you acquire them?”
“From the countryside.” Shen You didn’t elaborate. “Don’t worry, they weren’t dug up from the ground. I don’t do anything illegal.”
“Of course, these two silver ingots couldn’t possibly have come from underground, given their condition.”
He wouldn’t miss that.
Huo Zhiming placed the two silver ingots on a cloth pad. “Are you looking to sell them?”
“That’s right.” Shen You took a sip of tea.
“Then let me be direct, Miss Shen. You’ve just taken over your shop and need funds. It might take you a day or two to find another buyer. How about this? I’ll make an offer, and if it’s acceptable, you won’t need to go elsewhere.”
Seeing that Shen You didn’t object, Huo Zhiming indicated a number with his hand.
“30,000 each. These are well-preserved, and the reign title isn’t mainstream in the collection market. It could even be an undiscovered item, but I’m taking a risk here.”
“I came to you first, and you give me your bottom price?” Shen You put down her teacup, her voice soft. “50,000.”
Huo Zhiming hesitated for a few seconds.
Many short-lived small countries throughout history weren’t detailed in historical records.
The items were definitely authentic, and such well-preserved pieces were rare. At this price, he wouldn’t lose money.
“Deal, but if you come across any other good items in the future, let me have first look.”
“No problem.”
Shen You smiled and presented her payment QR code.
*
Walking out of the shop, Shen You was still savoring the sound of the payment arriving. Having money in her account gave her such security!
30,000 was the price the system would have exchanged, calculated based on the purchasing power between the two worlds.
But since she was running an antique shop, why not resell for profit?
The essential oil had cost 10 yuan at the pharmacy yesterday.
And the glass bottle was junk from the warehouse, so the cost was negligible.
After deducting the shop management fee, a net profit of 49,000 from one transaction. This shop must definitely stay open!
Having experienced the joy of sudden wealth, she stopped by a pharmacy on her way home.
Shen You paused, turned around, and went in to assemble two medicine boxes with common first aid supplies, plus 10 bottles of essential oil.
Facing the clerk’s puzzled inquiry, she replied, “There are rove beetles at home, so I need to place several bottles.”
She had just returned to the shop with her purchases when thunder and lightning began outside, soon followed by a downpour.
Looking at the still unorganized storeroom, she was suddenly filled with energy and decided to work overtime to finish it tonight.
Money was motivation.
She would also order a deluxe late-night snack, and tonight she would turn on all the air conditioning she had been too frugal to use before!
The storeroom was filled with miscellaneous items—bamboo baskets, winnowing fans, two faded paper houses, and two boxes of expired salt.
Shen You organized everything that could be sold as scrap and set it aside, while filling several snake-skin bags with garbage to be thrown out tomorrow.
Looking at the tidy storeroom, she let out a long sigh of relief.
After checking all doors and windows, she took her takeout up to the second-floor room.
The building had three floors total. The second floor had been converted into living quarters, and the third floor was an attic with a terrace overlooking the distant mountains.
Neither had been renovated much yet, mainly due to lack of funds.
Rain pattered on the windowsill while the air conditioner ran inside, along with grilled skewers and milk tea.
Bliss!
Shen You looked at the basic protection feature on the management system and hesitated for a moment.
Activating it cost 100 points, with 10 points per month afterward. Upgrades were priced separately.
A bit expensive, but it would ensure the shop’s safety in [Great Qi].
Activating it was absolutely necessary.
Today’s income: 50,000, expenditure: 11,340.
——
Liu Zheng stood at the entrance of the alley, clutching his treasures tightly. His servant called him twice, but he didn’t hear.
Yes, it was this alley. He had never seen that shop before on previous visits.
If it was an illusion, then why were the glazed bottle and immortal medicine in his hands still real?
If that shop really was an immortal’s dwelling, then perhaps Yunzhou’s situation might improve!
Liu Zheng got into the carriage and returned to the post station, hurrying into an upper room where he respectfully addressed someone: “Your Highness.”
A handsome man in simple dark clothing sat at the table.
After hearing Liu Zheng’s experience, he frowned slightly and instructed his confidant,
“Zhong Jin, examine this item.”
Fearing it might be poison or a concealed weapon, Zhong Jin carefully picked up the delicate small glazed bottle on the table.
He couldn’t recognize the writing on it and turned it over several times without opening it. “This…”
Liu Zheng took it and demonstrated once, opening it and handing it back.
This operation left Zhong Jin stunned.
He turned the bottle completely upside down, and amazingly, the liquid inside didn’t leak out.
“The bottle mouth fits perfectly. This is crafted with such precision.” Zhong Jin marveled.
Having traveled to many countries, he prided himself on his knowledge, yet he had never seen such a glass-making technique. It was perfect for carrying medicinal liquid!
He applied a little to his hand and examined it carefully. There was no adverse reaction, just a cool, refreshing sensation that cleared the mind.
“Your Highness, this medicine is not poisonous. It really matches the description of the immortal medicine used by the Emperor a hundred years ago, as recorded in the books.”
Back then, Yunzhou experienced strange phenomena. On the battlefield, the stench of decaying bodies was everywhere, and the enemy had brought poisonous insects from the southern border.
A small bottle of immortal medicine not only relieved the Emperor’s headaches but was also effective against the poisonous insects and could be stored long-term without spoiling, even in humid heat.
Later, the imperial physicians spent years researching but couldn’t replicate it.
“Are you certain it was in that alley?” Zhong Jin asked excitedly.
“The shopkeeper was a beautiful young lady who sold you a precious glazed wine bottle for twenty taels and simply gave you the immortal medicine?”
“I’m certain. That shop was different from others, with treasures covered in dust just placed on the ground. I didn’t see any lamps, yet it was brightly lit. A comfortable coolness greeted me as soon as I entered.”
Liu Zheng gestured for them to look at the glazed wine bottle on the table. He first poured scalding tea into it, then replaced it with cold water.
“See, ordinary glazed glass isn’t this durable.”
Glazed glass broke easily, but he had heard from his family elders that containers for immortal medicine were different from ordinary glazed glass.
“An immortal bestowing medicine. Perhaps she saw that I was fated for it.”
Saying this, Liu Zheng straightened his back, feeling somewhat elated.
“Your Highness, should we take people there to investigate?”
Zhong Jin was anxious.
In recent years, the Great Qi dynasty had suffered frequent natural disasters.
And Yunzhou, once a border region, was now experiencing famine, and the court lacked relief grain.
Plus with some deliberately obstructing aid, their situation was dire.
Although His Highness disliked superstition, if it was really an immortal’s shop, then both Yunzhou and His Highness might be saved!
Li Heng picked up the glazed medicine bottle, contemplated for a long time, and finally decided to take a chance.
“It’s late now. We’ll go early tomorrow. Don’t speak of this to outsiders.”
“Yes.”
That night, Liu Zheng tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
The former Emperor had sent trusted officials to search for immortals multiple times throughout his life, all to no avail.
Now, their Liu family was viewed with suspicion by the sage emperor, the family was in decline, and everything had been turned upside down in search of clues about immortals.
He dared not keep this to himself, but was also afraid that the immortal’s shop might only allow one visit. This concerned his family’s future.
As soon as dawn broke, Liu Zheng eagerly got up to prepare himself, waiting to depart.
Openly, there were only six people including the driver, but secretly, a team of guards followed.
At the entrance to the alley, for secrecy, only Zhong Jin and one trusted aide went in with him, while the rest stood guard outside.