Opening an antique shop and getting rich through all the worlds

Chapter 46

Zhao Wanyi once again stole the spotlight at the mansion banquet, as everyone marveled at the beauty of the bracelet on her hand, which really looked as though she had worn all the starlight from the sky around her wrist.

Everyone kept asking where exactly she had purchased it, however remembering her mother’s instructions, she only mentioned that she had asked someone to find it from Western Region merchants, spending quite a considerable amount of silver.

Previously, she had only thought about not revealing the source, so that no one would go to the shop to compete with her for those fine items.

But after listening to her mother’s words, she finally understood that the shop was connected to fire-proof cloth, and while it was acceptable for them to buy things there, they absolutely could not become implicated in any way.

Back then, a prefectural official had kept one bolt for himself and was accused of harboring disloyal intentions, resulting in his entire family being exiled thousands of miles away.

Meanwhile, people who had been constantly monitoring the movements on the street where the shop was located also reported the news to the Crown Prince’s residence.

And learning that the shop had reopened for business, Li Heng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and his movements while writing became noticeably lighter.

“Your Highness, you still have an injury on your shoulder.” Zhong Jing said with concern showing on his face as he voiced his reminder.

“It’s fine, I’ve already used Miss Shen’s medicine.”

Li Heng looked toward the solar lamp placed on the desk before him, his gaze softening.

These past few days had been like walking on thin ice, as his every move was being reported to the palace.

However, these matters had long become routine for him, as he had lived this way for years.

It was just that during the days when Miss Shen’s shop had been closed, his heart had been filled with anxiety and unease, worried that he might never see her again in the future.

She had been able to move her entire shop from Yunzhou to the capital city, and if she really decided not to return, he presumed that even if he searched throughout all of Great Qi, he would not be able to find her.

Sometimes, he also wondered whether if Miss Shen were not such an otherworldly expert, perhaps the distance between them could be smaller.

*

After Shen You collected those two bolts of cloth, she went online immediately to research how to preserve them properly.

She planned to keep one bolt that she liked for her own use, and sell the other bolt to a tailor shop when the time came.

However, she would need to wait for some time, since she had just told the tailor a few days ago that the cloth was difficult to obtain. As suddenly having more would be hard to explain.

If she could find someone to cooperate with on the Great Qi side, selling modern cosmetics and perfume there, while buying tea leaves from their side in return, it would be a profitable venture.

There was also the fire-proof cloth. Ever since learning that such a thing truly existed, she had been thinking about how she might obtain some.

This item was really too rare, mentioned even in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. What’s more she was curious whether it was actually modern asbestos cloth or some mysterious weaving technique.

Given Great Qi’s current situation, this matter would be difficult to accomplish, as even Li Heng couldn’t obtain it.

Should she wait until he ascended to the emperor’s position before discussing it?

Sighing, she picked up her phone and some change before heading out to the wet market.

Hairy crabs were in season now, and ordering delivery at this hour wouldn’t be as fresh, but now that she had money, she wanted to buy the best quality available!

Looking at the seafood and freshwater delicacies displayed at the stalls, she wanted to eat everything, but she didn’t know how to prepare the complicated dishes.

In the end, she bought five large hairy crabs, clams and sea snails that could be steamed, and mantis shrimp.

It was a gout-inducing combination, but it would bring happiness.

Afterward, she went to a chain pastry shop and bought several gift box sets, preparing them for holiday exchanges.

Yesterday afternoon, Boss Huo had personally delivered mooncake gift boxes to her shop, so she couldn’t fail to reciprocate.

For lunch, she ate something simple, as dinner would be the main event.

She was sitting at the entrance sorting through the seafood when she heard the sound of wind chimes – the courtyard gate had opened.

Li Heng stood there in a moon-white robe with a jade pendant of fine quality hanging from his waist, looking deeply at the person before him.

“Miss Shen, it has been several days since we last met. I trust you have been well.”

“I’ve been quite well.” Shen You nodded slightly, thinking to herself that her potential business partner had just arrived.

Liu Zheng, who had accompanied him, tactfully remained silent and focused on examining the curious new items displayed in the shop.

On the table over there, what was placed appeared to be a glowing moon!

How exactly was this accomplished?

“Are you here because you have business with me, or do you want to buy something?” Shen You asked first, seeing that neither of them had mentioned what they wanted.

“I wanted to see if there were still useful items available in the shop.” Li Heng said, though his gaze fell on her.

With business at her door, Shen You naturally made earnest recommendations. She picked up a thickened raincoat from a nearby cardboard box – something she had bought online for 20 yuan per piece at wholesale price.

“How about this raincoat? It’s more convenient than a straw rain cape and more watertight than an oiled coat.”

Ancient armies during their marches could hardly be equipped with proper rain gear and had to endure the elements through sheer endurance.

Getting soaked and catching cold meant leaving one’s fate to heaven.

Li Heng took the transparent raincoat and watched as Shen You sprinkled half a cup of water on it, and indeed, not a single drop penetrated through.

Moreover, this item was more durable than a tung oil umbrella. Liu Zheng held it in his hands and pulled at it without tearing it. “Your Highness, this garment is really excellent!”

At Great Qi’s northern border passes, it was currently both cold and rainy, so having this item would undoubtedly improve the living conditions of the soldiers and strengthen Great Qi’s military power.

More importantly, this item was lightweight – wearing it added no weight at all, and it was easy to transport.

There were truly too many miraculous items in this shop, with new surprises every visit!

Li Heng asked puzzledly, “What material is this garment made from? Why can it prevent water from penetrating completely?”

Even the finest oil-treated garments produced in the palace didn’t have waterproofing as effective as this raincoat.

Shen You thought for a moment before answering, “It’s made from a material unique to our region, called plastic.”

Actually, what she had bought was polyvinyl alcohol, not those cheap disposable plastic raincoats that wholesaled for 2 yuan. Selling those to Great Qi at high prices would be equivalent to damaging her own reputation.

“How much do these raincoats cost? How many do you have here?”

Shen You considered briefly. “Two hundred pieces arrived yesterday. Same arrangement as usual – you bring some porcelain items or gold, silver, and jade objects to trade, and I’ll include a piece of waterproof cloth that can be used for camping, or we can calculate it at 10 taels of silver per piece.”

“Very well, I’ll have someone prepare the items immediately.” Li Heng agreed.

Naturally, Liu Zheng was the one to handle the arrangements. Just as he was taking his leave, Shen You called out to stop him.

“You mentioned before that the Liu family has shops in the capital?”

Liu Zheng dared not be negligent. “Yes, we do. Does Shopkeeper Shen require anything?”

“I’d like to discuss a collaboration with you. I have some excellent rouge and perfume here that could be sold through your shop. I’ll give you a forty percent share, and from my portion of the silver, you can help me purchase a batch of tea leaves and silk.”

Liu Zheng glanced at Li Heng, and seeing that he showed no signs of objection, he agreed quickly. “Excellent!”

This was such a wonderful opportunity that he was delighted beyond measure.

Never mind forty percent, even twenty percent would be profitable.

The rouge and perfume from Shopkeeper Shen’s place were the same ones Miss Zhao used, so they would definitely sell well!

While Liu Zheng went to fetch the items, Shen You noticed that Li Heng showed no intention of leaving, so she poured him a cup of coffee with oat milk added.

“Would you like to try this?”

Li Heng smiled faintly as he accepted it and took a sip. The bitterness was mixed with a hint of sweetness.

It tasted somewhat strange, though not unpleasant. It was just not as good as milk tea.

His gaze fell on the rabbit lamp that had been placed on the antique shelf behind the counter.

On the day of the temple fair, vendors selling this type of lamp could be found everywhere on the capital’s streets.

Compared to the glass lamps used in Miss Shen’s shop, those were not worth mentioning.

Yet she had carefully placed that utterly ordinary rabbit lamp in such a prominent position.

Was it because of someone special?

At this thought, Li Heng’s heart grew heavy.