Under the intense gaze of Gu Xingzhao, Xu Shisan finally placed the pair of paperweights back on the table. Items like these, well-preserved and from an ancient era, along with those two pairs of earrings, made it four rare finds she had brought in. Most families would only have one or two such items, unless they were dedicated collectors.

However, if someone were a dedicated collector, there wouldn’t be much sense in selling these pieces so casually.

Xu Shisan began to wonder where Gu Xingzhao was acquiring these valuable pieces. What kind of business was she involved in that she was so frequently selling items like this?

He poured her another cup of tea and casually asked, “Sister, are you short on money?”

Gu Xingzhao immediately grew guarded. Last time, it was through a few casual conversations like this that Xu Shisan had managed to learn too much about her.

“I’m doing okay. But who doesn’t want more money?”

Xu Shisan chuckled. “That’s true. Even in my family, where we’re not exactly struggling, we don’t complain about having more.”

He smiled and said, “How about I give you seventy thousand for the pair of paperweights and the sword?”

Seventy thousand?!

Gu Xingzhao frowned. She had set the price for the paperweights at sixty thousand, so he was offering eight thousand more. Why would he do that?

“What’s the catch?” she asked.

Xu Shisan raised his eyebrows. “Is it bad to get a little extra?”

“No one’s going to complain about more money, but I don’t get it. What’s in it for you?”

He grinned. “Think of the extra eight thousand as a friendship gesture. Next time you have something to sell, come to me first, okay? No more going to other shops.”

He even threw her a wink, trying to give her his best “charming” look.

Gu Xingzhao felt a wave of revulsion. “We can be friends, but please stop talking like that. And the winking—just stop.”

She couldn’t understand why so many people had raved about him online, calling him “charming” and a “handsome boy.” All she felt was discomfort.

Her disdain was obvious, and Xu Shisan, momentarily speechless, could only think, “What went wrong?”

In the end, Gu Xingzhao accepted seventy thousand yuan for the sword and paperweights. When the money hit her account, she looked at the balance repeatedly, feeling like she had just experienced a small windfall.

Seventy thousand yuan. Her little grocery store wouldn’t make that kind of money in twenty years!

Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming sense of optimism about the future. She could save more people, help others, and maybe even earn enough to buy the luxurious crystal feather coat from the mall or move into one of those big villas with gardens.

With that in mind, she went straight to a car dealership in the city. Her driver’s license had been sitting unused for two years, and it was finally time to buy a car.

Due to the Chinese New Year, there weren’t many dealerships still open, but she found one that was. Upon entering, she was greeted by a man in a suit with a smile on his face. “Are you here alone? What kind of car are you looking for?”

She looked at her phone and put it away. “Do you have any recommendations?”

The salesman immediately showed her two large models. “These two are very popular right now and reasonably priced.”

She frowned and asked, “Do you have anything smaller?”

He smiled again. “I really recommend these two. They’re perfect for you or your boyfriend to drive. Small cars are usually not as popular with men.”

He added, “Plus, there’s a discount on loans for these models right now. It’s a good deal.”

Gu Xingzhao furrowed her brow. What did her boyfriend have to do with buying a car?

“Please just show me smaller models. I like small cars, and I’m paying in full, so I don’t need any loan discounts.”

The man was taken aback and his expression changed. “Well, buying a car is a big decision. Why don’t you call your boyfriend and see what he thinks? It’s better to discuss such things together.”

Gu Xingzhao was speechless. What was wrong with this guy?

She walked away without responding. Behind her, the man sneered and rolled his eyes. She clearly wasn’t a big spender, probably just looking for something cheap. He wasn’t going to waste time on her.

Women buying cars—they didn’t know what they wanted, asked too many questions, and in the end, didn’t even buy the car. What a waste of time.

Gu Xingzhao walked over to a female salesperson. “Hi, can you show me some smaller cars? My budget is around twenty thousand, and I’m paying in full.”

The woman was surprised. “Me? But I’m new here…”

“That’s fine.”

After her earlier experience, Gu Xingzhao didn’t want to deal with any more men.

The young saleswoman couldn’t believe her luck. She had joined the dealership with several others that month, but while they had already made sales, she hadn’t closed a single deal yet.

After chatting with Gu Xingzhao, she even brought her some juice and snacks. She suggested a smaller car that was more reasonably priced, and explained, “If it’s just for commuting between the town and the city, you don’t need a high-end model. Twenty thousand is plenty.”

Gu Xingzhao wavered. She liked the higher-end model, but the smaller one was more practical.

She asked, “Can I test-drive the more expensive one?”

The saleswoman nodded. “Of course. We just need you to sign a waiver. I’ll go get it.”

As she waited, the male salesperson from earlier walked by with a couple, deliberately standing in front of Gu Xingzhao and forcing her to step back.

He said, “This is our most popular model right now. Would you like to take a look?”