Font Size:
Mr. Zhao contemplated and said, “For these three pearls altogether, I can offer a maximum of eighteen taels of silver.”
What?
Jiang Youcheng’s extended four fingers froze in mid-air, and he blurted out, “What price?”
The words rang out like a tolling bell, leaving their ears buzzing.
Mr. Zhao appeared troubled, realizing his offered price was somewhat low, “Indeed, this is the best I can offer. Crafting jewelry with pearls is quite intricate, and due to the high price, there aren’t many buyers. I can add at most two mace of silver more. I can’t offer any more, or else I wouldn’t make any profit, and it wouldn’t be worth acquiring these pearls.”
“Then, as Mr. Zhao has said, it’s settled at eighteen taels and two mace of silver. We’ll sell the pearls to Mr. Zhao,” Jiang Mixia confirmed decisively.
“Agreed.” Mr. Zhao wrapped the pearls in a cloth and led Jiang Mixia and her group to collect the payment.
For ease of spending, when they received the money, they were given a ten-tael silver ingot, eight taels of loose silver, and the remaining two mace were paid in copper coins.
Carrying the weighty purse of money from the Golden Jade Pavilion, Jiang Youcheng felt his steps falter.
Eighteen taels and two mace of silver!
He hadn’t saved up this much money in all his years of making baskets!
Jiang Youcheng felt overwhelmed with emotion, almost moved to tears.
Jiang Mixia, casting a disdainful glance at the distant Treasure Pavilion, was filled with disgust. “We must never go to such a shop again. The shopkeeper is so unscrupulous; they conduct their business in a dishonest manner.”
“Absolutely,” Jiang Youcheng fumed as Jiang Mixia mentioned the Treasure Pavilion, “Their deceitful behavior! They claimed the pearls were worth only three taels of silver. It’s like they’re spewing nonsense!”
“And that pawnshop, offering only two taels and five mace…” Jiang Youcheng abruptly stopped, his eyes widening. “Could it be that the Treasure Pavilion and the pawnshop are colluding?”
The Treasure Pavilion offers a low price, causing most people to doubt and seek confirmation at the pawnshop. However, they receive even less there, compelling them to return to the Treasure Pavilion and sell their goods at the lower price.
“It seems likely.”
If it was a mere suspicion before, Jiang Mixia was now certain about the tricks played by these two establishments.
“The audacity!” Jiang Youcheng was so furious that his words trembled.
Those who come to sell their goods are usually struggling to make ends meet. Even if they aren’t pitiful, they should at least be offered a fair price, similar to what was given at the Golden Jade Pavilion. Instead, they were given less than a fifth of the value!
“The Treasure Pavilion has a well-known reputation. Aren’t they afraid of tarnishing it by acting this way?”
“They’re cheating their customers. The Treasure Pavilion likely profits handsomely from this,” Jiang Mixia remarked.
“Why would they ruin their own reputation?” Song Jingyun was puzzled.
As a businessman, why would they sabotage their own reputation? And what do they use to do it? Axes, hammers?
Song Jingyun’s question was vague, but Jiang Mixia understood. Patiently, she explained, “Behavior that disregards reputation and ethical business practices is commonly referred to as ‘ruining the signboard.'”
“Shops like the Treasure Pavilion, engaging in unethical practices by consistently offering low prices and colluding with pawnshops to purchase others’ belongings at a lower value, are indeed ruining their own reputations.”
“I see,” Song Jingyun nodded thoughtfully, “So the treasurer has indeed tarnished the shop’s reputation.”
“Alright, let’s forget about the Treasure Pavilion. Those who have a long history of dishonesty will reap what they sow in due time,” Jiang Youcheng said as he pulled Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun, “Let me take you both out for a meal.”
It was now midday, the sun was blazing, and after a busy morning, their stomachs were rumbling like thunder.
“Let’s go, let’s eat,” Song Jingyun chimed in, smiling.
Meanwhile, back at the shop, the treasurer had been waiting for a while, growing increasingly restless. “This isn’t right. They should have returned by now. Why haven’t they come back?”
Hearing the treasurer’s murmurings, the assistant also felt uneasy and nodded in agreement, “Yes, they should have returned by now. I saw them heading towards the pawnshop. They should have been back by now.”
“Could it be that they’ve gone to another jewelry shop to sell the pearls, where they were offered a much higher price?”
“And now they’ve found that the neighboring shop offers a much higher price than ours?”
“No,” the treasurer asserted confidently, “The Treasure Pavilion has a well-established reputation. Once they’ve agreed to our price here, it’s unlikely they would seek out a different one at the pawnshop. They are just some country folk, thinking they’re inferior in the county town and eager to sell for more money. When it comes down to it, they’re only concerned about getting a better deal. How could they consider going to a third place to inquire about the price?”
“If everyone had that mindset, would they still be struggling as they are? They would have found profitable opportunities long ago.”
“Look at the kind of business we’ve been conducting for so many years. How many people can see through it? Haven’t they all obediently come back to sell their goods to us in the end?”
“You’re absolutely right,” the assistant nodded repeatedly.
As they were conversing, another assistant hurried over. “Sir, I saw the family who came to sell pearls. They left the Golden Jade Pavilion with smiles on their faces…”
So, those three individuals sold the pearls to the Golden Jade Pavilion?
They had truly underestimated these country folk. They actually had the foresight to inquire at a third place!
They had also underestimated the Golden Jade Pavilion. A small, insignificant shop, constantly causing trouble for the Treasure Pavilion, ruining their business multiple times?
The treasurer felt furious and stormed out.
He was going to find Mr. Zhao at the Golden Jade Pavilion and demand an explanation. Was he out of his mind, neglecting his own business to meddle in others’ affairs?
Just as he reached the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion, before he could even take another step, the large signboard with the gilded characters “Treasure Pavilion” came crashing down on the treasurer’s head with a resounding “thud.”
With a loud “crack,” the signboard finally fell to the ground, splitting into two halves right down the middle. Meanwhile, the treasurer lay motionless on the ground, blood covering his face and head, rendering him unconscious.
“Treasurer!”
The assistants exclaimed, rushing to assess the situation.
Meanwhile, customers of the Treasure Pavilion and passersby on the street were drawn to the commotion, stopping to observe and gather around.
“What’s happening?”
“I heard the signboard of the Treasure Pavilion fell and knocked the treasurer unconscious. They say the signboard broke into two pieces.”
“Well, that’s quite an unexpected turn of events.”
“Hey, I mean, having your own signboard fall on your head is quite eerie. Maybe the treasurer did something that even the heavens couldn’t overlook.”
“Who knows, but remember, the heavens have sharp eyes…”
Meanwhile, Jiang Youcheng, Jiang Mixia, and Song Jingyun were searching for a place to eat.