Fu Ling warned, "Boss, I don't think he is a good person."
He spoke in a low voice, but unexpectedly the young man had good hearing and immediately refuted in dissatisfaction, "Who are you saying is not a good person? I'm a legitimate businessman! Aren't you looking to buy a high quality set of four treasures of the study? I have goods here!"
Hearing this, Zhong Ruanxing did become interested. In broad daylight, she really wasn't worried whether the other party was a good or bad person. After all, with her power now, even if it was one against five, she was fully confident.
She walked towards the opening of the azure stone alley. This small alley was actually just a small hutong, barely wide enough for a bicycle to pass through. Drawing closer, she realized the other party was just a teenager. Seeing her approach, he smiled widely. Zhong Ruanxing asked, "Where's the stuff?"
The youth beckoned her over, then walked another 10 meters further in. There stood a trash can.
Then Zhong Ruanxing saw him haul a sack out from behind the trash can.
He enthusiastically opened the sack's mouth: "Take a look, all good stuff!"
This was just like some kind of secret trade for illegal goods.
Zhong Ruanxing was very speechless: "It's just stationery supplies, there's no need to be so mysterious right? Where's your shop?"
The youth righteously said, "If I had a shop, would I be secretly setting up a roadside stall in this alley? I'm not deceiving you, these are all collector's items I've gathered, if it wasn't because funds have been tight recently, I wouldn't even be willing to take them out to sell."
Zhong Ruanxing responded with an "oh": "No business license?"
This youth was clearly a youngster who had never done anything bad. Hearing her say this, his face immediately turned red, angrily driving her away: "What no business license! This is just a small willing buyer, willing seller transaction! If you aren't buying then forget it, go go go! Don't disturb my business!"
Zhong Ruanxing uttered a "hey": "Since I'm already here, let me take a look at the goods."
The youth eyed her suspiciously for a few moments. It was probably really difficult to find a suitable buyer, so he finally compromised. From the sack he took out an exquisitely packaged four treasures of the study set: "Here."
Zhong Ruanxing took the ink stone and writing brush to inspect them closely. The feel was impeccable, the quality and appearance were even better than that most expensive four treasures of the study set she had seen at the shop. Asking the price, it was actually cheaper than that set, although it still exceeded her budget. But if she could really buy it at this price, she would still be getting a good deal.
But this source of the goods...
She looked the youth up and down a few more times. He was dressed cleanly and neatly, with a very proper air about him, not looking like the kind of person who would steal or rob. But in this situation, could it be he had stolen family heirlooms to come out and sell?
Just from those few glances, the youth was quite perceptive, getting a bit agitated: "What's with that look? You can't think these were stolen by me right?"
Zhong Ruanxing nodded in sincerity: "Yes, that's what I think."
The youth exploded in anger, fiercely taking out his phone to open the photo album, practically shoving the photos in her face: "These were an 18th birthday gift from my sister! Look! This is me! This is my sister! The four treasures of the study set on this table is the same one you're holding! Look!"
Zhong Ruanxing: "......"
The brother and sister in the photo and the background did not seem lacking in money. How could they have fallen to the point of selling birthday gifts?
Since these were gifts for Elder Song, even though Zhong Ruanxing was tempted, she did not want to buy goods of unknown origin.
With one finger, she pushed away the phone shoved at her face. "I see, I believe these were your birthday gifts from your sister. But since your sister gifted these to you for your birthday, selling them to someone else, wouldn't your sister feel heartbroken if she knew?"
The youth bared his teeth at her: "Once she gave them to me they became my things, I can do whatever I want with them! Are you buying or not, if not then forget it!"
Zhong Ruanxing: "Not buying, goodbye."
After saying this, she left. The youth was so angry from her straightforward attitude he almost couldn't catch his breath.
In the end, Zhong Ruanxing still went back to that shop from before and bought that set of four treasures of the study that exceeded her budget. She also bought a set of jade plaques carved with Kunqu opera scenes for Granny Song.
The next day after handling work, Zhong Ruanxing sent Song Shuling a message:
- Where are you? I'll come get you and we'll go back to the old residence together.
- I'm at home!
After sending the reply, Song Shuling, lying on the bed, abruptly sat up with a silly grin: "Big brother is coming to get me!"
After murmuring this, she felt it was too embarrassing and hurriedly rubbed her face, suppressing the involuntary smile.
Looking at the time, it was only afternoon. For family dinners, Elder Song always arrived punctually. Why was he coming so early today? Song Shuling found it a bit strange but didn't think too much about it. She jumped off the bed to wash up and get dressed.
An hour later, outside the residential compound, Song Shuling saw the Bentley exclusive to her big brother.
She tried her best to restrain her excited mood. After getting in the car, she saw big brother still had his laptop open handling emails. Seeing her get in, he turned his head and smiled at her: "Have you eaten lunch?"
Song Shuling hurriedly nodded: "I've eaten."
Zhong Ruanxing closed his laptop and took out one of the bags between the seats, handing it to her.
Song Shuling had noticed them as soon as she got in the car. Recalling how big brother had asked about Grandpa and Grandma's preferences yesterday, she thought these must be gifts prepared for Grandpa and Grandma. She didn't expect there would also be something for her. For a moment she was somewhat stunned.
Zhong Ruanxing said, "Open it and see if you like it."
Song Shuling's eyelashes lightly fluttered. Slowly and carefully she opened the exquisite package box. Inside was laid a light green, translucent jade bangle. The color of the jade was truly beautiful, like a drop of green-blue fallen into snow water, the ink thawed and spread, shimmering with an icy translucence.
It was a slender curve of green jade, also called the Beauty's Jade Bangle.
Song Shuling didn't know much about jade, she just felt this looked extremely precious.
She couldn't quite believe it: "This is for me?"
Zhong Ruanxing felt the gaze of this little sister was strangely pitiful. "Yes, I bought it for you. Try it on and see if you like it."
Song Shuling blinked. Slowly and carefully she wore the green jade bangle on her wrist.
On her fair and slender wrist, the green jade swung lightly, like her heart.
Big brother's first gift to her was a jade bangle.
She inhaled lightly through her nose. In a small voice she said, "I really like it, thank you big brother."
Zhong Ruanxing ruffled her hair: "As long as you like it."
He had also bought the jade bangle yesterday at the antique market. At first sight he felt it suited this little sister very well.
On the drive back to the old residence, Song Shuling kept looking at the bangle. She would gently caress it, bring it closer for a look, and even raise it to her ear to listen. She regarded it as a treasure.
Raised in a wealthy household like the Songs, she should be the least lacking in money. So why would she treasure such an ordinary bangle so much?
Zhong Ruanxing watched her reactions. He decided from now on to frequently gift little sister presents, to make up for the lack of love in her heart.
The car drove all the way back to the old residence. Coming here for the second time, Zhong Ruanxing still hadn't forgotten getting lost in this maze-like garden estate last time.
Fortunately he had wisely brought along Song Shuling this time. With her leading the way ahead through the secluded scenic spots, they finally arrived at the front hall.
Actually aside from Song JinXing, the other Song family members would all come back to the old residence in the afternoon to accompany Grandpa and Grandma. Everyone was used to chatting together in the afternoons, with Song JinXing only appearing for dinner in the evenings.
So now seeing the tall figure striding through the entrance, the front hall that had been buzzing with chatter abruptly quieted down.