Chapter 29: Jewels

  Back at the Moon-Embracing Pavilion, I'm already considered a "regular".

  It seemed that Han Xiaoxiao had already made arrangements, as the boss of the Moon Embracing Pavilion personally came out to greet them and led Ding Yunyi, Qin Yun, and Xie Xuan to the second floor.

  Hàn Xiǎoxiǎo and a middle-aged businessman had been waiting there early, seeing Dīng Yún yì arrive, Hàn Xiǎoxiǎo stood up with a slight smile and introduced both sides.

  This middle-aged businessman is called Sun Xiyu, a Fujian jewelry merchant. It's said that when Zheng Zhilong was a pirate, some of the jewels that were hard to get rid of also relied on him to sell them.

  Sun Xiyu was a standard businessman, and after exchanging a few pleasantries with Ding Yunyi, he asked him to take out all the jewelry.

  Ding Yunyi took out the jewelry he was carrying, and Sun Xiyu suddenly became a different person. The smiling expression disappeared, and she carefully checked each piece of jewelry one by one.

  Those fake and worthless ones were carefully picked out by Sun Xiyu and put aside.

  Taking this opportunity, Ding Yunyi introduced Qin Yun and Xie Xuan to Han Xiaoxiao. Qin Yun and Xie Xuan were extremely excited, looking like fans from Ding Yunyi's era who had just seen their idol.

  Actually, thinking carefully, it's not wrong, Han Xiaoxiao is indeed a big star of this era.

  Han Xiaoxiao responded vaguely to a few sentences, and seemed even more interested in Ding Yunyi, asking when he would leave Quanzhou and return to Penghu. Ding Yunyi only said that he would leave after handling some things on hand.

  "If there's anything in the future, just send someone to find me and I'll be here for a while longer in Quanzhou." Han Xiaoxiao's expression didn't show any politeness: "Penghu is cold and bitter, Inspector Ding should also take care of himself."

  "Thank you, Miss Han," replied Ding Yunyi.

  After chatting for a while, Sun Xiyu had already checked all the jewelry and raised his head: "Ding Gongzi's batch of goods has some very good ones, and some are worthless. Let me give Ding Gongzi a total price, 800 taels."

  Ding Yunyi didn't have much of a concept about silver, only remembering that in the TV dramas he watched before, those rich people would casually take out several thousand or tens of thousands of taels of silver. Now it was his turn, and 800 taels seemed like a lot.

  This was already a not-small price opened by Sun Xiyu in the face of Han Xiaoxiao. High-quality pork costs one yuan and six cents, rice costs five yuan per stone, and 800 taels of silver, which is what a peasant family in the south would have to accumulate for thirty years without eating or drinking.

  Han Xiaoxiao listened but was not very satisfied: "Mr. Sun is generous and has many social connections, please give Xiaoxiao a bit of face and add up to an integer one thousand two hundred taels, wouldn't that be better?"

  Others changed, but Han Xiaoxiao spoke up to plead, and had already agreed with a single word. However, Sun Xiyu shook his head repeatedly: "Miss Han, I'm just a businessman. Even if this batch of goods can be sold, the profit will only be two or three hundred taels. After deducting various expenses, eight hundred taels is already a large sum. Please don't make it difficult for me."

  Ding Yunyi was already very satisfied: "Since Mr. Sun is only willing to pay 800 taels, then it's 800 taels."

  Han Xiaoxiao gave Ding Yunyi a slightly accusatory look, but also had no choice. She got up and went to the side cabinet to take out a small box, opened it and put it in front of Sun Xiyu: "Mr. Sun, these are some of my jewelry, Mr. Sun, do you think they're worth 200 taels of silver?"

  "Miss Han, this is absolutely impermissible." Ding Yunyi hastily said: "How can we use Miss Han's private house?"

  Han Xiaoxiao smiled: "Ding Gongzi originally came for the officials and soldiers on Penghu, a small piece of jewelry is something that you can't bring with you when you're born or take with you when you die, please don't decline."

  Qin Yun and Xie Xuan looked at each other in dismay. Han Xiaoxiao's chivalrous spirit was not something that everyone possessed.

  Sun Xiyu sighed: "I've long heard that Miss Han's liver and gallbladder are not inferior to her eyebrows, and today I see that it's indeed a reputation that is not in vain. Forget it, I won't look at these anymore, let's just consider it as getting 200 taels of silver!"

  At this point, Ding Yunyi didn't know what to say anymore. He and Han Xiaoxiao had just met for the first time, but Han Xiaoxiao was so kind to him, he didn't know how to repay her kindness.

  It was agreed that Sun Xiyu would take the jewelry first and deliver the silver to Ding Yunyi's inn in the afternoon.

  As soon as Sun Xiyu left, Xie Xuan couldn't help but praise: "Han Gongzhu's chivalrous spirit is not to be mentioned, and although Sun Xiyu is a businessman, he also has some sense of justice. I, Xie Xuan, am also a small businessman, and compared to the two of them, I am far inferior. Ding Xun Jian came this time for the purpose of supplying Penghu, and I have some connections with the local officials in Quanzhou. If Ding Xun Jian trusts me, let me take care of this matter! Within a month, the supplies will definitely be delivered to Penghu!"

  Ding Yunyi was overjoyed when he heard this. This time, he came to Quanzhou and it was not a wasted trip. Not only did he get to know Han Xiaoxiao, a heroic courtesan, but also made friends with Xie Xuan, a good friend.

  At this time, he repeatedly expressed his gratitude. In his heart, he thought that Xie Xuan would definitely go to make arrangements and use a lot of silver. He was thinking of saying that when Sun Xi's silver arrived, he would set aside a portion of it. Before he could even express this thought, Xie Xuan had already smiled and said:

  "Does Inspector Ting look down on me? Xie Xuan is a businessman, but he has also read many books and knows some righteousness. The importance of Penghu lies in its strategic location, and Inspector Ting's responsibility is great. I may not have a lot of wealth, but I can still afford to pay the silver, so please don't worry about it anymore."

  The other side has already said it to this extent, and Ding Yunyi can't insist on it anymore.

  Han Xiaoxiao was very enthusiastic and had prepared wine and dishes, insisting that they stay and eat before leaving. Ding Yun and the others didn't decline either.

  When the wine and dishes arrived, Ding Yunyi held up his cup of wine and made a double-edged remark: "When I first came to this place, I was a stranger with no friends at all. But now I have gained three good friends like you. I am deeply moved in my heart. I won't say anything else, but I'd like to toast the three of you with this cup of wine!"

  He finished speaking and drained his cup in one gulp.

  Han Xiaoxiao and the other two also picked up their wine cups and drank, Han Xiaoxiao put down her cup and smiled: "With wine, how can there be no joy? Han Xiaoxiao is willing to offer a song to help the wine excitement."

  Ding Yunyi didn't care much, but Qin Yun and Xie Xuan were overjoyed. Han Xiaoxiao was going to play a solo for them, and if this got out, it would be a great honor.

  Han Xiaoxiao took out a pipa and sang a song by Cheng Shao, "Shaolin Temple Martial Arts"

  "Temporarily resting, the monk tests his martial skills, with golden spears and iron rods layered in technique. Strong and powerful, he has the ability to subdue demons, and is accustomed to lightly grasping and seizing tigers. With a strategy to pacify chaos, he truly proves his worth, protecting the nation and bringing peace to the world, passing on the lamp. In the midst of turmoil, he remains calm and unhurried, without worries, upholding loyalty and justice, expounding the Great Vehicle."

  "Great strength can subdue demons, habitual lightness can grasp and strike tigers."

  After finishing the song, Ding Yunyi muttered to himself, suddenly bursting into loud laughter and standing up: "Miss Han, what a strong and powerful voice you have, capable of subduing demons and taming tigers! I'll take my leave first, but if one day Miss Han can come to Penghu, I will definitely treat you with the utmost hospitality as a host, and let you see for yourself how the soldiers of Penghu's Da Ming Temple slay dragons and tame tigers!"