Chapter Thirty-Nine: Pain and Joy Intertwined

  The old shopkeeper glared at me with a black face, this seven-foot-tall, muscular, and ferocious young master.

  "Gentlemen, gentlemen... nothing's wrong, I'm just discussing some trivial matters with this young master... Little Three, why aren't you attending to our guest?" The old man smoothed things over with the customer and then bowed respectfully to me: "Young sir has misunderstood an old man."

  "Is that so?..." Holding the design drawings returned by the old man, he looked at the old man with a slanted gaze, who didn't seem to be afraid at all. Could it be that this is Li Wu's stinky shop?

  "Haha... Young master, don't be so tense, come... sit down first, let me slowly tell you... Liu Wu, why haven't you served this young master a good cup of tea yet? Young master?"

  "Good...please." I also want to see what tricks this old guy can play, the dignified young master of the prime minister's mansion, the evil and sinister prince who dares to clean up the righteous gentleman, is he still afraid of a jewelry store owner?

  The newly served tea is just different, the shopkeeper waited for me to take a sip and then asked: "May I ask your honorable surname?" It seems that this old guy wants to test my background first.

  "Raise an eyebrow: 'The surname Fang is expensive... Fang's legacy of love.'"

  "Ah?!" The old shopkeeper's mouth was agape, his thumb and index finger pointing at me in a "lan flower" shape, his eyes and expression both shocked: "You... you're Fang Xiangye's second son, Fang Yiai?"

  "Are you still pretending? What's wrong with this old guy?"

  "How dare I, how dare I, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were the second young master of Fang's family, my old eyes are dim...I've heard your great name for a long time, and recently it's been on everyone's lips..." Who is this old shopkeeper? Am I really that famous? And now even more so...It seems there are many gossip experts in Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty."

  "The old fellow's meaning is..." The old guy smiled slyly and mysteriously, leaning in close, winking...

  "You mean...?" pointing at the shopkeeper with a sincere and earnest face, then pointing at himself: "Send me away?" Not quite believing it, is there such a good thing under the sky?

  "Of course... actually, young master hadn't even finished listening to my words when... hehe, my intention was that if this item were to be sold in our small shop, I would personally craft these accessories for you free of charge... I hope Young Master Fang can grant me this small request." The shopkeeper pointed at the design diagram in my hand, swallowing his saliva.

  "Free?..." I almost jumped up, originally thought that these accessories even if made of silver would cost a lot of money, but now, unexpectedly met someone who understood my design concept, touched...almost moved to tears.

  "It's free... Although the shop is not big, it's still a well-known one in Chang'an... The old man's words are still valid here..." The shopkeeper nodded hastily, his eyes still fixed on my treasure map.

  "Oh my... You should have said so earlier... Haha... No wonder I felt that you, uncle, looked familiar and were humble and polite as soon as I entered the door... It seems we were destined to meet... This saves a lot of money, it's great, I won't be broke anymore."

  "Can't we just not do this? As a refined gentleman, I smoothed out my long shirt and solemnly handed the treasure map to him. With a firm grip on his hand, I shook it up and down, as if we were meeting triumphantly at the top of Mount Liang. In short, I was very excited: "Good... good, good boss, you have vision, you have prospects, haha... Trouble you to make me one more set like this, and also make me a gold lock with a long life, at least seven or eight taels in weight...... What are you staring at? Alright, a silver lock with a long life, at least seven or eight taels in weight. That thing is too light to hang around the neck, not eye-catching... Come on, two more top-quality jade decorations, the kind men use, hung from the waist... Don't try to cheat me with inferior goods, I am the second young master of the Ministry of War, and I have a high level of accomplishment in appreciating jade quality... Haha..."

  The shopkeeper didn't quite understand my excessive enthusiasm and modern handshake, he just tightly grasped the treasure map I handed him and refused to let go. His expression was very strange, his face twisted, as if he were both crying and laughing at the same time, seemingly in pain yet joyful...

  Having accomplished a great feat, I felt very relieved and bid farewell to the shopkeeper with a smile. I got on my BMW and drove towards Yunwen Pavilion, wondering who would be waiting for me in the extravagant Yunwen Pavilion?

  With a head full of question marks, I finally stood still at the entrance of Yunwen Pavilion, and just saw Fat Shopkeeper raise his eyes to see me. "Ah... today House Master has time to visit our humble shop... why are you standing outside? Come in quickly, come in quickly... warm up with a cup of hot tea!" The small eyes that were almost sewn together welcomed me. He's really good at doing business, look, we haven't even entered the door yet, and we're already enjoying VIP treatment, the general manager of the big hotel is personally receiving us.

  He coughed twice: "No need to rush... that is, someone said they were waiting for me here? Is it my brother Li?"

  "Li Ye didn't come today, did he..." The fat shopkeeper's expression was inexplicable. Dammit, I've been tricked by that little scoundrel! Just as I was about to storm off in anger, I heard a loud shout: "But House Yi's young master has arrived."

  Raise your eyes, who dares to shout the name of this young master without opening their eyes? Hmm... isn't that the furry face who almost peeled me like a white-boiled chicken last time?

  "Hmph, hmph, hmph... The big-bearded guard walked down the stairs like a pile driver, his footsteps shaking the entire house and leaving everyone dazed. 'I've seen Master Fang...' The big-bearded guard was dressed in the attire of an official's escort today, and it seemed that the identity of my date had been revealed - not a woman... but that terrifying Uncle Li..."

  "Oh oh..." He hastily bowed to his enemy. This time, Zhao Kun didn't make him draw his sword or take off his clothes, but instead cupped his hands in greeting, revealing a hideous grin on his face, with a row of white teeth faintly visible among his black whiskers: "Young Master Fang, my master is waiting for you upstairs in the elegant chamber, please..."