CHAPTER 535: CHAPTER 273: SHOPPING (PART 2)

"What a discerning eye the young master has! Our wares here at Shangpin Building are beyond compare, with the finest artisans and gemstones producing unique jewelry styles that can’t be found elsewhere! Even the items from the capital cannot match our quality!" The shopkeeper, already beaming, chimed in.

Sang Wan smiled at Shi Fengju, "Since you put it that way, it would be a shame if I didn’t pick a few items!"

Shi Fengju laughed and said to the shopkeeper, "My wife may not take a fancy to just any item, so bring out your best!"

Hearing this tone, the shopkeeper suddenly felt a bit troubled. Though everyone who enters the shop is a customer and not just anyone would step in, the private treasures of the Shangpin Building were truly not within the means of ordinary people, nor were they for casual viewing.

"There are also many fine items on this counter here, why don’t you and the mistress take a look first? You might find something suitable!" The shopkeeper, extremely enthusiastic, led them toward the shelves with a smile.

The shelves in the Shangpin Building were already fitted with Western glass, clean and clear, allowing everything to be easily seen at a glance. Each item was priced, clearly implying they should take a look at the prices first before proceeding.

Understanding his intention, Shi Fengju gently encircled Sang Wan and softly said, "My lady, let’s go over there and take a look first!"

Sang Wan nonchalantly smiled and hummed in agreement as they went together.

Despite it being evening, the shop was brightly lit, not affecting the quality of the jewelry at all. The shopkeeper truly wasn’t exaggerating—gold and various colored gemstones were intricately inlaid, exquisitely wrought with gold wire, forming unique and creative designs. Adorned with pearls, emerald agate, or insets of ruby and green jade, they shimmered brilliantly and captivated the eye.

The shopkeeper carefully brought out a golden hairpin with a phoenix head grasping beads, "The mistress has such a noble air, this hairpin suits you extremely well. Why not try it on?"

Sang Wan and Shi Fengju looked at it, seeing the phoenix head turned as if looking back, its wings stretched rearward, trailing five tail feathers of varied designs, each feather tip set with consistently sized droplets of ruby, sapphire, and green jade. The body of the phoenix was also embellished with tiny pearls upon a golden base. The golden hue highlighted by the white pearls and dazzling gemstones, supported by the auspicious golden clouds below, was particularly eye-catching.

Shi Fengju looked at Sang Wan with a smile, but she shook her head slightly and said with a smile, "It’s too flashy for my taste, I don’t particularly like such things. If I bought it, I’m afraid I wouldn’t wear it much. Moreover, I already have four or five such hairpins with a phoenix head and beads, so I’d better not!"

Shi Fengju naturally heeded her, gesturing to the shopkeeper to put it back.

The shopkeeper introduced several more items, but none caught Sang Wan’s eye. Shi Fengju then smiled at the shopkeeper, "Since my wife doesn’t fancy these, randomly pick two pieces for me, I’ll take them back for the two elders. Let’s go look at some better ones!"

Seeing Shi Fengju speak so casually, the shopkeeper felt a surge of joy and picked out a pair of golden hibiscus hairpins inlaid with jadeite and a pair of hairpins with jade rabbits holding auspicious grass, asking for his opinion. Shi Fengju nodded without even looking at the price: "These two will do. Find a couple of exquisite boxes and pack them for me later!"

The shopkeeper promptly agreed with a smile, handed the items to the clerk with instructions, and then led Sang Wan and Shi Fengju into the back hall.

Shi Fengju said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Your Shangpin Building really does enforce quite strict rules!"

The shopkeeper apologized with a smile, "You really mustn’t hold it against me, sir. To speak frankly, there are many swindlers these days, and doing business isn’t easy! If there’s been any neglect, please forgive me, sir!"

"Well, that’s indeed true. I apologize for the inconvenience we’ve caused!" Shi Fengju chuckled.

"As long as you understand, sir!" The shopkeeper laughed, appeased.

Seemingly to make up for the earlier slight, the shopkeeper presented the finest items in the store, both the latest and most exquisite as well as ancient works carefully preserved from old times. The shopkeeper enthusiastically described each piece as if they were treasures beyond measure.

Shi Fengju turned to Sang Wan with a smile, "My lady, have you found something to your liking?"

Sang Wan smiled and picked out a set of jewelry with the Bodhisattva as the design—jade inlaid with gold pendants, hair coverings, and flower hairpins—along with a rosewood bead necklace and said with a smile, "How about we buy these two to give to mother? I think she would like them!"

The shopkeeper burst into laughter, "The lady has excellent taste! This set of Bodhisattva jade jewelry is a relic from the palace during the Tang dynasty, and somehow ended up with our owner. Who knows, it might have been worn by a royal concubine! Look, each piece has marks from the Tang Dynasty Imperial Factory and the seal of the renowned artisan Yu Hezi! This rosewood bead necklace is also an antique over two hundred years old, with the entire Diamond Sutra inscribed on it. Gifting it to an elder is most appropriate! It’s an auspicious item that brings a lot of virtue to the home. Seeing this, the mistress of the house is sure to praise your filial piety!"

Listening, Sang Wan nodded and looked at Shi Fengju for consent.

"It’s rare for you to take such care, so let’s buy them and take them back!" Shi Fengju’s gaze toward her grew even gentler.

Carefully picking out those two items, the shopkeeper said with a smile, "The Bodhisattva jade pendant is priced at 160,000 taels, and the rosewood bean necklace at 80,000 taels. I’ll waive the change and won’t mention it to you two!"

Shi Fengju was noncommittal but said, "Is there anything else? My wife hasn’t found something to her full satisfaction yet!"

The shopkeeper suddenly found himself in a quandary. Having been in the business for nearly thirty years, he had become very shrewd. He could tell that the lady’s heart wasn’t really in it, but her husband was insistent on finding something she would be fully pleased with, and she didn’t wish to reject his kindness.

After a brief moment of thought, the shopkeeper’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said with a laugh, "I almost forgot, we have one more fine item here which might just catch the mistress’s eye! If you would wait a moment, I’ll go fetch it."