Chapter 141: Turns Out I’m Still A Broke Ass
In Beiping, all places with high foot traffic or spacious alleys had snack stalls gathered, and the fried tofu stall was in a small alley.
The two sat down and ordered two bowls of fried tofu. Fan Wu had just picked up the bowl and hadn’t eaten yet when he spotted the problem.
“Boss, something’s wrong. Why isn’t there any shrimp oil!”
“Really sorry, Fifth Master. The shrimp oil just ran out today.” The stall owner hurriedly apologized. “Please don’t take offense. In these times, it’s not easy to get things. The daily amount of shrimp oil is really limited. Please bear with me.”
“Tsk, no shrimp oil—can this thing even be eaten?” Fan Wu Ye liked to show off anyway, and with Cao Weida there, he was even more eager to do so. “I’m telling you, after we finish eating, don’t blame me for not paying.”
The stall owner smiled apologetically. “Fifth Master, eat and go after. I didn’t serve you well today. Come back tomorrow!”
Cao Weida chuckled inwardly. This boss was quite shrewd, with words full of pattern.
He figured the little boss was just saying nice words.
Of course, even if they really didn’t pay, the loss wouldn’t be big—he could afford it completely—but the emotional harvest would be maxed out.
He just got the era wrong. If it were in later generations, with the boss’s mouth and high emotional intelligence, the business wouldn’t be bad, even if the stall wasn’t huge.
He obviously knew Fan Wu and his temperament, plus he had brought the two of them. With Fan Wu’s face-saving personality, could Fan Wu really not pay?
No way!
“I’m telling you, it’s not that I’m picking on you…”
Seeing Fan Wu Ye about to start again, Cao Weida stopped him with a helpless laugh. “Alright, alright, Fifth Master. Why get worked up with a little vendor?”
“No, Cao Ye, it’s not that I’m being picky. If I don’t pick on him, people will think I haven’t eaten things before!” With that, he pulled a union bond from his pocket and slapped it on the table.
“We gotta pick, but Fifth Master me isn’t the type to eat without paying.”
“Fine, if I don’t take it, it’d be slapping Fifth Master your face. Sorry today. Next time, next time you come, I’ll definitely have the shrimp oil ready for you.”
“Alright, I’ll remember that. If Fifth Master me comes next time and you still don’t have it ready, don’t blame me for really not paying.”
After sending the stall owner off, Fan Wu Ye chewed on the fried tofu and spoke up before Cao Weida could ask.
“Didn’t you want me to keep an eye out for good stuff? In our Beiping, besides those antique shops, it’s the former imperial relatives.”
“These past few days, I’ve been watching for you. Look, I connected you with one.”
“Ruizi Mansion, a Beile Mansion from when the Qing Dynasty was still around. With our status back then, even going there meant submitting a card first. Very prestigious.”
Beile Mansion?
Cao Weida couldn’t help nodding. Anything involving the word ‘Beile’ was a core member of the imperial clan’s nobility system, second only to princes and county kings—top of Qing society.
Such families would naturally have more antiques and calligraphy paintings to offer.
Hearing it was a Beile Mansion, good stuff was definitely plentiful!
At that thought, his mind turned, and he asked in surprise: “You just said Ruizi Mansion. Does the residence have a second wife named Ru Qiulan?”
“Whoa, Cao Ye, you’re really well-informed. The Beile Mansion’s second wife keeps a low profile, and you know about her?” At that, Fan Wu Ye winked teasingly. “Hey, Cao Ye, you wouldn’t have your eye on her, would you?”
“Not surprising though—the Beile Mansion’s second wife looks just like a flower.”
At the mention of Ru Qiulan, Cao Weida couldn’t help picturing her appearance, his heart stirring a bit.
That was Feng Laizi… Just thinking about it got people excited. Pfft, thrilled!
When watching the TV series, he loved following Ru Qiulan most and knew her fate well.
Compared to Feng Laizi in 《Dream of the Red Chamber》, Ru Qiulan in 《Fragrance of May Locust Flowers》 had an equally bumpy fate.
As a lady of the banner, she had noble status and was plump and graceful. Whether looks or temperament, she was very heart-moving.
But it seemed heaven couldn’t stand such beauty.
She was a descendant of the Manchu Qing Plain Yellow Banner. Her father, seeking wealth and glory, betrothed her young to Ruizi Mansion as the second son’s child bride.
But unfortunately, the Second Prince died young, leaving her a young widow.
Without a man to back her, a weak woman like her had a hard time in the prince’s mansion, enduring endless bullying.
After Old Ru Beile passed away, she was even more miserable, directly kicked out.
Luckily, Old Ru Beile had a conscience and secretly gave her many antiques, which she smuggled out in two cases of cultural artifacts to escape the Beile Mansion.
Otherwise, she’d suffer from the start, no need to wait.
Her love life was full of ups and downs. Daring to love and hate, she first fell madly for actor Meng Xiaolou, squandering money on him, then got designed by her wolf-hearted nephew Suo Ba into addiction, and finally abandoned by Meng Xiaolou.
Later she married Tong Fengquan, and their married life was also turbulent.
Then she offended Lord Lu, her home burned, Ru Qiulan vanished, and later Tong Fengquan heard in the Western Hills that Ru Qiulan had died.
Such a great beauty, a noble lady of the banner, gone just like that—tragic and lamentable.
When watching the TV series, he really liked Ru Qiulan.
To be clear, it absolutely wasn’t lust—Ru Qiulan just happened to be pretty and his type.
“Ahem…” Cao Weida coughed tactically, embarrassed. “Fifth Master, don’t talk nonsense. I just heard of her occasionally, out of admiration, just admiration.”
“Oh, just admiration?” Fan Wu Ye kept teasing, chuckling.
“Let me tell you, I had long dealings with Old Ru Beile’s family. Later when they fell on hard times, I felt awkward visiting, so we saw less of each other, but my friendship with Old Ru Beile is still there.”
“Old Ru Beile told me he’s old now, more open-minded. His family’s second wife waits on him daily, far more filial than his sons and daughters. He treats the second wife like his own daughter.”
“He knows while he’s still around, he can keep those kids in check. But if he goes one day, that second wife will definitely get bullied badly.”
“So he mentioned to me, if he finds someone satisfactory, he doesn’t mind marrying off Ru Qiulan.”
Cao Weida’s eyes lit up, shining bright.
Fan Wu Ye saw it and grinned, teasing: “Cao Ye, I told Old Ruizi Ye about you, praised you as one of a kind under heaven. He’s quite interested. Sure you don’t want to consider?”
“If you really don’t, I’ll help Ruizi Ye turn you down.”
“No way!” Cao Weida quickly stopped him. With such good fortune, how could he not consider?
He’d charge ahead with his head!
“Fifth Master, you’re not joking with me, are you? Don’t fool me—I’m young, my heart can’t take the stimulation!”
Fan Wu Ye couldn’t help laughing heartily. “See, getting anxious? I knew you wouldn’t pass.”
“It’s just that I like your temperament, Cao Ye. Otherwise, I wouldn’t think of you for this good thing.”
His big hand slapped Cao Weida’s shoulder hard twice. “Relax, not fooling you. It’s real.”
“When Old Ruizi Ye mentioned it, I immediately thought of you. Since he has the intention, better you than some outsider.”
“At least I know your character. I have some bond with Old Ruizi Ye, so I gotta look out for that second wife.”
“If given to an outsider, who knows the temperament?”
“Wow, thanks so much, Fifth Master! This is huge good news!” Cao Weida excitedly cupped hands repeatedly. He never thought he’d have a chance to marry Feng Laizi home!
“Don’t worry, no matter the outcome, I won’t shortchange you, Fifth Master!”
“If it works out, I’ll treasure Ru Qiulan like a treasure, no less than those two wives!”
“I believe you. I know your character. Otherwise, I wouldn’t say extra.” Fan Wu Ye straightened proudly, having regained big face.
No matter if it succeeds, this favor is enough for Cao Weida to repay!
“But I didn’t come to you today just for Old Ru Beile’s family’s second wife. There’s another matter. Don’t forget why I’m going to Old Ru Beile’s house. He said, seeing your sincerity, he’ll let you have a Yongle blue and white porcelain ruyi shoulder-folding branch flower-fruit pattern plum vase!”
“Let me tell you, this is a treasure. I checked it—absolute real deal, top level of Ming Yongle Jingdezhen imperial kiln blue and white porcelain. So elegant, decorations so fine, blue color so vibrant!”
“If I weren’t short on cash, I’d want to take it home myself!”
Cao Weida didn’t know much about these, or rather was clueless.
Pros should handle pro stuff. He wasn’t one to bluff, so he asked directly: “Fifth Master, I know nothing about these. Give me a price—how many silver dollars to get it?”
“At least this much.” Fan Wu Ye held up nine fingers. “Less than nine thousand silver dollars, don’t bother.”
“I’m telling you, good timing. Before the little devils came, forget nine thousand—double would be low.”
Due to the war, many rushed to sell off and flee, flooding the market with antiques and calligraphy paintings. Demand from those with purchasing power dropped due to shrunken assets or hedging, supply outstripped demand, crashing ordinary antique prices.
Though Ming Yongle Jingdezhen imperial kiln blue and white porcelain was top-tier, it still fell quite a bit from war impact.
But top-tier is top-tier, still holds value, so the drop wasn’t too outrageous.
“Hiss~~ Nine thousand.” Cao Weida sucked in cool air, teeth aching.
He thought he was rich before, with silver dollars nearly piling into a mountain in his space, feeling like a nouveau riche.
But now he saw, aside from gold, his silver dollars could only buy about ten Ming Yongle Jingdezhen imperial kiln blue and white porcelains.
Damn, I thought I was loaded, turns out I’m still a poor bastard.
