184: Gold Shop

Song Yuan went to Chengnan first, where there were three shops not far from each other.

He found the first one, which was also the largest of the three, according to the navigation address. An elderly Master was minding the shop at the entrance.

Song Yuan walked to the counter in the shop and observed the dazzling array of gold ornaments for a long time, including gold bracelets, rings, necklaces…

Finally, he saw a few gold locks in the corner.

Song Yuan took out his own gold lock and compared it with the ones locked inside the counter.

The Master came over and asked him,

“Sir, are you looking to get a gold lock made for a child?”

Song Yuan didn't directly state his intention, but first tried to get information from the other party,

“Boss, these ornaments all look very professional. Your shop has been open here for a long time, hasn't it?”

The Master said with a smile,

“Of course, my shop is an old brand in Nanjie. There are quite a few children in the vicinity who grew up wearing gold locks I made. The oldest ones are probably even older than you.”

“Then do you still remember the customers who ordered custom gold items from you before?”

“I remember some special customers, and those who live nearby and came often. The rest I can't recall. My shop has been open for decades, and I've served tens of thousands of customers. It's impossible to remember everyone.”

The Master's gaze fell on the gold lock in Song Yuan's palm,

“This one of yours… looks quite unique. Are you planning to have an identical one made?”

Song Yuan nodded and casually made up a story,

“Could you take a look? Is this one a product of your shop? This one was given to me by my grandfather. He's no longer with us, but now my wife is pregnant with twins, and I want to have two identical ones made for the children. But I don't know which shop my grandfather had it made at.”

The Master put on his reading glasses and looked carefully,

“This… I really can't say for sure, because this shop was originally run by my elder brother. I only took over in 1998. How old is yours?”

Song Yuan sighed,

“That's really a shame. I'm twenty-eight this year, and I've had it since I was born, so it's at least twenty-eight years old.”

The Master held the gold lock and studied it carefully,

“Don't tell me, this craftsmanship really does resemble my brother's, but I can't be certain.”

Song Yuan was a little excited,

“Then where is your brother now? Can I meet him?”

“My brother isn't in Beijing. How about this, I'll first look for the molds he left behind and see if there's an identical one. If it matches, I'll use that mold to make two identical ones for you!”

As he spoke, the Master returned the gold lock to Song Yuan, took an old box from the cabinet, and began to search through it.

Song Yuan sat by patiently waiting,

“Boss, if you can find the same one, I'm willing to pay double the price!”

The Master was energized when he heard he was willing to pay double the price,

“You don't need to pay double. Just pay me a little extra, consider it compensation for my time spent looking for the mold for you.”

Song Yuan also helped him search, and finally, the Master pulled out an old, patinated mold from a corner,

“I think it looks a bit similar, bring yours over to compare.”

Song Yuan's heart rate quickened with excitement. He placed his gold lock into the mold, and it fit perfectly, seamlessly.

Song Yuan!!!

He found it.

“Master, this gold lock of mine is quite special; my name is engraved on it. I hope the ones I give to my two children also have words engraved. Can I meet your brother?”

The Master paused for a moment,

“What, you don't trust me? Engraving is easy, it won't stump me. My brother taught me.”

“It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I have some very important things I need to confirm. Could I trouble you to introduce me? I really need to see your brother!”

The Master relented,

“Alright, my brother isn't in Beijing recently, he might not be back until next week. But I'll tell you first, my brother is older than me, and he's served even more customers, so he might not remember things from twenty-eight years ago.”

Song Yuan took a business card from the table,

“Thank you, Master Zhang. Can I add you on WeChat? I'll come to see your brother as soon as he returns.”

“Alright.”

Song Yuan added him on WeChat and left.

Today was finally not a wasted trip; he actually found the origin of this gold lock.

Now he prayed that the Master would remember the person who ordered this gold lock back then. If so, he would be able to directly find his biological parents!

He was grateful that the human traffickers hadn't searched his newborn swaddling clothes and had sold him directly to Song Qingqing, which left him with an important clue!

If that gold lock had been seen by the human traffickers, he couldn't even imagine.

After leaving the gold shop, there was no need to look at the other shops. Song Yuan drove to a snack street, where Lu Chis Aunt's shop was located.

He parked his car and found Lu Chis Aunt's shop.

In the electric grill at the entrance, a pot of beef jerky was being roasted, and the aroma of meat filled the air.

“Aunt, I'm here to buy some beef jerky.”

Lu Chis Aunt saw Song Yuan and came out with a smile,

“Song Yuan, why do you have time to come over today?”

“Aunt, I'm here to buy some beef jerky. Pregnant women should be able to eat it, right?”

Lu Chis Aunt was first surprised, then congratulated Song Yuan,

“Song Yuan is going to be a father? Congratulations, congratulations! I'll give you an extra half-kilo today. It's good for pregnant women to eat more beef; it supplements iron and blood!”

His aunt was quick and agile, weighing out the beef and handing it to Song Yuan in a few movements,

“That brat Lu Chi also got a girlfriend recently. I hope he's like you, turns his girlfriend into his wife soon, has a cute baby, and lives a prosperous life!”

Song Yuan was surprised. Just a few days ago, Lu Chi was still single, and now he has a girlfriend?

His good brother didn't know anything about it; he's really tight-lipped!

Song Yuan scanned the code to pay and returned to his car. He called Lu Chi,

“I heard you're no longer single? Did you forget to treat us?”

Lu Chi cursed on the other end,

“Damn it, I suspect you've planted a spy in my family group. I just announced I'm no longer single, and you already know? You didn't hack into my phone, did you?”

Song Yuan couldn't help but laugh aloud,

“No, I just bought some beef jerky at my aunt's shop, and she told me. Did you manage to win over the girl from the last blind date?”

“I guess you could say I won her over. We'll try dating for a while to see if our values align. If we get along, I'm planning to propose, and then, you, as someone who's been through it, will have to help me plan it!”

Song Yuan said with a smile,

“Of course, I'll give you a super big red envelope! Next week, my wife will bring a few single girls from her company to gather, and you bring your girlfriend too. Everyone can get to know each other!”

“Definitely.”

After hanging up the phone, Song Yuan posted a message in the work group about going on a spring outing next week, asking those who wanted to go to sign up.

When the single guys in the group heard there were girls, they couldn't wait to sign up with both hands and feet.

Song Yuan tallied the number of people, and wow…

He'd probably have to charter a bus.