12: Chapter 12 Keeping People at Aloof

Han Jingyang retreated in defeat.

Dating?

No, right now he only wanted to make money.

Even if he really wanted to date, he wouldn't do it through a blind date.

So, without even eating breakfast, he headed straight for Yingxiong Mountain. After browsing the stalls, he acquired two Rank 7 small items with no skills and only a +1 attribute bonus before returning to his shop.

After thinking for a moment, he called Liu Jing: "How is the old lady's health?"

"Excellent. In my grandmother's words, she suddenly feels like she's come back to life, feeling over a decade younger. When she went for a check-up, even the doctors called it a miracle."

"Is she still in the hospital?"

"She's at home."

"Then you're free now?"

"I'm free. Boss, wait for me, I'll be at work on time today."

Liu Jing arrived as promised. As soon as she entered the shop, she gave Han Jingyang a big hug: "Boss, that move of yours was truly brilliant. My whole family still can't quite believe it. I have to say, if you had such great ability, why didn't you show it sooner? If you had, would you have been dumped?"

"..."

"Hehe, sorry Boss, I poked your wound again," Liu Jing chuckled awkwardly. "What's today's task?"

"Watch the shop," Han Jingyang pointed to the counter he had organized. "Everything here is Feng Shui tools. Keep an eye on them. As for the rest, sell them off at a low price if you can. I've made an electronic archive with information like minimum prices, usage, and functions. Take some time to familiarize yourself with it."

"All of these are Feng Shui tools?"

"Yes, but they're of average quality. The better ones are in the safe. They can be reserved, but their usage is more complex and requires my personal presence. Understand?"

"Sell the ones in the counter as you please, and notify you for the ones in the safe."

"Exactly. Alright, I'm going out for a stroll. Call me if anything comes up."

"Goodbye, Boss."

"Also, keep a close eye on the Golden Toad on the counter. That's a good item too; it can attract wealth. Don't move its position. Put it back exactly where it was immediately after cleaning."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Boss, I don't think it's appropriate to just leave it here like this. It's best to get a cover for it, and maybe add some lighting."

"Sure, I'll leave that task to you."

Han Jingyang prepared to leave after speaking. He wanted to properly browse the nearby antique markets and strive to find better treasures at lower prices.

The Yingxiong Mountain Antique Market was just the beginning. In the future, he would visit every antique market and shop, large and small, in Quancheng.

Later on, he would visit not just Quancheng, but also Dao City, Rong City, the Capital, Shanghai, Long City, Shen City, and all the other major antique hubs.

However, just as he stepped out, he saw Zhou Yucheng.

Zhou Yucheng came jogging toward him, waving his hand with a thick-skinned grin as he ran.

Han Jingyang didn't want to pay him any attention.

But on second thought, he hadn't done anything wrong, so why should he avoid this man like a guilty thief?

He wanted to see what this old fellow had to say.

Seeing Han Jingyang stop, Zhou Yucheng hurried to his side and said joyfully, "I saw you from a distance. Jingyang, why don't you come sit in my shop?"

Han Jingyang shook his head: "I have things to do. If you have something to say, say it directly. Don't waste time."

"Ahem, it's like this," Zhou Yucheng didn't dare to dally further. "My wife's health isn't very good either. Jingyang, do you think you could help recuperate her?"

"I cannot."

"Jingyang, Jingyang, don't keep people at such a distance. It was indeed my fault for deleting your number before. I apologize. Not only do I apologize, but I'll also introduce business to you—and more than one deal. This is just the beginning, I'm sincere. You can set whatever price you want."

Han Jingyang sighed: "Boss Zhou, it's not that I'm unwilling to do business with you, but I'm truly powerless. My craft relies on those Feng Shui tools, and right now I don't have any on hand that can recuperate the body."

"Ah?"

"So let's talk about this later," Han Jingyang waved his hand and turned to leave.

Zhou Yucheng was stunned for a moment but refused to give up. Panting, he caught up to Han Jingyang again: "Where can one find that kind of Feng Shui ornament?"

"In the antique market, but the specific effects can only be known after seeing them."

"I have quite a few good things in my shop. Why don't you go and see if there's anything suitable?" Zhou Yucheng quickly added, "Of course, the fee remains the same."

Han Jingyang was tempted again.

But this time, he restrained himself.

Zhou Yucheng's Jingpin Tianxia antique shop was indeed very famous. It was a renowned shop in Yingxiong Mountain and even Quancheng, having been open for over thirty years with many good items.

However, compared to all the antique shops in Yingxiong Mountain or even the whole of Quancheng, Jingpin Tianxia was just a negligible fraction.

What Jingpin Tianxia had, other antique shops also had.

What Jingpin Tianxia didn't have, other antique shops might have.

In his search for treasure, he wouldn't be limited to one or two antique shops.

Anywhere in the country or even the world that sold antiques was his treasure hunting ground.

So, he shook his head again: "Sorry, I have an appointment with someone else. Let's talk another day. Goodbye."

He turned and left, giving Zhou Yucheng no chance to persuade him to stay.

It was that same old saying: before, you ignored me; now, I'm out of your reach.

Though it was a bit chuunibyou...

It certainly felt good.

Especially when he noticed Zhou Yucheng's disappointed, even angry, yet helpless expression—that feeling was heavenly.

Of course, he wasn't intentionally embarrassing Zhou Yucheng. Besides his distaste for Zhou Yucheng's character, he was also considering his public image.

With the abilities he had shown, he could completely stand above others.

He had no interest in being some superior being, but he had to have his own authority, didn't he?

Otherwise, if anyone could just order him around, that would be truly frustrating.

He could be amiable and approachable.

But he could not be subservient or compromise his dignity.

In a word, he wanted to earn money while standing tall and maintaining the initiative.

With Zhou Yucheng's case as an example, in the future, whoever came to him for help would have to hold him in high regard first.

For a master, it was only normal to have a bit of a temper.

Han Jingyang left the dazed Zhou Yucheng behind and turned straight into the nearby Fuchang Antique Shop.

The owner, Sun Fuchang, was an Old Man in his sixties who had opened this shop after retiring about seven or eight years ago.

Sun Fuchang took off his reading glasses: "How do you have time to come to my place?"

Han Jingyang sat down by the tea table with a smile. Without being polite, he picked up the Purple Clay Teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, though his hand paused for a split second the moment he touched the teapot.

"Ding: Appraisable item discovered. Appraise?"

"Yes/No."

Of course, it was "No."

Without appraisal, this Purple Clay Teapot was just an ordinary Purple Clay Teapot.

But once appraised, it would become a Feng Shui tool with attributes or even skills.

So he couldn't just appraise things randomly.

He set down the teapot, took a sip from the teacup, and exhaled contentedly: "This tea is not bad, quite fragrant."

"Sui Yin Zi, just an ordinary daily tea. If you like it, have some more."

"It's alright. I don't have a particular interest in tea, but I am quite interested in this tea set of yours. It looks good; was it custom-made?"

"Let's test your eyesight."

Han Jingyang then picked up the teacup to study it carefully.

A moment later, he picked up the teapot again.

After studying it for several minutes, he still didn't have much of a lead, because the appraisal of purple clay ware was extremely difficult; even experts often tripped up on it.