6: Chapter 6 Getting Back on Track

Liu Jing sat down with an obedient expression and blinked, "Boss, just say what you need to say. I promise to listen carefully."

Han Jingyang nodded, "You've been at my shop for six months and a few days. Your basic salary is 6,500, plus commissions and bonuses, which is top-tier in this market..."

Liu Jing was shocked, "Boss, are you planning to fire me?"

"..."

"I spoke too soon. Boss, please continue," Liu Jing realized she had misunderstood after seeing Han Jingyang's helpless expression. She smiled sheepishly and patted her own face twice, "Boss, I will definitely break my bad habit of speaking out of turn in the future."

Han Jingyang had a belly full of heartfelt words, but they were stifled by this silly employee. He said sullenly, "Let's get straight to the fan. That fan isn't the work of a famous master, and its condition isn't good, but it is truly a rare Feng Shui item. You've seen the effects yourself. However, given our relationship, I'm too embarrassed to ask for an exorbitant price. So, just pay what you think is fair."

"What? Pay what I think is fair?"

"Yes."

"Is 10,000 okay?"

"If you think it's okay, then it's okay."

Han Jingyang simply threw the initiative to Liu Jing.

Anyway, he had no experience and no idea how to price it. This pricing power was a bit of a hot potato for him, so it was better to hand it over to Liu Jing, the person involved.

When he brought the fan to Liu Jing's house, he had already planned to do her a favor.

Now, he was just following through with that favor completely.

Along the way, he could test the market and see how much Liu Jing and her family were willing to pay. This would help him with future pricing, or at least provide a reference standard.

Additionally, it would also help win over this woman, Liu Jing.

Although this woman was gossipy and talkative, and sometimes a bit chuunibyou, she was impeccable when it came to work. She was quite good at dealing with people. Even though she only had a high school diploma, she had always been working hard to learn knowledge related to antiques, never arriving late or leaving early, never slacking off, and rarely even asking for leave.

Such an employee was worth paying a little price to retain.

With the Grandmaster-level Appraisal Technique, he would spend less time in the shop in the future, so he needed someone reliable to watch over it.

He felt that Liu Jing was very reliable.

Therefore, after finishing, he looked at Liu Jing seriously.

Liu Jing was also uncharacteristically silent. After a long while, she said calmly, "Boss, my parents prepared 100,000 in dowry for me, and I have over 100,000 in savings myself. My parents can also scrape together about 300,000 in cash. So, is 500,000 okay?"

Han Jingyang was secretly surprised.

500,000—she was actually quite wealthy.

These days, there really weren't many ordinary families who could take out 500,000 in cash at once.

However, thinking about Liu Jing's lifestyle, it was understandable. She commuted by e-bike every day, rarely went shopping, didn't buy jewelry, and didn't even touch luxury goods. She only bought affordable clothes. With a salary of over 6,000 a month, she could save at least 5,500.

Her only pleasure in life was saving money, similar to the temperament of the greedy dragons depicted in Western fantasy novels.

However, she was also willing to spend money when it counted.

500,000, she pulled it out just like that. She was different from a Grandet who valued money over life and family.

Han Jingyang asked himself: if he had to come up with 500,000, it would be quite difficult, unless he transferred Jiguang Zhai.

But an antique shop like this wasn't easy to transfer. It was a common occurrence for a transfer sign to hang for half a year without finding a buyer, because the antique business hadn't been easy these past few years.

Thinking of this, he shook his head.

Seeing this, Liu Jing was anxious, "Boss, I know this money isn't enough, but this is all my family can take out right now. How about I work for you to pay off the debt..."

Han Jingyang coughed, "Can you let me finish?"

"Okay, Boss, you speak, I'm listening."

"500,000 is indeed a bit lacking, but I'm not heartless. I can't drive your family to a dead end."

"Boss, you mean..."

"300,000," Han Jingyang held up three fingers, "300,000, and this fan is yours."

"Really?"

"You don't want to?"

"I do, I do," Liu Jing was overjoyed. She jumped up, hugged Han Jingyang, and kissed him. She planted several kisses on Han Jingyang's forehead with a "smack, smack" sound, then turned and ran, "Boss, wait for me. I'm going home to get the money and will be right back."

Han Jingyang touched his forehead.

It was covered in saliva.

Was this considered being forcibly kissed?

Just as he was speechless, his phone rang. It was a local number, so he answered it casually, "I am Han Jingyang. Who is this?"

"Little Han, it's me, Zhou Yucheng."

"Oh, Teacher Zhou, do you need something from me?"

"It's about what you mentioned this morning," Zhou Yucheng asked seriously over the phone, "Is what you said true?"

"Teacher Zhou, did you happen to run into someone who needs it?"

"Yes, but lives are at stake. I don't want to take any risks. You must give me a definitive answer so that I can have some confidence when recommending you. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to bring it up, understand?"

Han Jingyang raised his eyebrows.

He had only given his business card to Zhou Yucheng in the morning, and business was already coming in the afternoon.

Was this the "Wealth Pouring In" skill taking effect?

Glancing at the unremarkable three-legged golden toad root carving on the counter, Han Jingyang replied calmly, "Teacher Zhou, I am young and have no reputation; my words carry no weight. Even if I speak as sincerely and earnestly as possible, it is meaningless. Therefore, I will not boast or brag about how great I am. If you want to recommend me, just tell the truth. Whether the other party believes it or not is their business."

"..."

Zhou Yucheng was silent for a moment, then changed the subject, "If I wanted to buy that standing statue of the Old Longevity Star..."

"Not for sale."

"Why?"

"Teacher Zhou, I understand your thoughts, but Feng Shui items are different from other things. They cannot be used indiscriminately; the consequences of misuse are very serious."

"Alright then, I'll think about it some more."

...

Yuquan Villa District.

Zhou Yucheng frowned and hung up the phone, his expression very conflicted. It took a good half hour before he made up his mind. He drove out, bought a fruit basket, and headed straight to the city hospital.

Arriving at the VIP ward of the inpatient building, he knocked carefully.

A middle-aged woman opened the door, and upon seeing Zhou Yucheng, she was very surprised, "Professor Zhou, why are you here?"

"I was passing by, so I thought I'd stop by to see the old lady. Also, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you."

"This..."

"It's about the old lady."

"Alright, come in and talk."

The ward was a large suite. Inside was the hospital bed, and outside was a living room, complete with a sofa, coffee table, refrigerator, air conditioner, and TV—it was like a cozy little home.

Zhou Yucheng sat down and organized his thoughts, "It's like this: I have a student who deals in antiques and also knows a bit about Feng Shui. This morning, I ran into him holding a bronze standing statue of the Old Longevity Star. The bronze statue looked very ordinary, yet it had a peculiar feeling to it. I asked him about it, and he said it was a Feng Shui item that could offer Prolonging Life..."

The middle-aged woman didn't wait for Zhou Yucheng to finish and interrupted directly, "Professor Zhou, you are of such an advanced age and a university professor; how could you believe such a simple scam?"

"I was suspicious too, but that bronze statue was truly unusual..."

"Professor Zhou, this kind of scam exploits the psychology of family members who are desperate to seek medical treatment when ill. Anyone with a bit of rationality wouldn't fall for it."