Lu Jiao's sudden shout startled Qi Ge.
Fang Guobin turned his head.
"Boss, I heard you're very fond of jade and antiques. We acquired something a couple of days ago, and the pawnor likely won't be able to redeem it. Would you like to take a look? If you like it, perhaps you could purchase it."
"Lu Jiao!" Qi Ge called out to him in a low voice. "The item only came into the shop two days ago. How can you be so sure it won't be redeemed?"
After speaking, Qi Ge smiled at Fang Guobin. "This lad doesn't understand the rules. Boss, please, have a good day. I'll see you out."
Lu Jiao knew Qi Ge wouldn't give up so easily. Seeing that Fang Guobin wasn't swayed by Qi Ge, he immediately added, "But the jade pendant, both in its material and carving, is exceptionally exquisite. Since it's something the Boss likes, and it's the Boss's own shop, there's no harm in taking a look."
Lu Jiao's words struck a chord with Fang Guobin. He indeed loved antiques and jade. Hearing about its exquisite craftsmanship, his interest was piqued. "Is that so? Manager Qi, judging by how Little Jiao has praised the jade pendant, I can't possibly refuse to see it. Where is that jade pendant? Bring it out for me to feast my eyes upon."
Qi Ge was already breaking out in a cold sweat.
But since Fang Guobin had spoken, he had no choice. He glared at Lu Jiao and then turned to Fang Guobin with a fawning smile. "Oh, Boss, to tell you the truth. This jade pendant is indeed quite good, and I like it very much. I thought at the time it was a dead pawn and wanted to present it to you. But last night, while examining it, I discovered some flaws in the fine crevices. So, I've already sent it out for repair."
Lu Jiao sneered inwardly upon hearing Qi Ge's words. "You'd better hope Master Gou hasn't resold the jade pendant yet, or you'll be in tears."
Fang Guobin's expression changed drastically upon hearing Qi Ge's explanation.
It was evident he was very displeased. "Manager Qi, you know the rules of a pawnshop. How could you casually let someone take out someone else's pawned item? What if I don't like it? What if the owner returns to redeem it? You're truly becoming senile."
Fang Guobin's words were quite harsh, causing Qi Ge's face to turn bright red.
Indeed, how could items in a pawnshop be casually given away? If the owner were to return to redeem the jade pendant, any alteration could lead to trouble.
After speaking, Fang Guobin let out a cold snort. "Go and retrieve the item."
Sigh!
Watching Fang Guobin sit back down, Qi Ge inwardly lamented his misfortune, and he also harbored resentment towards Lu Jiao. However, he didn't hesitate, as retrieving the jade pendant was the priority.
But what he didn't expect was that the jade pendant had already changed hands.
Master Gou was quite pleased to see Qi Ge arrive. "I never expected you to bring such a good item. A customer came in this morning and was captivated by it at first sight. He paid a full fifteen silver dollars. We've made a fortune."
Admittedly, the price was indeed tempting, which explained why Qi Ge had taken the risk of stealing and reselling the pawned item. The profit margin was substantial.
Under normal circumstances, Qi Ge might have lavished praise on Master Gou. But now...
Huh?
Qi Ge broke out in a sweat. "The jade pendant has already been sold by you?"
"Yes, sold. Such a good item, and it was snapped up immediately once it was displayed."
Since he couldn't retrieve the item, Qi Ge didn't know how to explain it to Fang Guobin and lingered in the small alley outside the shop.
He planned to wait for Fang Guobin to lose patience and leave, assuming the matter would then blow over.
But at that moment, the back door of the pawnshop opened, and Lu Jiao and Fang Guobin walked out. From a distance, he saw Lu Jiao talking to Fang Guobin.
Lu Jiao was gesturing, and Fang Guobin's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Oh? Manager Qi, I didn't expect to run into you here. We truly are fated." Qi Ge, hiding behind a corner, heard a male voice from behind him. Turning around, he saw it was the very person who had pawned the jade pendant that day.
And Zhan Ruoxuan's greeting naturally alerted Fang Guobin and Lu Jiao.
"Qi Ge? Why have you come back and not come inside?" Fang Guobin's tone was already displeased.
Qi Ge stammered, "No, I... I just arrived, I just got back."
His stuttering indicated his inability to form coherent sentences.
Fang Guobin glanced at Zhan Ruoxuan, and feeling it inappropriate to discuss matters in front of an outsider, said, "Let's go inside and talk."
Qi Ge and Lu Jiao followed.
To Fang Guobin's surprise, the man who had greeted Qi Ge in the alley earlier also followed them in.
"Who are you?"
"Oh, I've come to redeem my item."
Zhan Ruoxuan then took out a handful of silver dollars from his pocket. "Didn't I pawn a jade pendant here a few days ago? I'm a bit better off now and intend to redeem it."
Saying so, Zhan Ruoxuan placed the silver dollars on the counter. "Interest and redemption fee, totaling eleven silver dollars."
A silence fell over the scene, so profound it was awkward.
Fang Guobin, being a businessman, had already seen from Qi Ge's expression that the jade pendant had not been retrieved. At this moment, he was seething with anger.
Now that the owner had come looking for it, yet they had lost the pawned item.
If word of this got out, who would dare to pawn important items here in the future?
Would they only be able to accept cotton wadding and clothes from the poor?
"Manager Qi!" Fang Guobin demanded an explanation. More accurately, he needed Qi Ge to resolve this mess.
"Young man, this is the situation." Qi Ge knew this was his only chance. "Your jade pendant was too valuable, so we didn't keep it in the pawnshop. You know the times are bad lately, and there are always petty thieves eyeing our property."
Zhan Ruoxuan frowned.
Qi Ge didn't wait for him to speak. "You didn't inform us beforehand, and we didn't expect you to come to redeem it so soon. Therefore, the jade pendant cannot be retrieved today."
With a fawning smile, Qi Ge continued, "How about this? You come back the day after tomorrow to collect it. For the inconvenience caused, we can offer a partial reduction in interest."
Qi Ge's mind was indeed quick.
But as fate would have it, he was already caught in his own trap.
How could Zhan Ruoxuan let him off so easily? "Oh, Manager. To be honest, this jade pendant is an heirloom from my family. My elderly mother needs to see this jade pendant, and I must bring it back to her. Besides, even if you were to keep it safe, you wouldn't store it all the way in Chengdu, would you? It's still early, and as long as the jade pendant is still within the city's vicinity, it can definitely be retrieved."
Ugh...
Qi Ge lamented, Zhan Ruoxuan's words were perfectly crafted, leaving him no room to retort.
After all, the city was small, and he couldn't possibly claim to have stored important items far away; that explanation was inherently unrealistic.
Qi Ge was drenched in sweat.
Lu Jiao's eyes held a smile.
"Sir, this is the situation." Lu Jiao stepped forward. "Although it's still early, it will take some time to retrieve the jade pendant. By the time we get it back, it will be getting dark. In the dim light, you won't be able to discern any issues with the jade pendant. You know, once a pawned item leaves the counter, we are not responsible."
Lu Jiao smiled. "So, for your own benefit, could you perhaps wait until tomorrow when it's bright daylight to collect your item?"
"Is that so?" Zhan Ruoxuan feigned contemplation. "Alright, I'll listen to you, young man. It makes sense that if the product isn't as described, it's difficult to argue."
Qi Ge was bewildered by Zhan Ruoxuan's easy agreement, while Fang Guobin discreetly glanced at Lu Jiao with a hint of admiration.