This person is being difficult again...
Xiao Xitian shot a look at Zhen Meili. "I say, Madam, my mother fancied this golden walnut first. Do you understand the concept of 'first come, first served'?"
It was these people who inflated prices, making many cheap items now sell for an exorbitant amount.
Rich people didn't seem to mind, but country folk were particularly sensitive to the prices in the county town. Whenever a certain item's price soared to an outrageous level, the common people would sigh for days...
Zhen Meili swayed her head. "So what if you fancied it first? Do you know what 'highest bidder wins' means?"
"Oh really!" Gu Shi narrowed her eyes and curved her lips. "Then you'd better ask the shopkeeper if he's willing to sell it to you first!"
When buying things, it was always first come, first served. There was no such thing as forced buying or selling...
Upon hearing this, Zhen Meili abruptly turned to the shopkeeper and asked gleefully, "Shopkeeper, I'm offering twenty-five taels of silver for this golden walnut. Are you selling it or not?"
Shopkeeper: "..."
I beg you to leave quickly! Why are you quarreling for no reason!
He still had business to do.
"Twenty-five, twenty-five taels of silver, I, I will certainly sell it!" The shopkeeper fiddled with his fingers.
After all, he was a businessman. Who wouldn't want to earn more money...
Xiao Xitian put her forehead in her hand and sighed. "Shopkeeper, have you fed your principles to the dogs?"
Never mind, isn't opening a shop all about making money? It's not shameful.
"Then I offer thirty taels of silver!" Xiao Xitian put her hands on her hips, her temper flaring up again.
Since it was something her mother liked, it must be good.
If Zhen Meili wanted to snatch it, that was impossible...
Hearing this, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up. He quickly looked at Zhen Meili, hoping she would raise the bid.
Who would have thought that a common golden walnut could be auctioned off? He was making a fortune today.
Gu Shi lowered her head and tugged at Xiao Xitian, signaling her not to act impulsively...
Xiao Xitian pursed her lips and smiled. "Don't worry, Mother. This baby will make her bleed today."
Zhen Meili was successfully amused. "Thirty taels of silver? What a joke! Do you take this madam for a pauper?"
Alas, she really didn't want to argue with these country folk, as it would make her seem cheap.
Never mind, let's make it a quick sale, lest this mother and daughter try to save face and end up suffering...
"Fifty taels of silver!" Zhen Meili held up five fingers and sneered, "If the shopkeeper sells it, wrap it up for me now!"
See? This is what it means to be rich and powerful. I can crush you with money.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper's eyes vanished, and he eagerly looked at Gu Shi and Xiao Xitian, hoping they would continue to bid...
Xiao Xitian smiled unhurriedly. "Second Madam, do you know how ridiculous you are? You think fifty taels of silver can let you do as you please!"
"A mere fifty taels?" Zhen Meili clutched her stomach and laughed heartily. "Since you say so, why don't you produce fifty taels of silver for me to see? Heh, anyone can brag!"
With that, Zhen Meili instructed Xiao Cui, "Take out the silver notes and let them mother and daughter have a good look..."
Xiao Cui responded and pulled out six or seven silver notes from her sleeve, all of one hundred taels denomination.
"See? Little girl, I am richer than you. What can you do about it? Hmph!" Zhen Meili said smugly.
Xiao Xitian: "..."
Childish!
Seeing this, Gu Shi was about to open her purse and take out the silver notes.
This money was earned by her youngest daughter selling wild game. She had intended to use it for renovating the house and opening a shop, but since her daughter was being so disdained, she couldn't just stand by and watch...
Xiao Xitian pressed Gu Shi's hand and shook her head. "Mother, there's no need!"
Dealing with someone like Zhen Meili doesn't require using her savings.
Gu Shi twitched her lips. "Really no need?"
Although the golden walnut was valuable, Gu Shi didn't want her youngest daughter to be insulted and despised for such a matter...
"Shopkeeper, how much silver is this pure gold token worth?" Xiao Xitian took out a golden token from her small satchel and placed it on the counter.
In comparison, the heavy token was worth many times more than the golden walnut, and its craftsmanship was exquisite, with extremely neat engravings of patterns.
The shopkeeper had never seen such a fine item before and was momentarily at a loss for words...
Zhen Meili was also bewildered, staring blankly at the token, her heart filled with suspicion.
This item looked like something from the imperial palace.
Could it be that this little girl stole it?
The shopkeeper examined it carefully, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "This pure gold token is worth at least six hundred taels of silver!"
Its value wasn't just in its monetary worth, but in its ability to save one's life in a critical moment...
Of course, the token's applicability was limited to those with discerning eyes.
Xiao Xitian breathed a sigh of relief. Six hundred taels of silver was good. At least it would keep Zhen Meili quiet for a while.
"Mother!" Xiao Xitian tugged at Gu Shi's sleeve and whispered in her ear, "Mother, is this golden walnut very valuable?"
She had noticed her mother liking this golden walnut from the beginning and had even shaken it near her ear.
This indicated that the golden walnut was far more than just ordinary in appearance.
To those who knew its worth, it was a priceless treasure, while Zhen Meili only wanted to use it as a flashy accessory...
Gu Shi nodded and lowered her voice. "There's a ruby inside. You'll know once you smash it open!"
Xiao Xitian understood.
She rolled her big eyes and pondered for a moment, then a thought suddenly struck her.
"Second Madam, do you dare to make a bet with me?" Xiao Xitian asked.
Zhen Meili: "???"
What trick was this little girl trying to play?
"What kind of bet?" Zhen Meili was curious.
Xiao Xitian smiled faintly and pointed to the token on the counter. "I'll bet this token. If I lose, the token and the golden walnut are yours. If I win, your silver notes and the golden walnut are mine. Do you dare to bet?"
Today, she not only wanted to humiliate Zhen Meili but also to make a substantial profit...
Zhen Meili was puzzled. "So, what exactly are you betting on?"
She was already learning to be mysterious at such a young age.
Xiao Xitian ignored her and asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, is this golden walnut selling for sixty taels of silver?"
"Sell, sell, sell! Pay the money and take it, and we'll even include a gift box!" The shopkeeper was so excited he was about to faint.
Before Zhen Meili could raise her bid further, Gu Shi directly produced sixty taels of silver and bought the golden walnut...
Xiao Xitian played with the golden walnut in her hand and looked at Zhen Meili. "Now that this golden walnut belongs to me, let's bet whether there's a gem inside. If there isn't, I'll willingly admit defeat, and the token worth six hundred taels of silver and the golden walnut worth sixty taels will be yours!"
As she spoke, Xiao Xitian requested the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, will you be my witness?"
The shopkeeper and Zhen Meili were both dumbfounded...
Had they heard correctly? There was a gem inside this walnut?
This child must not have woken up yet!
"Yes, I'll be your witness!" The shopkeeper patted his chest.
Gu Shi curved her lips, finally understanding what her youngest daughter was up to.
So, she wanted to win money...