Ji family and Changmenpu Street are in the east of the city, while Wanxiang Street is in the north.
Yu Shu and Cao Zixin walk there for half an hour, but they still don't reach their destination. Then they realize that Yiyang City is actually very big.
Along the way, although there is no bustling commercial district like Changmenpu Street, there are still two streets full of shops. There is no clear distinction between residential houses and shops. There are cloth shops and wine shops in the alleys of residential houses, and there may be residential houses next to the restaurants.
The gap between the rich and the poor is still very obvious. Not long ago, they passed an alley full of rotten walls and rotten tiles. After two streets, there are rows of courtyard markets with white walls and red doors.
Seeing Yu Shu looking around as if she has never seen the world, Cao Zixin says,
"Why do you look like you have never been out?"
His guess is right. This is indeed the first time she has gone "far" since she came here.
"Well, I don't come out often." If she has time, she has to walk around Yiyang City more. After all, when she has enough capital, she will do business in this city in the future. She must first understand the people's livelihood and then choose a way to make money.
The sun had risen in the afternoon, and Yu Shu's forehead was covered in sweat after walking for so long. Her body wasn't in good shape, and she usually didn't eat nutritious food. She looked fine on the surface, but her body was actually very weak.
Seeing her sweating, Cao Zixin says, "Tired? Just turn around the corner after this street. Do you see the archway in front? "
"I see it." Yu Shu licked her lips and fanned herself as she gazed at the magnificent stone archway in the distance.
As he got closer, he discovered that there was more than one. There were four two-story memorial archways in a circle, just at the crossroads of the street. Stone piers, red pillars, and colorful lintel engraved with all kinds of stone flowers. Compared to the one on Changmen Street, it was much more imposing.
Standing under the archway, looking east and west, the street is spacious and clean. There are many pedestrians, most of whom are neatly dressed, but there is no lack of people from all walks of life. Carriages stop at the corner of the street, and several coachmen are chatting to kill time. There is a pastry shop at the end of the street. Freshly baked pastries are placed on the shelves, and a sweet smell wafts on the road.
"Sir, do you want to buy an evil-warding painting?"
Yu Shu stood under the memorial arch and looked up. Cao Zixin was not in a hurry to choose a path, so he stood on the side and waited for her. In the time it took for her to stop, someone came over. He had a rope around his neck and was hooked to a big box in front of him. There were a few bundles of scrolls on top of it. He stretched his neck and said mysteriously,
"I have the painting of Liu family's Xiu Treading on Clouds. You look familiar, and I only charge you ten taels of silver."
Ten taels of silver? If one tael of silver was worth one thousand yuan, that would be ten thousand yuan!
Yu Shu looked curiously at this greedy peddler. She stretched out her hand and asked, "What picture? Let me see."
The peddler took a fancy to the well-dressed shopkeeper Cao and thought that Yu Shu was his attendant, so he didn't look down on her. He took out a scroll that was half the length of an arm and handed it to her.
Yu Shu stuck her head out and watched as he rummaged through the boxes. There was something else inside.
Cao Zixin does not stop her. He smiles and watches Yu Shu open the painting.
Yu Shu looks at the thing in the painting, which is neither a lion nor a cow nor a horse. She knows about Pixiu. In her previous life, she worked as a CEO of a company and loved it the most. There is a Pixiu made of pure gold on the table in her office. It is very expensive and eye-catching. Later, it was stolen by a cleaner and it was even on the local news.
However, the painting in her hand is not made of gold. She has worked in the ink shop for a few days and learned some common sense of distinguishing paper and ink from Cao Zixin. This scroll is too thin and black. It is not a good paper. The ink is uneven and the color is too messy. It is not a good ink.
Selling it for ten taels, isn't it a fool?
Cao Zixin stands behind her and looks at the painting. He says,
"Pixiu is a mythical beast from ancient times. It is also known as Bixie. Because it eats wealth, it can drive away evil. It is often used to guard a house. Some people draw it and use feng shui to raise it. After a long time, it can become spiritual and attract wealth."
"Gongzi is a person who knows what's good," The peddler smiled, revealing two black teeth. He pointed his thumb and forefinger at Cao Zixin, "This one will give you a discount of two taels, eight taels."
"You really know a lot," Yu Shu rolled up the painting. She wanted to return it to the peddler, but when she saw the peddler's face, she felt an itch in her heart. She turned the painting around and pushed it into Cao Zixin's arms. She cleared her throat and egged him on.
"Then buy it. Aren't you worried that business is not good?"
"Yes, gongzi. Eight taels. You can't find a cheaper one than me. A painting of the same style is sold for fifty taels in the Liu family's auction house. There is money but no stock. If I am not in urgent need of money, I will not sell my shop."
Cao Zixin can tell good from bad, but when he sees Yu Shu's fooled look, he can't help but laugh. This child is usually very smart, why is she acting like a fool now?
He doesn't want to embarrass the peddler, so he reaches out to take the painting. He is about to say a few polite words to decline, but his hand grabs empty air.
"Fifty taels!" Yu Shu screams. She raises her hand and misses Cao Zixin's hand. She holds the painting in her arms and urges him, "Hurry up and buy it.
This is cheap. If you miss this village, you won't have this shop again. "
"Gongzi, it's only eight taels." The peddler says.
"Yes, yes, it's only eight taels." Yu Shu also says.
The three of them stand at the intersection of the street. Yu Shu refuses to let go of the painting. The peddler is aiming at them. Gradually, some passers-by stop to watch. Cao Zixin is a little embarrassed.
In order not to continue to embarrass himself, he has no choice but to clear his throat and whisper to Yu Shu,
"I don't want to buy it. This painting is fake."
"Fake?" Yu Shu raises her voice.
"Gongzi, you can't talk nonsense!" The peddler is anxious.
Cao Zixin ignores him and explains to Yu Shu, "The Liu family's Pi Xiu Painting is never sold outside. It's only real in the Yi Store. The scroll is made of high-quality silk and the axis is made of peach wood. There are two red seals, one is the Painter's Seal and the other is the Yi Master's Seal. After it's connected to the spirit, it's sold for eighty-eight taels. How can you buy it with only eight taels?"
Hearing this, the peddler realizes that he has met a connoisseur. His expression changes. He looks left and right and is ready to run away.
Yu Shu opens the painting again and glances at the inscription. There is indeed only one red seal. She is secretly happy. She stretches out her hand and grabs the peddler who is about to run away. She puts the painting in front of his face angrily,
"You are fooling us with a fake? Let's go to see the official! "
Seeing that she is going to grab the peddler, Cao Zixin subconsciously grabs the peddler's other arm. He is stronger than Yu Shu. The peddler struggles for a while and then loses his strength.
The passers-by start to point.
Seeing that he can't run away, the peddler looks like he is about to cry. He says to the two of them,
"Sirs, I am here to beg for food. Please be merciful and let me go this time."
Yu Shu straightens her neck and says in a righteous manner, "Why didn't you think of letting us go when you cheated us of our money? That is eight taels of silver. If we really gave it to you, do you think you can get it back?"
Seeing that more and more passers-by are gathering, Cao Zixin is not in the mood to take the peddler to the official, so he tries to persuade him,
"Ashu, we still have business to attend to. Let him go."
The peddler immediately looks at Cao Zixin gratefully.
"Since you say so, it's fine. It's not that I can't let him go, but he has to hand over the things in the bag. Otherwise, he will cheat others in the future." Yu Shu pulls the shelf on the peddler's neck.
"Ah?" The peddler looks bitter.
"What ah? You don't want to hand it over? Then let's go and see the official! "
"I, I, I can't hand it over!"
The peddler grits his teeth, takes down the box and shoves it to Yu Shu.
Yu Shu ignored him and pulled at the box. Not only were there paintings and calligraphy inside, but there were also some red string scented sachets and other items. Most importantly, there were two blue booklets inside. One was "Qimen" and the other was "Suan Yi". They were exactly the same as the textbook that was distributed in Sanjue Study House.
"Can I go now?"
"Go, go."
Yu Shu waves her hand. The peddler glares at Cao Zixin who is still pulling his collar.
Cao Zixin bitterly loosens his grip. He sees the peddler lowering his head and squeezing through the crowd and disappearing. He turns his head and catches Yu Shu holding a book and snickering. No matter how you look at it, there is a hint of treachery. He squints his eyes and quickly realizes that he has been fooled by this brat. He is immediately angry and amused. He leaves her behind and turns to walk towards West Street.
When the passersby see that there is no more excitement, they walk away.
Meanwhile, Yu Shu hangs the heavy box on her neck. She happily flips through the two textbooks that she lost and found. After feeling happy, she looks up and finds that Cao Zixin has disappeared.
"Shopkeeper?" She calls out, but no one answers.
"Shopkeeper?" She calls out again, raising her voice and attracting the attention of several passersby.
Where is he?
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