Nan Zhu and Mu Ao Tie had no choice but to leave the pawnshop with him as well. They felt some regret.
Yu Qing said nothing. He returned directly to Miao Qing Hall, entered the inner residence, found Sun Ping, took out the big headed jar and handed it to her. He asked, “This item had a task issued by You Ya. It should fetch some money when sold in You Jiao Port, right?”
Sun Ping recognised the jar at first glance. When she saw what was inside, she felt somewhat speechless and asked them to wait a moment.
Before long, she invited Tie Miao Qing over.
After Tie Miao Qing confirmed it was the fire cricket, she felt quite surprised. She had not expected this fire cricket to still be alive and looking very healthy. She remembered the three they brought back seemed on the verge of death. She could not help asking, “What do you normally feed it?”
Yu Qing replied, “Bones. Leftover bones are fine.”
Leftover bones? Tie Miao Qing and Sun Ping looked at each other in surprise.
After placing the metal jar back on the table, Tie Miao Qing asked, “Third Place Scholar, do you plan to sell it?”
Yu Qing nodded. He felt a bit uncomfortable. This repeated address of Third Place Scholar made him quite unused to it.
Tie Miao Qing did not know why they suddenly thought of selling it. She probed, “Are you short of money?”
Yu Qing puffed out his chest slightly, looking as if they could not possibly lack money. “No. We just realised that keeping this thing serves no purpose and still requires effort to care for it. We might as well sell it. Of course, if it can fetch a good price, that would be even better.”
Nan Zhu nodded slightly. He also avoided showing any sign of poverty. Family shame should not be aired in public.
Mu Ao Tie turned his body slightly to look outside the pavilion. It seemed the matter at hand had nothing to do with him.
Tie Miao Qing hesitated and looked towards Sun Ping with a questioning expression.
Sun Ping understood. After a brief pause, she sighed and said, “Third Place Scholar, to be frank, we are not well off at the moment either. It is truly difficult for us to offer you a price for this item. A low price would be unfair to you. A high price would strain our own limited funds first, and secondly, we might not be able to resell it, since outsiders do not clearly understand its uses.”
“I did not say to sell it to you.” Yu Qing waved his hand and pointed to the glowing text subtitles drifting in the air outside the pavilion. “You run this business in You Jiao Port. I am asking for your opinion. If we list it publicly for sale, do you think it can be sold?”
So that was the case. Both women breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
Tie Miao Qing assured him, “After all, it is something You Ya publicly issued a task for. Regardless of its use, in this trading hub where large sums of money flow in and out, even if someone buys it just to find out what it is, there will be buyers. It can definitely be sold.”
Yu Qing’s eyes lit up. He quickly asked, “Then what price would be appropriate?”
Tie Miao Qing felt somewhat uncertain. “There is no comparable price for this item. However, given You Ya’s status and the fame it has lent to this thing, it should be no problem to sell it for one hundred thousand taels. Even just to see what it looks like, truly wealthy people should not mind such a sum.” She looked at Yu Qing and asked tentatively, “How about listing it at one hundred thousand taels to try?”
One hundred thousand taels? Nan Zhu’s eyes went straight. He stared fixedly at the metal jar. The broken thing that Old Fifteen usually fed bones to like a dog, the farting bug that they all found disgusting even to look at, was actually worth so much money?
Mu Ao Tie turned his head back from looking outside and also stared at the metal jar. Surprise flashed even in his aloof eyes.
Yu Qing’s mind buzzed. His cheeks flushed red with excitement. In his mind, he saw the sun jumping out of the sea and blooming with ten thousand golden rays.
He was almost excited to the point of exploding.
He had thought this way before, believing that items from You Ya tasks should be worth some money. But later, when it kept failing to sell no matter how much he lowered the price, he lost confidence himself. Eventually he even let it roam free, not caring if it ran away.
Now, hearing an expert’s view, he finally regained his spirits.
He sat up straight. He told himself to stay calm, to hold it together.
After steadying his emotions, he confirmed again, “Boss lady, are you sure it can be sold for one hundred thousand taels?”
Tie Miao Qing gave almost a guarantee. “For something from a You Ya task, one hundred thousand taels should be no problem.”
Yu Qing took a deep breath. In his excitement, his impression of Tie Miao Qing improved greatly. He realised this woman was indeed quite beautiful.
Otherwise, he had always remembered how she nearly took his head on their first meeting to claim a reward. That was a knot in his heart, or rather a stain on Tie Miao Qing in his mind. He had thought this woman looked as beautiful as a flower on the surface but was actually vicious at heart.
If he had not reacted quickly that time, he would have lost his life at her hands.
Previously, whenever he saw Tie Miao Qing, that impression would flash in his mind.
Now it was different. He could set aside grudges and think from her perspective. He could understand.
At least it now proved one thing. Tie Miao Qing already knew back in the ancient tomb wasteland that the extra fire cricket could sell for a lot of money. Yet after he asked for it, she still gave it to him. Whether treated as payment or not, just from this intention, one could see her character.
Especially now that he knew Tie Miao Qing was not well off at that time and carried a heavy debt.
He now found that this woman was not only beautiful but also had a rather good heart.
Sun Ping, who had been pondering silently, suddenly interjected, “Miss, I have an idea.”
Everyone turned to look at her at once. Tie Miao Qing looked puzzled, not knowing why she said this.
They all waited for her to continue.
After a slight hesitation, Sun Ping said slowly, “If I may say so, why not list it directly for five million taels?”
“Ah?” Yu Qing looked confused, thinking he had misheard.
Everyone was stunned.
Tie Miao Qing hesitated. “Ping Niang, selling something whose use is unknown for five million taels, is that not too outrageous?”
Yu Qing nodded slightly. He felt the same way.
In his view, five million was simply too terrifying. It sounded frightening.
Sun Ping shook her head. “Miss, if someone can spend one hundred thousand taels to buy something rare, then someone can spend five million taels to buy something rare. In business, what use the item actually has is not important to some people. Some people do not lack money. What they buy is rarity and the fame of the item.
This insect has been given fame by You Ya. List it at one hundred thousand taels and it is worth one hundred thousand. List it at five million taels and it becomes worth five million. Actually I even wanted to list it at ten million, but I fear too few people could afford it. If it lingers too long without selling, it would become even harder to sell. Miss, my meaning is that Miao Qing Hall has reached this critical point. Why not take a gamble? As long as we complete this single five million tael transaction, Miao Qing Hall will get through this crisis.”
The few roughly understood her meaning.
Sun Ping simply made it clear. She said to Yu Qing, “Hand this fire cricket over to our Miao Qing Hall to sell. After the transaction succeeds, we will take ten percent commission and give you four million five hundred thousand taels. It will be as if you sold it to us for four million five hundred thousand.
After success, Miao Qing Hall will bear the risk for you, provide guarantee, and help you obtain the You Ju token.
If it fails to sell for five million taels, even if Miao Qing Hall is shut down by You Ya, we can still take the things in the shop. We should still be able to gather one hundred thousand taels for you, as if we bought this fire cricket.”
She then looked at Tie Miao Qing. “Miss, there is no other way now. If you still want to keep this shop, why not take the gamble!”
Tie Miao Qing understood. This was truly a gamble. If they lost, not only would the shop be gone, but they would also have to liquidate their remaining assets. It would mean all these years in You Jiao Port were for nothing and they would leave with nothing.
Yet she did not hesitate much. If she had not wanted to keep this shop, she would not have wasted the chance to make a request to You Ya, knowing the three year audit period in You Jiao Port was approaching.
She looked at Yu Qing with expectation. “Third Place Scholar, what do you think?”
Yu Qing shrugged. He would not lose either way. If it sold at a high price he could make a fortune. What was there not to like? This was a good thing delivered to his door. Naturally he was willing.
He spread his hands and said, “If you think it is suitable, I have no objection.”
Thus the matter was settled. Sun Ping began to handle it. Tie Miao Qing naturally thanked Yu Qing repeatedly.
Next came the wait for the sale news.
Inside the pavilion, Tie Miao Qing personally poured tea for the three martial brothers. Everyone present glanced at the air from time to time, waiting for the subtitles formed by cloud light insects to drift past.
With the possibility of suddenly owning several million taels of silver, Yu Qing’s heart was filled with expectation and excitement. Nan Zhu and Mu Ao Tie’s eyes towards him also changed.
However, they waited left and right for nearly an hour and still did not see the subtitles appear. Everyone felt somewhat strange.
After seeing Sun Ping go to the front shop several times and return, Tie Miao Qing finally could not help asking, “Has Mao Feng not returned yet?”
Mao Feng referred to the clerk sitting in the front hall, named Qiu Mao Feng. After Zhu Shang Biao took another clerk to source goods, only that one clerk remained in the shop.
It was just a matter of going to You Ya to list a public sale message, a simple errand. As shopkeeper, Sun Ping naturally sent Qiu Mao Feng.
Sun Ping shook her head and said hesitantly, “Perhaps there are many people queuing? Miss, I will go take a look.”
Yu Qing stood up. “Perfect. I also want to go to You Ya to broaden my horizons. Let us go together.” He then glanced at his two senior brothers. Normally they should also follow to see, but he found that the two had no intention of leaving.
There was no need to mention Nan Zhu. He clearly preferred to stay and chat with Tie Miao Qing.
Mu Ao Tie stood with arms crossed, leaning against a pillar in the pavilion and looking slightly up at the dome of You Jiao Port.
Yu Qing did not know what this guy was looking at by holding this posture for so long. If he kept looking, he feared the fellow might stare a hole through the dome.
He walked over, patted his arm and said, “Come on. Let us go to You Ya together to see.”
As soon as these words came out, they suited Nan Zhu perfectly. He immediately turned and said, “Yes, Old Nine. Since you have not been, go and see.”
Mu Ao Tie remained unmoved and said coldly, “Not interested.”
Nan Zhu felt speechless and gave Tie Miao Qing an elegant bitter smile.
Yu Qing could not help touching his small moustache. He really could not stand these two anymore. He turned to Sun Ping, waved to indicate they should go, and the two left together.
The two left Miao Qing Hall. They did not hurry and chatted while crossing the street. Sun Ping pointed things out and introduced the situation in You Jiao Port to Yu Qing, which greatly broadened his knowledge.
After crossing a bridge and leaving the small islet not far, a person suddenly flashed out from the doorway of a roadside restaurant and blocked their path.
The person cupped his hands towards Yu Qing and smiled, “I did not expect the famous Third Place Scholar to have come to You Jiao Port. Our chief shopkeeper has long admired your great name and has specially prepared a modest banquet inside the building. We hope Third Place Scholar will grace us with your presence!” He then glanced at Sun Ping and added, “We also do not want the Third Place Scholar to be cheated without knowing it!”