Chapter 80 - Woman in Panjiayuan Market (1/2)

Speaking of the capital, the most famous site except for the Great Wall and Temple of Heaven is Panjiayuan Market, which is also frequently brought up in novels and TV shows.

In recent years, the collection craze is rising, and a bunch of collectors are still touting on shows. Panjiayuan Market is located on the southeast side of the third ring road of the capital. It used to be the largest flea market around the country, but it is now crowded by tourists and amateurs who dream of making use of the loophole — of course, they are mostly used by the loophole.

However, few people know that there is stone gambling in Panjiayuan Market.

Owners of some antique and jade shops will put several raw jade stones at their door to increase popularity, but only for fun. People should not hope that there is jade in those raw stones because the possibility is even lower than making use of the loophole.

One morning, Dong’s Jade Store has just opened for business. The clerk, w.a.n.g, who just graduates from school this year, is wiping the counter with a rag. Then he notices that a woman is standing outside the door and checking on the raw stone.

“Good morning, miss, do you want some jade? Come on inside!” w.a.n.g will receive a commission from every jade he sells. This young man who just takes the job is enthusiastic about selling and he is motivated every day at work.

Hearing his words, the woman in a wind coat looks up and smiles kindly at him. The rag in w.a.n.g’s hand falls down on the counter — w.a.n.g swears on his family ancestors that he has never seen a prettier woman in his 23 years of life.

Looking at the smiling woman, w.a.n.g suddenly feels that the acne on his face is so annoying. He is somehow ashamed and doesn’t know what to say.

The woman asks, pointing at the stones piled up on the ground, “Are these for sale?” Her voice is pleasant, like the sound of the wind blowing through groves of bamboo, which also makes others’ hearts itchy.

“Yes! 2000 yuan for each!” w.a.n.g comes to himself and nods.

The woman doesn’t try to bargain. She casually picks two stones and asks w.a.n.g to pack them up.

w.a.n.g should be happy that he sells the stones at a good price. However, he seems to be possessed by ghosts today and says, “2000 yuan is the price that can be bargained with. Since you’re so straightforward, I’ll just take 1500 yuan for each stone.” He then feels that he just shows his intention too obviously, so he adds, “This is a discount price. You’re very welcomed to come at any time.”

The woman doesn’t seem to notice w.a.n.g’s embarra.s.sment. She pays 3000 yuan for the two stones as he says.

w.a.n.g takes over the stack of cash and smells the fragrance on them — is it her perfume? The fragrance is simple and elegant, so the perfume must be expensive. A beautiful woman like her certainly deserves all the best things in the world.

The woman doesn’t leave immediately after paying for the raw stones. She walks into the store and starts checking on the jade wares in the gla.s.s counter.

Dong’s Jade Store is not big. Except for several pieces of “treasures of the store”, all the other jade wares are cheap ones bought from the countryside by the shop owner. There are also some fake antique jade wares, as well as worthless jade pendants produced by factories — w.a.n.g is aware that the owner likes silly upstarts because he can make the most money from them.

“This, this, and this. Pack them up for me.” The woman sweeps her finger on the gla.s.s counter and chooses three jade pendants in a simple style.

w.a.n.g takes a closer look at the pendants she chooses, and he suddenly wakes up from the daze — all of the three jade pendants are the authentic ones Mr. Dong personally bought back, though they are not in such nice qualities and the prices are not so high.

No matter what, they are real antiques!

w.a.n.g feels that he is starting to sweat. He will not receive any commission by selling these three pieces, and he may lose all the bonus for months. However, how can he tell this woman about such nasty facts?

The woman seems to notice w.a.n.g’s tension. She laughs, “You will be scolded by the owner if I just pick the authentic ones, right?”

So she is not just lucky?

Before w.a.n.g says anything in reply, the woman points to two rings and says, “Pack these two up too. You’ll at least be safe.”

These two rings are made of cheap offcuts. The owner bought them back from jade processing factories. He sells them at the price of authentic jade rings, which is very profitable.

w.a.n.g is embarra.s.sed, but the woman appears to see through him, “You’re just a worker here. I won’t put you in the pickle. Just wrap them up.”

Her words warm w.a.n.g’s heart. He shows his grat.i.tude in actions and packs the five pieces she picks with the fanciest gift box in the store.

“The total price is 26,180 yuan, thank you so much. I’ll just take 26,000 yuan.” w.a.n.g takes over the card of the woman and handles the payment quickly.

“Miss, do you need me to call a taxi for you?” Seeing that the beautiful woman doesn’t drive a car here, w.a.n.g is worried that she may not be able to carry the heavy stones back.

w.a.n.g doesn’t realize that he is considerate today. He appreciates her so much that he doesn’t want her to do the heavy work.