Dongzhu, also known as pearls produced in Northeast China.
I heard that a new batch of pearls has arrived at Baobao Street in Yuhang County. They are big and round in size and crystal clear in color. They are rare high-quality pearls.
Zheng Ruqian immediately put down his business and hurried over.
"Master, please slow down, slow down." Wang Xiaosong followed behind, sticking his chin out, "Don't forget your current identity."
identity?
What status?
Zheng Ruqian lowered his head and glanced at the magnificent silk robe on his body, and then he remembered that he had turned from a small imperial merchant specializing in lychees to a designated imperial merchant thanks to his fifth brother.
He now not only represents himself, but also represents the face of the royal family.
Zheng Ruqian coughed twice and immediately stopped walking, swinging his fan leisurely and moving forward, completely ignoring the strange gazes of the people on both sides.
Treasure Street, as the name suggests, is full of treasures.
There is a bronze sword from the previous dynasty on the street, and there is a spittoon from the previous dynasty at the end of the street, but the most attractive thing is the rare Dongzhu.
Pushing forward a few dynasties, Dongzhu was not so rare. After hundreds of years of vigorous salvage, the number became scarce, and the lustrous and high-grade pearls have not been produced for several years.
However, he made a promise to his sister when he was young and ignorant, and now the second brother has traveled thousands of miles to fulfill his promise.
"Oh, Dongzhu, Dongzhu, you are so rare now, you won't be exclusive to the royal family in the future." Zheng Ruqian put away the folding fan, "Then I will buy more, and leave it to future generations. It will be a family heirloom."
As if he had discovered a treasure, he hurriedly rushed to the stall.
Wang Xiaosong curled his lips and said, "My boss, you also said that if Dongzhu becomes a royal treasure, ordinary people will be beheaded."
"Hey, ignorant Xiaosong, you just don't understand." Zheng Ruqian rolled up his sleeves, "If others can use it, why can't I use it? We have a backing, so we are tough!"
His face was filled with pride, and his big eyes and thick eyebrows were filled with excitement. He finally squeezed in front of the stall, but before he could get too proud, he heard the stall owner say calmly, "Sold out."
Sold out?
Zheng Ruqian couldn't believe it and raised his voice, "I came from Anshui County, why are they sold out? Is there any left, even one?"
The boss didn't even raise his head. "The number of high-grade pearls is very rare. There are only five of them in total. The last two have just been bought."
The world is strange.
When you are poor, you feel that everyone else is poor. You don’t have enough to eat, you wear coarse linen clothes, and you struggle to survive in the dirt.
When you get rich, you realize that there are many rich people and lavish spenders everywhere. Those things that you thought were rare and precious are always bought in the blink of an eye.
Zheng Ruqian was disappointed and unwilling to force him to ask, "Boss, where is the person who bought Dongzhu? Is he far away?"
As long as you're willing to increase the price, you might be able to buy it back again.
Even if the opportunity is slim, don't give up easily.
The boss raised his head unexpectedly and pointed at the middle-aged man who hadn't walked far away, "Here."
It was him who bought Dongzhu.
Zheng Ruqian's eyes were bright, and he seamlessly switched back to the smart businessman mode. In the blink of an eye, countless moves floated through his mind, including pleading, earnestness, and even selling miserable manuscripts.
But when he stepped forward, raised his hands and called out "Brother," all the rest of his words were stuck in the middle-aged man's throat as he turned around.
As a follower, Wang Xiaosong immediately widened his eyes, looked left and right in disbelief, and finally let out a soulful sigh, "It's so similar."
They have exactly the same thick eyebrows and big eyes, the same square face and wide mouth, and a taller frame than ordinary people. They were still strong when they were young, but if they eat more than two mouthfuls, they will look fatter.
The eighteen-year-old Zheng Ruqian is high-spirited, while the middle-aged man opposite him is full of happiness, and his chubby belly seems to be at the two ends of the years, looking into the future from the past.
No one believes that the two of them have anything to do with each other.
Apart from the appearance, there is still an inexplicable attraction flowing in the blood, like two hands that have never touched before, trying to hold each other tightly.
"You...who are you? Where are you from?" The middle-aged man was the first to come back to his senses, extremely shocked.
Zheng Ruqian followed closely behind, turned around and left.
"My boss, my boss." Wang Xiaosong followed, "Why are you leaving?"
Zheng Ruqian frowned, remembering that his brothers and sisters had discussed their parents in Fengjing courtyard, he laughed at himself, "I don't have a father, I have never met my father, and even if I have, I wouldn't know him."
"That's not necessarily the case." Chang Yan answered, "Second brother's appearance is also unique in Dayu. If he followed his father, he would be able to recognize him just by raising his eyes."
A prophecy.
On the streets of Yuhang County, he really met that person.
After he has become self-reliant and does not need the care of his parents.
"Why don't you leave? Hurry up. Hurry up." Zheng Ruqian's expression was indifferent. "If you walk slowly, you may get into trouble."
"But, don't we want Dongzhu?" Wang Xiaosong scratched his head.
The hurried young man suddenly stopped. The wind hit him from behind, and his long-sleeved robes fluttered forward.
Yes, Dong Joo.
That was a promise made to his sister, a treasure he had dreamed of when he was young, so why not.
He just wants Dong Joo, that's all.
Zheng Ruqian muttered silently in his heart, turned around slowly, and looked into the eyes of the panting middle-aged man.
"Are you selling Dongzhu?" he asked blankly, "I'll pay double the price."
"It can be sold." The middle-aged man answered the same, "But I have some questions."
So, Zheng Ruqian walked from Baobao Street to the living room of Ren's family, a wealthy family in Yuhang County.
In every county, there are big families that have developed into local snakes. The Ren family is undoubtedly the head of the Yuhang County family, which is equivalent to the Wang family's status in Anshui County.
The middle-aged man in front of him is Mr. Ren, who was once the governor of Yuhang County. His eldest son has already gone to Beijing to take the imperial examination. He is a more stable scholarly family than the Wang family.
At this moment, he was looking at Zheng Ruqian, his eyes were moving, sizing up, and testing, "Who is your name, and where is your home? Is there anyone else at home?"
"Alone." Zheng Ruqian lowered his eyelashes, "How to sell Dongzhu?"
"Where are you from? Why haven't I seen you in Yuhang County?" Master Ren continued to explore.
"Anshui County." Zheng Ruqian became impatient, "Will Dongzhu be sold?"
Master Ren was lost in thought and recollection. He must have remembered that he passed through Anshui County nineteen years ago and had sex in a brothel. He no longer remembered the face of the woman, but he was shocked to realize that there was still blood flowing outside.
"Good boy, can you tell me your birth date?" He decided to conduct a final test, "And are you willing to shed blood to identify..."
"No." Zheng Ruqian interrupted almost rudely, "I don't want to either."
"I'm here to buy Dongzhu. If you want to sell it, I'll sell it. If you don't want to sell it, I won't." The young man said angrily, "I'm here for business, nothing more."
Master Ren stood there in astonishment.
The butler behind him couldn't bear it anymore and raised his voice, "You are at best an outsider. You are lucky to be able to recognize the Ren family. With the support of the Ren family, the master's connections, and the eldest son's future achievements in the court, how much No matter how hard you try, you can’t get it, so you should cherish this blessing!”