Chapter 27: The Clown

  Shu Yao's attitude was firm, and Li Ziqing lifted her hand. "I've chosen a good place for you to get the silver."

  "No rush, no rush, Miss Li can take her time to choose." Qian's eyes narrowed into a slit that was almost invisible, the pearls and jade on her head trembling, "Except for the slight flaw in the Jade Ding, I guarantee that all the other antiques are genuine."

  Li Ziqing carefully selected, Shu Jing secretly glanced at her older sister. She had never seen the Empress Dowager before, but always heard her older sister mention the nobility in the palace. Every time a palace maid came to pick up her older sister, the entire mansion was bustling with excitement, surrounding her older sister and cheering her on. Shu Jing couldn't help but imagine that her older sister Li Ziqing had won the favor of the palace ladies. In fact, it wasn't just Shu Jing who thought this way - which girl growing up in the Duke's Mansion didn't want to be like Li Ziqing?

  Xiu Yao retreated back to Guwalgiya's side, and with a gesture like a monkey presenting peaches, she presented the jade tripod to her mother, Guwalgiya, "Look, look, it's what you said."

  Gua Lijia nodded, glanced at Li Ziqing holding the jade bottle, and said: "Let's talk about it when we get back, how much silver is this jade tripod worth?" "It was a gift from my cousin." What Shu Yao meant was that she didn't have to spend any money.

  Qian Pobai replied: "The jade tripod has scratches on it, but Miss likes it, so I'll give it to her as a gift."

  "You old good-for-nothing, did the sun rise in the west today? You never put down your silver and copper coins before."

  "Old lady, it's not that I'm looking at your own granddaughter's face, and let alone Miss Li is very generous, she won't let me lose out. The whole demeanor of Miss Li can only be brought up in a duke's mansion, with good taste, handsome looks, truly talented and beautiful. As for the daughters of high-ranking officials, I don't know how many I've seen, but I've never seen one as outstanding as Miss Li."

  Qian Popo's flattery made the old lady laugh heartily, and Gu Taishi was delighted. The third wife, Tong Jia Shi, forced a smile, while the fourth wife, Liu Jia Shi, lowered her head to drink tea. Shu Yao admired Qian Popo's ability to observe people's words and expressions. If she didn't know that supernatural powers wouldn't spread widely, Shu Yao would have suspected that Qian Popo also understood supernatural powers. Gua Er Jia Shi's attention was focused on the jade tripod, with a hint of nostalgia in her eyes, never expecting to see this jade tripod again.

  Qian Popo mainly flattered the actual controller of the Duke's Mansion, Old Lady, and there was no better way to flatter than praising Li Qinger. Of course, Qian Popo would not neglect Third Madam Tong Jia. A clever businessman can usually estimate everyone's value. The first rule of marketing theory is to shorten the distance with customers, the second rule is not to ignore potential customers, and the third rule... Shi Yao's mind was filled with marketing knowledge, which she had learned from an elective course in college. As for how many classes she attended or whether she slept during class, that's unknown.

  Qian Popo understands the marketing way, ancient people, can't think of being underestimated, Shu Yao decides to hold on to E Mama Gua Erjia Shi, and be content with being a rice worm.

  "I'll keep this jade vase." Li Ziqing finally confirmed that the vase was a rare genuine article. Even when discussing financial matters, Li Ziqing exuded an air of elegance and refinement, like a white lotus untainted by worldly dust, as if mentioning money or power in front of her would be a desecration.

  Li Ziqing sat back beside the old lady, slightly smiling, "I remember last time entering the palace was on the eighth of last month, the Empress Dowager said that next month on the eighth she would definitely send someone to pick me up and bring me into the palace. Unfortunately, tomorrow is already the eighth, this white jade vase is just right to be given to the Empress Dowager as a gift."

  "You're so thoughtful, the Empress Dowager's words are law, she'll definitely send someone to fetch you." The old lady beamed with pride, her granddaughter was truly making her proud. She instructed Ying'er, who was in charge of jewelry: "Go get the pearl headdress I've been keeping for a long time."

  Ying'er agreed to go get the pearl headpiece, "Grandma, I don't lack accessories to wear." Li Zhiqing declined, but the old lady said: "The pearl headpiece is just right for my granddaughter."

  As long as Li Zhi can please the Empress Dowager, the old lady is willing to give away ten more pearl headpieces. What tree in the Qing dynasty is more solid than the Empress Dowager? The current Emperor Kangxi was put on the throne by the Empress Dowager's own hands, and Emperor Kangxi is very filial to the Empress Dowager. The old lady inserted the pearl hairpin that Ying'er brought back into Li Zhi's hair and sighed: "You say, isn't it suitable for Zhi?"

  Qian Popo took the silver ticket from Li Zhiqing's personal maid, Baoqin. She could boast about meeting the Empress Dowager and it would be beneficial for her business. With a flicker of her eyes, Qian Popo pretended to stumble and fell to her knees, staring blankly as if she didn't recognize Li Zhiqing. Rubbing her eyes, "The Moon Palace's Chang'e descended to the mortal world, more beautiful than the fairy in the New Year's painting. Miss, you're really not from heaven?"

  This singing and dancing, the old lady laughed so hard that her belly hurt, the surrounding ladies and girls all covered their mouths with handkerchiefs. Shu Yao saw Qian Pozi, who was like a clown, using every trick in the book to make a living, it wasn't easy for people like him, Shu Yao felt fortunate to have Guwalgiya and Zhongyuan as parents.

  The old lady laughed enough and pointed at Qian Paozi: "What dessert did the kitchen make today?"

  "Old lady, it's lotus seed paste and osmanthus sugar cake."

  The old lady said: "Don't help Qian's wife get up yet, let her go on talking, I can't hold on."

  Xiao Yatou helped up Qian Po, Li Ziqing quietly watched everything, Shu Yao could see the clear cold disdain at the bottom of her eyes, and then heard the old lady say: "I don't like the sweetness of lotus seed paste and osmanthus sugar cake, I'll give it to you."

  "Thank you, old lady." Qian Popo bowed repeatedly, "Who doesn't know that the Duke's pastries are comparable to the imperial kitchen? This commoner's mouth is blessed today."

  The old lady smiled again, half-reclining and looking tired. Qian Pobo deliberately made a rough face, which made the people in the house laugh. Even the little girl who was hitting the mosquito net couldn't help but smile secretly. In the Qing Dynasty, the status of merchants was very low. The little girl was a slave in the Duke's Mansion, and her clothes, food, and daily life were better than those of ordinary girls from small families. If she gained favor with her master, she could be promoted to a senior maid or second-class maid, comparable to an ordinary young lady outside.

  What Qian said was a free body, and it also counts as having a store and a family foundation. However, the people of the Duke's Mansion found it difficult to look up to her, so regarding Xiao Yatou's teasing, Qian Paozi didn't feel embarrassed. Sometimes she would even use some silver hairpins and other items to curry favor with the Duchess's personal maids and senior servants who had a good relationship with their master, hoping that they would mention her store in front of their master, so that business could flourish.

  Qian Baozi carefully wrapped the remaining lotus seed and osmanthus cake in a clean silk handkerchief, tucked it into her bosom, "Let my family's mouth also have a taste."

  Everyone laughed again, just as Qian Baozi was about to push her out, Guwalgiya suddenly spoke up, "From now on, no one is allowed to say that the food here is comparable to the imperial kitchen. If I hear any unpleasant rumors outside...".

  Guarjia didn't need to say everything, it was more suitable to say half and leave half. The warning gaze made Qian Bazi stiffen, this remark was indeed inappropriate. Qian Bazi slapped her own mouth hard, "Please rest assured, second lady, I dare not speak nonsense again."