Chapter 22: Thirty Thousand Taels for the Galloping Horse

It was well past curfew by the time Chu Chen and his two companions finally made it back to the inn.

The next morning, Chu Chen shook his throbbing head, lamenting that while the alcohol in this ancient era had a low proof, it certainly packed quite a punch. After settling the bill for Zhou Shicai the previous day, he realized his funds were running low.

"Looks like I need to go out and make some money," he muttered.

Ignoring the two women who were still asleep, Chu Chen pulled a glass ornament of the "Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow" from his storage space, wrapped it in a piece of burlap, and swaggered out of the inn. He couldn't go back to the same pawnshop as last time; that would be too awkward. He wandered through the west side of the city, figuring that a pawnshop on this street of the wealthy wouldn't dare resort to murder and robbery.

He eventually stepped into a grand, opulent-looking pawnshop with the two large characters "Jin Sheng" inscribed above the entrance.

A shop assistant, seeing the elegantly dressed Chu Chen clutching an object, immediately hurried over. "Young master, are you looking to pawn something?"

Chu Chen looked at the polite assistant, marveling at how clothes really did make the man. Just because he was dressed a bit better, he was receiving far better treatment than before.

"I have some treasures to sell," Chu Chen said. "Where is your manager?"

*Ah, asking for the manager the moment he walks in—this young master must be quite wealthy,* the assistant thought. "Please, have a seat, young master. I will go and fetch him immediately."

After about half an incense stick's time, a lean, elderly man followed the assistant out from the back chamber. The assistant gestured to him. "This is our Manager Zhu, Zhu Fu."

Zhu Fu sized up Chu Chen and asked, "How should I address you, young master? And what business do you have with me?"

"Greetings, Manager Zhu. I am Chu Chen. May I ask if you are the owner of this establishment?" Chu Chen asked. It was no joke; if he wasn't talking to the boss, he couldn't close a real deal. The glass "Galloping Horse" in his hands was far superior to those glass cups, and even much better than the crude piece he had given to the madam at the brothel. If that one was worth three thousand taels, this one had to start at ten thousand.

"Haha, you jest, young master," the old man said with a smile. "Our Jin Sheng firm has businesses all over the Great Xia Dynasty. I am hardly the owner, but here in Qingyun City, my word still carries weight."

*Damn, it’s a corporate chain,* Chu Chen thought. *I’ve come to the right place.*

"As long as you can call the shots, that’s all that matters," Chu Chen said. "I’m short on cash today and have something to sell." He opened a corner of the burlap sack.

As Zhu Fu caught sight of the glinting glass, his eyes widened in ecstasy. It had been a long time since such a high-quality item had appeared in Qingyun City. If he could get this to the capital, it would be a massive achievement. He knew he had to secure this deal.

"Young Master Chu, please follow me to the back room. This is not the place for such discussions," Zhu Fu said, gesturing politely.

Chu Chen chuckled and followed without hesitation. He wasn't afraid; he was wearing a stab-proof vest, and he had a pistol and a dagger tucked into his clothes. With his gear, he had nothing to fear from the likes of Zhu Fu. Besides, as a manager of a major firm, he surely had more sense than some street-side shopkeeper.

In the back room, beautiful maids had already prepared tea and peeled fruit. Chu Chen sat down comfortably, and a maid immediately began to attend to him.

"Young Master Chu, this piece of colored glaze is quite rare," Zhu Fu said, probing for the item's origin. He was worried that if this had been stolen by some master thief, accepting it could bring him grave trouble—perhaps even costing him his position.

Chu Chen saw right through him. He placed the ornament on the table, pulled back the burlap, and said, "Manager Zhu, you are a man of experience. Have you ever seen a 'Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow' like this?"

Zhu Fu stared at the ornament, his eyes fixed. The craftsmanship was exquisite, clear of any impurities. The horse looked alive, its body arched as it galloped over the swallow. Even the maids gasped at the sight of such a magnificent object. They were stunned that this handsome young man had simply wrapped such a treasure in a piece of rags—he was clearly no ordinary person.

"Young Master Chu, you jest. I may have traveled across much of the Great Xia, but I have indeed never seen such an item," Zhu Fu admitted. "Did you name it 'Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow'?"

"Can't you tell?" Chu Chen replied. "This horse is running so fast it's stepping on a swallow."

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! May I ask, young master, how this..."

"Look, are you buying or not? Don't dawdle," Chu Chen said impatiently. "I didn't steal this and I didn't rob anyone for it. Just give me your best price."

Zhu Fu realized his concerns were likely unfounded; if someone had such a treasure, they would have been shouting it from the rooftops. "My apologies, Young Master Chu. Please don't take offense. While this is a rare treasure, the market here in Qingyun City cannot support it. I will have to transport it to the capital, which entails certain risks. I can offer you twenty-five thousand taels of silver."

Chu Chen was ecstatic. This piece of junk was worth twenty-five thousand taels! *Dammit,* he thought, *I definitely undercharged that brothel madam.*

He kept his face stoic. "Manager Zhu, you know this is a fine piece. Are you trying to fool me?" He began to wrap up the ornament, preparing to leave.

"Wait, Young Master Chu, don't be hasty! I have to make a profit, and there are costs for transport and storage. How about twenty-six thousand?" Zhu Fu said, grabbing his arm anxiously.

"Thirty thousand. Not a copper less. I won't sell it even if I have to smash it. Do I look like the kind of person who cares about a mere thousand taels?" Chu Chen said haughtily, acting as if he had piles of these things at home.

"Young Master Chu, can we not lower it a bit?"

Chu Chen ignored him and picked up the ornament.

"Thirty thousand it is! Thirty thousand! Let this be the start of our friendship, Young Master Chu. In the future, if you have any more treasures, please think of me first," Zhu Fu said loudly as Chu Chen headed for the door.

Chu Chen turned back, looking at the pained expression on Zhu Fu's face. *The man is a great actor,* he thought. If this went to the capital as a gift, its value would be immeasurable.

"Now that's more like it, Manager Zhu. As it happens, I do have other good things." Chu Chen reached into his waist, pulled out a dagger, and tossed it onto the table. "You’re a man of experience, Manager Zhu. Can you tell what material this is made of?"