Chapter 7: I'm Really Rich

Nan Baoyi thanked Xiao Yi and returned to the Jin Yi Pavilion in high spirits.

She took out the silver coins from the treasure box and counted them. There were a total of 2500 taels, including the red envelopes given by the elders and the New Year's money she had saved.

2500 taels was not a small amount of money. It was enough to buy not only a performer but even a whole troupe.

"I'm really rich..."

Having experienced a life of poverty and hunger in her previous life, Nan Baoyi was overjoyed as she hugged the silver bills. She quickly called for He Ye and asked her to prepare the carriage to leave the mansion.

He Ye was worried, "Young Miss, you've just recovered from your illness. Why do you want to leave the mansion at this time? Please don't overexert yourself. If something happens, how can I explain to the Madam and Third Master?"

Nan Baoyi hid the silver bills in a small pouch and cleverly made up an excuse, "Grandmother's courtyard feels so desolate. She loves to listen to opera, so I'm going to buy two performers from the pear garden to keep in the mansion. This way, she can listen to them whenever she wants. It's a good idea, right? I'm showing filial piety, and grandmother won't blame me for leaving the mansion without permission."

Unable to persuade her, He Ye had to arrange the carriage for her.

Half an hour later, Nan Baoyi's carriage stopped steadily along the street.

She held He Ye's hand as she got off the carriage and looked up. This was the largest pear garden in Jin Guan City, with a signboard bearing the elegant and luxurious words "Jade Pavilion Spring."

She explained her intentions to the manager of the garden, who looked her over and smiled, "I wonder what kind of performer the young lady wants to buy? Our boss has just trained a few young actresses, all of them twelve or thirteen years old, and they are quite charming."

Nan Baoyi handed him a silver ingot and said, "The performer I want to buy has a special background. You can't make the decision. I need to talk to your boss."

The manager was taken aback. He stared at Nan Baoyi in disbelief. Although she was a delicate and tender young lady, her phoenix eyes were as sharp as ink, exuding an unusual coldness that didn't match her age.

Stammering, he asked, "How do you know about Liu Xiaomeng?"

Nan Baoyi smiled faintly, "Take me to see your boss."

The manager had no choice but to lead her into the elegant seat of the Jade Pavilion Spring.

The air was filled with the fragrance of wine. A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl with bare shoulders was lazily leaning on a couch, holding a wine jar. She raised her eyes to look at Nan Baoyi, took a sip of wine, and chuckled, "You want to buy Liu Xiaomeng?"

Nan Baoyi never expected that the boss of the Jade Pavilion Spring was a woman, and such a young and beautiful one at that.

Nan Baoyi nodded, "Please name your price."

The girl coquettishly said, "You are the fifth Miss of the Nan family, right? To be able to find Liu's contract still in the possession of the Jade Pavilion Spring at such a young age, you are quite capable, just like your father."

She took a sip of wine and continued, "Considering your intelligence, I'll give you a price: fifty thousand taels of silver with snowflake patterns."

"Fifty thousand taels?!" Nan Baoyi exclaimed.

"I assume that the fifth Miss despises Liu, and with her contract in your hands, she won't be able to enter the Nan mansion without your consent. Fifty thousand taels is a good deal for you to have peace and freedom in the rear courtyard..."

The girl's words trailed off, and she drank her wine, exuding a seductive charm.

She continued, "Otherwise, when Liu becomes the third wife of the Nan family, I will demand more than fifty thousand taels using her contract."

In her past and present lives, Nan Baoyi had never encountered such a shrewd businessperson.

Their Nan family conducted business honestly and uprightly, and wouldn't resort to extortion like this!

She silently cursed the girl as a swindler, but she remained composed on the surface. "As far as I know, the Jade Pavilion Spring is ostensibly engaged in singing and selling tea, but in reality, you raise beautiful girls and let them become concubines when they grow up. Then, you use their contracts to demand a high ransom from their families once they have children and their status is secured. The other party won't spread the word out of consideration for their reputation... Miss, you are very skilled in business. I wonder, if the authorities were to find out, what would be the fate of the Jade Pavilion Spring?"

This was Nan Baoyi's speculation.

In Jin Guan City, many influential and wealthy families liked to take beautiful performers as concubines.

She gambled that the existence of Liu Xiaomeng was not unique!

She used this as a threat, hoping that the other party would at least be willing to offer her a discount to keep her quiet.

Seeing the girl on the couch remain silent, she became more certain of her speculation.

She plucked up her courage and said, "I'll offer ten thousand taels of silver to buy Liu Xiaomeng's contract!"

"Deal."

The girl agreed very readily, leaving Nan Baoyi feeling a surge of blood in her chest.

It seemed that she wasn't very good at bargaining when shopping...

She continued with a straight face, "I will raise the money as soon as possible. Before that, I hope you won't leak any information."

The girl, with all her charm, said, "I conduct my business honestly and uprightly. You can trust me."

Nan Baoyi pursed her lips.

Which performer could be sold for ten thousand taels? This girl was not honest and upright, she was a swindler!

But in the end, it was a willing buyer and a willing seller, so she didn't say much.

As the carriage slowly made its way through the bustling streets, Nan Baoyi's thoughts were filled with turmoil.

Nan Bao Yi pulled back a corner of the curtain. This street is called Hanlin Street, specializing in selling writing brushes, ink sticks, paper, and inkstones, ancient books, and calligraphy and painting antiques. The literati and inkmen of Shu County like to come here to find treasures.

Xiao Yi suggested a risky idea to her. Should she buy a gift for him?

The young girl pondered, and suddenly He Ye reminded her, "Miss, look, isn't that Nan Yan?"

Nan Bao Yi looked over and saw a slender girl in a white dress, gracefully entering a study. It was indeed Nan Yan.

"I heard the people in the mansion gossiping, saying that Nan Yan's older brother is studying at Wanchun Academy and will take the imperial examination in two years. I think she's buying writing brushes and inkstones for her brother."

Nan Bao Yi smiled, "Let's go take a look too..."

Entering Bao Yan Studio, Nan Bao Yi heard the shopkeeper say in a warm voice, "Miss Nan, the stone material of this inkstone comes from the Purple Cloud Valley of Lankeshan, and the master craftsman personally polished it. Feel the smooth and delicate texture, and look at the dragon and fish carving on top. There is no inkstone on the market that can compare to it! You've come to see it three times, why not just buy it this time?"

Nan Yan said reservedly, "I do indeed like this inkstone, otherwise I wouldn't come to see it every now and then. It's just that the price you're asking for is too high. Can't you lower it a bit?"

The shopkeeper chuckled, "Miss, you're really joking. Who doesn't know that you are from the Nan family, which is as rich as a country? A mere one thousand two hundred taels of silver is nothing to you."

Nan Yan bit her lip and stared at the inkstone without saying a word.

Although her father is the third master of the Nan family, her grandmother manages the family strictly, and her father doesn't have much money. The pocket money he gives her is pitifully small.

Her brother's birthday is approaching, and she really wants to give him a decent gift. This inkstone is what she has set her heart on. The auspicious dragon and fish carving make her reluctant to give it up...

As she was at a loss, a faint fragrance of hibiscus suddenly wafted over.

She turned her head and saw a delicate and beautiful girl approaching.

The girl had a beautiful double bun hairstyle, wore a light pink dress, and had a string of exquisite and precious pearl ornaments around her waist. The woven golden shoes on her feet were made of Shu brocade.

It was Nan Bao Yi...

Nan Yan felt her blood rush to her head at being seen in such a sorry state by the person she disliked the most. Her beautiful face turned bright red, "What a coincidence, meeting my sister here... Are you here to buy something too?"