Chapter 9: I am a very vulgar person

The room was filled with golden hairpins and jewelry, shining brightly like clouds and sunset.

Nan Baoyi looked through each piece of jewelry.

This box of mermaid tears was brought back by her eldest brother from the East Sea when he was doing business there, and it couldn't be sold...

This set of jade headpieces was a gift from her second aunt when she turned ten, so it couldn't be sold either...

These pairs of red coral bracelets were given to her by her grandmother from her dowry, and they definitely couldn't be sold...

After counting and recounting, all the hairpins and jewelry in the room had a significant history, and Nan Baoyi couldn't bear to sell any of them.

Half an hour later, she picked up a pair of golden hairpins.

These were given to her by her stepfather, and it was said that Nan Yan also had a pair. Such sentiment was priceless, so she decided to sell them!

She sent the maidservant to the pawnshop, and the pair of golden hairpins was sold for five hundred taels of silver.

"Still eight thousand taels short... Lishi is quite expensive."

Nan Baoyi's gaze suddenly fell on the inkstone she had just bought.

In her previous life, Xiao Yifu was extremely wealthy. Although he was now just a destitute adopted son, he must have secretly saved a lot of money with his cunning nature.

She picked up the inkstone and eagerly ran towards the loquat courtyard, "Second brother, I'm here to bring you warmth!"

Passing through the loquat trees and the bluestone steps, Nan Baoyi ran into Xiao Yifu's study as if she knew the way by heart.

The young man was wearing a round-necked dark blue fitted brocade robe, reading by the window.

"Second brother!" she called out sweetly, presenting the inkstone as if offering a treasure, "I bought this from Baoyan Studio on Hanlin Street. Do you like it?"

Xiao Yifu glanced at it. It was indeed a good inkstone, worth about a thousand taels of silver.

However, the slyness in the girl's eyes couldn't be hidden. It was like a fox showing its tail, and he couldn't figure out what she was up to.

He withdrew his gaze and continued reading.

Nan Baoyi pouted. It was really difficult to please the future powerful official. He always ignored her, which was quite annoying...

But she had thick skin. Even if the powerful official didn't pay attention to her, as long as she could win his favor, she would be happy to entertain him all day long!

She helped Xiao Yifu arrange the four treasures of the study, personally ground the ink on the inkstone, and encouraged, "The spring scenery is beautiful today. Second brother, why not write a poem? With your literary talent, if I could get your calligraphy, I would definitely frame it and hang it by my bedside!"

Xiao Yifu remained expressionless.

It had been three days since he had frightened the little girl. She was no longer as afraid of him as she had been in the first few days. Her mischievous and arrogant nature seemed to have rekindled, as if she wanted to challenge him.

He turned a page in the book and continued to ignore her.

Nan Baoyi took away the travelogue from his hand and placed it on the desk.

Xiao Yifu stared at her.

The girl rested her chin on her hands, blinking her long eyelashes. When she smiled, she looked like a delicate and lovely lotus, "Second brother, will you give me your calligraphy?"

Xiao Yifu wanted to know what the girl was up to, so he dipped the brush in ink and quickly wrote a quatrain on the paper.

After Nan Baoyi waited for him to finish writing, she smiled and said, "Second brother, isn't this inkstone very useful?"

"It's acceptable."

"I spent ten thousand taels of silver on it!"

Xiao Yifu: "..."

Ten thousand taels of silver for such an inkstone?

It didn't matter. The Nan family was wealthy, and she could afford to be extravagant.

He got up and washed his hands indifferently.

Nan Baoyi caught up to him and said with a shy smile, "Second brother, I bought this inkstone specifically to give it to you... It cost ten thousand taels of silver!"

Xiao Yifu coldly wiped his hands, "What do you want to say?"

"As the saying goes, 'Courtesy demands reciprocity.' I gave you such a precious inkstone. Do you want to give me something in return? I'm a very vulgar person, so just give me a ten-thousand-tael banknote. Hehe."

Xiao Yifu: "..."

Heh.

The little girl was trying to extort him, and she was quite good at it.

He sat behind the desk and opened the travelogue again, "I don't want this inkstone."

"But you've already used it!" Nan Baoyi was a little smug, making a gesture with her fingers, "I'll give you a discount. How about you give me six thousand taels as a gift? Six is an auspicious number."

Seeing Xiao Yifu's cold expression, Nan Baoyi rubbed her hands, "How about four thousand taels? May you prosper in all seasons!"

Xiao Yifu remained unmoved.

"Then three thousand taels? May the sun shine brightly!"

"Three thousand taels won't work either. How about two thousand taels? It's a win-win situation, and it can't be any less!"

"Two thousand taels? How about one thousand taels? May you have a smooth sailing, ascend to the heavens in one step, and have a fulfilling life!"

Xiao Yifu's brow furrowed.

The little girl, who was supposed to be a wealthy young lady, was wasting her talent by not becoming a storyteller.

He impatiently closed the book, "Do you need money?"

Nan Baoyi hesitated for a moment, then quickly wiped away her tears and stood up, explaining the matter of her visit to the Jade Pavilion.

Xiao Yifu lightly tapped his knuckles on the desk, his emotions unpredictable.

To think that she would use Lishi's contract as a bargaining chip, the little girl wasn't stupid.

He opened the book again, "Go back. Lishi's contract will be delivered to you."

As Nan Baoyi walked out of the study, she felt as if she were in a dream amidst the beautiful spring scenery.

The financial matter that had been troubling her was resolved so easily and casually?

The future powerful official was indeed formidable!

As she pondered how to repay him, two young maidservants carrying bundles entered the loquat courtyard.

Both of them had outstanding looks, and it was likely that they were the maidservants chosen by Madam Ji for Xiao Yifu.