Chapter 70: Offering Treasures
. There were seven or eight kinds of snacks, each worth at least ten yuan. Fu Chenan began to eat without hesitation.
"This one is delicious, sweet but not greasy."
"Hmm... why does this salty one have a scallion aroma?" A scallion-flavored mung bean cake.
"This one is a bit smelly..." Uh... this one is durian-flavored.
Xiao Yingchun pulled out the bag: "You don't have this here, and many people can't get used to it. Don't give it to the cook."
This was something Xiao Yingchun had bought for herself, but she had forgotten to take it out.
Fu Chenan nodded: "Then give it to me. It smells a bit smelly, but it tastes quite... unique."
Xiao Yingchun: "...Okay."
When Fu Chenan had only two pieces of each snack left, he finally tied the bag up and set it aside.
Xiao Yingchun handed him a bottle of water: "Drink some water. This stuff can choke."
Fu Chenan finished the water, and Xiao Yingchun pushed a box of pearls over: "Here, it's arrived."
Fu Chenan looked at the box of pearls in front of him, a little shocked.
Though he'd been born a butcher, he'd become the son of a marshal and had frequented the gatherings of the great families. He knew the value of these pearls in his own world.
Though they looked small, their beauty lay in their perfect uniformity of shape, color, and size!
A necklace of these perfectly proportioned pearls would cost at least a hundred taels of silver!
Even the pink, purple, and black pearls would fetch a few hundred taels.
As for the thumb-sized pearls, ten of each color, each one would be worth a thousand taels of silver!
Even the emperor would be envious...
Fu Chen'an felt uneasy. "If I brought these to them, their eyes would pop out."
He didn't even dare to display them in his own residence, fearing they would attract thieves.
"I wouldn't even dare sell the largest pearls..." Fu Chen'an said, a wry smile forming.
As Xiao Yingchun looked puzzled, he stroked one of the large pearls. "In our world, the finest things belong to His Majesty the Emperor."
"How could the common people have something the Emperor doesn't even possess?"
Xiao Yingchun understood immediately.
What a corrupt dynasty!
"Are you still taking these?" Xiao Yingchun pointed to a box of pearls.
Fu Chen'an thought for a moment, then picked out two large white pearls. "I'll say these were gifts from Mr. Xisi. I don't dare accept such treasures, so I'll present them to the emperor."
Just to be safe.
It was also a way of announcing to the noble families of the capital that he was going to sell his pearls.
Xiao Yingchun smiled in support, "You know more about your affairs than I do. You make the decision."
"It's still early. I'll go to the palace first. I'll bring you dinner when I come back..."
Fu Chen'an, a man of the swiftest nature, took the bag of largest pearls and gave it to Xiao Yingchun, then left through the back door carrying the box.
At noon, the ministers who had been retained by the emperor for a meeting were preparing to leave the palace in groups of three or two when they saw Fu Chen'an, holding a small box, heading for the imperial study.
Why was the butcher here again?
What was he doing visiting the emperor at this hour?
The emperor was curious: What was he doing here again?
In consideration of the mirror and soap he had sent last time, the emperor still met with Fu Chenan.
When Fu Chenan entered, only two ministers and the emperor were left in the imperial study.
The emperor looked at Fu Chenan with a half-smile: "What brings Mr. Fu here this time?"
Fu Chenan raised his hands high and presented a brocade box.
"Your Majesty, when I sent the Western merchant Sis away today, Sis sold me a box of pearls. These are the two largest ones. He said he sold them to me at a low price."
"I have never seen pearls this big. I didn't dare to use them myself, so I wanted to present them to Your Majesty..."
The Emperor raised his eyebrows, his interest piqued: "Oh?"
The serving eunuch stepped forward to open the box and examine it. He was surprised: it was a pair of pearls the size of a thumb!
Pearls of this size have been seen in the palace, but two of the same size, very round, and with exactly the same color have never been seen.
When the eunuch presented the brocade box to His Majesty, His Majesty was also stunned.
Such a large pair of pearls has never been seen even in the palace.
No wonder Fu Chenan didn't dare to sell it when he got it.
He was afraid that if he really sold it, he would be beheaded.
His Majesty gave Fu Chenan a look with a half-smile: You are afraid of death!
"If you gave me such a precious thing, wouldn't that be a loss?"
Fu Chen'an unconscionably lied. "Your Majesty gave me the capital to open my shop. Naturally, when I have any good things, my first thought is to present them to Your Majesty..."
The Emperor, hearing this nonsense, didn't know what he was thinking of, but his expression finally relaxed.
"Mr. Fu's family has given me such a good thing. Is there anything you would like? Just ask me."
Fu Chen'an was firm and decisive, tears of gratitude welling up in his eyes. "I am living well now and can make money. I haven't thought of anything I would like for the time being."
"You are so kind... Baifu, go get me a set of my study treasures and give them to Mr. Fu's family." The Emperor, pleased with Fu Chen'an's tact, generously offered him a gift.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fu Chen'an bowed deeply, accepted the gift, and prepared to leave.
At that moment, a guard announced from outside: The Empress and the two Imperial Concubines in the harem had heard that Fu Chen'an had arrived. They said the cosmetics set he had sent them was very useful, so they specially rewarded him with two pieces of brocade and a pair of plum vases.
Fu Chen'an thanked the emperor again and left the palace to go home, where he took dinner with Xiao Yingchun.
The two ministers observed everything, and upon their return, the news quietly spread among their respective aristocratic families.
A Western merchant had sold General Fu a box of pearls, the two largest of which were presented to the Emperor.
Tao Tao Ji was ready to sell pearls!
Pearls were a rarity in the landlocked Liang Dynasty.
Only a few aristocratic families could afford to inlay pearls on their women's hairpins and jewelry; ordinary people could never see them.
Now that pearls could be bought at Tao Tao Ji, they wondered what they were like.
So, early the next morning, several ladies and young ladies from aristocratic families arrived at Tao Tao Ji's door again, eager to see
the pearls. Ruyi smiled when she heard they were there to see the pearls.
"Please wait a moment, everyone. We don't keep this treasure on display. It's only for guests of status."
The women suddenly felt a sense of honor: we are people of status!
Ruyi carefully took out a beautifully wrapped velvet box from the box and placed it on the glass counter.
When the box was opened, a string of nearly round, flawless pearls of uniform color appeared before the women.
(End of this chapter)