Episode 17: Ryukyu Star

The landmark building of Xinjiekou, Liangyou Department Store.

On the front of the towering building, a giant Ming flag hangs from the top floor.

The bright yellow satin slapped violently on the gray marble floor, and the fiery red dragons on it seemed to be swimming, pointing straight to the sky, showing the strength and pride of this empire. Everyone passing by was surging in their hearts.

There were few cars in the parking lot at the door. Xiang Xiaoqiang's car drove up and immediately attracted the attention of the doorman. As soon as the car stopped, the doorman in uniform bent down and opened the door, calling him "Sir", and diligently leading the way in front.

Xiang Xiaoqiang got out of the car, held Qiu Qiu, and looked at the familiar scenes around him, sighing.

The department store’s large window, Xinjiekou Square behind us, and the monument to the fall of Jiangbei…

When I first came, I had just been released from the Jinyiwei, wearing a suit and was penniless, and I brought it to buy clothes by Qiu Qiu... If it weren't for Qiu Qiu, I would have had to wander on the streets at the beginning.

When I first came to this world, I fell into the river and held the Grasshopper periscope. It was Qiu Qiu who risked his life to prevent the submarine from diving, so that he could avoid the fate of drowning. I really owe Qiu Qiu too much.

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Qiu Qiu smiled at each other, and they were all very moved. But the scenes are still the same now, but everything has changed.

The building was covered with national flags, sandbags were piled up around the square, anti-aircraft cannons were erected, giant anti-air balloons stood in the sky, and there were many fewer cars and people on the street...

Xiang Xiaoqiang held Qiu Qiu's waist and whispered:

"I still owe you a hundred dollars, right?"

Qiu Qiu said softly, "Oh," and said greasyly:

"You are not allowed to pay it back, I want you to owe me forever."

...

Sitting on the sofa in the elevator and staring around. At this time, the elevator was a perfectly furnished high-end equipment, and only a very luxurious place would be accessories. The four walls were not mirror metal like later generations, but thick walnut, decorated with two small round oil paintings. Above the elevator door was a clock dial. As the elevator moved, the pointer indicating the floor turned. The last crisp ringtone stopped on the Roman numeral "Seven".

The top floor has arrived. The two doors slowly opened, and what was revealed in front of me was a dark jewelry spirit. The noble maids in evening clothes on both sides performed curtseys at the same time, lowered their heads and said softly:

"Welcome to you, Madam."

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled slightly at Qiu Qiuqiu, took her arm, and slowly walked into the most luxurious place in the Ming Empire.

Under the dark light, diamonds everywhere reflect bright light on the black velvet cloth lined, exuding a mysterious atmosphere.

Xiang Xiaoqiang obviously felt Qiu Qiu's breathing tremble slightly.

Alas, as soon as a girl saw these shining things, her soul was taken away.

Liangyou Department Store was originally the most luxurious department store in the Ming Empire, and its top floor is the luxury of luxury. This is a place similar to a private club, a consumption place in the upper class in the Ming capital, specializing in top jewelry and some luxury goods. Ordinary customers can't get up to the first floor by taking the elevator. Not to mention Xiang Xiaoqiang, Qiu Qiu, who is a gangster lady, has never been here before.

The two of them entered this private club so stupidly, and didn't understand the inside. The main reason was that Xiang Xiaoqiang and Qiu Qiu's two straight military uniforms shook the people. Xiang Xiaoqiang was an army uniform, and Qiu Qiu was a navy uniform, with a dark and light color. Another Suzaku Medal, a plum blossom medal, and a small golden sword logo on the collar seal. When they said they wanted to buy a ring, they immediately understood who they came.

The lobby manager greeted him with a smile and said with a smile:

"Haha, Mr. Qiu, welcome, welcome, I have been waiting for you and the other two to come..."

The two were stunned, both surprised. Xiang Xiaoqiang quickly recalled that his photos had never been in the newspaper.

The manager immediately explained that all the celebrities in Nanjing who were ranked first were recorded and registered, especially those who had just risen and might become their potential customers. For example, members of the royal family, tycoons in the political and business circles, and their wives. These are all "vip customers". Of course, Xiang Xiaoqiang and future Mrs. Xiang were added not long ago. The supervisor below just called to report that a pair of male and female officers came up, very young, all of whom were the People's Guards, the man was the army colonel and the woman was the navy lieutenant, which was very consistent with the characteristics of Xiang Xiaoqiang and Qiu Qiu. So he came forward to receive them in person.

I sighed to Xiaoqiang that service can do this incomparable to future generations.

During the war, there are few customers and every day they are running bleak. Now Xiang Commander comes with his fiancée. The manager takes them personally and takes them to the top jewelry area very diligently.

The top jewelry is divided into three major pieces, namely: Cartier, France in 1846, Tiffany, the United States in 1837, and Bulgari, Greece in 1884.

The three most awesome jewelers in later generations are now here.

Xiang Xiaoqiang held Qiu Qiu, who had been dazzled, and walked in the jewelry atmosphere. A bald French old man served in front of him diligently, wearing a suit and a thick diamond ring on his hand. He introduced in skillful Chinese how old their Cartier jewelry history is. From Napoleon III's cousin Princess Mathilde, Queen Eugenie, Prince Saltikov of Russia, Elizabeth II of Belgium, Edward VII of England... to Zhu Yourong, the current Queen of the Ming Dynasty, are all their customers... and then he found a large stack of photos, which were commissioned by the royal families to handle the crown... The implication is that if you, Xiang Commander, also consumed from us, your value would be greatly improved...

The old French man snapped his fingers, and a black man brought a tray and served a few cigars. Xiang Xiaoqiang took one without hesitation and sucked it up. While listening to the old man's chatter, he nodded his head and hummed haha.

Qiu Qiu's eyes never moved away from the jewelry in the cabinet. Xiang Xiaoqiang thought she was dazzled, but he didn't expect that the little girl quietly pulled his sleeve and said to her ear:

"Xiaoqiang...is so expensive."

Xiang Xiaoqiang ignored the price from the cheapest hundreds of Mingyang to the most expensive tens of thousands of Mingyang at the counter. He turned out to be 500,000 yuan in principal. These days, the money has been almost 1 million.

Xiang Xiaoqiang also pressed into her ear and smiled:

"No matter how expensive it is... it is not worthy of you."

...

When he walked to Tiffany's territory, the tall and thin American manager immediately came forward with a smile. With a wave of his hand, the blonde lady held a crystal cup and poured half a cup of amber brandy. Xiang Xiaoqiang took it over without hesitation, smoking a cigar and tasting a brandy. He shook his head and hummed with the American manager. He heard him talk about how many royal members had customized jewelry with them, and how many Hollywood superstars were their loyal customers...

When he arrived at Bulgari, the Greek manager with black hair and big nose raised his hand, and a Greek lady in a long white dress set up a violin and played Chrysler's "The Joy of Love" with all her heart...

...

Finally, Qiu Qiulai refused to leave in front of a crystal glass cabinet in Cartier, and stared at a ring inside.

It was a gem ring with a diameter of about one centimeter, with dozens of small white diamonds as the base, and a strange pattern was inlaid with a slightly larger sapphire in the middle. The blue and white were shining with bright light under the light. Qiu Qiu stared at it, his heart was drunk.

Seeing Qiu Qiu so obsessed with this piece, Xiang Xiaoqiang immediately opened the glass cabinet and tray to pick it up. The jewelry was instantly worn on Qiu Qiu's hand. Qiu Qiu turned the back of his hand, and countless lights shone brightly.

Xiang Xiaoqiang pressed his ear to ask:

"Do you like it?"

Qiu Qiu blushed and nodded:

"Um."

Looking at Qiu Qiu's expression, staring at the ring on his finger, almost suffocating, finally recovering, murmured to Xiang Xiaoqiang:

"You know, Xiuxiu has a brooch with this pattern on it... I like it very much... But her one is silver and is worthless, so she won't show it to us... This... Huhu..."

The little girl looks drooling, it seems that she really likes it... Of course, she also has the meaning of buying it back and showing off her with Xiuxiu.

Xiang Xiaoqiang saw that there was no price inside and said:

"Hard-hunting, what is the price of this item?"

"Yeah," the old French man held his glasses and stared at the ring and sucked and said, "You must know... this is a royal jewelry..."

Qiu Qiu was admiring it, and was startled when he heard the words "Royal Jewelry". He carefully picked it off and put it back into the velvet tray. She knew that no matter how rich Xiang Xiaoqiang was, the royal jewelry was not something that they could afford.

Xiang Xiaoqiang's face also changed slightly. Could it be that the old man had a "royal" hat when he saw Qiu Qiu fall in love with this one, and the lion said a lot and wanted to kill someone, right?

The old French man smiled calmly and raised his ring under the lamp:

"Look at the emblem on the ring..."

On the ring surface, three strips of sapphires are bent under the setting of a small white diamond, forming a vortex. The pattern is very balanced and comfortable, a bit similar to Tai Chi pattern, but there are three cantilevers, which have a strong rotational feeling, like a blue sea vortex.

The French old man explained:

"This type is called 'Ba style', which is a traditional pattern in East Asia. Many ancient families in the East use it as the family emblem... As for this ring, it was customized by the Queen of Ryukyu and us at the beginning of the year. The ring face is the emblem of the Ryukyu royal family. Haha, so this is a piece of royal jewelry."

Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that since Ryukyu was forcibly occupied by Japan in the 19th century, the Ryukyu royal family had two branches, one was captured by the Japanese to Tokyo, and the other fled to the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, and had been in exile in the Ming Dynasty. Now it is in Nanjing and is funded by the Ming Dynasty royal family.

Xiang Xiaoqiang frowned:

"Since it's someone who ordered it, we can't buy it?"

The French manager laughed:

"But the Ryukyu royal family has been in a difficult financial position in recent years. Moreover, the current Ryukyu king's prince likes gambling and often sells the jewelry he passed on from his family. Last time, he stole the diamond ring "Ryukyu Star" that symbolized the Ryukyu king's power and sold it... The queen re-made a "Ryukyu Star" with us, which is this one. Because of the limited financial resources at that time, the design was much simpler. There was no blue diamond, but sapphires. So you see, except for these small white diamonds on the ring, there were only these three sapphires in more than one carat... Later, the "Ryukyu Star" inlaid with blue diamonds was bought by your Majesty and was rewarded to them, so the "Ryukyu Star" of this sapphire was authorized to deal with..."

"Oh, so..."

"So," the old French man bowed and smiled, "It is our Cartier's honor to be able to use this 'Ryukyu Star' to serve the Lord and wife."

"Uh..." Xiang Xiaoqiang pondered. I guess he had such a legendary experience, and it was still a star of Ryukyu. It would definitely not be cheaper. "How much does it cost?"

"Not much," the old French man smiled sweeter than honey, "As long as 68,000 Mingyangs, your wife can have this 'Ryukyu Star'."

Xiang Xiaoqiang immediately started to make a fuss:

"What? There is not even a carat diamond, but only three broken gems cost 68,000 yuan? You rob the money, don't want it anymore..."

Qiu Qiu also cooperated with him with talent:

"That's right, I don't want it anymore. We still have to live... Besides, this is not a 'Ryukyu Star', and I have never even entered the door of the Ryukyu royal family."

The young couple sang and reunited, and the old French man was surprised.

He has sold jewelry for so long, but he has never seen anyone buying wedding rings like this. A normal young man brings a girl to buy a ring. If he can afford it, he will buy it directly. If he can't afford it, he will pick it silently. He has never seen someone bargain in front of his fiancée. Even rarer, this fiancée also helps bargaining, as if he is not buying a sacred wedding ring representing love, but a handful of leeks.

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Qiu Qiu sang together, threatening Tiffany and Bulgari next door. Cartier's manager has seen that this "Madam Suitable" is definitely standing on her fiancé's side. As long as Xiang Xiaoqiang said he would not buy it, she would have no complaints.

Finally, the deal was completed for 55,000 Mingyang. The "Ryukyu Star" customized by Queen Ryukyu, which symbolizes royal power, became the wedding ring that Xiang Xiaoqiang gave to Qiu Qiu.

Although this old French man would not have any pain, he really didn't make much money. But he understood that the couple was a newcomer and had just knocked on the door to the upper class of Ming Dynasty. The future was long and he had another high-quality customer.

The manager asked someone to take out the appointment letter of "Ryukyu Star" commissioned by Cartier to customize the "Ryukyu Star" and the authorized letter of authorization to sell them, and handed it to Xiang Xiaoqiang together. This is the identity proof of this "Ryukyu Star" that is derived from the royal family.

Then the manager generously presented Qiu Qiu with a few matching pieces of jewelry and a matching evening dress.

Then, the old French man poured three glasses of champagne and respectfully invited a gold-plated customer signature book, asking Qiu Qiu to sign for the souvenir, and said with a smile:

"Can we celebrate another noble lady in the upper class of Ming Dynasty?"

When you open the gold-plated book, there are all kinds of signatures on it. There are many familiar names among them. The handwriting of famous socialites such as Zhu Yourong, Zhu Youmei, Zheng Yuxiang and others are all on it.

As Xiang Xiaoqiang's eyes flashed through these shining names, the old French man's face turned red with pride.
To be continued...