Upon entering, there is a small garden for planting flowers and plants. A quiet path leads to the pond not far away.
The simple shape of the house, if it weren't for the faint sounds of knocking and polishing from several large houses in the distance, Xiao Chen would really have thought that this was just an ordinary wealthy family living in seclusion in the busy city.
The waiter led the way, and the three of them walked through the small garden and came to a room that seemed to be a small living room.
There is a table in the hall with a chair on each side. Further to the side, there are several more chairs placed against the wall.
Xiao Chen stood in the middle of the small hall and looked at the small house.
The waiter stood at the door leading to the back hall, looking inside.
During the tea time, a short middle-aged man walked out of the back hall and looked at the waiter: "Are you a customer again?"
The waiter hunched over, nodded and said, "Butler Zhang happens to be here today, that's great. This is Mr. Xiao from the capital, and he wants a larger quantity."
With that said, he introduced the short middle-aged man to Xiao Chen.
The middle-aged man is five feet tall and has a thin build. He does not have the pot-bellied appearance of ordinary butlers from big families. He has a pair of eagle-like eyes and looks Xiao Chen up and down.
"Master, where are you from in the capital?" Butler Zhang put his hands behind his back and stared into Xiao Chen's eyes.
In this line of work, the most fearful thing is the government. Hearing that Xiao Chen came from the capital, Butler Zhang's vigilance increased even more.
"Outside Xizhimen." Looking at the short but gloomy Butler Zhang, Xiao Chen said calmly.
"Xizhimen is the place where the royal water tanker that collects water from Yuquan Mountain must pass. If the young master can live here, his family must be rich and noble." Butler Zhang smiled slightly, but his sharp eyes never left Xiao Chen's.
Eye.
For a long time, the Ouyang family has been running this shoddy business. Although they have the protection of Yizhou Prefectural Government, they also know that they are walking on a knife's edge and something may happen at any time.
However, the huge benefits make them willing to take risks.
However, they are extremely cautious when it comes to new customers who are dealing with them for the first time.
As a result, the experienced and ruthless Butler Zhang became the gatekeeper of Ouyang's workshop.
Staring closely into the other person's eyes, the wily Butler Zhang thought he could tell whether the other person was lying or not from his eyes.
"It's better than the superior, but it's better than the inferior. If you have a full meal, you can still do it." Xiao Chen put his hands behind his back, and his momentum did not belong to his opponent at all.
"These days, no one dares to claim that he is better than his superiors, especially in the capital. He is by no means an ordinary person. This young master, can you reveal your family name?" Butler Zhang's eyes were rolling around, without any trace of emotion at all.
It means to relax.
"My surname is Xiao." Xiao Chen smiled lightly.
Butler Zhang lowered his head, took a step forward, looked up at Xiao Chen, with a strange smile on his face: "I'm afraid the young master's surname is only used outside the capital, right?"
A surprised look appeared on Xiao Chen's face, and then he returned to his natural state.
"I just heard that Yi Shui Inkstone is quite famous and wanted to buy some as gifts. Butler Zhang doesn't have to be so suspicious. If it weren't for the fact that the difference in price is enough to pay for several meals, I wouldn't bother to talk to the waiter.
Traveling so far and talking so much."
Xiao Chen snorted lightly, expressing his dissatisfaction.
Butler Zhang smiled lightly and said: "It's because the price difference is too big. We run a small business and have to be cautious. I wonder what kind of goods the young master wants?"
"I'm giving away to more people this time, and the price shouldn't be too high. Let's just put the price at 10 taels of silver." Hearing this butler getting straight to the point, the sullen expression on Xiao Chen's face softened a little.
"I don't know how much you need, sir?" Zhang Guanjia said.
Xiao Chen said nothing, raised his right hand and stretched it out in front of Butler Zhang.
"Fifty?" Butler Zhang said calmly.
If he only had fifty Yishui inkstones, even though the profit would be dozens of taels of silver, it would not be worth checking the other party's identity over and over again.
"If it's fifty coins, I won't be too lazy to come over and meet Butler Zhang. Five hundred coins." Xiao Chen said nonchalantly and sat down on the chair next to the table.
He put his left leg on his right leg, pressed his arm on the armrest of the chair, and looked at Butler Zhang casually.
When he heard that the other party wanted to buy 500 Yishui inkstones at a time, Butler Zhang, who thought he had seen the world, was also surprised.
This Yishui inkstone is different from other things. It can only be used by literati, or students and officials. This young master wants five hundred at a time. He has such a wide network of contacts.
Even so, the vigilance in the butler's heart was still not completely relaxed. However, his face was instantly filled with smiles.
"Look at how busy I am. I only knew how to greet the young master, but I forgot to give up my seat to him." Then he shouted towards the back hall, "Come on, give the young master some tea."
As soon as he finished speaking, a man dressed as a servant walked in, carrying a kettle and a tea bowl with tea leaves already in his hand.
Place the tea bowl in front of Xiao Chen, fill it with hot water, and turn around to leave.
Butler Zhang also sat opposite Xiao Chen with a smile on his face: "Young Master Xiao has worked hard all the way. Let's discuss the specific matters after drinking this bowl of hot tea."
"Okay." Xiao Chen chuckled and nodded.
Duan Tianming, who had been following closely like a guard, stepped in front of Xiao Chen, took out the silver needle he carried with him, tested it in the tea, and then stepped back.
Shopkeeper Zhang smiled, as if he couldn't see Duan Tianming's behavior.
Xiao Chen curled his index finger slightly and tapped the armrest lightly: "Don't mind, Shopkeeper Zhang, this is our first time dealing with you. Although the amount of money involved is not that much, as the saying goes, you must be on guard against others."
"Where, if it were me, I would do the same thing when I go to a strange place." Shopkeeper Zhang hurriedly agreed.
He has determined that the young master in front of him must be the son of a wealthy family in the capital. And it is very likely that he belongs to a powerful official's family.
His guard alone walked calmly and acted arrogantly. If he hadn't seen many big events, he wouldn't have such a temperament.
"Steward Zhang, I heard that the things you have here are almost real. Since we are going to trade, can I take a look at the goods first?" Xiao Chen's tone was very relaxed as he stared at Butler Zhang's sharp eyes like an eagle.
"Of course." Butler Zhang stood up, "I will arrange for someone to bring the samples."
Walking to the door of the back hall, Butler Zhang waved to the inside.
There was a sound of footsteps, and two burly middle-aged men, wearing large cotton hats and servant clothes, walked up to Xiao Chen carrying two wooden trays with five Yishui inkstones placed in the middle.
.
"Put it on the table." Butler Zhang ordered.
The two of them placed the Yishui inkstones on the plates on the table one by one without saying a word.
Reaching out to pick up an inkstone, Xiao Chen looked at it carefully. The corner of his eye inadvertently glanced at the right hand of the human hand, and he was suddenly startled.
