No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 578 Ouyang Rong gave the three girls a hairpin, Li Guoer took the opportunity to ask for a high price [ask for monthly tickets! ]

Speedy Avenue... No, thoroughfare, outside the Lantern Riddles Gallery.

The grandfather and grandson paused for a moment.

"Aunt, should we... change to another batch of riddles?"

the fat kid asked hesitantly.

The fat old man sighed:
"Well, forget it."

The old man waved his hands and sighed:
"He is quite capable to bring three of them in a row. It's quite impressive. This seems to be a very novel relationship... Well, it's just that young people nowadays are becoming more and more incomprehensible to me."

The fat kid scratched his head and said:

"Aunt, this pretty young lady is blindfolded this time. She is really pitiful. Maybe this young man with the folding fan is just kind-hearted and wants to give this young lady a home..."

"..."

The fat old man tapped his grandson on the forehead and said sternly:

"He hasn't paid yet, and you're already speaking for him, silly kid. Go collect the money quickly."

"oh oh."

Seeing another idiot fail in guessing the riddle and walk down the corridor in frustration, the fat kid ran back and continued handing out wooden signs.

Soon, it was Ouyang Rong's turn in the team.

Just before he got off the bus, he asked Ali for three taels of silver.

On weekdays, Ouyang Rong did not spend much money. Zhen Shuyuan was in charge of the money in the Huaiye Lane mansion. Every half a month, the beautiful woman in a silk skirt would give a sum of money to Ali and Weilai, who were with her beloved nephew, to take care of his daily life and travel.

Tonight is the first time we speed through the lantern riddle gallery, and Rong Zhen paid the three taels of silver.

The second time it was Xie Lingjiang who paid, and he was so generous that he waved his hand and gave it to the grandfather and grandson who were setting up a stall.

This time, it was actually pocket money from his salary.

A true master usually asks girls to spend money for him when he goes out. The underlying logic is that the party that actively pays more, the more it cannot do without the other party, which is called sunk cost. So sometimes, the more you like her, the more you have to let her spend money for you. Of course, now that Ouyang Rong has visited the thatched cottage three times, he certainly cannot ask the embroiderer for the ticket money.

Taking a familiar wooden sign and walking up to the lantern riddle corridor, Ouyang Rong glanced at the three taels of silver temporarily deposited in the fat child's hand and chuckled.

Zhao Qingxiu stopped with his walking stick, stood outside the entrance of the corridor, and waited.

"Long Ling——"

She covered her face with her eyes and slowly turned towards the place in front of her where his unique jade-like crisp sound came from.

Yes, he is there.

Ouyang Rong's speed this time is even faster than last time.

Because most of the riddles on the corridor have not been changed.

After all, no one could have imagined that a max-level character would repeatedly come to this Novice Village to speed through and farm equipment.

It’s the same Lantern Festival, but why does it feel like you’re celebrating it three times?

Seeing Ouyang Rong leisurely approaching and picking up the mandarin duck jade hairpin with ease, the grandfather and grandson who were setting up the stall were full of complaints.

However, the fat old man still restrained his expression, clasped his fists as usual, and assisted those who passed the corridor.

In front of the female companion he brought with him, he complimented her:
"Congratulations, young master. You are truly a man of great talent. It is a blessing for me to have such a husband."

"Ah."

Ouyang Rong put his hands behind his back, twirling the mandarin duck jade hairpin with his fingers, responded, but did not leave immediately.

The fat old man kept smiling politely and looked at him.

Ouyang Rong also smiled and looked at the fat old man.

The two of them stared at each other across a counter table for ten breaths.

The fat kid who had collected three taels of silver for the ticket was still handing out wooden signs at the entrance of the corridor in the distance, with his back to the two of them, seemingly unaware of anything unusual here.

The fat old man looked straight ahead and didn't even look at his grandson who "forgot to come over".

Curious question:
"Um, sir, is there anything else? The night is short, but... don't let the ladies wait in the cold wind for too long."

The word "们" was pronounced quite heavily, and I don't know whether it was intentional or accidental.

Ouyang Rong stared at the old man's fat face without blushing or beating his heart. He stretched out his hand and said directly:
"Boss, did you forget something?"

The fat old man's face changed slightly, and he looked a little surprised. Wasn't he quite capable before? Why did he suddenly become so EQ-less now?

But he didn't know what to say, because the sign read: Pass through the corridor and tickets will be refunded.

The fat old man with a dark face let out a very reluctant breath, turned around, and prepared to call his grandson.

At the same time, he was silently thinking about setting a new rule on the wooden sign later, for example... each gentleman can only bring one lady to claim the hairpin prize of our store in his lifetime, and cannot take more than one, in order to firmly protect pure love.

Sure enough, for merchants, behind every outrageous regulation, there is an outrageous story...

"and many more."

Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his hand to interrupt and said with a smile:
"The ticket money is a small matter, there is no rush. I am here to make friends. I am very happy to meet you tonight. I have a few humble opinions, but I don't know whether I should say them or not."

The fat old man looked at the handsome young man in front of him who didn't play by the rules and had a confident smile, and asked cautiously:
"What do you mean, sir?"

Ouyang Rong first shook the mandarin duck jade hairpin in his hand, then pointed his chin at the wooden box next to the fat old man:

"How many heirloom hairpins are there in the boss's box?"

Fat old man with a stern face:

"I don't understand what you are saying, young master. In fact, there are only three... four of them passed down in my family. There is only one left. I am waiting for the right person. I hope you will show mercy and not do anything too extreme. Leave a way out for everything..."

Ouyang Rong smiled and nodded, interrupting:
"That's a lot of money, okay? Thirty taels per coin is enough for you to make a lot of money, or you can go and get more stock later."

"Thirty taels per piece? Restocking? What do you mean, sir?"

"Of course, discussing a business deal is based on your trust in me."

Ouyang Rong kept smiling and raised a finger:
“For this deal, you only need to do two simple things.

“First, tell me where I can buy this mandarin duck jade hairpin and where the source is.

"Secondly, please copy the love-hate story you wrote for the hairpin and give it to me."

The fat old man narrowed his eyes and said, "Young Master, you haven't told me yet what benefit this deal will bring to me. What if it's to steal my business?"

Ouyang Rong smiled, raised four fingers and said leisurely:
“I’m not trying to steal your business, but to help you make money.

“Since it is a business, it is about mutual benefit and mutual assistance.

“First, after this time, I will not bring young ladies here again, so you can do business without worry.

"Second, the three taels of silver for the ticket, you can take it, I don't want it. I believe that these three taels of silver are actually enough to buy several more, it doesn't matter.

"Third, your riddles are too simple. How about this? I'll leave you a riddle as the finale. I guarantee you'll make a lot of money every Lantern Festival."

"Fourth... Actually, the fourth benefit will have to wait one night... Please keep these mandarin duck jade hairpins. Who knows, they may be out of stock tomorrow."

"What does it mean to have a price but no demand?"

The fat old man looked puzzled and asked.

Ouyang Rong smiled without saying anything, twisted the mandarin duck jade hairpin with two fingers, and asked calmly:

"Do you want to do this business?"

The fat old man looked hesitant and whispered:

"Sir, the first point you mentioned is not a condition. Our store has its rules. Sir, you can't come here anymore..."

Ouyang Rong curled his lips:
"This is a new rule, right? Then it shouldn't be hard for me to introduce a few friends. I can memorize all your riddles."

Fat old man: ...

He lowered his head and thought for a while, then hesitantly said:

"Are the riddles you gave really that powerful?"

Ouyang Rong said nothing, took out a pen and paper, and started writing.

The fat old man looked down and read out:

"The young woman with yellow silk and the grandson's mortar...

"Are you sure this is a riddle?"

He looked suspicious.

"Guess."

The knowledgeable fat master thought for a long time and shook his head firmly:
"I can't guess it. No, this can't be a riddle..."

Ouyang Rong smiled, wrote on the paper and read aloud:

“Excellent words.”

"Why is this so..."

The fat old man suddenly stopped talking, and deduced from the answer, with a look of sudden realization on his face:
"Hey, yellow silk is colored silk, that is, colored silk, which is the word 'absolute', right... This young woman is a young girl, which literally means 'wonderful'...

"Interesting! A wonderful phrase, indeed a wonderful phrase!
"As for grandson, well, my daughter's child, that is, daughter plus son, makes up the Chinese character 'good'... Haha, but how do you interpret the last word, '齑臼'..."

Seeing this "wonderful word", the fat old man who had been immersed in this for many years couldn't help but dance with joy, but he was stumped by the last word and his face turned red with anxiety.

Ouyang Rong did not answer, but asked with a smile:

"Do this business or not?"

This time, the fat old man didn't hesitate any more and nodded vigorously: "Do it, sir. I believe you and am convinced."

"it is good."

The fat old man leaned close to Ouyang Rong's ear and whispered something... Ouyang Rong got what he wanted and turned to leave. "Wait, sir, I haven't asked your name yet. My surname is Sun, my given name is Ze, and I'm a single-character grandson. I make a living in the market of Xunyang."

Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then waved his hand lightly:

"I am Yuan Huaimin."

"Why does it sound familiar? All right, Master Yuan, please take care."

The fat old man Sun Ze stood in awe.

After receiving such a "wonderful speech", he even forced his grandson to return the three taels of silver to Ouyang Rong.

The latter took it reluctantly, but turned around and asked for a few more mandarin duck jade hairpins without hesitation, then grabbed a handful and left.

Sun Ze: ...

But after a while, the grandfather and grandson of the Sun family still watched with admiration as Ouyang Rong left with the pretty blind girl.

……

Back to the carriage.

"I've been waiting for you, embroiderer."

Ouyang Rong looked apologetic.

Zhao Qingxiu shook her head and wrote on his palm: [Those beautiful girls are envious of me, you are so good to me]

"Don't move." Ouyang Rong gently twisted the mandarin duck jade hairpin with two fingers and inserted it into Zhao Qingxiu's hair, his expression calm and serious.

He was very skilled in his movements, better than any girl could do it, it was simply because he was skilled.

Finally, Ouyang Rong lowered his head and sniffed the fragrance of her black hair; Zhao Qingxiu didn't know, she tilted her head slightly, raised her hand to touch the hairpin, and smiled foolishly.

"Look up... well, it's really beautiful."

Zhao Qingxiu felt Tan Lang suddenly hold her shoulders, as if he was looking at her, smiling and praising her.

Zhao Qingxiu's face suddenly turned red and she turned away.

Ouyang Rong laughed, but then he glanced at the hairpin that was in the hands of his junior sister, Ms. Rong, and the embroiderer. He clenched his fist and covered his mouth, coughing.

"Miss Xiu Niang, can you wait a little longer? Now that you are all out, I want to meet a few people on the way and do a small thing."

He requested softly.

Zhao Qingxiu nodded, stayed quiet and didn't rush him.

"Ashan, go to Pei Shisan's house in Xiushuifang."

Ouyang Rong gave an order outside.

"Yes, son."

Two quarters of an hour later.

The carriage slowly stopped at the back door of a mansion in Xiushuifang.

Ouyang Rong originally wanted Zhao Qingxiu to sit in the horse and wait, but she held his clothes tightly with her little hands and hugged the jade staff.

Ouyang Rong had no choice but to agree reluctantly.

A quarter of an hour later, Ouyang Rong met Pei Shisan Niang in the hall of a mansion.

Zhao Qingxiu was in the next side hall, facing the luxurious tea and cakes, waiting silently.

Ouyang Rong took out a mandarin duck jade hairpin from his sleeve and handed it to Pei Shisan Niang who hurriedly climbed out of the quilt.

"Sir, this is..."

"Give it to you."

"Thank you, sir!"

The beautiful woman looked surprised. After a while, her cheeks turned slightly red. She lowered her head and raised her hand, inserting it into her hair... This arm-raising action revealed her proud figure.

Under the light, Hongxia's face couldn't help but look a little seductive.

"It's not for nothing. Please help me with something related to this hairpin."

Pei Shisanniang paused, her face looking a little disappointed, but she still adjusted herself and said respectfully:
"Master, please speak."

Ouyang Rong's face was calm as he gave the name of a jewelry store in East City.

"You go find the boss of this shop and buy all the jade hairpins. Then stop them from selling them. Wait until tomorrow and sell all the hairpins..."

"Yes, sir. This is a simple matter. I am very familiar with this jewelry store and know the owner. They should be happy to cooperate with us. However, after we buy it, how much will it be sold for tomorrow?"

Pei Shisan Niang thought about it and nodded slightly without asking Ouyang Rong what to do if no one bought it.

Ouyang Rong said casually:

"Then let's make it 30 taels per piece. The fat boss sells it for 30 taels per piece. I took one tonight for the lantern riddle and it cost 3 taels. So let's make it 30 taels per piece tomorrow. It won't be considered unscrupulous."

Pei Shisanniang: ...

"Sir, you are so generous."

"You're too kind. In this world, third-rate merchants sell quality, second-rate merchants sell rare products, and the real first-rate merchants sell stories."

"Hiss, young master, that's a good idea!" Pei Shisan Niang's eyes lit up.

With a sigh, Ouyang Rong declined the reluctant invitation of the beautiful woman to stay overnight, left Pei's house, returned to the carriage, and told Ali an address.

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage arrived outside a theater in Xingzifang. After getting off the carriage and entering the door, Ouyang Rong placed the embroiderer at an empty table in the lobby on the first floor. Then Ouyang Rong went up to the second floor, looked around, and saw his friend as expected.

"Hey, Lianghan? Why are you here? Where is Miss Xie?" Li Dalang asked curiously.

Ouyang Rong coughed.

After he sent his junior sister back to the mansion tonight, Li Dalang and Li Guoer were still playing at the theater and did not go back immediately.

Although the Lantern Festival dinner at Xunyang Palace was very well organized, the two did not want to continue to participate, and like Ouyang Rong, they slipped out to slack off.

"Where is your sister?" Ouyang Rong asked.

Li Dalang smiled awkwardly, "We were watching a play upstairs. She said I was shouting and yelling during the play, and I was always complaining to her about the plot. They were all childish questions. It was too noisy, so we watched the play separately."

"Take me there."

"it is good."

Before going upstairs, Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around, took out a mandarin duck jade hairpin from his sleeve and handed it out.

"Give it to you."

Li Dalang was stunned, looking at the mandarin duck jade hairpin stuffed into his hand, wondering:
"Why are you giving me a gift for no reason? Isn't this what my little girl is wearing?"

Ouyang Rong said sincerely:

"Doesn't Dalang always want to give Princess Anhui gifts? Take them and make sure she wears them more often."

"Why is Tan Lang suddenly so nice to me?" Li Dalang's face was immediately touched by his good friend's approval.

"Ahem, you're welcome."

After a while, Ouyang Rong saw Li Guoer in a VIP box upstairs.

Li Guoer is wearing a men's black suit tonight, looking very handsome.

She held a decorative jeweled sword in her hand and put one boot on the edge of the stool, looking heroic and more manly than any man.

"Here, it's for you."

"What is this?"

Li Guoer took a mandarin duck jade hairpin and asked curiously.

Ouyang Rong, who was handing out mandarin duck jade hairpins to everyone he met tonight, said sincerely:

"You're welcome. It would be great if Your Highness could help me."

"Then you'd better thank me. It's better not to." Li Guoer said with a stern face.

Ouyang Rong said shamelessly, "Well, I'd better ask Your Highness the Princess for a small favor."

"Tell me what you are doing."

"After watching this play, Your Highness, can you please go back to Xunyang Palace and show up in your best attire before the Lantern Festival dinner ends? Yes, wear this hairpin. Also, as I ask, tell everyone an interesting story about something you encountered while guessing lantern riddles while shopping?"

After saying that, he handed over a note, which was the story that the fat old man Sun Ze had written before.

Li Guoer understood most of it after hearing half of it:

"You want me to promote this hairpin for you? Why are you doing business?"

"almost."

"Why is this? Are you short of money?"

"No, but... after tonight, I feel very insecure."

"A sense of security? What do you mean? Is there anyone who dares to hit you?"

"It's nothing, Princess, don't ask any more questions. Just wear this hairpin and it will be a favor to me."

Li Guoer squinted at him for a while and said slowly:

"I still don't understand why, but it is indeed a small favor, but I helped you, what are you going to do in return, Ouyang Lianghan, you are not asking me to help you for free, that would be too rude."

Ouyang Rong sounded a little puzzled.

"Of course not. Isn't this just a jade hairpin? It's not considered a reward?" He sat upright and said seriously, "I don't do it for free, Your Highness."

Li Guoer:……? ?

(End of this chapter)