Dragon's Origin

“This inkstone, also a first work by Master Lu of the Exquisite Pavilion, embodies noble qualities with its 'Three Friends of Winter' motif. Coupled with Master Lu's ingenious craftsmanship, it is truly a rare Lu inkstone.” The charming maidservant positioned herself as a salesperson from Earth, quick-witted with a voice that was pleasing to the ear, making people happy just listening to her. “It grinds ink quickly and deeply. Our store prices it at two hundred thousand gold coins.”

“Jade Tablet Xuan paper, Gold-flecked Xuan paper, and Chengxintang paper, the shopkeeper has already introduced.” The charming maidservant didn't continue the introduction, only stating the price: “All three types of paper are priced the same, starting at one gold coin per sheet. Wanhua paper is ten sheets for one gold coin.”

After hearing the prices, the two Academicians were stunned and speechless.

Were the items good? Yes! Really good! However, the prices were also a bit too expensive. Not just a bit expensive, but outrageously expensive.

At the cheapest, one sheet of paper cost one gold coin. With the annual income of an average person, they could only afford to buy four or five to seven or eight sheets. And this was just for consumables, the ones used the most. If they wanted to buy a complete set of writing tools, it would probably take the entire fortune of tens of thousands of households.

And this was just for the writing tools; it didn't include all the miscellaneous small items. Those brush holders, brush mountains, brush washers, paperweights, and other small stationery items were each worth a lot. To get a complete set, don't even think about it without two million gold coins.

Academician Zou was still frowning and pondering, but Academician Qi had already realized the meaning behind Academician Zou's gaze when he had written that large character. Understanding dawned on him, and with a determined bite, he called out to Uncle Liu, “Give me two hundred sheets of each type of paper. Wrap up all the writing tools I just used. I want that paperweight, that brush washer, and this ink bed. I want that regular script brush and that small regular script brush too. The gold coins will be delivered to the store this afternoon.”

Uncle Liu was overjoyed and quickly agreed, hastily instructing several maidservants to clean the brushes and inkstones, packaging them in boxes that Wang Sheng had designed long ago. He quickly calculated in his mind, “Academician, these masterpieces add up to a total of one million two hundred and thirty thousand six hundred and twenty gold coins. I'll waive the odd gold coins for you, so it'll be one million two hundred and thirty thousand gold coins.”

Academician Qi gave Academician Zou a provocative look, as if showing off, then proudly left with his servants and bodyguards, swaggering away with his purchases.

Academician Zou was furious. Having been at odds with Old Qi for so long, he had never been subjected to such treatment. He was instantly enraged and didn't care about anything else. Anyway, everything here was definitely top-notch. Although Academician Zou was slightly dissatisfied with using the title of Grandmaster to name these treasures, compared to being looked down upon by his lifelong rival, that was nothing!

“Are there any more?” Academician Zou roared at Uncle Liu, “Give me one of everything in that set! Prepare one of each of those things that Old Qi didn't take. Give me five hundred sheets of each type of paper. You don't need to waive the odd amount; I can't afford to lose face! The gold coins will be delivered this afternoon!”

Uncle Liu smiled ingratiatingly, packed the items, reported the total bill of one million nine hundred and eleven thousand five hundred and fifty gold coins, and happily saw off Academician Zou and his entourage.

As Academician Zou walked out of Qianshengyuan's door, he was thinking that his purchases had surpassed Old Qi's and that he could laugh at Old Qi for being greedy for even the six hundred gold coins discount. He was feeling pleased when he saw the Changshan Prince's son kneeling at the door with the other two.

“Even I have to buy things here with proper procedures and clear prices. Nearly two million gold coins can only buy a complete set of stationery. How dare you exploit and plunder with ten gold coins? Where is justice?” After scolding loudly, he heavily kicked the Changshan Prince's son, knocking him to the ground.

“Academician Zou is indeed of noble character, unable to tolerate even a grain of sand in his eye.” Of course, Uncle Liu saw this and immediately gave a thumbs up, praising, “Not afraid of the powerful, yet looking highly upon us commoners, you are truly a pillar of our dynasty. This humble one thanks you!”

Kicking the Changshan Prince's son had such benefits? The more Academician Zou thought about it, the more pleased he became. He stepped forward and kicked the other two as well, then laughed heartily and left. The three who had been kicked to the ground didn't dare to make a sound and obediently got up and knelt properly.

Intentionally or unintentionally, the story of Academician Qi and Academician Zou's rivalry at Qianshengyuan spread out subtly, clearly biased towards Academician Zou's version, probably spread by Academician Zou's servants.

Not only did it include the scene of Academician Zou buying a complete set while Academician Qi only bought a portion, but it also included the detail of Academician Qi receiving a discount of over six hundred gold coins. There was also Academician Zou's heroic act of scolding the Changshan Prince's son and kicking the three unpromising individuals outside. Before noon, Academician Zou's reputation in the capital became even more resounding.

Of course, the greatest fame still came from those Grandmaster-customized unique items. Even the items taken away by Academician Qi and Academician Zou were not the same. Each person had a unique item, with different shapes and forms, yet infinitely useful.

As soon as the news spread, those in the capital who considered themselves literary masters or scholars couldn't sit still. They didn't even bother with lunch and went straight to Qianshengyuan.

The number of people kneeling at Qianshengyuan's door was no longer three, but over thirty. Besides the Changshan Prince's son and the other two, there were also the local ruffians who had come to cause trouble that day.

These guys were local snakes, with the most well-informed news. Even the Changshan Prince's son had suffered here and was kneeling as punishment. How dare they, small figures whose entire families could be dealt with for a few tens of thousands of gold coins, stand?

Don't think that Qianshengyuan couldn't come up with tens of thousands of gold coins to offer as a reward for buying their entire family's heads. They had sold over three million gold coins worth of goods in just one morning, plus the two million six hundred and sixty thousand gold coins from yesterday. In two days, that was nearly six million gold coins. Not to mention buying their entire family's lives, even their distant relatives would be included.

A strange scene appeared at the entrance of Qianshengyuan. The guests who came to the store were all wearing tall hats and wide belts, refined and courteous, but their tempers were bigger than the next. When they saw those kneeling guys at the door, they each gave them a hard kick, showing no mercy. Some with seemingly violent tempers even punched, kicked, and spat, as if those guys had committed some heinous crime.

Naturally, Qianshengyuan would greatly promote these noble and righteous acts of the people. From noon until evening, the most widely spread stories in the city were about so-and-so angrily kicking the Prince's son, or so-and-so angrily scolding the noble young master. A different name would pop up every now and then.

The cruelest was an old scholar who specially asked Qianshengyuan for a table in front of those kneeling guys. Qianshengyuan offered tea, and the old scholar set up his posture and scolded that group for three hours, along with three hours of educational lectures. By the time the old scholar finished speaking, the Prince's son and the others wanted to die.