"Those pearls were given to you by a demon? What exactly happened?" Li Gongfu asked nervously.
Jiang Hao had already prepared his explanation before coming.
"Half a month ago, I went to watch the Qiantang Tide with some friends. When the tide rolled in and whipped up huge waves, a carp was thrown onto the shore. I saw it and picked it up. My friends laughed, saying it was a delicious meal delivered right to our door and told me to take it home and stew it. I refused and released the carp back into the river."
"But who would have thought that yesterday, an old man entered my dream? He said he was that carp. He had been swept ashore by the waves while undergoing a tribulation. I saved his life, so he had come to thank me with valuables. When I woke up, this bag of pearls was beside my bed."
Li Gongfu listened with a look of shock.
"A fish demon, a dream visitation, gratitude, treasure."
"I had heard tales of strange things before. As a constable, I'd encountered a few odd cases myself, but I'd never truly come into contact with demons. Who would have thought Hanwen would have such a chance encounter?"
Jiang Hao said, "Brother-in-law, you know the streets well. I'm afraid of being cheated, so I'd like to trouble you with selling these pearls for me."
Flattered by his brother-in-law's praise, Li Gongfu felt rather pleased with himself. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. I know the manager of Ruixiang Tower. If we take these pearls there, he won't dare cheat me."
"But these pearls should sell for quite a lot. What does Hanwen plan to do with the money?" Li Gongfu asked.
"I already have a plan. First, I'll buy a house