A Credit Card with a Huge Limit

"Young man, if you like it, it's yours at that price. But you have to tell me why, or I won't agree." Wu Daorong was stunned and asked Zhang Yang to clear up his confusion.

"Bring me a magnifying glass," Zhang Yang instructed a shop assistant.

The assistant brought one over. Under its powerful lens, they could see a pattern drawn in fine, even lines on the inner sides of the two wings of the White Jade Hairpin, along with a poem.

"No one without extraordinary skill could have carved a piece like this. That's why it's worth the price—even more," Zhang Yang said confidently.

Wu Daorong looked mortified, then delighted. He had missed something, but he had also learned something new.

"Young man, I can't believe I didn't notice it!"

Wu Daorong was relieved the mistake had happened in his own shop. If he had made it during a recorded television program—or worse, a live broadcast—his reputation would have suffered badly.

Cheng Dongxue listened as Zhang Yang and Wu Daorong discussed the White Jade Hairpin. However exquisite it was, however masterfully crafted, that was not the point. The point was its value—its monetary value.

Five hundred thousand yuan. Even at a forty-percent discount, it would still cost three hundred thousand—a huge sum for Cheng Dongxue, one she could not readily spend, let alone Zhang Yang.

"Please find a suitable box for the White Jade Hairpin, Elder Wu." Zhang Yang held the White Jade Hairpin, unable to put it down. The story behind it, though, was lost to time.

"No problem. Xiao Zhang, get a good box and pack it for our young friend," Wu Daorong called to the assistant.

Cheng Dongxue could see that Zhang Yang had bought the White Jade Hairpin. But how was he going to pay for it?

"Zhang Yang, why don't you think it over?" Cheng Dongxue was afraid he would embarrass himself again. It was one thing for him to do that in front of family, but why lose face before strangers?

"Mr. Zhang, here you are." In front of Zhang Yang, the assistant Xiao Zhang placed the White Jade Hairpin in a small, antique-looking rosewood box, then put the box into a paper shopping bag.

Zhang Yang nodded and took the bag. With his other hand, he held out a credit card. A credit card, not a debit card.

"Charge it."

Cheng Dongxue stared at him, then complained, "You have to pay off a credit card!"

Given Zhang Yang's current situation, how could he possibly pay the bill?

"Wait. Where did you get a credit card with a three-hundred-thousand-yuan limit? No, a five-hundred-thousand-yuan limit?" Cheng Dongxue frowned, question after question tumbling out.

"Heh. Pocket change."

"You're bluffing!" Cheng Dongxue did not believe him. Zhang Yang was unemployed. How could he have a credit limit that high? Even her own credit card had a limit of only five or six hundred thousand yuan.

"Mr. Zhang, your card. Please sign here." Xiao Zhang brought him the receipt.

Cheng Dongxue snatched the receipt and looked at it. Five hundred thousand yuan had indeed been charged. She could scarcely believe Zhang Yang had a credit card with that kind of limit. And if he could spend five hundred thousand in one transaction, its limit might be higher still.

Zhang Yang smiled, took the receipt, and signed it quickly. The name he wrote was his own.

"Elder Wu, it's getting late. We'll be going." Zhang Yang had bought his gift, and dusk had fallen. It was time to head home.

"Young friend, I'm sorry for the trouble." Wu Daorong was still bothered by his misjudgment about the White Jade Hairpin.

"Elder Wu, thank you for letting me have such a fine piece at the original price." Zhang Yang nodded in gratitude.

In truth, neither side felt the deal was fair. But that did not matter. The hairpin was simply a token of their friendship.

They walked out of Antique Pavilion.

"Zhang Yang, be honest. Where were you hiding all that money?" Cheng Dongxue took his arm and demanded an answer. Then she realized that made no sense. It was a credit card, not cash. There was no hidden stash.

Zhang Yang gave a wry smile and kept up his lies. "Didn't I tell you? I went into business with the Lin Family and made money. Forget five hundred thousand—I could come up with five million."

"Keep bragging." Cheng Dongxue still did not believe him.

"Then how do you explain the five hundred thousand just now?" Zhang Yang asked.

Cheng Dongxue frowned. If it was not as Zhang Yang said, she had no explanation for the money. When the credit card bill came due, even selling Zhang Yang would not bring in five hundred thousand yuan.

No matter what Zhang Yang said, Cheng Dongxue remained uneasy.

When they got home, the family had gathered, but no one had cooked. They were all waiting for Zhang Yang to come back and make dinner.

"You're never home, and you can't even come back on time to cook. What a useless waste of space." As expected, abuse was waiting for Zhang Yang when he got home.

"Mom, we went shopping. Zhang Yang has a surprise for you tomorrow." For years, Cheng Dongxue had never stopped trying to talk her parents around.

This time, Cheng Dongxue tried again, but left them guessing.

"A gift?"

"When has he ever given me a decent birthday present? I bet he'll just embarrass himself again tomorrow."

Yang Su frowned, but Cheng Hai had already spoken up and begun mocking Zhang Yang.

"Dad, you'll see tomorrow." Cheng Dongxue was excited. Zhang Yang had always been looked down on by her parents. Perhaps after he gave them such a generous gift tomorrow, their opinion of him would change.

"Tomorrow, then. I expect someone will make a fool of himself again," Cheng Hai said dismissively.

No woman could resist a gift, and Cheng Dongxue had said it would be a surprise. Yang Su decided to wait rather than take another jab at Zhang Yang.

"What are you standing there for? Go make dinner." They were hungry, it was already dark, and Zhang Yang was still standing around.

At that, Zhang Yang shook his head, put his things away in the bedroom, and went to the kitchen.

Cheng Dongxue could not bear to leave him to it, so she went to help in the kitchen.

Lin Xiaofei had come home early that evening and was staying for dinner. When she saw it was not ready, she felt she could not just sit and wait to eat, so she joined them in the kitchen.

Both women had unusual relationships with Zhang Yang. Crowded together in the kitchen, they felt terribly awkward.

At dinner, Yang Su thought of all the gifts she would receive tomorrow. She said nothing more and ate happily.

Cheng Hai drank alone.

That night, Zhang Yang slept in the bed as usual. Cheng Dongxue still could not settle into their new arrangement. She studied the man beside her. He was her husband, yet she felt he had far too many secrets she knew nothing about.

Whenever she questioned him, Zhang Yang had a reasonable explanation. It all sounded plausible, but she could not reconcile it with the Zhang Yang who did nothing at home and never seemed to hold a proper job.

“Have I been wrong about him all along?” Cheng Dongxue kept watching Zhang Yang.