Dusk had begun to settle.
The streetlights had already come on.
A strangely shaped teapot caught Chen Shu's eye.
It was shaped like a child's head with a long nose, stylized rather than lifelike. The nose was the spout. When someone lifted the handle on the back of the child's head and poured, water flowed from its nose.
Ning Qing looked as though she had expected this. Her eyes flickered, but she did not stop him. She watched Chen Shu walk up and ask the price.
"Boss, what's the story behind this?"
"Hey! You've got a good eye, young man!" The seller hurried to explain. "This is an artifact from the Yu Dynasty. Emperor of the Literary Ancestors used it."
"That emperor was a real bastard."
"How can you say that, young man?"
"If you don't like it, you can hit me."
"..." The seller froze for a moment, then said quickly, "No need for that, no need. In business, harmony brings prosperity. Do you want it or not?"
"How much?"
"It's an artifact from the Yu Dynasty. I'd have to ask at least this much."
"Five yuan?"
"Five million."
"Twenty. Yuan. No dealer's code words."
“You... This was used by the Yu Dynasty’s Martial Ancestor Emperor!”
"You just said it was Emperor of the Literary Ancestors."
"...Ah, youth. Such a good memory." The seller put on a pained expression. "Fine. Whatever else it is, it's a fine piece of craftsmanship. If you're serious, I'll give you an honest price. One thousand yuan, and it's yours!"
"Twenty."
"Go to any shop selling household goods and buy a ceramic pot this big. It'll cost more than twenty!" the seller said angrily. "Even a glass one costs over twenty!"
"Fifty."
Chen Shu looked pained as he made the offer. *Sorry, my precious