How Much?

"Of course," Xu Xi said, "If I only designed one style, how could I have the nerve to establish a long-term partnership with you, shopkeeper?"

"Miss, may I take a look?" Shopkeeper Huang stared eagerly at Xu Xi.

Upon seeing this, Madam Xie wished she could step forward and shield Xu Xi with her body. Xu Xue blinked her big eyes and quickly glanced at her mother.

Xu Xi was used to this kind of look from Shopkeeper Huang. In modern times, whenever she designed something, it would always elicit the same expression from others.

She smiled slightly, "Shopkeeper Huang, you haven't said how we'll cooperate yet." She reached out and snatched the blueprints from Shopkeeper Huang's hand.

Shopkeeper Huang instinctively wanted to stop Xu Xi, but he wasn't quick enough, and he couldn't very well snatch the blueprints back from Xu Xi. He could only watch helplessly as Xu Xi folded the blueprints into small squares, opened the brocade box, and put them inside.

He spotted other pieces of paper folded into small squares inside the brocade box.

He suppressed his urge to try it, thought for a moment, and said to Xu Xi, "One tael of silver. One tael of silver for one design, how about that, miss? But the other designs you come up with must be as novel as the one you just saw."

Xu Xi looked at Shopkeeper Huang as if he were an idiot, said nothing, stood up and called to Madam Xie and her sister, "Mama Xie, Xiaoxue, let's go."

"Hey, young lady, don't go!" Shopkeeper Huang almost reached out his fat hand to grab her, but thankfully he was still rational enough to remember the proper distance between men and women, though beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "If you're not satisfied with the price, young lady, we can discuss it. How can you just walk away without saying a word?"

If Xu Xi only had that one picture, she could have simply left, and the jewelry store would not only have suffered no loss but would have made a huge profit. The nation of foodies has no shortage of counterfeit spirit.

The size in the picture is not important. Even if the craftsmanship of their jewelry store is not as lifelike as the little bird in Xu Xi's painting, if they can make a bracelet that is seven or eight parts similar, it will still be a novel bracelet that will surely attract ladies and young women to buy it.

But Xu Xi has other design sketches. If she has many more, and they're all as novel and beautiful as that little bird bracelet design, acquiring her sketches would not only improve their business but also attract wealthy ladies from the capital. This is a golden opportunity to expand their business and increase the store's reputation—how could they let it slip by?

Shopkeeper Huang couldn't pull Xu Xi away, but a young shop assistant was still standing at the door. The assistant stood by the door and bowed to Xu Xi and the other two. "Miss, please wait, our manager has something to say."

Xu Xi had no choice but to stop and look at Shopkeeper Huang, a half-smile on her face, "Does your jewelry store dare to force people to buy or sell?"

Madam Xie and Xu Xue immediately tensed up.

Madam Xie said, "Do you know who my young lady is?" At this moment, she was extremely grateful that Xu Xi had been recognized by the Marquis's mansion. Otherwise, how could their Xu Family, ordinary people with no power or influence, have protected Xu Xi?

"Oh, don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand." Shopkeeper Huang quickly waved his hand and bowed repeatedly to Xu Xi. "How could we dare to force you to buy or sell? We just hope that you'll stay and talk some more."

"What are we talking about?" Xu Xi sneered. "One tael of silver for one design? How dare you say that? Do you think I've never seen silver before? A piece of medium-to-high-grade jade, carved into a simple round bracelet, would only sell for twenty or thirty taels of silver; but if carved into the design in my picture, it could easily sell for thirty or forty taels. Even if a bracelet increases in price by ten taels of silver, people would still buy it. And this is just one. If you sell dozens or hundreds, how much profit would you make? Moreover, you don't just make jade bracelets; you can make gold and silver bracelets in this style too."

Shopkeeper Huang broke out in a sweat again, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead repeatedly, but still trying to sound tough, "No, it's not as exaggerated as the young lady makes it out to be. Different styles require different materials, and the carving skills are also more demanding. Our costs have to go up, so we really don't make much profit."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xi made a move to leave again, glaring at the young waiter and saying, "If you dare to stop me again, I'll go to the yamen and report you for indecent assault."

"That's right." Madam Xie stepped forward and was about to push the young shop assistant.

Xu Xi and Xu Xue are young girls; they can't touch these young men. But she, a middle-aged woman, isn't afraid. Her son, Xu Chongwen, is about the same age as these young men, so what does she have to fear?

At that moment, she was incredibly grateful that she and her husband had come along. If the young man tried to stop her again, she would have called out to her husband downstairs.

How could the young shop assistant dare to stop them? Let alone these wealthy young ladies, he wouldn't dare stop even ordinary women. Otherwise, after the jewelry store closed, he'd be stuffed in a sack and wouldn't even know how he died; the jewelry store couldn't protect him.

Before Madam Xie could even touch him, he quickly dodged away and looked pleadingly at Shopkeeper Huang.

"Ten taels, ten taels for one sheet. Miss, ten taels is quite a lot," Shopkeeper Huang hurriedly called out.

Xu Xi sneered and turned around, "I won't sell it for less than a hundred taels each. Do you really think the new designs are as cheap as cabbages?" She then curled her lip, "A small shop in the county is just a small shop in the county, so lacking in backbone."

She called out, "Mama Xie, let's go to the capital."

Madam Xie was a very quick-witted person, and she quickly chided in agreement, "See? From the beginning, this old servant told you to go to the capital, but you wanted to save trouble. What price could a small shop like this possibly offer? It's a waste of all the effort you put into designing the jewelry."

Xu Xi gave her an approving look, stepped out the door, and walked downstairs, ignoring Manager Shopkeeper Huang's calls from behind.

"Thirty, thirty taels, is that alright? We really can't raise it any higher. If we do, we'll lose money." Shopkeeper Huang kept wiping his sweat from behind, and called out again, "Why don't you wait a moment, young lady, and let me ask the master before making a decision? You know, young lady, I can't make that decision on my own."

Madam Xie's eyes widened in disbelief, and her heart pounded.

Emma, her whole family works themselves to the bone. Her husband works in all kinds of weather every day, and even if he didn't eat or drink, he would only earn thirty or forty taels a year. After spending all their money, they wouldn't even have two taels left at the end of the year. But Xu Xi only needs to paint a few paintings to sell for thirty taels. If she painted ten, wouldn't that be three hundred taels?

She felt her legs were so weak she could barely stand.

Xu Xue was also stunned by the price of thirty taels.

Although she didn't have the same concept of money as Madam Xie, she had drawn that diagram by watching Xu Xi. It only took the time it takes to drink a cup of tea; she finished it in just a few quick strokes. Even if she added some details and dimensions later, it wouldn't have taken much time.

In less than the time it takes to eat a meal, a few strokes of the pen can earn thirty taels of silver. My goodness, this money is so easy to make!

Madam Xie grabbed Xu Xi's arm, desperately suppressing the excitement in her voice, and feigned composure, saying, "Miss, since the shopkeeper says so, why don't we wait? Perhaps their owner is more sincere?"