After Song Fengwan relayed Duan Linbaiâs words to Qiao Xiyan, she took out a catalog from a carâs glove box. Inside the catalog were detailed illustrations of flora and fauna.
Since there were already many jade wares on the market with traditional Buddhist plants or flower designs, people had to create outstanding designs to stand out among the crowd. This was why the Qiao family chose to make each product by hand.
They first had to sketch out the design onto the jade, then roughly carve out the outline before using a smaller tool to create the details. There were many things people had to pay attention to in the jade carving process.
âWanwan, do you know when Third Master Fuâs birthday is?â Qiao Xiyan asked as he steered the car into an antique marketplace and found a parking lot according to the road signs.
âIs his birthday coming up?â Song Fengwan closed the catalog.
âUncle Nian brought it up yesterday. By his tone, it seems like his birthday hasnât passed yet.â
Song Fengwan frowned.?Iâve never heard anyone mention it.
âIf itâs close, we have to celebrate in some way. This is one of the larger antique marketplaces in the north. Letâs take a look around here.â Qiao Xiyan had already parked the car.
Song Fengwan carefully stored the catalog away and got out of the car. The cold winds rushed at her, making her shiver.
***
The antique marketplace was full of dazzling treasures. Pearl and jade artifacts were all over, making it hard to take in everything at once. But people unfamiliar with antiques couldnât determine their authenticity and tended to end up suffering losses.
Song Fengwan had been to an antique marketplace in Suzhou before. That place had been there for centuries, so many antiques and porcelain wares were sold there. Meanwhile, the antique marketplace here sold mainly pearls and jade. There were also many people fiddling with a Wenwan walnut in their hand.
âIn the past, the children of a Manchu bannerman family liked fiddling with walnuts while taking walks. Now, it has become a trend in the north.â People from the south didnât have this habit.
While explaining, Qiao Xiyan led her into a small alley and walked straight into a shop. It was very crowded and noisy. These people were mostly here for new raw jade stones.
âCousin, Iâll go take a look around. Call me when youâre done.â She didnât know much about these things and would only be squeezed around if she went into the shop.
âAlright, donât go too far.â This was a regulated antique marketplace with security guards on patrol, so she couldnât possibly get lost.
Qiao Xiyan went straight into the shop while Song Fengwan wandered around. She wanted to secretly buy Fu Chen a prayer bead bracelet to compensate him since a certain someone kept threatening her with it.
âYoung lady, are you buying a prayer bead bracelet for someone?â The boss greeted her with a smile. Since most young ladies liked colorful and modern designs, and seeing how she was browsing through the old-fashioned ones, he guessed that the prayer bead bracelet was for someone else. âLook at this one. Itâs made from purple sandalwood, and the quality is guaranteed. If you like it, Iâll sell it to you cheaper.â
Song Fengwan smiled bitterly. Although she didnât know much about antiques, she knew that it was fake.
âHow much is this?â She picked up a prayer bead bracelet made from agarwood.
The boss stared at her for a moment. He knew clearly whether his goods were real or fake. Among the pile, only the agarwood prayer bead bracelet was actually worth some money.
He originally thought that this young lady had chosen the higher-quality bracelet by coincidence. But the moment she picked up a high-quality hibiscus stone from his stall, he knew that she could judge the quality of these goods.
âYoung lady, are you an expert?â
âNo, someone in my family is, so I learned a bit. Can I pay using my phone?â
âSure.â The boss took out the QR code and handed it to her.
After paying, Song Fengwan put the goods away and bought a candied hawthorn along the way. While eating it, she went back to find Qiao Xiyan. She squatted at the door for a long time. It was only when it was approaching one oâclock did Qiao Xiyan come out with a bag. He had the expression of having found a treasure.
***
After eating at a nearby restaurant, they hurried back.
What happened next left Song Fengwan dumbfounded. Cousin actually made me hug a rock.
It was a raw jade stone that hadnât even undergone polishing yet. It was a ten-pound stone that was chilling to the bone, yet he wanted her to hold it in her arms?
âIâm afraid of it being tossed around and bumping into things. Iâll feel at ease with you holding it,â Qiao Xiyan said matter-of-factly.
âYou can put it in the trunk or in the backseatâ¦â Although the stone was wrapped, she could still feel its sharp edges. It was uncomfortable.
âIâm afraid itâll topple.â
Song Fengwan was furious but could only resign to hugging this damned stone.
She was so angry that she posted about it on her Moments and complained about her cousin mistreating her for the sake of a stone.
Duan Linbai liked it and went to show it off in a group chat with a few close friends.
Little White Dragon in the Waves: [Iâve realized that Third Fuâs little wife is really cute.]
sdfghjk235: [Youâve seen her?]
Duan Linbai was speechless.?Why is he so lazy? His username is just a bunch of random characters. Itâs so annoying. [Eldest Nephew, do you want to see what she looks like? Sheâs going to be your Third Aunt in the future.]
The person with the random username didnât say anything.
Duan Linbai frowned.?The people in this group chat donât like to chat. Itâs not easy to find someone who will reply to me, so how can I let him go so easily?
[Donât you want to know who she is? Her age? Her appearance?]
[Arenât you afraid that Third Fu has found you a very young aunt? What if sheâs more than ten years younger than you and still underage. Are you going to address her as Third Aunt? Arenât you just the slightest bit curious about her background?]
Still, no one answered.
[Sigh, you just donât know how much fun this Little Sister-in-Law is.]
sdfghjk235: [Youâre saying: Itâs not as fun as Sister-in-Law]
Duan Linbai: ââ¦â
He was dumbfounded.
sdfghjk235: [Iâve already sent a screenshot to Third Uncle.]
Duan Linbai exploded in anger.?F*ck! When did I say that itâs not as fun as Sister-in-Law?! This pair of uncle and nephew are f*cking vicious! Theyâre going to kill me!
***
When Fu Chen received the screenshot, the sun was already setting. He lowered his head and chuckled while silently marking another strike under Duan Linbaiâs name in his heart.
He looked down at his watch.?According to Qiao Xiyan, they should be back soon.
He raised his leg and kicked Fu Xinhan, who was sleeping on the carpet.
âLetâs go. Iâll take you out for a walk.â
Fu Xinhan was still half asleep and had a blank look on his face.?The weather is too cold. I really donât want to go out.
He yawned and got ready to lie down and continue sleeping.
âYouâre not going?â A deep voice sounded.
Fu Xinhan jumped up from the ground, ran to Fu Chenâs feet, and rolled around.?Itâs already hard enough to be a dog, and being the Fu familyâs dog is even harder.
But being Fu Chenâs dog is the hardest!