Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space
Chapter 170. To fool

Chapter 170: 170. To fool

Even the shopkeeper behind the counter seemed visibly happier.

How could he not be pleased when the shop was finally buzzing with business?

He even took the initiative to approach them.

"The customer has a great eye; these few stones look different at a glance. Maybe they’ll produce some good jade!"

"Thank you." Having made up his mind, Hua Chengtian no longer hesitated and responded with a polite smile to the shopkeeper’s attempts at conversation.

"Customer, the quality upstairs is better. Would you like to go up and take a look?" The shopkeeper, eager not to lose a customer willing to spend money, suggested.

He thought to himself, never judge by appearances; this father and daughter who don’t look wealthy are surprisingly willing to spend.

"Upstairs? The staff mentioned it seems you have to pay a Silver Coin to go upstairs?"

It was a subtle refusal; Hua Chengtian really had no interest, mainly because he was afraid his daughter couldn’t resist. The prices up there were definitely not comparable to those on the first floor.

"Yes, it only costs ten Silver per person to go up. However, since you’re new customers, there’s a special offer. You’d only need to pay for one person." The shopkeeper quickly explained.

If he could coax them upstairs, maybe this father and daughter would get excited again and buy another stone? The shopkeeper especially noticed that the young girl seemed particularly interested in raw stones. He also realized the male customer was a doting father, as he bought all four raw stones picked by his child.

So, although he was speaking to the man, his gaze was on the young girl absorbed in examining the stones.

At this moment, although Hua Jin’s hands were busy touching the stones, her ears were not idle. The shopkeeper’s words indeed made Hua Jin somewhat tempted.

Mainly because she had almost touched all the stones on the first floor. Those with potential had almost all been absorbed by the space, and with the higher prices upstairs, the quality must be exceptional.

Even without the shopkeeper’s coaxing, Hua Jin would want to go up and have a look.

Knowing her father cherished the Silver Coin, Hua Jin directly took some Silver out of her satchel and handed it to the shopkeeper, then dragged her father upstairs.

The action was smooth, and most importantly, effective.

And then... with the Silver paid, Hua Chengtian’s face stiffened for a moment before he had to follow his daughter upstairs.

He could only hope his child would be more restrained, otherwise, he didn’t know if the Silver he had left would be enough.

Upon reaching the upstairs, the feeling was different. Unlike the chaotic display of stones downstairs, each stone on the second floor was neatly placed in fixed locations, some even on display shelves, with tables and chairs for resting, making the place feel much more upscale. It made the ten Silver spent to come up seem worthwhile.

Then, the staff brought over tea and snacks. Hmm, just this small detail was different, and Hua Chengtian felt a bit better in his heart, enjoying the snacks unreservedly.

In any case, the Silver shouldn’t be spent in vain, so getting something in return was nice.

Meanwhile, Hua Jin ignored her father sitting in the chair eating snacks and drinking tea, as she struggled to suppress her inner excitement. Just coming upstairs without even touching anything felt different, and Hua Jin had a premonition that this time would not be in vain. Perhaps there might indeed be a change in the space.

The shopkeeper eagerly followed the young girl, hoping from the bottom of his heart that she would touch and look at more stones, in the hope that she would impulsively choose one. If so, there would be no worries about business for the month.

And Hua Jin became happier and more excited the more she touched, carefully examining some stones multiple times while abandoning others after just a few touches. However, the smile on her face grew increasingly sweet, which gave the shopkeeper, who was following her, a sense that a deal might be in the works.

When Hua Jin lingered long enough next to a raw stone weighing dozens of pounds, lovingly touching and observing it repeatedly, the shopkeeper finally couldn’t resist pitching his spiel.

"Miss, you have a great eye. Even I am quite optimistic about this piece. It has the potential to yield top-quality jade, and I can see that you have a full forehead, clear eyes, and thick ear lobes, all signs of someone with great blessings and fortune. What you’ve chosen must be extraordinary. If you like it, why not buy it and see? You might get a big surprise!"

The shopkeeper spoke spontaneously, his compliments well-articulated. It seemed he had good practice at charming customers, and it was indeed pleasant to hear.

On hearing this, Hua Chengtian’s face turned complex but he didn’t step in to stop. He knew his child had her own mind and wasn’t easily coerced.

Despite the shopkeeper’s persuasive words, Hua Jin smiled politely and continued with her actions, though no one knew the excitement building inside her.

An hour later, Hua Jin finally stopped and returned to the stone that had initially excited the shopkeeper.

Upon looking at it and touching it several times, the shopkeeper began to feel hopeful again. He then put in more effort into his smooth talk, particularly when he saw the young girl’s face showing signs of interest; this fueled him further.

Making this sale could not be compared to those downstairs, so the next few months wouldn’t be worrying.

"Good as it is, the price is too high?" Hua Jin said with a look of regret.

"Miss, it’s hard to put a price on something you truly desire. Moreover, I guarantee that among the surrounding shops, the prices for my raw stones are the fairest and most affordable. You definitely won’t face a loss buying from me."

"But if there’s nothing inside, wouldn’t I be at a loss?"

"To be honest, I can’t guarantee it, but you, Miss, seem to be very fortunate. Surely your luck surpasses others’, and how would you know without trying?"

"But it’s still... too expensive?"

Seeing the shopkeeper grit his teeth and stomp his foot, he said, "Alright, I’ll give you another discount. Any further and I can’t do it; it’s just a small business, and I hope Miss can understand."

Hua Chengtian: "..."

Looking at the shop that was larger than their house, this was called a small business? Surely what the shopkeeper said could deceive one to death, it’s only a fool who’d believe it.

While he was thinking this, he saw his daughter exclaim with a naive expression, "A ten percent discount!" She appeared visibly thrilled.

Just as the shopkeeper was happily nodding, thinking this deal was secured, the next sentence brought a sudden change to his expression.

"I’ll consider it with a thirty percent discount; it’s too expensive, I’m afraid my father will scold me when I get home." Hua Jin glanced at her father, who was still eating, and showed a ’fearful’ look.

The shopkeeper: "..."

What she said wasn’t unreasonable. The raw stones downstairs were cheaper, and a father’s heartache was limited, but it’s different for those upstairs. They were sold by the pound, ten Silver per pound, and even the smallest was twenty or thirty pounds. It was indeed no small amount of money. If he were the father, he wouldn’t agree to such extravagance either.

At this moment, the shopkeeper hesitated a bit. Though the discount seemed large, there was still considerable profit. Most importantly, he truly felt that the young girl had a lucky appearance; perhaps she’d choose a good jade, and if so, his raw stones would sell themselves.

After thinking over it, he reluctantly nodded, "Alright, thirty percent it is. Miss, with such a kind face, surely you are blessed."

"Then thank you, shopkeeper. You’re very generous." Hua Jin was delighted, her smile radiant as she thought of the stone causing a stir in the space.

Having saved so much Silver was indeed a profit, a huge gain.

"Haha..." The shopkeeper, wearing a smile, swiftly instructed the staff on the second floor to lift the stone for weighing, trying to suppress the pain in his heart.