Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 258: Gathering Information_1

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Gathering Information_1

Zhou Shuren took out a silver note, "In total, four hundred taels."

Zhulan was startled, "I remember buying the two shops for three hundred and eighty taels, have the prices of shops increased this year?"

Zhou Shuren explained, "Merchants have their own sources of information, and they’re always the most informed. They got some news that the Imperial Court is going to relax some policies, and because of that, more people are buying shops, driving the prices up. According to the market price, each shop has increased by twenty taels, but I only raised it by ten, hoping to use the opportunity to chat more and probe a bit."

Zhulan received the silver note, "Did you find anything out? Do you think it’s a trap?"

Zhou Shuren had gotten used to stroking his beard, becoming addicted to it, "It’s not a trap. Today I brought it up proactively, and Ma Dongjia didn’t steer the conversation towards antiques. Yesterday it really was just one thing leading to another. Ma Dongjia doesn’t deal in antiques; he just joins in the fun by betting in the games, supporting whoever he fancies. The antique competition is somewhat elegant, attracting many merchants to watch the matches."

Zhulan realized she had been overly cautious, "It’s only been half a year; it won’t be easy for Wang Ru to get out of her predicament. Even if Wang Ru does get out of it, Shi Qing won’t let her guard down and will keep a close watch on her. Wang Ru, having been reborn, is even less likely to slip up. Now, fearing death more than ever, Wang Ru will certainly be extremely cautious and wouldn’t dare make any significant move. If she’s capable, she would investigate the Zhou family discreetly, and then set the trap."

Zhulan felt more at ease, "I forgot to ask yesterday, what are the rules of the antique competition?"

Zhou Shuren found it quite interesting, "There are two types of competitions. One is where you bring your own antiques to participate. In a match, ten people compete with the antiques they’ve brought. Whoever identifies the authenticity of all the items wins and gets to take all of the antiques from the ten participants. If a participant brings a fake and loses, they have to provide a real antique to the winner as compensation. If several people identify the items correctly, the competition will add a round with an antique provided by the organizer, continuing until a winner is determined."

Zhulan found the competition intriguing, "So what you’re saying is, participants can compete with real or fake antiques, but if they bring a fake, they have to bring an additional real one to leave with the organizer?"

Zhou Shuren nodded, "That’s right. That’s why I’m thinking of using the jade bracelet I gave you to participate. Distinguishing this pair of bracelets is tricky, and whether we can win depends a lot on them."

Zhulan held the jade bracelet in her hand, laughing, "I never thought the real utility of buying it would be for this."

Zhou Shuren’s lips curled up, "Yeah, it was a surprise to me too. It seems we’re destined to make a fortune."

Zhulan was curious about the other type of competition, "There are two types, right? What’s the other kind?"

Zhou Shuren said, "The other is where you pay silver to enter the competition. It involves ten people, five rounds, and the winner takes half of the entry fees. Each person pays ten taels to join, so the winner takes home twenty-five taels."

Zhulan stroked her chin, "So more people participate with antiques, while the organizer runs a betting pool on the side, profiting from the bets. Right, I came to Pingzhou last year, how come I’ve never heard of this place?"

Zhou Shuren, "I’m not well acquainted with people in this field, and it’s mostly frequented by merchants whom I don’t know, that’s why I hadn’t heard of it."

Zhulan asked, "Have you thought about how to use Dong’s brother-in-law’s influence?"

Zhou Shuren smiled, "You’ve forgotten, back when I appraised antiques for the County Magistrate; it’s clear that Dong’s brother-in-law’s boss is an antique aficionado. I just need to showcase my abilities and then wait for him to come and verify."

If it weren’t for the fear of being forcibly sold the won antiques, he wouldn’t need to borrow power. Ma Dongjia had revealed quite a bit of information, and the Appraisal Building was also greedy. If you were a greenhorn going in without any backing and won the competition, the Appraisal Building would offer to buy at a low price, which is an easier way to acquire good items than opening an antique shop.

Of course, if anyone tried to cause trouble, they wouldn’t dare to mess with them; and they’d offer a reasonable price if it came to purchasing.

He hadn’t considered waiting until he earned his degree to participate. Getting the silver sooner allows him to plan ahead. Anyway, whether you are a Scholar or a Graduate, in the eyes of those from Jiang University, there’s not much difference unless you’ve earned the highest degree. It’s better to show one’s value sooner to avoid troubles later on.

He just doesn’t know if he’ll encounter any good antiques when he participates. The last time he checked, the highest valued antique was worth four hundred taels. It’s rare to get such help, hoping for good antiques!

Because once you win, you’re not allowed to compete again. So, win or lose, he only has one chance. If he loses, he won’t have antiques to compete with anymore, and if he wins, he can’t take part in the next competition.

Zhulan’s eyes were particularly bright, "Can I follow you there?"

This was indeed a rare competition, and she also wanted to go.

Zhou Shuren felt sorry for Zhulan; ever since arriving in ancient times, there had been no entertainment, "You can’t."

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to take her, but the women who were taken along were usually those of low status and not respected, while ladies of higher status, like wives and daughters, would not go there. Even in a fictitious dynasty, many places were still off-limits to proper women for fear of tarnishing their reputations with frivolity and ruining their lives.

Zhulan knew it, feeling somewhat disappointed, "Ah, it’s tough being a woman, even tougher in ancient times."

Zhou Shuren said, "If we really win and make a fortune this time, I want to take a trip to the capital, and then the two of us can go together."

Zhulan’s spirits lifted again, even the bumpy carriage ride seemed bearable, "Okay, then you must win. If you lose, my bracelet will be gone, and we won’t be able to visit the capital."

She was truly curious about what the ancient capital looked like!

Zhou Shuren was intent on winning not only for the silver, but also for Zhulan’s sake, "I definitely won’t disappoint you."

Zhulan thought about it, there were many capable people in ancient times, so it was better not to put too much pressure on Zhou Shuren, "We just need to try our best. As long as we’ve tried, there will be no regrets even if we lose. Even if we really lose, we still have five hundred taels of silver. Although the jade bracelet is an antique, it only cost forty taels, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Rest assured, I know what I’m doing."

He was indeed confident, having watched a competition the day before. The real appraisal masters did not participate; those who did were just individuals who thought they had some skills to make a big win. There were no old hands, so his chances of winning were indeed great. Coming to ancient times had not severed his understanding of antiques, he had skills and confidence at his fingertips.

Zhulan and her husband were discussing their financial plans when there was a knock at the door, and Zhou Er, the second eldest, said, "Father, Mother, I’m coming in."

Zhou Shuren sat up and smoothed out his clothes, changing from a lazy posture back into the head of the household, as he stroked his beard, "Come in!"

Zhulan watched Zhou Shuren wordlessly and tucked away the silver notes.

Zhou Er and his wife Zhao entered, "Father, Mother."

Zhou Shuren asked, "What is it?"

Zhou Er said, "Father, we have a favor to ask of you."

Zhou Shuren was no fool; he could tell at a glance that this was not Zhou Er’s own affair, "Speak."

Zhou Er had planned to inquire slowly on his own, not wanting to bother his father. His abilities were limited, and after making enquiries twice, he had gotten nowhere. Having followed his father to Pingzhou before, he knew his father socialized extensively; and even though his father didn’t show it, Zhou Er could sense his fatigue. He had never deeply considered the extent of his father’s capabilities, only feeling sympathy for how hard his father’s life was.

Having moved to Pingzhou, he had wanted to make inquiries on his own, but with Father sending Rongchuan and Mingyun to the Academy, he realised that his understanding of his father was incomplete. After discussing with his wife Zhao, they concluded that they still needed his father’s help. If he continued to search on his own, who knew how long it would take to find anything!

Zhou Shuren coughed, "What are you thinking about? Didn’t you say there was something important?"