The shop assistant was surprised at the fact that Xiang Caiping had really enquired about it. “Ma’am, this is jadeite, the king of all jades originating from Burma. This jade was originally—”
“Young lady, just get to the point and tell me how much it costs.”
“Ma’am, this piece is priced at 550,000. Now that we have a store-wide 20% discount, it’s 440,000 after the discount.”
Xiang Caiping crinkled her brows when she heard that. “That isn’t a nice price. 440,000 — that doesn’t have a nice ring to it at all. Ask your boss if you can let it go for 390,000 — so that it implies perpetuity.” (TL Note: In Chinese numerology, 3399 means everlasting and forever.)
Truthfully speaking, no matter how great these jade accessories were, they all still were a little overpriced. From the way she perceived it, this jade Buddha was worth around 300,000.
“Ma’am, listen to yourself. We’re a big store and we’re not here to deal with you alone. We have set prices. I couldn’t possibly let you have it for less.”
A conflicted look flitted across Xiang Caiping’s face. She really did like this piece of jade and thought that it would suit Qingsang really well.
However, the number 440 was really a deal breaker. This was especially so since the number four was homophonous to ‘death’— this fact alone was one that she did not like.
The shop assistant could only smother her laughter. 440 doesn’t sound good? More like you can’t afford it, right?
“Young lady, perhaps you can ask your boss. See it this can be sold at the price I suggested.”
Xiang Caiping didn’t mind spending a few hundred thousand at all. However, if it was meant as a gift to her daughter, she preferred that it would come with an auspicious-sounding ring to it.
If this jade Buddha could be sold at 390,000, she would buy it.
“Ma’am, that’s impossible.” The shop assistant did not even try it. She was sure that this woman could never afford anything even approaching that price.
If she really went to ask, her boss might even chide her.
“Young lady. You don’t seem like you’re here to close a deal. You’re not the boss — how would you know if it can’t be sold at this price?”
“I might not be the boss, but there are certain rules we have to follow.”
She would be an idiot if she really went to ask.
Xiang Caiping grew a little more dismayed. She was aware that places like this were known to treat one accordingly to how they were dressed.
However, she never imagined that there would be a day when she would experience it herself. “Young lady, I’m not going anywhere. Are you going to ask your boss or not?”
“There’s no way I’d ask that. If you think the numbers aren’t pleasant-sounding, you can always pay the original price of 550,000. I won’t mind at all.”
“How can a young lady like you talk like that?” Xiang Caiping was annoyed. “I’ve already said this — if you’re not the boss, you don’t have the right to make the decision, do you?”
“I don’t, but I certainly have the right to decide whether or not to ask my boss, don’t I?”
The shop assistant’s face was utterly cold. She was unwilling to budge. The two of them now found themselves in a stalemate.
Precisely at the same moment, Su Peizhen walked in with a few upper-class ladies.
Li Qianxue had a very good friend that was having her birthday next week. Due to her tight work schedule recently, Li Qianxue had Su Peizhen pick a birthday gift for her.
When Su Peizhen was parking her car, she bumped into Luo Meisan’s mother and Song Youhe’s mother, who were coincidentally out to shop as well.
Madam Luo and Madam Song had a good relationship with Li Qianxue. Naturally, they were acquainted with anybody Li Qianxue knew as well.
With the upcoming birthday looming ahead in the next week, Madam Luo and Madam Song wanted to pick a gift for the birthday girl as well.
The three of them bumped into each other right there. Su Peizhen greeted them and suggested to pop into Bo Gu Zhai to have a look.
Su Peizhen recognized Xiang Caiping instantly the moment she entered the shop.
The moment she saw her, a fresh surge of hatred stemming from the slap she suffered last time creeped up in her heart. Su Peizhen could barely keep a calm and civil look on her face.
“Peizhen, what’s wrong?” Madam Luo looked at Su Peizhen and followed her gaze. “That’s—”
“Nothing, it’s just a little home wrecker.” The latter half of the sentence was uttered in an especially low tone. The two other ladies didn’t manage to catch that.
Su Peizhen was a regular customer at Bo Gu Zhai. Madam Luo and Madam Song also frequented the place.
A shop assistant who recognized them from the start quickly stepped forward to greet all three of them.
“Miss Su, Madam Luo, Madam Song.” There was an amazing difference compared to the attitude with which she had treated Xiang Caiping. The shop assistant’s smile bloomed like a flower the moment she set her eyes on the three women.
“What would you like to see today, ladies?”
Su Peizhen was not in a hurry to pick something out. She glanced at Xiang Caiping’s direction and asked, “What’s going on over there?”
“That?” This shop assistant had just heard about it as well. When Su Peizhen enquired about it, she proceeded to explain the happenings in a lowered voice.
“She’s the type who wants to pretend to be rich when she clearly does not have the means. She claims she could fork out 300,000 or 400,000 and yet she couldn’t bear to part with the remaining few thousands. She keeps insisting for us to get our boss. Isn’t that frustrating?”
The shop assistant said this with a lowered voice. After all, even if Xiang Caiping couldn’t afford it, they couldn’t allow themselves to offend a customer openly.
Su Peizhen snorted with laughter when she heard it, a taunting look surfacing on her face.
Madam Song and Madam Luo had no interest in this at all. They proceeded to pick the gifts, but Su Peizhen turned around and gave them a look.
“Aunt Song, Aunt Luo, I recognize this customer who can’t afford something she wants. Since she seems to be in difficulty, I should probably help her out.”
A look of malice flitted across her face when she spoke. Madam Luo and Madam Song missed it, but since Su Peizhen said she knew the lady, they naturally assumed she shall do as she pleases.
“If so, then you should go over first, Peizhen. We’ll wait for you here.”
“It’s better if you two accompany me, aunties.” Su Peizhen linked her arm through Madam Luo’s. “I’m just a young girl. I’m afraid that this lady would find it awkward and reject my good intentions.”
Madam Luo and Madam Song exchanged looks. They did not object.
Moreover, it was needless to say that the influence of the Su family was second to none in Lin City currently. Their relationship with Li Qianxue alone was enough reason to go along with whatever Su Peizhen wanted.
Hence, the two of them followed Su Peizhen and stood at Xiang Caiping’s side.
It was not like Xiang Caiping was extremely desperate to get her hands on this piece of jade. However, the shop assistant’s attitude had really pissed her off. She was very adamant on seeing her boss.
“Young lady, if you’re open for business, everyone who walks in is a customer. If you’re not the boss, how can you make a decision for him? This is certainly a fine piece of jade, but it’s worth about 300,000, tops. I’m asking for a price of 390,000 because I want it to have an auspicious-sounding ring to it. If you are interested in doing business, then you had better ask your boss if it can be sold at this price.”
“Ma’am, I’ve already told you, it’s impossible.”
“Oh my, auntie. What’s this? Are you here to buy some jade?” Su Peizhen approached.
She took a few steps forward and stood by Xiang Caiping’s side. She clearly did not see eye to eye with Xiang Caiping, yet she greeted her graciously as if they were extremely close.
“Why, what’s going on?”
Xiang Caiping felt traces of distaste when she saw Su Peizhen. She took a step back, her demeanor guarded and distant. “Miss Su, you have nothing to do with this. Please step aside.”
“Why the attitude, auntie? Although this Bo Gu Zhai isn’t owned by my family, I know the owner. Didn’t you want a further discount? I’ll make him give you one.”
