Pet Ancient Husband

Chapter 8: Pawning

We hadn't walked for long when a bustling scene appeared before us.

"Wow! I didn't expect it to be so close after coming out of the woods! I thought I would die in that forest!" I made an exaggerated face.

"It's because you went in the wrong direction. If you had kept going, you would have reached the territory of the Sea Roar Dynasty," she said, stopping and holding my hand.

"Why did you stop?" I was so hungry I could eat an ox, and I pouted discontentedly.

She looked at me somewhat infatuatedly, then quickly shifted her gaze as if realizing it was inappropriate. She pointed at my clothes.

"Oh!" It was because of my clothes! Indeed, my attire was rather eye-catching. "What should we do?" I asked helplessly.

She took off her outer garment and put it on me, then led me towards the city.

Fortunately, people in ancient times liked to wrap themselves up like dumplings, which was really convenient for others in critical moments! Hehe～Food, here I come. A cheerful smile returned to my face. After bidding farewell to that hypocritical city, I felt my smile becoming more relaxed. I no longer smiled to please others, but for myself. There was no need to maintain that perfect curvature from a distance. This feeling was truly wonderful!

Not long after entering the marketplace, I began to sense something odd. My previously relaxed mood started to feel heavy, and my hand started to sweat coldly. Looking up at Yan Yan's increasingly stern face, the easy smile I had just worn had already faded. I noticed that people around me were casting strange glances my way, whispering and pointing.

"How could this woman be walking with a Chi Nu?"

"Exactly, and they're even holding hands. It's a disgrace to our Shengyuan Dynasty."

"Exactly..."

Each unbearable word drifted into my ears, deeply hurting my heart. She seemed to want to let go of my hand; it appeared that a sense of inferiority had taken deep root in her heart. I firmly pulled her hand back, not allowing her to retreat, and gave her a comforting smile. She glanced down at me without speaking, her stern expression softened slightly.

"Wait a minute." As we passed by a pawnshop, I called out to Yan Yan. Seeing her confusion, I smiled and said, "We have to pay for food, right? Uh, I mean, silver!" I remembered that's what they called it on TV. "You must have escaped without any silver on you. We can't just eat for free, can we? I mean, eat without paying!" Phew! I actually used a modern term in ancient times.

She looked understanding but a hint of discomfort appeared on her face. "It's okay! We're sisters, after all! Who supports whom, it's all the same, right?" I took her hand and walked in.

"Miss! May I ask what you would like to pawn?" A middle-aged man poked his head over the high counter with a beaming smile. However, upon seeing Yan Yan following behind me, a look of disdain rose on his face.

I couldn't help but feel my anger rising. I strode over, raised my eyebrows, and glared at him, "What are you looking at? Is my Yan Yan someone you can just stare at?" I took off the butterfly-shaped crystal hairpin that A Yi had pinned for me and placed it in front of the shopkeeper. "Look at this!"

Sure enough, the shopkeeper's eyes were immediately drawn to my hairpin, but he quickly put on a face of disdain. "May I ask how much you would like to pawn it for?"

"You decide! But let me tell you, such a delicate butterfly is probably one of a kind in this entire world, and it's carved from a single piece, of course it's invaluable. If it weren't for my urgent need, I wouldn't be selling it to you at a discount! If the price you offer is unreasonable, there are reasonable people out there." Hmph! Haven't I seen how things work on TV? These unscrupulous businessmen, they all need to be taught a lesson, bullying the good and fearing the bad.

I made a show of taking back the butterfly.

"Wait a minute, miss! I didn't say I wouldn't take it!" Seeing me about to take it back, the shopkeeper quickly grabbed the hairpin into his hand.

"Well, hurry up and tell me then. I don't have time to waste with you," I put on a tough act. These black-hearted businessmen, they all deserve a good scolding.

"Yes, yes, yes! How about this? I'll give you a million taels. How does that sound, miss?" The shopkeeper said cautiously.

I was quite astonished. That was just a decorative hairpin, worth no more than a hundred or so dollars in modern times. I was about to say a hundred taels! Phew! Good thing I didn't.

Seeing that I didn't speak, the shopkeeper thought his offer was too low and quickly added, "If it's not enough, I can add more. How about one and a half million taels?"

I was a bit dumbfounded. I glanced at Yan Yan beside me; she wasn't in a better state than me! Probably shocked too. Hehe～

"The most I can offer is two million taels. If you're still not satisfied, I'm afraid I'll go bankrupt," the shopkeeper said with a woeful expression.

"Forget it, who am I to turn down silver when I need it so badly! Let's go with that then!" Wow! I'm rich! I was overjoyed inside but pretended to agree reluctantly. There seemed to be a slight twitch at the corner of my mouth.

"Good, good! I'll write up the pawn ticket right away," the shopkeeper said with a beaming smile as he wrote out the ticket. "Miss, please put your fingerprint here, and I'll have someone bring the silver draft right away."

Seeing me put my fingerprint, the shopkeeper quickly walked towards the inner room. I was quite impressed; his speed was beyond just fast. I clicked my tongue in amazement.

"Are you sure he won't cheat us?" Alas! There are too many scammers in modern times. Even here, one can't be too careful!

"No! Such things don't happen in the Shengyuan Dynasty," Yan Yan wrote reassuringly.

That's good, that's good. I patted my chest in relief. Just then, I saw the shopkeeper coming out of the inner room, holding a stack of white paper.

"Miss, here are the two million taels in silver drafts," the shopkeeper handed me the drafts with great care and continued, "These are Shengyuan Dragon Drafts, usable in any dynasty. Please keep them safe. I've also exchanged ten thousand taels in smaller denominations for your convenience."

I looked at the stack of white paper, oh no! Silver drafts, in my hand and suddenly felt a lack of fulfillment! Modern banknotes felt much more substantial in hand. I pouted and put the drafts into my bosom. Carrying a large sum of money didn't feel that great after all. I thanked the shopkeeper and led Yan Yan out.