He looked Yan Weichi up and down, his eyes lighting up as he hurriedly exclaimed, "Oh, a person of quality!"
Yan Weichi glanced at him and continued sipping her tea, her demeanor incredibly haughty.
The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "Sir, the garment you are wearing is made of top-tier Shu brocade. The golden-thread auspicious cloud patterns on it—an embroiderer without twenty years of experience couldn't possibly manage such craftsmanship. My shop truly doesn't have anything of this caliber. This must be..."
The shopkeeper cupped his hands and bowed toward the direction of the Imperial Palace. In other words, he suspected this fabric was a tribute item.
Yan Weichi did not deny it. Instead, she continued, "You have a good eye, at least. Even if you don't have anything this fine, do you have something similar?"
The shopkeeper gave a bitter laugh. "I would truly love to do business with you, but I simply wouldn't dare compare my wares to the fabric you are wearing. How about this? I shall bring out all the best materials in the shop for you to see; you may choose whichever one catches your eye."
Yan Weichi sighed. "Very well. If it weren't an urgent matter, I wouldn't have come here to buy anything."
Hearing this, the shopkeeper was inwardly overjoyed. It appeared this was a customer who was not short of money and was in desperate need of fabric. The deal was essentially half-closed. The shopkeeper hurriedly ordered his clerks to bring out all the best fabrics in the shop for Yan Weichi to inspect.
Yan Weichi walked among the fabrics, pointing as she said, "This one, this one, this one, this one, and this one!"
She had selected five of the finest bolts of fabric in one go! The shopkeeper beamed like a flower. He hurriedly said, "Quick, quick, wrap them up for the young master!"
"Wait a moment! I haven't finished speaking!" Yan Weichi frowned at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper immediately obliged, "What else would you like, young master?"
Yan Weichi lifted her chin slightly, striking a rebellious pose. "I don't want any of the ones I just pointed out! Wrap up everything else!"
"Ah... ah?!!"
The shopkeeper and the clerks were all left dumbfounded.
"Wrap up... everything?" The shopkeeper thought he had misheard.
Yan Weichi frowned. "What? Can you not provide delivery?"
"We can! Yes, we can! We deliver anywhere within ten miles of the Capital City!" The shopkeeper beamed, absolutely delighted.
Yan Weichi responded calmly, "Then that’s settled. Load the goods onto carts, write up the bill, and come with me to my mansion to collect the silver!"
Yan Weichi’s request was not unreasonable; after all, many wealthy families had goods delivered to their homes, with payment settled by their accounts department afterward.
The shopkeeper was so happy he was practically dancing, joining the clerks to load the carts.
Hidden in the shadows, Yu Feiyan and Ye Tianshu were stunned.
Yu Feiyan scratched his head and said, "What does she need so much fabric for? These materials must be worth at least two or three thousand taels of silver, right?"
Ye Tianshu twisted his long hair, frowning. "You should be asking where she got the silver to buy all this."
Indeed, she was penniless—where did she get the money? The two exchanged looks, and in each other's eyes, they saw full-blown suspicion.
An incense stick of time later, the silk store had packed five full carts of fabric. The shopkeeper handed Yan Weichi a bill noting a total of five thousand taels of silver. This price was clearly inflated. However, Yan Weichi did not seem to care; she didn't even look closely, simply tucking the bill into her sleeve pocket.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper instantly beamed, thinking to himself, *Not only is this a wealthy patron, but they are also a complete amateur.*
Yan Weichi looked at the caravan and said, "Follow me. I need to purchase some other things, and then we shall return to the mansion together."
In other words, they might not be back for a while.
The shopkeeper hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes, no rush at all! You lot, make sure you serve the young master well! Do you hear me?"
The drivers nodded in agreement. Yan Weichi then led the five carts of fabric toward the bustling streets of the Capital City, looking around as she walked, clearly searching for something.
In the shadows, Yu Feiyan asked, puzzled, "What on earth is she trying to do?"
Ye Tianshu shook his head. "A woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea."
Yu Feiyan curled his lip. "How does she look like a charlatan swindler?"
Ye Tianshu smirked. "If they get caught, it's called swindling; if they don't, it's called being resourceful! Personally, I find this girl extremely interesting!"
As Ye Tianshu finished speaking, he followed Yan Weichi’s footsteps again. Seeing this, Yu Feiyan had no choice but to chase after them.
...
After walking for nearly an hour, Yan Weichi finally chose her next target. The crowd looked up to see a jewelry shop named "Yu Mantang"!
Yan Weichi looked at the clerks from the silk store and said, "This is my second uncle's shop. I’ll go in and say hello; you all wait here."
The clerks nodded, unable to help but express their amazement.
"This young master is truly wealthy. A jewelry shop this large actually belongs to his family!"
"Who's to say otherwise? Look at how he bought that fabric without even blinking. I bet he just moved his whole family to the Capital, which is why he's buying so much. The shopkeeper is truly lucky!"
"Indeed, indeed. When the goods are delivered later, I wonder if we'll get extra tips."
"Heh, surely we will! The young master is very generous!"
...
Hidden in the shadows, Yu Feiyan and Ye Tianshu twitched their mouths. Yan Weichi hadn't even said anything yet, and these people had already filled in so many blanks themselves.
Yu Feiyan flew up and circled to the back window of Yu Mantang, peeking inside to see what Yan Weichi was planning and how this place had suddenly become her family's shop.
He saw Yan Weichi enter the store. She didn't rush to look at the goods but instead found a seat. The shop assistant greeted her politely, and Yan Weichi said, "Call your shopkeeper out. I want to select the best bracelet you have."
The assistant looked at Yan Weichi, then looked at the caravan outside. He immediately concluded this was a wealthy patron and didn't dare to be slow, hurrying inside to invite the shopkeeper out.
Upon seeing the shopkeeper, Yan Weichi dropped her arrogance and stood up with great warmth, shouting joyfully, "Second Uncle!"
The shopkeeper was taken aback, a look of confusion on his face.
Yan Weichi stepped forward, took the shopkeeper's hand, and spun him around so his back was to the door. She then whispered apologetically, "Oh my, shopkeeper, you look so much like my second uncle that I mistook you for him."
Standing in this position, the clerks outside could only see the warm smile on Yan Weichi’s face, not the confused expression on the shopkeeper's face.
The shopkeeper gave a dry laugh. "Heh heh, no matter, no matter! What would the young master like to buy?"
"Come, let's sit and talk!" Yan Weichi grabbed the shopkeeper's wrist with an air of intimacy, and they sat down together.
To the onlookers, it looked exactly like an uncle and nephew catching up.
After sitting down, Yan Weichi continued, "Shopkeeper, to be honest, I have come to the Capital today to propose marriage." She gestured toward the door, signaling the shopkeeper to look outside.
The shopkeeper looked at the five full carts of fine silk and was somewhat surprised. *Proposing marriage and sending so much fabric already? This is truly a grand gesture!*
Yan Weichi continued, "Those fabrics are for my future in-laws. I also wish to select a pair of jade bracelets to present to my future mother-in-law." She revealed a naive smile, playing the part of a green youth looking to impress his mother-in-law.
The shopkeeper understood immediately and said, "I understand, I understand. Someone, bring that pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets for the young master to see!"
A moment later, the assistant brought over a brocade box containing a pair of exquisite mutton-fat jade bracelets. They were translucent and lustrous, truly excellent. However, Yan Weichi frowned slightly.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper hurriedly asked, "Young master, are you dissatisfied?"
Yan Weichi said, "Too cheap!"
"Cheap?" The shopkeeper smiled. "Young master, these bracelets are one of a kind in the Capital. They cost at least this much!" He held up one finger, indicating one thousand taels.
Yan Weichi waved her hand. "No, no, too cheap! I’m sending five thousand taels worth of fabric; these bracelets cannot lower the standard."
As Yan Weichi waved her hand, the bill from the silk shop fell out of her sleeve. The assistant hurriedly stepped forward to help pick it up and happened to see the amount. He returned the items to Yan Weichi and gave the shopkeeper a subtle look.
The shopkeeper understood immediately: Yan Weichi hadn't been lying.
He thought for a moment and said, "Young master, please wait!"
This time, the shopkeeper went to the back room himself. A moment later, he returned with two sets of headpieces—one gold-threaded with white jade, and one purple jade with gold filigree. Both sets were clearly extraordinary.
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Young master, these two sets are the treasures of our shop. Both in color and style, they are perfectly suited for an elderly lady. They are far more respectable than a pair of bracelets."
Yan Weichi nodded as if taking it very seriously. "Not bad, these two sets are acceptable. I just don't know which one my mother-in-law would prefer."
The shopkeeper urged, "White is elegant and understated; purple is noble and refined. See which one her ladyship usually favors in her attire."
Yan Weichi feigned distress. "Sigh, to be honest, I haven't met my future in-laws many times. They are high-ranking officials in the Capital and look down on a nouveau riche like me."
The shopkeeper offered a polite smile. "I understand, I understand."
Yan Weichi pondered. "Never mind, I'll take them back and ask my mother to help choose. As a woman, her taste must be better than mine. My home is in the east of the city, so I’ll be right back. My clerks are outside; I'll leave them here to wait, if that's alright?"
"This..." The shopkeeper looked hesitant. "Is it possible for your mother to come here herself?"
Yan Weichi shook her head. "No, my mother is frail and cannot walk so far. Just lend me a horse, I'll go and return immediately. If you're worried, you can send a clerk with me."
The shopkeeper smiled obsequiously. "No need, no need, that won't be necessary."
Anyone living in the east of the city was either wealthy or noble, and coupled with the five carts of fine silk outside, the shopkeeper had almost no guard against Yan Weichi. The cost of these two headpieces was at most three thousand taels—still less than the silk.
The shopkeeper immediately ordered them to be packed up for Yan Weichi and brought out a good horse.
Yan Weichi took the items and nodded with satisfaction. "I shall return as quickly as I can. Please, shopkeeper, provide some tea and snacks for my clerks; we shall settle the bill for everything together later."
The shopkeeper smiled. "You are so good to your servants, young master; you are truly a generous person!"
The shopkeeper immediately ordered refreshments, while Yan Weichi walked over to the silk shop clerks and whispered, "The Duke's Mansion has ordered two headpieces, but my second uncle is short-handed, so he asked me to deliver them. You all stay here, eat and drink, and wait for me. I'll be back in half an hour at the most!"
The clerks would not refuse; with food, drink, and a chance to rest, who wouldn't be happy? They nodded in thanks, delighted.
Yan Weichi took the two headpieces and galloped away. A moment later, the shopkeeper of Yu Mantang brought out fine tea and snacks to treat the clerks. The clerks ate happily, all praising Yan Weichi.
"The young master is truly a good person!"
"Indeed, he treats us so well!"
The shopkeeper of Yu Mantang heard this and nodded with a smile, walking back into his shop while muttering, "If he treats his own servants so well, it seems this wealthy young master comes from a kind family! Rare, indeed, rare!"
...
In the shadows, Yu Feiyan and Ye Tianshu were speechless.
What kind of woman had their Eldest Senior Brother married? Wasn't she just a con artist?
Yu Feiyan widened his eyes at Ye Tianshu and couldn't help but ask, "Is... is her identity fake? Could she just be a con artist, and not actually the daughter of Marquis Pingyi?"
Ye Tianshu's mouth twitched. "You're asking me? Who would I ask? Look at how she doesn't even blink or skip a beat; I wonder how many times she's pulled this kind of swindle!"
"Then what do we do? Expose her?" Yu Feiyan asked.
Ye Tianshu thought for a moment and said, "Let's follow her a bit more!" He wanted to see what Yan Weichi was truly up to.
...
Yan Weichi rode the horse, while the two of them used qinggong. Though they were skilled, they were left panting. When they finally caught up, they found that Yan Weichi had actually entered a pawn shop.
A pawn shop? Was she going to pawn those two headpieces? Was she really just a con artist?
Yu Feiyan frowned. "This won't do. We can't let her harm the common people like this; I must expose her."
"Wait, wait!" Ye Tianshu grabbed the impulsive Yu Feiyan and soothed him. "I always feel that the girl is quite smart; she doesn't look like someone who would do such a fool's errand. Besides, if she needed money, she could just ask our Eldest Senior Brother—why resort to swindling?"
Yu Feiyan frowned. "Sigh, it's all my fault. I gave her a challenge to test her abilities."
"A challenge? What challenge?"
Yu Feiyan continued, "I told her to find a way to renovate the Crown Prince's Mansion."
Ye Tianshu was surprised. "The Crown Prince's Mansion is so massive. To renovate it properly would cost at least ten thousand taels of silver. Aren't you giving her a difficult task?"
Yu Feiyan felt a bit of regret. "I just wanted to see if she could earn the money on her own and survive. I never expected her to resort to swindling. No, we cannot let her tarnish the reputation of the Crown Prince's Mansion."
As soon as Yu Feiyan finished, he prepared to rush into the pawn shop to grab Yan Weichi. However, before he could act, Yan Weichi walked out. She was clutching a stack of banknotes, her eyebrows raised in triumph.
Yu Feiyan was furious and snapped, "Look at her smug expression! No, I can't let her run wild!"
"Just wait a second!" Ye Tianshu grabbed Yu Feiyan again, sighing. "Even if she pawned those two headpieces, she wouldn't have more than three thousand taels. That's not enough to renovate the Crown Prince's Mansion. I suspect she has another plan."
"What other plan could she have? Who else is she going to scam?" Yu Feiyan glared, unable to tolerate the sight.
Ye Tianshu couldn't answer that. But as the two turned their heads, they saw Yan Weichi turn left and enter the Four Saints Casino nearby.
Yan Weichi didn't just swindle people—she was a gambler too?
The two exchanged looks. It wasn't just surprise anymore; it was pure shock!
...
Yan Weichi entered the casino wearing a different expression. It wasn't the arrogance she showed at the silk shop, nor the warmth she showed at the jewelry store, but the look of a rich, dim-witted heir.
She looked at the Pai Gow, the dice, the big-and-small, and the guessing games. Her noble appearance and the stack of banknotes in her hand instantly caught the casino owner's attention.
The owner signaled a dealer. The dealer hurriedly greeted her, "Oh, young master, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time?"
Yan Weichi smiled foolishly. "Heh, yes, just here to have a look."
"Just looking isn't much fun. Why not place a few bets? Happiness comes from the gamble." The dealer draped an arm around Yan Weichi’s shoulder, acting like an old friend, and led her to the Pai Gow table.
Yan Weichi went along with it, but then shook her head. "No, no, it's too hard; I don't understand it."
The dealer hurriedly took Yan Weichi to another table. "Then try Big and Small; this one is simple!"
Yan Weichi didn't hesitate and immediately started betting. After several rounds, she won some and lost some, with little difference. The dealer watched the thick stack of banknotes in Yan Weichi's hand and grew anxious.
Just as he was getting nervous, Yan Weichi suddenly stood up and stopped playing.
The dealer asked, "Young master, your luck isn't bad—why stop now?"
Yan Weichi shook her head. "It's boring. I want to see that one!"
The dealer followed her finger and saw she was pointing at the "Division" table.
In "Division," the house randomly scoops a bowl of silkworm beans from a sack, then divides them into groups of four. The players bet on how many remain.
If there were ten beans, four and four leave two. If there were eleven, three remain. There were only four possible outcomes: one, two, three, or four. A player could only bet on one. In other words, Yan Weichi’s win rate was only one in four.
*This is perfect,* the dealer thought. *She'll lose money quickly this way!*
The dealer immediately said, "Easy, easy. Everyone, please make way! We shall open a private table for the young master today. A guest of honor must have a good time!"
Regulars at the casino knew that a private table meant either the guest was here to cause trouble or the casino was preparing to slaughter a lamb. It was clear the latter was happening. The crowd chuckled and made way, ready to watch a show.
...
The crowd laughed, and Yan Weichi laughed with them. With that foolish look, she looked just like a little lamb!
The dealer stood behind the table, and Yan Weichi sat across from him.
Yan Weichi toyed with the pile of silkworm beans. "How do you play this?"
The dealer said, "It's simple. I close my eyes, scoop a bowl of beans at random, and divide them by four. You guess the remainder. If you guess correctly, it’s one-to-two odds."
Yan Weichi thought to herself, *One-to-two. In other words, if I bet one hundred taels, I lose one hundred if I fail, and win two hundred if I succeed. It seems okay, but a bit slow.*
She grinned foolishly. "Fine, let's try it!"
The dealer beamed and began to play with Yan Weichi. Yan Weichi didn't overcomplicate it, betting one hundred taels per round. After a few rounds of winning and losing, her three-thousand-tael stake was down to two thousand in an instant.