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  Chapter Seventy-Three Bestowal (Part One)

  Pan Xiang finally ran to the main street and let out a sigh of relief. The attendants secretly smiled, but didn't dare show it, only solemnly saying: "Young Master, we've been out for quite some time, shall we head back?"

  Pan Rong adjusted his clothes, sweeping away the awkwardness of just now. He calmly said: "Where is the He family's jewelry store? The madam's birthday is approaching and I forgot to take this opportunity to buy her something nice." Let's go take a look, see if there are any good things. If we can buy one or two pieces, the madam will definitely like them." What he wants to know now is what Li You plans to do with that pearl, is it for making money or specifically buying for someone?

  But after Bao Dan and others came out of the treasure meeting, He Zhizhong sent three children back home. He led Li Wei, Peony and others to his own shop to talk, answering all Li Wei's questions without reservation.

  Peony looked at Dalang with a guilty conscience. What's most important here is to inherit one's father's career and continue the family legacy. He Zhizhong's move was equivalent to bringing Liyi into the business, similar to having one more person competing with them for food in the future, especially someone like Liyi with an official background, which was quite taboo for Dalang and others.

  Dalan received Peony's guilty gaze, and comfortingly smiled at her, hinting that she shouldn't worry about these things. The He family owed the Li family a favor, and Li Wei didn't want any other form of compensation or gratitude, so they might as well take this opportunity to let him make some money. Besides, even if Li Wei really wanted to enter the jewelry industry, the He family wouldn't necessarily help him, but he would still have his own way.

  Li Wei, on the other hand, was self-aware and after asking a few questions that interested him, he stopped asking and just smiled: "I'm a bit thirsty. I remember there's a elegant room in the back, why don't we go in and brew some tea to drink?"

  He Zhizhong hurriedly invited everyone to enter, instructing the young servant to brew tea. Peony smiled and said: "It's a pity that Bi Shui is not here, otherwise we could also see her brewing tea again. Just watching her brewing tea is a pleasure in itself."

  Li Wei smiled slightly: "If you like her, I'll give her to you. Tonight, you can drink the tea she brews."

  "Peony saw that he wasn't joking and was taken aback, hastily saying: "No, no. How could I take someone else's good fortune? Besides, I don't know how to appreciate it, giving it to me would be a waste. Brother-in-law, you'd better keep her for yourself." How could one sentence spoken in jest determine the direction of someone's future? Moreover, she still remembered that last time when Li Maniang saw Bi Shui brewing tea, she asked Bi Shui if she was willing to go with her to Youzhou, and Bi Shui had refused at the time, so how would she be willing to follow him now?"

  Li Yiguan looked at Peony with a strange expression, suddenly lowered his eyes and couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth. Li Maniang pulled Peony's hand and patted it, laughing out loud. Peony thought quickly, was there anything wrong with what she said just now? She had only spoken the truth. Suddenly thinking of a possibility, her face flushed, and she covered it up with a laugh: "What are you laughing at?"

  Li Wei let out a soft sigh and began to chat with He Zhizhong and He Dalang in hushed tones, occasionally bursting into loud laughter. Li Maniang examined the few things she had bought today for a while, then suddenly asked: "That agate lamp tree, isn't it actually something from your family?"

  He Dalang felt a bit embarrassed, and He Zhizhong originally didn't think of hiding it from Li Man Niang, so he frankly admitted: "It's indeed our family's thing. That's my treasured heirloom, which I've kept hidden for many years, and this is the first time I'm taking it out." This thing was originally He's family property, no matter how much money Liu Quan offered, whether they bought it or not, were cheated or not, in the end, the He family wouldn't lose.

  Li Man Niang smiled and said: "Whose idea is this?"

  Several men exchanged a glance, smiled tacitly, and Li Yi supported Li Man's arm, laughing: "Why does the aunt ask so much? Anyway, no one can escape." He looked at Peony again, pointing at her: "Today's affairs also involve Dan Niang."

  The peony smiled slightly, and Li Wei was right. If she hadn't been on the scene to stimulate Liu Chuan, Liu Chuan wouldn't have been so impulsive and easily deceived. However, it's likely that if he didn't fall for it this time and didn't pay out this sum of money, in the future as long as he still wants to do business, He Zhitong and Li Wei will always find a way to make him spit it out.

  At this time, two soft sounds came from outside the door. The shopkeeper outside said in a low voice: "Master, there is a guest named Pan Rong outside who claims to want to buy the pearl you brought back from Bao Hui today."

  What did he come for? Did he want to see through the situation? He Zhizhong and Li Hu exchanged a suspicious glance, and had no choice but to get up to greet him.

  Pan Xiang hooked her neck, casually flipping through the jewelry sent by He Jia's account, muttering to herself: "Don't want these ordinary goods, I just want that pearl, the price is negotiable."

  He Zhizhong stood quietly outside the door, listening to Pan Rong calling out to his servants, rushing back and forth, then loudly complaining for a while. He finally stepped forward with a smile and said, "Good fortune, Master Pan."

  Pan Shi immediately went forward and wrapped himself around him to buy that pearl: "My wife is about to turn 20, I have been searching for a good treasure for a long time. Today, I just saw that good thing, but you acted quickly. Also, because of the agate lamp tree before, you let us go once. I really don't want to compete with you again. Now I sincerely come to your door and ask Master Shi to make a little profit and sell me that pearl, okay?"

  He Zhizhong laughed heartily: "This thing also depends on fate, Liu Gongyi is determined to get it, he must have a special liking for it or have a great use for it, unlike us who are just in it for the money. Of course, we should let him have it. As for that pearl, it wasn't me who bought it, but Li Hang. I was just thanking him for helping my family out and took him in to help him make some profit."

  "Then I'll buy it from him, won't he? He didn't pay 200 million for it, did he? So if he sells it to me for 250 million, I can resell it and make a profit of 50 million. Please help me with the transaction, Master."

  He Zhizhong did not dare to underestimate this seemingly cheerful and harmless young master of Chuzhou, and said seriously: "I don't know if he's willing to sell or not. However, I can ask him for the young master."

  Pan Xiang looked at He Zhizhong with a smile that was not quite a smile and said, "Isn't he here? Just call him out to talk to me directly. Uncle Shi, are you hiding him from me because I discussed business with someone else in the treasure shop? Or has he done something wrong and is too ashamed to come out and see me?"

  This remark was made with a mixture of praise and blame, with a strong implication. He Zhizhong's expression didn't change, and he said calmly: "Young Master, you're wrong to say that. I didn't say I wouldn't invite him out to meet you, but whether or not he wants to see you is his business. As they are both guests, I don't want to offend either of them. Please forgive me."

  Pan Shuang couldn't see anything on his face, so he laughed and said: "Then please ask Uncle Shi to come in and help me ask?" Before the words were finished, Li Wei smiled and came in with a bow: "Master Pan, do you really want to buy that pearl from me?"

  Pan Xiang raised an eyebrow: "Do you think I came all the way here for nothing? 25 million, will you sell or not?"

  Li Wei said bluntly: "I won't sell it because the owner of this treasure is actually not me."

  Pan Xiang's heart skipped a beat, could it be that the rumor was true? Though suspicious in her mind, she didn't show it on her face. With a smile, she coaxed him: "Xing Zhe, you've traveled all around, what good things haven't you seen? Just think of a way for me, and talk to that person, sell it to me, okay? Your sister-in-law will be happy, and I'll be grateful to you."

  Li You smiled and pulled him out, saying: "I'm afraid it's not possible, that person is also very useful. However, I do have a few things in my hand, if you really need them, don't mind taking a look later, if there's anything that catches your eye, just take it. Come on, it's rare for you to not be angry with me, let me treat you to a drink."

  Pan Xiang's eyes lit up and he said with great interest: "I'm going to the Rich and Noble Building, I've got two beautiful chicks coming over."

  Li Wei smiled and said, "Whatever you say." Today, he must get the kid drunk and knock him down. The two of them left with their own thoughts, hand in hand, just like close brothers.

  Li Maniang, Dalang and Mudan hid behind to listen, after seeing the two holding hands and leaving, Li Maniang asked Mudan in a low voice: "Do you know who this pearl is given to?"

  "Peony smiled and said: 'I don't know. You should ask brother or father.'"

  Dalan was about to speak, but Li Maniang had already smiled and said: "I'll tell you, he's buying it for Prince Ning. Princess Ning is going to give birth, and Prince Ning wants to find a rare treasure to give to her. This round and smooth pearl is the most suitable." She glanced at Peony's expression and said lightly: "He has always been favored by Prince Ning, and this time it's considered a not-so-big but not-so-small achievement."

  The peony was startled, and she looked up at Li Maniang. She felt that Li Maniang's words were full of hidden meanings. Yes, the Li family had finally managed to shake off their merchant identity and become officials, so they should cherish it even more and strive for greater heights. But then there was Li Huai, a uniquely independent individual. Logically, her relatives on her father's side should have been very disappointed, but they weren't. On the contrary, they never stopped Li Huai and instead spoiled and valued her greatly. What did this mean? "He has always been favored by Prince Ning, and this time he has achieved a considerable merit." That is to say, Li Huai was actually doing things for Prince Ning.

  Li Man Niang saw Peony's eyes and knew she understood, so she didn't mention the topic again. She smiled: "This is their men's business, we don't care about it. The day after tomorrow, our old friends are going to ride horses outside Qixia Gate, do you want to go?"

  The peony's heart was filled with a hundred knots, but she still smiled gently: "Is Auntie going to go with friends? Can I follow and make it convenient?"

  Li Maniang patted her hand: "Convenient, how can it be inconvenient? When the time comes, I'll send someone to call you. Young people should come out and move around more often."

  Darong quietly listened on the side and suddenly interjected, "Dan Niang, I've found a piece of land for you to take a look at. It's just outside Qixia Gate, you can go check it out sometime."

  Li Maniang curiously said: "What? You want to buy land?"

  Dalan smiled stupidly: "Dan Niang has set up a female household and wants to build a villa outside, buy some land and plant flowers for fun."

  Li Maniang nodded in agreement: "Finding something to do is better than doing nothing."

  Several people saw Li Maniang home, and Mrs. Cui welcomed her with joy, inviting the He family to stay for dinner. Before Mr. He could respond, Mrs. Xian politely declined, and Mrs. Cui did not press them further. As Peony was about to mount her horse, Mrs. Xian beckoned her over with a serious expression: "Dan Niang, come ride with me, I have something to discuss with you."