Chapter 119: Jade Hairpin

"Miss, which one is better: the lake blue or the soft pink?" Xiao Lian asked Zhang Xiaolan, hesitating and unable to make a decision.

"Stop choosing. Both are nice, so let's just take them both. Let's pay."

Unlike Xiao Lian, Zhang Xiaolan was decisive in her actions. If it was hard to choose, she would simply take both. It wasn't as if she were choosing a suitor, so why be so conflicted? She was already holding two or three items herself and was ready to pay. The stall owner, naturally, beamed with delight; these few were big spenders today, and how could he not be happy?

The three of them strolled along, looking at this and that. Although the street was lively, it still could not compare to the bustling pedestrian malls of the modern world.

"What kind of shop is this?"

As they wandered, they spotted a shop that piqued their curiosity at first glance.

"This is a jade shop, though they also sell some feminine accessories."

Xiao Lian leaned forward to peer inside. It turned out that jade ornaments were displayed within, though the exterior appeared somewhat ordinary.

"Let's go in and take a look!" Zhang Xiaolan suddenly thought of an item and wondered if they might have it for sale here.

"Young ladies, please come in! What would you like to buy? We have everything you need from head to toe. It just so happens that our shop recently received some glass earrings and jade double-dragon heart-shaped pendants that would suit you perfectly."

No sooner had they stepped inside than the shopkeeper emerged from somewhere, enthusiastically introducing his wares. Perhaps seeing that Zhang Xiaolan was dressed rather opulently, he began by showcasing the shop's more precious accessories, items suited for women.

"Oh? You have a quite varied and complex selection here, shopkeeper."

Zhang Xiaolan noticed the shopkeeper was very zealous in his sales pitch, clearly a seasoned businessman. He had a somewhat stout and fleshy face; it seemed he had been eating melon seeds just a moment ago, as there were shells still visible on the table nearby.

"Young lady, my shop may not be large, but it is filled with a dazzling array of goods. We have items for both men and women, whether for adornment or for amusement..."

The shopkeeper began to boast about his inventory again, but Zhang Xiaolan had only one goal in mind.

"Do you have a jade archer's ring?"

Zhang Xiaolan sat down in a chair with the air of a wealthy young lady, while Xiao Lian and Ling Xiao stood on either side of her. Her eyes swept over the mess on the table, prompting the shopkeeper to hurriedly clean it up.

The jade archer's ring was a tool used to protect the finger that draws the bowstring, helping to grip the string firmly. At the same time, it prevented the rapidly recoiling bowstring from grazing the finger when releasing an arrow.

"Yes, of course! It just so happens that our craftsman recently finished a fine jade archer's ring. You are truly lucky, miss."

As he cleaned, he continued his sales pitch, though his constant use of the phrase "just so happens" made Zhang Xiaolan wonder how much luck was truly involved. She found the shopkeeper a bit too talkative.

"Enough with the chatter. Bring it over for me to see first." Disliking his verbosity, she ordered him to fetch the item immediately.

"Please, miss, sit for a moment and have some tea. I will go get it for you right away."

The owner tidied up, poured a cup of tea for Zhang Xiaolan from the pot on the table, and scurried off to retrieve the item. Before long, he returned carrying a tray with a jade archer's ring on it, presenting it to Zhang Xiaolan for inspection.

"This is the one. It is crafted from precious jade. Look at the carvings and the workmanship—they are top-tier. Furthermore..."

The shopkeeper stood to the side and began a "serious" and "meticulous" description of the quality and craftsmanship of the ring. Naturally, he spoke only of its virtues, knowing that young ladies like these were often easy marks. He believed that as long as he spun a grand enough tale, they would surely be swayed. However, he was mistaken this time. Just as he was preparing to heap more praise upon the ring, Zhang Xiaolan raised her hand to signal him to stop.