Chapter 1234 - 304: Furious (Part 4)

Chapter 1234: Chapter 304: Furious (Part 4)

Just said;

"I’ll have Ji Chengjue’s people help me pass a message to Wei Zhonghe, saying that in order to clearly address the snow plains situation, I want to meet the Wild King.

Whether or not I can actually meet him,

depends on Wei Zhonghe’s decision."

Gou Moli bowed down and heavily kowtowed to Zheng Fan.

Tonight,

Ji Chengjue returned home late until the second half of the night, and after coming back, he didn’t look for Zheng Fan but went straight back to his room to rest.

The next morning,

Lord Zheng just woke up, washed and dressed, then walked to the small courtyard ready for his morning smoke;

but he saw, on the bench in the yard,

Ji Chengjue sitting there,

holding a water pipe.

At the time, Qian people were fond of Five-rock powder, that stuff had a much stronger effect than tobacco.

As for tobacco, most was used as medicinal herbs, although there were tobacco users, it hadn’t become a widespread trend.

In this world, the older people got, the worse their health, and oddly, the more they smoked, believing that tobacco smoke could remove illnesses.

The water pipe in Ji Chengjue’s hand was exquisitely crafted, practically a work of art, and he had a precious snuff bottle of jade hanging from his waist.

Although the Yan State treasury was tight, it didn’t affect Ji Chengjue’s lifestyle. As long as the political conditions allowed, he, like Lord Zheng, still enjoyed himself.

The most important thing was, he didn’t rely on state treasury funds for enjoyment. In fact, according to Ji Chengjue, among merchants of Yan, the most diligent and precise in tax-paying belonged to his businesses.

Lord Zheng walked up to Ji Chengjue, took the water pipe from his hand, and said:

"Don’t touch this stuff, it’s bad for your health."

Then,

Lord Zheng himself took out a tinder and lit a cigarette, taking a puff.

"What about you?" Ji Chengjue gave Lord Zheng a sideways glance.

"I’m a Sixth Rank martial artist, I’m in good health."

"So you practice martial arts to make up for this deficit?"

"Haha, aren’t you going to court today?"

"I’ve taken leave from court, told father I’m on leave, you’re leaving the capital tomorrow, so I’m taking you for a stroll."

"So grand?"

"Of course, who knows when I’ll see you again."

"Alright."

"The carriage is already waiting, taking you to Kuanmin Lane for breakfast, it’s the most authentic there."

"Okay."

It was still Master Zhang driving.

Kuanmin Lane, an old street in Yanjing City, not large in area but bustling with people.

Breakfast was small wontons.

Ji Chengjue ate two bowls, Lord Zheng ate three bowls, Master Zhang ate four bowls.

Afterwards, the two didn’t ride the carriage, instead started strolling leisurely.

They went to Yinlang Temple, like Yinlang County, originally renowned due to the Prime Minister of Yan, although this temple in the capital had turned into a marketplace for calligraphy and antiquities.

Ji Chengjue walked side by side with Zheng Fan introducing the antique market to him.

"In the capital, many people like to visit Yinlang Temple, always hoping to find a bargain, but no matter how you look at it, the buyers are never as shrewd as the sellers. Finding bargains here is difficult.

Gold, silver, and jade items would never be placed here, only fools sell those.

As for ancient calligraphy and inkstones, vases and kilns, firstly, most are fake, and secondly, even if genuine, if you like them personally, buy them for collection and not for resale, that’s fine, but if you think you can buy to resell, you need to see if there’s someone equally knowledgeable, and that knowledgeable person must be wealthy.

And this stuff, when crunch time comes, at the grain shop, it doesn’t exchange for much food, the grain shop clerks don’t appreciate this stuff."

Despite these words, Ji Chengjue still bought a inkstone, a painting, and a variegated jade pendant for Lord Zheng.

"The inkstone is genuine, good quality, worthwhile. The painting is a fake, but the person who copied it did so a long time ago, bought for a tael or two of silver, may not sell for a hundred taels, but selling for ten taels is easy. The jade pendant hasn’t been cultivated yet, but actually is fine Huairou Jade, worn on a person, after three generations, when your grandson comes of age, the texture will become extremely transparent and smooth, then it’ll be valuable.

If by then rice prices are similar to now, it could be worth five hundred taels of silver."

Lord Zheng wrapped the items in a cloth bundle, and Master Zhang laughed as he took it to help keep safe.

"You’re really resourceful, if you’re out of money for food, just come here, flip a few things, and you’ll have what you need."

As the saying goes, in tough times, artisans won’t starve, it’s the truth.

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said, "These are just small matters, to put it bluntly, these things are quite ordinary in my eyes."

Born in royalty, in the Min Family’s matriarchal clan, things precious in the eyes of ordinary people, to Ji Chengjue, are no different than the chopping boards in his family’s kitchen.

"Then how come you were poor and had no money for food back then?"

Ji Chengjue casually took out a piece of broken silver and tossed it into the copper gong of a monkey performer on the street in front of the temple entrance.

The monkey immediately rose happily, kowtowing to Ji Chengjue and saluting, then even doing a somersault.

"Look, just like this monkey, it may not like doing somersaults and kowtowing, but it has to because people enjoy watching it do these things."

"Haha."

"You’ve only been to Yanjing twice, including this visit, father you’ve only met twice. In your eyes, what kind of person is father?"

"I don’t know how to put it."

"You should be a bit afraid of father."