Chapter 261: Promoting Her Brothers

Hearing Elder Xu’s words, Yun Linhe felt a bit more reassured.

If that was really the case, then buying this item wouldn’t be a loss at all.

But the entire premise rested on the pair of bracelets being genuine and worth the price.

The person Elder Xu sought out was a man with the surname Gu.

A man like him, with real skills and profound expertise in Traditional Chinese Medicine, was never short on connections.

Although Western medicine was now flourishing, many older people still placed more trust in the traditions passed down from their ancestors.

After being treated by Elder Xu once, these people would only trust his abilities even more.

The man he was looking for was also one of his patients: an old man in his fifties, dressed in a black Tang suit and rolling a pair of meditation walnuts in his hand.

"Well, well, what brings you here, Old Xu? Taking a break from your clinic?"

Inside the antique shop, the proprietor spoke jokingly and had an assistant pour them tea.

Yun Jiao: ’This tea smells so fragrant, but it tastes a little bitter.’

Normally, since Yun Jiao had tried tea before and didn’t really like it, she wouldn’t have drunk any this time either.

But the fragrance made her eager to try it again.

Holding the small teacup, Yun Jiao stuck out her little tongue and took a lick, just like a kitten.

Once she had savored the flavor, she took another lick.

Of course, her little ears were perked up, still listening to her Master and the man called Ancient talk.

"So this is your little apprentice. She looks quite sharp."

Ancient noticed the little one’s occasional glances in his direction. ’She’s an awfully cute kid.’

The corners of Elder Xu’s mouth turned up. "You’re right about that. If nothing else, this little one truly has a photographic memory. She’s already memorized many medicinal formulas and can identify quite a few herbs."

Studying medicine, especially Traditional Chinese Medicine, requires not only talent but also a powerful memory.

There are simply too many things to memorize.

The body’s acupuncture points and meridians, the medicinal formulas passed down through the ages, the properties and appearances of various herbs, and so on...

Without a powerful memory, it would take several years just to commit all of that to heart.

Elder Xu’s look of subtle pride indeed made Ancient quite envious.

"That brat of a son of mine refuses to learn about antiques. He says it’s boring and insists on running off to compose music or whatever. It’s so hard to find a suitable apprentice."

This made Elder Xu even prouder.

’Heh, others couldn’t find one, but I did.’

Elder Xu chuckled. "Taking on an apprentice is a matter of fate. If you can’t find one now, it just means the time isn’t right."

Ancient didn’t just run an antique shop; his main work was restoring antiques.

Restoring antiques is a delicate and tedious job, and most young people lack the patience for it. Ancient’s son had started a company related to antiques, which was gradually taking off. He was too busy making money to have time for restoration work, nor did he have the skill for it.

His grandson was even more restless, dreaming all day about his music and utterly unable to settle down and learn the craft of antique restoration.

"Wipe that smirk off your face before you say another word."

Ancient rolled his eyes.

An idea popped into his head as he looked at Yun Jiao.

"Little one, do you like antiques?"

Yun Jiao blinked. "I like some of them."

She had just been looking at the curio shelves in the shop; many of the porcelain vases, plates, and bowls were very beautiful.

Much, much prettier than the bowls and plates they used for meals at home.

Yun Jiao liked them a lot.

Ancient’s eyes lit up, but just as he was about to say something, Elder Xu cut him off.

"Hey, hey, hey... That’s a low blow! Just because you can’t find an apprentice doesn’t mean you can steal mine."

Elder Xu held Yun Jiao close. "Don’t even think about it. Studying Traditional Chinese Medicine is hard enough. She has no time to mess with your antiques."

Ancient took a sip of tea and snorted. "So stingy."

Yun Linhai and Wang Mei were proud. ’Our Jiaojiao is so popular.’

Yun Jiao raised her little hand. She had something to say.

"Hm? What is it, Jiaojiao? You don’t actually want to learn this, do you?"

Yun Jiao shook her head and held up five fingers. "I’m not going to learn, but I have five brothers who don’t have masters."

Yun Linhai, Wang Mei, and Elder Xu were all dumbfounded.

Yun Jiao was already eagerly making her recommendations. "My Third Brother is really smart; he’s going to get into a really, really good university. Fifth Brother is an amazing swimmer. Brother Qi loves money. Brother Bao likes to draw—he taught himself and he’s gotten very good. And Brother Nine is handsome and sings well."

She counted on her fingers, listing the strengths and hobbies of each of her brothers who hadn’t joined the army or already found a master.

Then she looked expectantly at Ancient.

"Grandpa Gu, do you want an apprentice? I can send my brothers over for you to test. If you like them, you can keep them. If you don’t, you can just send them back home to me."

The little one’s voice was soft and tender, her words innocent. Her gaze was exceptionally sincere, free of the scheming Ancient had seen in others. She genuinely wanted to find him an apprentice.

Ancient burst out laughing. "Deal. In that case, Grandpa Gu will be waiting for you to send your brothers over for me to test."

Elder Xu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He never expected the little one to start marketing her own brothers.

Yun Linhe and Wang Mei were even more awkward and flustered.

However, if those boys could really become apprentices and learn a craft, it would be nothing but beneficial for them.

’Oh my, how is our Jiaojiao so clever!’

Ancient had taken quite a liking to this clever little girl who didn’t cry or make a fuss, so naturally, he agreed to help her out and lend his expert eye.

And so, Ancient led them to the Ghost Market.

Clearly, he was an enthusiast himself and knew this Ghost Market far better.

「It was now around seven in the evening.」

There were more people at the Ghost Market than when Yun Jiao had come in the morning.

Many vendors were simply selling their wares from blankets on the ground.

The blankets were covered with porcelain, copper coins, calligraphy, paintings, and jade—a dazzling variety that left Yun Jiao bewildered.

However, her mind was still fixated on that pair of bracelets, so she led the group directly to where the old man had been the day before.

When they arrived, the old man was still there.

And quite a few people were gathered around his stall.

The pair of bracelets had also drawn a crowd of onlookers.

Apparently, everyone had good taste, because the bracelets were indeed quite beautiful.

But after asking the price, they all shook their heads and walked away.

Only one or two people persisted, haggling with the old man.

Sixty thousand, seventy thousand, eighty thousand...

In fact, when the offer reached eighty thousand, the old man was already tempted.

He was just a little reluctant to part with them.

The old man suddenly remembered the little girl from yesterday who had told him to wait for her, promising to buy the bracelets.

He shook his head. "Sigh... What’s gotten into me? How could I actually believe a little kid would buy these bracelets? And it’s been so long..."

’If they offer a little more,’ he thought, ’I’ll just sell the bracelets.’

Just then, Yun Jiao squeezed through the crowd and stood right at the front.

The old man’s eyes widened when he saw Yun Jiao.

’No way, the kid actually came?!’