Chapter 2: A Job Worth Three Thousand (Seeking All Kinds of Support)

The beautiful woman's voice caught in her throat all of a sudden, her face frozen, while the young men beside her wore equally peculiar expressions. Was this girl actually demanding money as a token of gratitude? This wasn't how it was supposed to go! A girl as pure and lovely as her should be blushing, waving her hands and saying, "No need, no need, it's only right…"

"Little sister, helping others is a virtue. Doesn't your school teach you to be a living Lei Feng?" one of the young men teased with a cheerful grin.

Sui Yi cast him a sidelong glance, turned away with an air of indifference, and tossed back, "That's why he's dead."

A chill wind swept through just then.

The group exchanged glances, momentarily speechless.

Something felt off. Was it really this cold in September?

But Sui Yi and Sui Zhen had already walked off into the distance. None of them bothered to chase after them, even though they had considered taking the girl to the police station—perhaps Sui Zhen was afraid of having to pay, so…

The beautiful woman happened to turn her head and caught sight of the strange girl entering a bustling intersection, disappearing into a shop exuding an air of ancient charm.

What was that shop called?

—Wild Goose Tang Studio?

As soon as she entered, a wave of coolness bordering on icy coldness hit her. How cool was it? Cool enough that the chill of the shop felt entirely justified.

Sui Yi seemed to relish the temperature; her features softened, losing some of their frosty detachment.

The shop was crowded with jars and bottles, calligraphy, inkstones, and even some weapons—all manner of dazzling treasures.

A folding screen painted with Tang-dynasty ladies, decaying wooden carvings, a perfectly etched ivory bowl…

Each was priceless, genuine or fake—Sui Yi never cared to tell.

The soft sound of footsteps roused the man slouched across the front counter. His gray-white hair was tied with a floral cloth, his cheeks bristled with stubble, and he wore a plain gray shirt, looking rather slovenly.

Most pawnbrokers dressed this way, striving for a touch of authenticity to highlight their shop’s antiquity…

But only Old Tang, the proprietor of Wild Goose Tang Studio, could make a fine silk robe look as ragged as a beggar’s.

He grinned as he saw her, stroking his mustache, "Rare to see you in good spirits today. So, found a new deal?"

"Does a bus fare count?" Sui Yi replied offhandedly, picking up the feather duster from the table to brush the dust from the antiques.

Her movements were graceful enough, but the man behind the counter watched with a thumping heart, his brows twitching, fingers nervously tugging at his mustache.

"Hey, stop tormenting my antiques!" Old Tang cried, pained, hurrying to snatch the duster away.

To his mind, this girl was unlike any other—she treated these treasures, worth hundreds of thousands, as if wiping dishes after a meal, and if she broke one, she wouldn’t bat an eye. Yet, somehow, she never broke anything!

Which only left him in constant fear, without even the prospect of compensation—a true torment.

With nothing else to do, Sui Yi helped mind the shop. But it was obvious Old Tang had business with her today; otherwise, the owner himself wouldn’t be on the morning shift.

Seated at a small tea table in the hall’s left alcove, Sui Yi held her cup but didn’t drink, simply watching Old Tang in silence. "So, what brings you to me today?"

It was the first day of school, and she never worked here during term—only weekends. Old Tang knew this well, so breaking the rule today meant something important.

Old Tang took his time, warming the teapot, trying to project an air of sage-like detachment, but Sui Yi merely lowered her head to study the pattern on her teacup.

He sighed. "What do you think of the antiques in our shop?"

"Expensive," Sui Yi answered without hesitation.

A gleam appeared in Old Tang’s eyes. "And do you know why they’re expensive?"

He sounded mysterious, as if about to lead Sui Yi into another, secret world…

Why? Sui Yi regarded him, pondering for a moment before replying coolly, "Because you set the price high."

A brutally sharp answer, hitting the mark. It even seemed to carry the calm implication: "You’re a swindler."

Old Tang was momentarily speechless, his hand poised to lift the table—except it was made of peach wood, rather costly. After a moment, he sighed and spread his hands. "Why have you no interest in this trade? You’re talented, you know. If you were willing, I could teach you everything…"

"I have no interest in them," Sui Yi replied.

"That’s exactly why I think you have potential. With a heart unmoved by money, you’re a rare find in this field…"

"Unmoved by money? Don’t say that, Old Tang, or I’ll think you’re about to withhold this month’s wages."

At the mention of her wages, Sui Yi’s brow furrowed, while Old Tang rolled his eyes—he’d never withhold payment!

But Sui Yi needed money. Her tuition for the first semester of senior year was still unfunded. The teachers had hinted at it more than once that morning, but she didn’t need the reminders.

Senior year was special; everything required money. And that was just for academics.

"You need money, I know. Otherwise, you wouldn’t work for me," Old Tang said, very different from before. He sipped his tea, his gaze dim.

He’d been waiting for her to ask for money for over a year, but she was stubborn—never asked, not once.

"Money isn’t easy to come by. Watching the shop won’t earn you much, so I send you on jobs—and you’ve always done well."

Sui Yi didn’t speak, waiting for him to continue.

"But this time, there’s a little trouble. It’s not like before. I can’t trust anyone else, but you’re quick-witted—you can handle it."

Trouble? Sui Yi’s brow furrowed slightly. She glanced at Old Tang, "Is the other side involved?"

Every pawnshop, in addition to legitimate business, had a secret channel—handling certain ‘goods’ that couldn’t be registered officially. They rarely asked questions, unless the goods involved a death. That, they avoided.

As the old saying went: living people, pawn as dead; dead things, never pawn as living.

Anything tainted with death might carry misfortune; naturally, it was taboo.

But the authorities did regulate these dealings—lenient or strict, depending on policy and circumstance. Usually, they turned a blind eye.

Especially here in the Jiangnan region, steeped in history—just in the small town of Nanxun, there were at least a dozen pawnshops, with countless antique dealers passing through daily. How many antiques changed hands? And how many could withstand scrutiny?

In the past, the authorities ignored it; now, though, they’d begun to intervene. No wonder Old Tang was unsettled.

"I knew you were clever—one guess and you’ve got it." Old Tang chuckled, a bit sly.

Sui Yi’s pale fingers pressed the cold porcelain cup. Her voice was low and delicate. "Not clever, just read the news. Last month, some cases in the city came to light, and orders came down. By now, those repercussions have reached us."

Old Tang nodded, his gaze sharp. "Given that, do you still dare take the job?"

Sui Yi sat up straight, her posture unchanged since Old Tang began speaking. Now she simply lifted her eyes and asked, "What’s the payment?"

Such jobs were paid separately from her regular wages.

Old Tang held up one finger…

A thousand? Sui Yi raised an eyebrow, lips curving in a faint smile, not even glancing at him.

Old Tang bit his lip, then raised a second finger…

Still silent, Sui Yi dipped her finger in the condensation on the table and wrote a number: three.

Old Tang threw up his hands, helpless. "Three thousand. That’s too much—no one else asks so much."

"That’s them," Sui Yi replied with a gentle smile, as calm and graceful as a noblewoman from ancient times. "You don’t have to agree. But right now, it seems we each have only one choice."

Which was to work together.

She needed money. He needed someone he could trust.

That was all.

"Fine, three thousand," Old Tang agreed painfully, handing her a thousand as an advance payment.

Sui Yi accepted the money without counting it, as if she were picking up a piece of scrap paper. Old Tang’s mouth twitched. "Why do you seem so strange?"

—A person who asks for money but doesn’t love money.

(P.S. I have plans tonight and will be seeing a movie, so I’m posting this update early. From now on, updates will usually be at 8 p.m. unless something comes up. If the new book gets over a thousand collections, I’ll add an extra update; over ten thousand recommendations, another extra; rewards as usual, any grand gifts mean bonus chapters!)