Chapter 3581: Nourishing Jade
Chapter 3581: Nourishing Jade
The system said Mei Ziqing agreed, and it was now going to teleport Xiao Huo to the City of Water.
Ning Shu redeemed a beautiful silk sachet from the system exchange marketplace. She then placed the two stones inside. At first glance, it looked just like an ordinary, beautiful sachet.
She planned to hang it on Xiao Huo and have him help incubate them.
Of course, when asking someone for help, it was only right to say thank you and treat them to a meal.
Ning Shu explained the situation to Mei Ziqing. She didn’t want to hang it on Xiao Huo only for Mei Ziqing to directly throw it away later. That would truly screw her over.
Mei Ziqing’s system asked, “Mei Ziqing is asking if this will cause any harm to Xiao Huo.”
Ning Shu replied, “It won’t. It is just like a person nourishing jade with their body.1Ning Shu is referencing the traditional Chinese belief that wearing jade against the skin allows the stone to absorb human energy, making it smoother and more translucent over time. It is like putting ripe fruit next to unripe fruit to speed up the ripening process. There is no danger at all in it.”
Mei Ziqing agreed, but she warned that if there was any danger, she would directly throw Ning Shu’s things away.
Ning Shu: …
She had found these with great difficulty. If Mei Ziqing dared to throw them away, Ning Shu would fight her to the death.
“Go to the City of Water,” Ning Shu said to 2333.
2333 said, “The people from the auction house are saying they want to move out of the City of Water and leave.”
Ning Shu asked, “Oh, and then?”
“They are asking you to open the barrier and let them leave. A city’s auction house can attract quite a lot of foot traffic,” 2333 said.
Ning Shu said, “Oh, just tell them I am doing a task. Do not say anything else. Keep them locked up for a while longer.”
Did they really think threatening to leave would scare her?
The auction house had been closed during this time, and she had not lost anything. If this auction house left, another merchant would move in to take its place. The shops were made of iron, but the merchants were like flowing water.
If they were not willing to do it, someone else would gladly take on this business.
“Go ask them if they are absolutely dead set on leaving,” Ning Shu said calmly. If they left, she could just hold a commercial bidding process and even make a profit from it.
2333: “Okay.”
Ning Shu stood on the bluestone slabs of the Water City and headed toward the restaurant. A fiery red Xiao Huo was currently squatting right by the entrance.
Ning Shu walked over, and Xiao Huo stood up. “Auntie~”
Ning Shu: “…Auntie will take you to eat something delicious.”
After arriving at the restaurant, Ning Shu ordered some dishes. She then took out the sachet and said, “Xiao Huo, I want to ask you for a favor. Take a look at this. Can you help me incubate it?”
“Okay.” Xiao Huo agreed without asking any questions.
Seeing him so straightforward, Ning Shu instructed, “You must keep it close to your body at all times. Do not lose it.”
“Got it.” Xiao Huo hung the sachet around his neck and tucked it inside his clothes, successfully keeping it close to his body.
Ning Shu could not help but pat Xiao Huo on the shoulder. “You really are a good child.”
While Ning Shu was placing food into Xiao Huo’s bowl, a man wearing a long robe with wide sleeves walked over. He cupped his hands together toward Ning Shu and said, “Si Tian greets the city lord.”
“Boss Si, is there something you need?” Si Tian was the boss of the casino. However, this guy did not look like someone who ran a casino at all. He gave off a refined, unhurried vibe, looking like a man with deep plans hidden in his heart. He had a great temperament, resembling a handsome Zhuge Liang.
“I came specifically to find the city lord. I have a matter to discuss with you,” Si Tian said unhurriedly.
Ning Shu nodded. “Take a seat.”
Ning Shu ordered another pot of tea and asked, “What is the matter?”
“City Lord, I heard the people from the auction house are planning to withdraw from the City of Water?” Si Tian poured himself a cup of tea. His movements were elegant and refined. While holding the teacup in one hand and pinching his sleeve with the other, he took a sip.
Ning Shu replied nonchalantly, “Who told you that?”
“It was merely a guess of mine. The people from the auction house probably never expected the city lord to be so forceful and seal off the auction house directly. They must have tried to negotiate with the city lord beforehand, but you still refused to lift the seal. In the end, they would definitely threaten to withdraw from the City of Water to test the waters. After all, losing a major business in a city will affect your tax revenue.”
Ning Shu took a small sip of her tea, her expression remaining calm. Si Tian was indeed quite smart. However, anyone with a discerning eye could see through this kind of trick.
“You want to take over the auction house?” Ning Shu put down her teacup and asked directly.
Si Tian glanced at the oblivious Xiao Huo, who was happily eating, and cupped his hands together. “The city lord must be joking. With my financial resources, how could I possibly afford to take over the auction house?”
Ning Shu smiled but did not say a word. She picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a pastry, and placed it on the small plate in front of Xiao Huo.
If it was not about the auction house, why would he specifically come looking for her?
If he did not want to say it, then forget it!
Regardless, whether the auction house stayed open or not resulted in no loss for her. She had already declared that she would make the auction house spit out every single cent they owed her.
Si Tian’s expression remained calm. “I am willing to do my part to contribute to the prosperity of the City of Water.”
“I naturally believe in your abilities, Si Tian.”
The casino’s power was nothing to scoff at.
Ning Shu nodded. “If the auction house really decides to withdraw from the City of Water, I will definitely reserve a spot for you.”
Si Tian cupped his hands together. “Thank you, City Lord. Please allow me to treat you to this meal.”
“Then I will have to thank you.” Ning Shu did not decline the offer and thanked him.
Shu Bai came down from upstairs and bowed to Ning Shu. “City Lord.”
Ning Shu nodded. “Take a seat.”
Si Tian stood up and cupped his hands toward Shu Bai while greeting her.
“Si Tian, did you get what you wished for?” Shu Bai asked as he sat down.
Ning Shu raised an eyebrow. “So you were the one who tipped him off.”
“Is this not a good thing?” Shu Bai fanned himself with his round silk fan.
Ning Shu nodded. “It is a good thing. This matter needs to be resolved. Otherwise, the merchants in the City of Water will remain in a state of panic. However, it will still take some time.”
The person backing the auction house had yet to show themselves. She needed to force him to make an appearance. She had already offended him. It would be ridiculous if she didn’t even know who he was and ended up looking completely bewildered when targeted later on.
She was currently riding a tiger and found it hard to get off. Since things had come to this, she had to find out who she was up against.
Si Tian thought for a moment before saying, “The person backing this auction house is Young Master Ronghua.”
Young Master Ronghua?
What a flashy and flamboyant name. Ning Shu committed the name to memory.
The people from the auction house were merely testing the waters right now. They would not withdraw from the City of Water so willingly.
Ning Shu ignored their clamoring entirely. If they truly had the guts, they should just leave. She was not the slightest bit afraid of this kind of threat.
She wouldn’t budge unless that Young Master Ronghua came looking for her himself. Moreover, they still had to spit out every cent they owed her from before.
Si Tian cupped his hands together, found an excuse, and took his leave. Ning Shu glanced at Si Tian’s retreating back and said to Shu Bai, “This person is very smart.”
“Who in this place is not smart? Si Tian does things flawlessly without leaving any loopholes. If he can take over the auction house, he definitely will not short your tax revenue. Furthermore, Si Tian is not the type of person who likes to throw his weight around,” Shu Bai said.
Ning Shu nodded. He was gentle, polite, and attentive to every detail. At first glance, this type of person was clearly a ‘black-bellied’ individual with high emotional intelligence.
“Is he not doing tasks anymore?” Ning Shu asked casually.
“Si Tian still completes tasks. Doing business is merely a way for him to obtain more resources. Does he look like someone who would be content with just being a petty merchant?” Shu Bai replied with polite reserve.
He really did not look like one. That was exactly why she asked.
“You really seem to admire Si Tian,” Ning Shu said to Shu Bai with a grin.