Chapter 520: Integrity, Sincerity, Good Faith
"Miss Xiang, I really can’t offer any more." Gu Zhifeng couldn’t figure out what the little girl was thinking.
With adults, one could usually guess their intentions through careful observation. But the little girl before him simply maintained a cute expression, her face too chubby to betray any emotion.
"Mr. Gu is a man of integrity. The old Yu Min Pawnshop’s reputation for being honest and fair to all was clearly well-earned." After a long silence, Ye Qianning finally spoke.
At the mention of Yu Min Pawnshop, Gu Zhifeng glanced back at the building, then turned away with a bitter look on his face. "It’s just my bad luck that I no longer have the opportunity to run this shop."
"Mr. Gu is an honest businessman; you could succeed anywhere. Today, out of respect for your fair and honest attitude, I’ll pawn these items to you for one hundred and fifty thousand liang." Ye Qianning proved to be just as magnanimous.
’One hundred and fifty thousand?’
Gu Zhifeng was stunned on the spot, staring at the little girl in disbelief.
Gu Chi was also surprised. ’Who pawns something and lowers their own price? Twenty thousand liang is no small sum; it’s enough for an ordinary family to live on for several generations.’
Gu Yuan was both shocked and regretful, watching so much money slip through their fingers.
Gao Yunyue was also heartbroken at the loss. ’Don’t people only pawn things when they can’t even afford to put food on the table?’
’They just threw away twenty thousand liang! My own dowry wasn’t even worth that much!’
The thought made her even more furious!
"Mr. Gu." Ye Qianning’s childish voice pulled him back to his senses.
Gu Zhifeng snapped out of his daze. "You... you really mean to pawn them to me for one hundred and fifty thousand liang?"
’No one says no to money, right?’
’Especially not twenty thousand liang!’
"Of course. Mr. Gu didn’t try to cheat me just because I’m a child. I was very moved by your integrity. One hundred and fifty thousand was the price I had in mind from the start." Ye Qianning’s business dealings depended on her mood.
’A pawnshop that can take on so many items at once shouldn’t be left with a piddling profit.’
"Miss Xiang, you truly are..." Gu Zhifeng was so emotional he couldn’t think of the right words to praise her.
Gu Chi’s eyes were fixed on Ye Qianning, filled with deep admiration. He was beginning to understand why his grandfather doted on her so much, even considering leaving the clan for the little girl’s sake.
’To have such presence at only six years old... what will she be like when she grows up?’
"Mr. Gu, no need to say more. I understand. In business, integrity, sincerity, and good faith are all essential. With them, a business will surely be stable and prosperous." Ye Qianning’s words carried a deeper meaning.
Everyone standing there was sharp; how could they not understand her underlying meaning? They silently glanced at the couple holding hands.
’Tsk, tsk... ten thousand liang...’
’It was a good thing Miss Xiang was so magnanimous. If it had been someone with a shorter fuse, they would’ve likely beaten the man to a pulp for offering a mere ten thousand.’
Gu Yuan’s face was beet red as he tightly gripped Gao Yunyue’s hand.
Gao Yunyue noticed her husband’s strange reaction and looked up to glare at Ye Qianning. "Miss Xiang, we never wanted your business in the first place."
"When you open your doors for business, every visitor is a customer. If you don’t understand that, Mrs. Gu, you should go home and study up before you speak again." Ye Qianning said with her eyes lowered, "If you don’t want our business, why are you blocking our path and preventing us from leaving? Or perhaps you don’t want to do business... you’d rather just rob us?"
"Pfft."
The Shopkeeper and the shop boys couldn’t help but laugh out loud when they heard that.
Gu Yuan shot them a cold glare, and everyone immediately fell silent.
Gao Yunyue wanted to retort, but then she realized the two of them were still standing in front of the other party’s carriage. It was an instant slap in the face. Mortified, she pulled Gu Yuan aside, muttering, "Well, we just don’t want your business anyway. Go on, hurry up and leave. Don’t block the entrance to our shop."
"Niece-in-law, that’s no way for you to speak. Miss Xiang is now my honored guest. By telling her to leave, aren’t you telling me to leave as well? Driving out an elder... is that what the Gao family taught you?" Gu Zhifeng already had a poor impression of the young lady from the Gao family.