After some haggling back and forth, Miss Wufu finally accepted the one hundred taels of silver from Shopkeeper Lin.
"Miss Wufu, won’t you reconsider? If the salary is not to your satisfaction, we can still negotiate," Shopkeeper Lin said as he looked at her.
Miss Wufu bent her knee in a curtsy, "Shopkeeper Lin, I currently have no intention of signing a long term contract with anyone, though having made your acquaintance, I am willing to sign a temporary agreement. My stance remains the same — if your shop has any jade that you’re unsure about and want me to help carve, you can come to me. Considering this occasion, I can give you a preferential rate for being an acquaintance."
Look at that, though she’s young, her confidence is greater than anyone else’s.
Shopkeeper Lin really didn’t know where this young lady got her self-assurance; yet the young master had instructed him to put all efforts into recruiting her.
Following the young master’s orders, he had offered a high salary to employ Miss Wufu as the carving master for Hundred Treasures Silver Building, but the lady in front of him had her own ideas and had rejected every offer, regardless of the salary.
Thirty taels a month, that was the going rate for their long-time artisans at Hundred Treasures Silver Building, and yet she was unwilling.
Hearing Miss Wufu’s response now, Shopkeeper Lin really wanted to mock her, but remembering the young master’s words, he could only suppress his frustration and smiled, "If that is so, a gentleman doesn’t force another’s hand. Just remember your words today, Miss."
Miss Wufu smiled and nodded, "Shopkeeper Lin, may I take my leave then? The day is not getting any younger, and I still need to visit Elder Shen."
"Ah, take care, Miss!" Shopkeeper Lin saw her out.
As Miss Wufu exited the elegant room and entered the courtyard leading to the front shop, her footsteps paused slightly as she glanced toward a window to her left, gave a small nod, and walked away smiling.
Inside that room, by the window sat a young man dressed in a blue long robe, who watched the retreating figure with some surprise.
Did she know he was there?
"Nan Shan, have Shopkeeper Lin bring me the jewelry of that lady who was just here," the young man instructed without turning back as he watched Miss Wufu’s figure disappear.
The servant Nan Shan replied and quickly departed. In no time, Shopkeeper Lin came in with a tray.
"Fourth Young Master," Shopkeeper Lin carefully placed the tray on the table, stood at the side with a respectful demeanor, and gazed at the young man browsing through some scrolls by the window.
The young man in the blue robe appeared to be in his late teens, with jet-black hair held simply by a jade-green hairpin.
Despite his plain attire, the young man’s aura was composed and serene, as dignified as a mountain. Shopkeeper Lin barely dared to breathe too loudly, fearing he would disturb the tranquility.
This was the most honored son of the Wen Family’s main branch — Fourth Young Master Wen Si, Wen Congrui, known as a prodigy since childhood and raised in a temple away from his family.
"Bring it here," Wen Congrui set aside his book, sat down by the table, and examined a small Jade Pendant in his hand.
"My lord, I have failed in the task you entrusted to me, I could not persuade the young lady," Shopkeeper Lin confessed all jittery with fear.
Wen Congrui carefully examined the jade ornaments on the tray, from the Jade Pendant, to the ring, to the jade bracelet, before finally picking up the hairpin.
"Never mind, talent is hard to come by. Someone as perceptive as her won’t be easily convinced by you!" Wen Congrui said calmly, admiring the cat figure on the hairpin. Xiao Qi’s beloved cat, she will surely like such a charmingly naive cat, won’t she?
Talent is hard to come by!
That such words would come from the mouth of Fourth Young Master Wen, and directed at a young girl, left Shopkeeper Lin exceedingly astonished and amazed.
To earn praise from Fourth Young Master Wen, could that girl truly possess some remarkable ability?