Only Three Chances

A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with a long beard carried a basket that was covered with an old cloth and stepped into the hall of Guangjuyuan auction house, Qingfeng Prefecture.

"Who are you looking for, Sir?" A waiter was sitting at the counter in boredom.

"I'm looking for shopkeeper Zhou!" Lin Desan said while cupping his hands.

The attendant looked up. However, when he saw the middle-aged man in plain clothes, there was some disdain in his eyes. He said in a sharp and sarcastic tone, "why are you looking for our shopkeeper Zhou? Shopkeeper Zhou is very busy receiving important guests. It's impossible for him to personally receive every guest that comes to look for him."

The attendant was trying to tell Lin Deshan that only the rich and powerful could see Shopkeeper Zhou, and he was not welcomed.