Chapter 3 : Money, Money, Money

The bell chimed softly as Su Hua entered the jewelry shop, the sound resonating throughout the cozy space adorned with traditional decor. Wooden counters with graceful carvings displayed an array of jewelry pieces, delicate rings, ornate bracelets, and finely crafted necklaces.

A couple of shopkeepers, dressed in simple yet elegant attire, stood behind the counters.

"Welcome!" greeted one of the staff members as Su Hua entered. Despite her attire of a simple white shirt and black pants, the staff maintained a professional smile and demeanor, struck by Su Hua's striking appearance.

"Hello, do you purchase jewelry?" Su Hua inquired.

The staff paused briefly, then replied, "Yes, we do. Do you have any jewelry you'd like to sell?"

Su Hua opened her bag, revealing the box inside. As the staff peered, they were taken aback by the assortment of stones. A magnificent diamond caught their eye from the bottom and atop the pile rested an exquisite necklace. The thought crossed their mind, 'This necklace alone could fetch a hefty price.'

"How is it?" Su Hua inquired.

The staff snapped out of her daze. "Ah, yes, please wait a moment. I will call our manager. For now, please take a seat."

Su Hua was escorted by another staff member to a private lounge. When she opened the box earlier, glimpses of its contents caught the attention of nearby customers and staff. Although brief, the sight left them surprised and astounded.

When the manager heard what happened from the staff, he immediately called their shop owner.

"What's the problem?" The shop owner just finished selling a set of jewelry to a rich couple when the manager and the staff that spoke to Su Hua came to him and recounted what happened.

"Are you sure?" The owner asked suspiciously.

The staff nodded and even specifically mentioned the necklace. The shop owner nodded and fixed himself before following the staff to the private room where Su Hua was.

When the door opened, he was surprised to see a youth in simple clothes but with an extraordinary appearance.

He has always been around people from the upper circle. The wives of these government officials and politicians were already beautiful and graceful, but now their appearance was close to zero when it comes to the youth sitting inside the lounge.

Simply sitting there with a simple white shirt and pants, the shop owner can tell this lady grew up with a golden spoon.

"I've never seen a youth as beautiful as you, miss. Pleasure to meet you." The shop owner offered a handshake. Su Hua quickly stood up and accepted it.

"My name is Su Hua."

"Chen Libai, the owner of this shop," he introduced and sat across her, examining and observing the youth. The graceful movements and her demeanor said a lot about her.

With a bright smile, Chen Libai inquired. "About the jewelry you brought, may I see them?"

Su Hua nodded and placed the box on the table between them. "You can buy what you like."

Chen Libai wore his gloves and carefully opened the box. Although the staff told him about the contents, he was still taken aback by such extravagant riches. It was almost like opening up a treasure box.

He first takes the necklace and placed it on a soft padded plate. The necklace, carefully nestled at the pinnacle of the collection within the box, emanated an ethereal allure. It was a breathtaking masterpiece, crafted with delicate precision and adorned with an array of mesmerizing stones. At its center rested a resplendent sapphire, a deep azure gem like the deep sea. Surrounding it were smaller stones, each sparkling and adding a layer of brilliance to the exquisite piece; a string of glistening emeralds, vibrant rubies pulsating with life, and diamonds that twinkled like a starlit sky.

Chen Libai was a seasoned and composed man, known for his astute appraisal of jewelry. But upon setting eyes on the necklace brought by Su Hua, an overwhelming sense of emotions swept over him.

At first, Chen Libai was left utterly speechless. His breath caught up in his throat as he stared in awe at the necklace that lay before him. A mix of excitement and nervousness coursed through him and his hands were trembling and sweat forming on his brow.

His usual composed demeanor wavered as he gazed at the radiant stones. Never had he seen, a beautiful craftsmanship. 18 different types of stones were in perfect harmony.

Despite his years of experience in the trade, the necklace still left him speechless and his jaw dropping. Even the staff and the manager standing behind him were awestruck by the necklace; never in their life had they laid eyes on such a breathtaking piece.

Chen Libai carefully picked up a magnifying glass and other tools to assess and evaluate the jewelry. Meanwhile, Su Hua was offered a cup of tea, which she sipped calmly while observing Chen Libai.

His reaction was expected. After all, that necklace was worn by an ancient princess in her world. Su Hua has it because one time, she was being chased by a demi-god sky lizard and accidentally fell into a lake and at the bottom of the lake was actually a secret realm that can only be opened by reciting a spell—which was a forgotten and secret one—but coincidentally, one of Su Hua's mentor was a descendant of this forgotten kingdom and passed down to her all the spells they know, including their language.

When Su Hua found that kingdom, it was empty and desolate, as if it was abandoned and sealed under the lake, forgotten and taken over by time. Su Hua managed to study their history, including the time period it existed which was approximately 2000 years ago. The only reason the necklace is still in good condition is solely thanks to Su Hua's space.

Su Hua looked around and noticed that many of the things were left there, as if the owners were in the middle of their work and they just vanished on the spot. Since it was empty and no one had been there for 2000 years, Su Hua simply helped herself and took what looked interesting and left before placing another seal, gatekeeping this treasure trove for herself.

If her mentor, the descendant of that kingdom, were to know what she has done, he would've jumped down from the heaven and beat this unfilial disciple of his.

After nearly an hour, Chen Libai leaned back as he exhaled deeply. He requested tea and a towel, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Miss Su Hua, this necklace is beyond perfect. Every stone is flawlessly cut, possessing impeccable clarity and color. Unfortunately, my shop isn't worthy of such a treasure and even if it were, our funds wouldn't suffice for its purchase."

Su Hua thought for a moment when Chen Libai suggested, "But there is another way, it will undoubtedly fetch a high price."

Curious, she inquired, "What other way?"

Chen Libai signaled to the manager, who momentarily left and returned with a tray with a brochure, offering it to Su Hua.

Accepting the brochure, Su Hua read the details about a specific auction house inviting sellers and buyers, showcasing items for sale along with their starting prices.

"An auction?" she repeated, her interest piqued.

Chen Libai nodded. "If you put this necklace up for auction, it could fetch quite a sum. Depending on the interest it generates, the price might even reach millions."

Millions!

Su Hua was in awe of the staggering amount. Since arriving in this world yesterday, she'd taken the opportunity to study the local economy and average monthly incomes of ordinary individuals. The highest-paying roles, like factory managers or soldiers, earned around 75 a month along with bonuses.

Half a million seemed unimaginable in comparison. It felt unreal hearing that this necklace that she stole could fetch such a price.

Having a million is akin to a modern person possessing billions.

Su Hua remained composed, she was deeply shaken but it didn't show on her face. The staff and manager however, who considered themselves in well-paying positions and openly shared their salaries when asked, were struck by the owner's valuation of the necklace! Amassing such wealth would take them several lifetimes!

If people knew that this weak-looking youth was carrying a million note worth necklace all the way here with no protection whatsoever, people would go crazy and could cause a disturbance!

"How long?"

Chen Libai estimated and replied, "The auction is set to begin in about a week."

"So, I need to stay here for a week?"

Chen Libai was intrigued. "Are you not from around here?"

Su Hua provided a vague explanation of her situation, omitting some details.

After hearing her explanation, Chen Libai cursed the Su family's selfishness, unable to fathom their willingness to sell their daughter. But he found it perplexing though, with such jewelry and riches at their disposal why were they so eager for that specific amount of money? Just a single diamond from the box could have earned them thousands.

As if discerning his thoughts, Su Hua began to improvise and make-up bullshit on the spot.

"I understand your thoughts, shop owner. But these stones and that necklace remains unknown to my family."

Chen Libai gazed at the youth reclined on the couch. The red and gold design if the sofa seemed like a throne and the figure seated upon it exuded an air of regality.

"May I ask why?"

"According to my grandmother's tales, our lineage traces back to a forgotten royal bloodline. After our kingdom fell in a war, our ancestors salvaged whatever riches they could. Over time, these jewels and luxuries sustained us, yet we refrained from relying solely on them to maintain our connection to the past. This box was a legacy passed down through generations, but it is also an insurance for our descendants. My grandmother intended to give it to my mother, but seeing my mother's greed she entrusted it to me, the least favored child, sharing all its history."

Once she finished her story, Chen Libai was in awe. It wasn't uncommon for some people to be descendants of emperors or kings, yet only a few could maintain such family treasures, reserved for times of dire need.

"Did your grandmother ever mention the name of the time period of your ancestors?"

Su Hua pondered over several kingdoms from her world. Eventually, she thought about her own kingdom. Before becoming a cultivator at the age of 16, she was a princess, the youngest of the 10, so she was fairly spoiled and pampered. But if he's asking for time period, her family existed for hundreds of years but he isn't aware what it's called sinces she was too busy cultivating and being punished by her master.

So Su Hua made-up more bullshit. Like her friend once told her, if you can't answer, just say something else.

"She really didn't mention anything to me other than the fact our kingdom fell to war. But she also explained that during the peaceful times in that era, a different kingdom from another country merged with ours, leading to a foreign trade."

An ancient and extinct dynasty! That would certainly add authenticity and value to the necklace. Chen Libai believed Su Hua's story as he observed the distinct green color of her eyes, a trait uncommon in their country unless they are of mixed race.

"I understand. Then, will you put this necklace up for auction?"

Su Hua, in the past, attended auctions but was less focused on the prices, buying whatever caught her eye. Examining the man before her, she sensed a genuine and kind-hearted nature. Chen Libai seemed trustworthy, deeply invested in the world of jewelry.

"I agree to proceed, but I'd like you to manage the necessary formalities, of course I won't ask you to do it for free. I'll share the proceeds with you as a token of gratitude for your assistance."

Chen Libai nodded and acknowledged Su Hua's proposal. "Understood. We'll securely store the necklace until the auction. Our shop will handle all the necessary paperwork, and the profit will be divided according to our agreement. However, Miss Su Hua, since you mentioned you cannot stay in B City…"

"I'll write you a letter once I've arrived at my destination."

"I understand."

"Since I can't sell the necklace, can I at least sell the others? I'm in real need of money."

Chen Libai nodded in agreement.

The necklace was carefully secured in a special box with multiple locks and safeguarded by three sets of keys. Chen Libai then proceeded to examine the remaining gemstones.

While he was astonished by the necklace's quality, he was equally amazed by the gemstones in the box. For a moment, Chen Libai felt doubtful. How did her family manage to hide and keep these stones from being sold or even stolen by their descendants?

Looking at Su Hua's face, Chen Libai shook off this doubt. It wasn't his business anyways and besides, looking at Su Hua and hearing about her grandmother, it would seem like the side of her grandmother were the honest type. It's uncommon but never impossible. And perhaps after generation to generation, some murky water managed to slip through the clear spring.

Unaware of Chen Libai's thoughts, Su Hua began to calculating her cost in her head but eventually, it disappeared, replaced by the joy of being able to spend like drinking water again. Anyways, she didn't have to worry about money, if she wants to sell more, she can just take more from her space. Besides, she's never good at keeping track of her finances.

Eventually, Chen Libai purchased two sapphires, a granite stone, and the largest diamond. In total, Su Hua received 50,000 note for these items.