C22 Spending All Your Money

Xiao Nan was aware that Zhao Fei had been tailing him ever since he stepped out of his dorm. Qingfeng, ever so perceptive, had detected Zhao Fei's presence and informed Xiao Nan. Qingfeng was ready to confront him, but Xiao Nan held him back; he was curious to see what Zhao Fei was up to.

It became clear that Zhao Fei had a motive for his stealthy pursuit. He likely realized the loss he suffered from the day's sales and had come to respect Xiao Nan's knack for finding bargains. That's why he shadowed them, hoping to leverage Xiao Nan's discerning eye to stock up on goods and recoup his losses.

After all, his father was still in the dark about the family possessions Zhao Fei had undersold. If his father ever discovered the truth, Zhao Fei would be in for a world of trouble.

With a deliberate shake of his head and a look of resignation, Xiao Nan said, "I'm afraid you're in for a disappointment this time. I haven't spotted anything with real collector's value."

Zhao Fei chuckled, "I doubt you're that skilled, showing up at a night market to treasure hunt. I can't fathom your thinking."

"In truth, picking up a few trinkets for the ladies at a night market isn't a bad idea. Girls do have a fondness for these kinds of flashy baubles," Xiao Nan remarked nonchalantly, casually examining a few items.

"Pfft, you would think these street stall goods are worth something. When it comes to gifts for girls, it's all about sophistication."

Xiao Nan simply smiled in response. It was common sense that only those strapped for cash would frequent such places. The privileged youth could never grasp the thoughts of the less fortunate, nor could they understand the deep sense of contentment that comes not from the price tag, but from the heart.

Turning to the vendor, Xiao Nan inquired, "How much for this?" as he picked up a strand of glass beads.

The vendor, pleased with the potential sale, responded enthusiastically, "You've got an eye for quality! This bracelet was once worn by a consort of the Qing Dynasty. Since you seem to appreciate it so much, I'll give you a flat rate—fifty yuan."

"Fifty yuan?" Xiao Nan raised an eyebrow, feigning regret as he shook his head, "Such a shame to let this beautiful piece go for so little. But I'll take it!"

Zhao Fei caught every flicker of emotion on Xiao Nan's face, particularly the last gleam of triumph that piqued his interest. With a slight furrow of his brow, Zhao Fei didn't wait for Xiao Nan to offer the money; he snatched the bracelet and pulled out a hundred yuan, tossing it to the shopkeeper. "I'll take this bracelet—keep the change," he declared.

The shopkeeper, initially taken aback, quickly clutched the money tightly, fearing Zhao Fei might change his mind. He praised Zhao Fei's discernment, "You've got a great eye, young man. This bracelet has truly found its perfect match."

Xiao Nan watched Zhao Fei's smug expression and felt a surge of secret delight. His scheme was paying off. Zhao Fei, the type to follow others' leads, would surely mimic Xiao Nan's purchases. That meant the valuable painting Xiao Nan coveted wouldn't escape Zhao Fei's grasp either. But Xiao Nan had a countermove in mind.

If Zhao Fei aimed to block my fortune, I'd sever his first, Xiao Nan thought.

With a casual gesture, Xiao Nan pointed at the assortment of items before him. "Boss, I'll take everything here. Pack it all up," he instructed.

The shopkeeper was startled once more, eyeing Xiao Nan skeptically. Judging by Xiao Nan's attire, he didn't appear to be from a wealthy family. While Xiao Nan seemed eager to patronize the shop, the shopkeeper worried that Xiao Nan might not afford a fair price for his goods. Tentatively, he said, "Young man, it's not that I'm unwilling to sell, but these items, while not overly expensive, might exceed your budget if bundled together."

Xiao Nan grasped the shopkeeper's implication. He had never intended to buy; his interest lay elsewhere. Unconcerned with the cost, he feigned ease, "No worries. Go ahead and pack them. Money is no object for me."

The shopkeeper eyed Xiao Nan with a mix of suspicion and intrigue. Xiao Nan showed no signs of backing down. The shopkeeper knew better than to refuse a sale—the customer was king, after all, especially one so seemingly lavish. Without further ado, he began tallying the items to determine a suitable price.

"What's the meaning of this? Are all these items antiques?" Zhao Fei's brow was furrowed in bewilderment as he gazed at Xiao Nan.

Xiao Nan let out a chuckle and replied, "No, no, no. These are just flea market finds, nothing of value. I'm simply picking them up to impress those worldly girls, that's all."

The more Xiao Nan downplayed it, the more Zhao Fei's suspicions grew. No way, if there was truly something valuable among these items, Xiao Nan would be the one to profit. The little rascal, trying to pull one over on me? I refuse to believe I can't outsmart him.

The vendor, passing the bag to Xiao Nan, offered, "In light of your patronage, I'll knock the price down to five thousand yuan!"

"Five thousand?" Xiao Nan feigned shock with a gasp.

"Too much for you? Never mind then. You look like a student, after all. Tell you what, I'll give you another discount. Three thousand yuan it is!"

"Three thousand?" came another astonished outcry.

Now the vendor was thrown off balance. He was well aware of the actual value of these trinkets. Three thousand yuan could buy his entire stall, whereas these items were barely worth a thousand or so. A businessman's true test is their nerve. Clearing his throat, the vendor declared, "I can't go any lower. Any less and I'd be at a loss."

Xiao Nan gestured dismissively, "That's not what I'm getting at. It's just hard to believe such fine items could go for so cheap. You know what? You seem like a straight shooter. I'll take it all for ten thousand yuan."

Ah? The seasoned vendor was stunned by Xiao Nan's bold offer. He hadn't expected such a high bid. Ten thousand was almost too much for him to handle.

The surrounding crowd was equally astounded. Had the young man lost his mind? Spending ten thousand yuan on this junk? What was he thinking? Did he come from a family that owned a mine? Was he so rich that he had money to burn? Indeed, poverty can stifle the imagination!

"Alright, alright, alright! You're a generous one, young man. Go ahead, pick out a few more items. Anything you fancy is yours," the vendor said, brimming with excitement.

Xiao Nan dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand, saying, "No need, those items aren't worth much. I'm not really interested in them—these will do just fine!"

While reaching out to collect the packaged goods from the shopkeeper, Xiao Nan was caught off guard as Zhao Fei, who had been mulling it over, stepped in and grabbed the items first.

"I'll pay twice the price for these—I'm taking them!"