"Have you thought this through? These pearls of yours are of good quality; they're worth far more than fifty taels, aren't they?"
Hearing such a cheap price, Li Jin's heart began to itch with temptation.
Li Jiangyu waved his hand indifferently. "Of course I know. But since I've said it, I certainly won't go back on my word."
Hearing Li Jin say this, Duoduo immediately realized that the price Li Jiangyu quoted was too low.
Duoduo shook her head. "That won't do! You risked your lives to find these. Name a new price."
Li Jiangyu had seen all kinds of people since he was a child.
They often salvaged things from the water and sold them to shops.
This was the first time he had ever met someone who complained his price was too low and actively asked to raise it.
However, coming from Duoduo's mouth, Li Jiangyu felt it was perfectly normal.
He felt Duoduo was worth befriending, so he decided to be completely honest.
"To tell you the truth, we are strangers in the capital. If we want to get rid of these things, we will definitely have to ask others for help."
"If we want to sell the other items for a good price, I would most likely have to use things like these pearls as gifts to grease the wheels."
"If that happens, I might not even get fifty taels for them."
"By quoting fifty taels now, we are actually still making a profit."
After hearing this, Duoduo looked at Li Jin.
She really didn't know much about business matters.
Seeing Duoduo's gaze, Li Jin nodded at her.
What Li Jiangyu just said made a lot of sense.
Places like the capital were a mixed bag of good and bad people.
For outsiders like Li Jiangyu and his crew, trying to sell things to shops would definitely result in them being exploited.
Although these items looked valuable, that was only the price the shops would sell them for.
More often than not, Li Jiangyu and his men wouldn't be able to sell them for much.
Thinking of this, Li Jin asked, "Which of the things here do you want to sell?"
"It just so happens that we are merchants too. If the price is right, you can sell them to us."
"This way, you can skip the middlemen and head straight back home with the silver."
"As for whether we can sell them after we buy them, we'll bear that risk ourselves. What do you think?"
Li Jiangyu fell silent.
Duoduo tugged at Li Jin's sleeve. "Teacher, let's not make things difficult for Li Jiangyu."
"I just want this bead. I don't have enough silver. Teacher, do you have any on you? Lend me some first, and I'll pay you back later!"
Li Jiangyu gritted his teeth. "I'll sell them to you!"
Li Jin raised an eyebrow. "You can think it over carefully before replying. There's no rush."
Once Li Jiangyu made a decision, he no longer hesitated.
"I already agreed on the pearls; they go to Duoduo for a total of fifty taels."
"As for the other things, three hundred taels in total. Cash on delivery!"
The items in Li Jiangyu's chests included corals and pearls, as well as some seashells and other marine products.
Besides the red coral from earlier, there were a few corals of other colors, though they weren't as large as the first one.
Just the red coral alone was worth more than that price.
"Deal! However, because we traveled in a hurry, we don't have enough silver on us."
"When we arrive in the capital, we'll have our contacts prepare the money in advance, and we'll give it all to you then. How does that sound?"
Li Jin quickly agreed.
Duoduo glanced at Li Jin. She knew for a fact that they could definitely pull out three hundred taels in banknotes.
However, since her teacher said so, he must have his reasons.
Li Jiangyu was a man who wandered the martial world and naturally understood Li Jin's intention.
"Of course. If you don't hand over the silver after disembarking, I won't hold onto these things for you."
Li Jin nodded. "Naturally."
Duoduo pinched the bead in her hand and rummaged through her purse. There was only ten taels of silver inside, which Lüdou had packed for her just in case.
Duoduo took out the silver and handed it to Li Jiangyu.
"I only have this much on me. I'll give you ten taels first. For the rest, I'll go back and ask my mother for it. Wait for me!"
"I really like this bead. Can I take it with me first?"
Li Jiangyu really liked Duoduo's straightforward nature. "You paid the silver, so it's naturally yours!"
Duoduo was thrilled. "Wait for me, I'll be right back!"
Duoduo ran outside with pattering steps. Li Jin cupped his hands at Li Jiangyu in a polite gesture and followed her.
Li Jiangyu touched those treasures with great reluctance.
Duoduo ran fast, and Li Jin only caught up to her when they reached the cabin where they were resting.
"Duoduo, there was no need for you to pay the silver to the ship boss first."
Duoduo stopped in her tracks. "Why, Teacher?"
"We are still on the ship, and the items still belong to the ship boss."
"It's better to hand over the silver after we disembark; that way, it's less likely for anything to go wrong."
"When traveling away from home, never reveal your wealth. That's a principle the elders always talk about."
"What if the ship boss gets greedy after seeing the money and decides to act against us?"
Duoduo tilted her head, pondering Li Jin's words.
At that moment, the cabin door was suddenly pulled open from the inside, and Yun Xiao stood at the doorway.
"Princess, His Highness asks you and Teacher Li to come inside and talk."
Only then did Duoduo and Li Jin realize they were standing right outside Xiao Yi's door.
Duoduo nodded at Yun Xiao and walked inside on her short little legs.
"Is something the matter?" Xiao Yi observed Duoduo and Li Jin.
From inside the room, Xiao Yi had caught fragments of Duoduo and Li Jin's conversation.
Duoduo handed the bead in her hand to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi took it, rubbed it gently, and examined it. A strange light flashed in his eyes.
Xiao Yi looked up at Duoduo. "Where did this come from?"
After handing the bead to Xiao Yi, Duoduo had been staring at him the whole time.
Duoduo saw the strange look in Xiao Yi's eyes perfectly clearly.
She stared at Xiao Yi. "Father, do you recognize this bead?"
Xiao Yi looked intently at Duoduo. "Yun Xiao, close the door."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Yun Xiao closed the door and retreated outside to guard the entrance.
"Li Jin, close the windows," Xiao Yi ordered again.
Although Li Jin didn't understand why, he did as he was told and closed the windows.
The light in the room dimmed significantly.
Xiao Yi placed the bead inside his sleeve.
Duoduo and Li Jin both looked at Xiao Yi with curious expressions, not understanding why he was doing this.
After a short while, a faint glow seeped out from Xiao Yi's sleeve.
"Huh? Is this a luminous pearl?" Li Jin exclaimed in surprise.
Duoduo's eyes widened. So, that was what a luminous pearl meant.
In a dark place, this bead would glow!
Duoduo leaned in to look inside Xiao Yi's sleeve. Sure enough, the previously dull and gray bead was now emitting a soft light.
"Father, did you know it was a luminous pearl?"
Duoduo looked at Xiao Yi with admiration. She had only known because of the golden text prompt!
Xiao Yi nodded. "I have seen them in the palace. The darker it gets, the brighter the light shines."
"These luminous pearls are very rare. The ones in the palace are all tribute items."
"However, a luminous pearl this large is uncommon."
"Duoduo, where did you get this?"
