Chapter 4

Before Wang Jinyuan could recover from his shock, Fang Jifan, as if he had discovered a new continent, pointed at the table and chairs and said, "What about these?"

"Good, they are made of rosewood, clearly the work of a master craftsman. Although they have some age to them, there are still many people in the market who love to collect such items..."

"How much silver?"

"This set?"

Fang Jifan said excitedly, "More than that, come, come, let's go and see. Our Fang family has many good things, come, come, come."

He grabbed Wang Jinyuan's arm and left the living room.

Deng Jian happened to be bringing in tea and almost collided with Fang Jifan. Fang Jifan said, "Little Deng, come, lead this person around and show him our house."

Wang Jinyuan felt like he was going to go crazy.

What a wide-eyed experience, this wastrel is planning to sell the entire Fang family. Is he that short of silver? Could it be that he lost money gambling, or...

He didn't have time to think more as he was dragged by Fang Jifan to start 'appreciating' each room.

"This is the Autumn Mountain painting, very valuable, it might cost three hundred taels."

"This... there are so many pieces of rosewood furniture, young master, this bed is extraordinary, clearly the work of a skilled craftsman. Look at these joints, they fit perfectly. The entire set would probably cost no less than one hundred and fifty taels of silver..."

Deng Jian was dumbfounded, Young Master, you're even selling the bed...

Fang Jifan suddenly remembered, right, there's also the study...

He dragged Wang Jinyuan directly to the study. Wang Jinyuan's eyes lit up as he couldn't take his gaze off the bookshelf in the study.

The bookshelf was filled with various bronze artifacts and blue-and-white vases. Wang Jinyuan, who came from a pawnshop, had some knowledge. He stepped forward excitedly, holding a blue-and-white vase and said, "This is a Song dynasty Ru kiln sky-blue glaze tripod... Oh, let me see..."

"Stop looking." Fang Jifan pulled him back, "They are all genuine. Does the Fang family display fakes? Tell me the price."

Wang Jinyuan, dazzled, said, "If these are all genuine... I fear... I fear that including the previous land, paintings, and furniture, it would... it would..." He swallowed hard, "It would sell for at least 110,000 taels of silver. There are many rare treasures here, things that can't even be bought in the market, young master... really... really..."

"Young Master..." Fang Jifan heard a loud cry. He saw Deng Jian fall to the ground, hugging his legs, and shouted, "Young Master, no! Young Master, selling the tables, chairs, and bed, where will Young Master and the Duke sleep in the future? These are all the master's cherished items. The Duke carefully wipes them every day. They are family heirlooms, treasures passed down through generations..."

Fang Jifan had long been fed up with Deng Jian. In the past, he complained that he wasn't ruthless enough, and as soon as he became a bit normal, he would inform others to come and give him acupuncture. Now that this young master has returned to his wastrel ways, what are you crying for!

Fang Jifan pointed at Deng Jian and said, "How much is this worth?"

"Ah..." Wang Jinyuan was stunned for a long time.

Fang Jifan gritted his teeth and said, "I mean this guy, do the pawnshops take people, and how much can he be sold for?"

Wang Jinyuan, being a professional, looked at the rolling Deng Jian on the ground, then picked up his big belly and said with a smile, "He's still young, but his skin is a bit rough. Ordinary households probably wouldn't take him; he's too thin and weak, so he wouldn't be useful for carrying or odd jobs. This... besides eating, he's not really good for anything. Not worth much, not worth much, at most three taels of silver."

Fang Jifan immediately showed a regretful look. Only three taels of silver? Forget it, this young master is a man of great deeds, selling him for three taels of silver isn't worth it. I'll keep him for now.

He quickly smiled again, "Look, is there anything else valuable? Don't be shy, tell me, young master."

Wang Jinyuan was already scared. He actually wanted to back out. Although this deal could be very profitable, he had never seen such a wastrel. He even wondered if this wastrel was playing a trick.

But Fang Jifan's next words dispelled his doubts: "We can discuss the price. When it's roughly agreed upon, we'll call people to move the items. Tomorrow, I'll have the officials from the capital come to witness and sign the contract. Prepare the silver. I know it's a large sum, so take your time, no rush."

Wang Jinyuan sighed with relief and awkwardly smiled, "Young master, you are truly... truly... truly..." The usually smooth-talking man found it hard to find the right words, finally managing to say, "A rare person of true character."

Fang Jifan smiled, playing with his rosewood fan, but inside he sighed. Well, the wastrel reputation is solidified. If I weren't a wastrel, I would feel some moral burden selling the family's assets. Now, I feel very light.

After sending off Wang Jinyuan, the household manager, accountant, and Deng Jian all knelt in the hall, wailing.

"Young Master, think thrice."

"Young Master's illness has just recovered, we are overjoyed, but..."

Fang Jifan sighed inside, feeling some sympathy for them. These people truly cared for him, and he shouldn't make them so anxious. But just as he felt sympathetic, he saw the acupuncture doctor peeking outside.

Fang Jifan felt a chill at the sight of the doctor with the goatee. He slammed his hand on the desk and shouted at him, "What are you looking at?"

The doctor awkwardly smiled, "I was thinking... Young Master has just recovered from a serious illness, I fear it might recur, so..."

Fang Jifan felt a headache coming on. The memory of the needles in the back of his head resurfaced. He took a deep breath, MLGB, are you trying to stop me from being a good person?

Without hesitation, he picked up the rosewood fan and threw it at the doctor.

It hit the doctor's forehead right on.

The doctor touched his head, feeling some pain, and tears began to fall.

Fang Jifan was startled. He had thrown it casually to show he was 'normal,' but now he felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Why are you crying?"

The doctor wiped his tears, feeling deeply moved, "No need for an examination today. Young Master's illness has recovered very well, very well... I am deeply grateful to the Duke for taking me in and treating me well. Now that I can cure Young Master, it is a great fortune. Good, good, good, the heavens have eyes, and the Fang family ancestors have virtue..."

Fang Jifan's eyes widened.

He thought, if the Fang family ancestors really had spirits, they would probably strangle this Mongolian doctor tonight.

The news of the recovery of the Fang family's young master became a hot topic among the neighbors.

Across the street was a tavern. The tavern owner, who was always busy with his abacus, couldn't help but talk about it with the customers.

"Really recovered, no doubt about it. Doctor Zeng is truly a miraculous healer. Really, really, do you think I would lie? Don't believe me? Fine, I'll tell you, yesterday, the pawnshop owner Wang Dong came to visit. Guess what? The young master of the Fang family is selling land. Not just land, but everything valuable in the house. Only our young master of the Fang family could do such a thing. You don't know, early in the morning, I saw the scribe from the capital accompany Wang Dong to the Fang family to witness the signing. They say it's all signed and sealed, and the young master was very happy. When they left, the young master personally saw them off, waving and shouting, 'Remember to come again if you see anything else you like.' The usually thick-skinned Wang Dong and the witness were so shocked, they felt ashamed and embarrassed, as if they had no face to show."

The customers listened in amazement. Those who knew the details nodded, "That's right, he must be better. Doctor Zeng is a divine healer."

"Isn't that so? Doctor Zeng is now walking with his head held high, looking very proud when he enters and exits the Fang family."

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