Chapter 77

"Mr. Huntal, we will definitely deliver the goods to your residence on time!"

The young salesclerk leaned forward slightly, his face full of respect as he spoke.

"Hmm."

John nodded calmly and said, "Very good. After the delivery, my butler will pay the remaining balance... Be careful, don't damage the microscope!"

"Please rest assured, sir!"

The salesclerk said loudly, almost thumping his chest to guarantee it!

After a few more instructions, John got up and left. The carriage he had come in was waiting outside, so he didn't need to call for it. Behind him, the salesclerk stood at the shop entrance, watching the carriage disappear from sight. Years of work experience told him that anyone who could pay for an expensive microscope without hesitation was worth his humble respect.

However, he didn't know that the face of this esteemed guest turned as soon as the carriage had driven a short distance—his calm demeanor turned into a pained expression!

"Now Mr. Elber will have something to nag about."

After feeling the pain of parting with his money, John began to worry about the butler's nagging, which troubled him for a moment.

But looking at the order form in his hand, after a few frowns, John's expression finally calmed down: "No matter what, this is essential for future research, and I've heard that 19th-century microscopes are as exquisite as works of art, especially Zeiss products. Perhaps, if kept well, they might even appreciate in value..."

When John first saw the name Carl Zeiss today, he was truly surprised.

He had indeed heard that Zeiss had a long history, but he didn't expect it to go back to 1884. Therefore, he chose the only brand he had heard of without hesitation: after all, with such a reputation in the future, the quality of the products must be good, right?

While still feeling the pain of his recent expenditure, John stopped in front of another store.

Tonight, he was going to a ball with Pick, and his friend had invited him to lunch at his house. It was the first time visiting, so he had to buy some gifts as a courtesy. After browsing several stores, John finally picked out a few not-too-expensive but quite exquisite small gifts, but he was already quite tired.

"One day, I'll set up a supermarket!"

After placing the last gift on the carriage, John glared at the unremarkable shop behind him and muttered to himself. For someone used to shopping in supermarkets, buying things in Berlin at this time was incredibly troublesome. However, considering the poor transportation conditions and the high cost of most industrial products, this idea could only remain buried in his heart for now.

Arriving at Pick's house, he met his friend's mother and two brothers, and they had a happy lunch together. After enjoying afternoon tea, the two of them finally got into the carriage and headed for the estate where the ball was being held.

"The ball is hosted by Marquis Mans, a major mine owner who also owns a steel mill..."

In the carriage, Pick gave John a detailed introduction to the ball. In fact, the invitation was for Pick's father, who was a client of Marquis Mans's steel mill. However, he had business in Hamburg and couldn't attend, and Pick's older brother had other commitments tonight, so the opportunity was given to Pick.

"Pick, I have a question."

After listening for a while, John suddenly smiled and asked, "Since it's a ball, shouldn't we bring our dance partners? Won't it be a bit awkward for two men to go together?"

Pick chuckled and replied, "Of course not. In fact, it's precisely because we don't have dance partners that a certain type of person exists!"

"Which type?"

Hearing this, John's curiosity was piqued, and he quickly asked.

"You'll see when we get there."

With a mysterious wink, Pick grinned slyly.

Rolling his eyes, John decided not to ask further. He had already gotten to know his friend's personality a bit, knowing that Pick enjoyed teasing. The more you asked, the less he would say, only revealing the answer at the last moment. So, John decided not to waste his effort.

"The focus tonight is to meet a few entrepreneurs, otherwise, Joshua will complain again!"

While listening to Pick's chatter, John pondered his task for the evening. As the carriage wheels rolled, the carriage entered an estate and finally stopped in front of a large house. After getting out of the carriage, hearing the faint music from the entrance, John and Pick instinctively tightened their bow ties and then followed a waiter inside.

As soon as they entered the hall, a wave of heat hit them!

The hundreds of square meters of the hall were brightly lit, with the latest bamboo filament light bulbs, old kerosene lamps, and even some giant candles illuminating every corner. At least a dozen neatly dressed waiters moved through the hall, continuously serving fine wine.

Due to a slight delay on the way, John and Pick arrived a bit later than expected. Already, over a hundred guests had arrived. They were either chatting in groups, smiling and listening to the band, or enjoying the wine prepared by the hospitable host. The music, whispers, and noise combined into a wave of inexplicable excitement, hitting the two of them head-on!

"This is what a ball should look like!"

Excited, Pick couldn't help but let out a low exclamation and gave John a hard pat on the shoulder.

Though he had grown up with no worries about food and clothing, Pick still had the fantasies of a young man. His father still personally managed the family business, and as the second son, Pick rarely had the opportunity to attend such occasions.

John also felt a sense of novelty.

In New York, due to Old Huntal's aversion to such luxurious balls, he rarely attended, let alone brought John along. The small ball they had attended last time was more like a gathering of scholars in the same field, relatively dull compared to the lively atmosphere of this one.

Moreover, the two young men immediately noticed a group of fluttering butterflies in the hall!

A dozen young girls were moving around the hall, stopping to chat and laugh with the men, their cheerful laughter frequently reaching John and Pick's ears.

Pick pulled John away from the entrance, found a quiet spot to stand, and then gently tapped John's shoulder. Swallowing, he whispered, "See, I'm talking about them! They're all very pretty, right? If you find one to your liking, you can try to get to know her!"

"Oh?"

John raised an eyebrow, looking over with some curiosity.

These girls were clearly in their prime, wearing the latest fashionable long dresses in Berlin. Each one displayed their full figures and fair skin, and their long hair, neatly styled, added to their charm. Under the bright lights, their lightly made-up faces shone, attracting the attention of almost all the men.

For John, who had seen countless real and fake beauties, these girls were at most quite nice. But for the young Pick, everything before him was like a paradise, and he was already staring with wide eyes, almost drooling.

"Hmph!"

Just as John chuckled, planning to tease his friend a bit, a sound of apparent annoyance or disdain came from behind them.

Startled, the two quickly turned their heads.

At some point, a tall girl had appeared behind them, looking at them with a slight frown, as if they were two filthy vagrants. Her bright eyes, like stars in the sky, were full of disdain!

"So... so beautiful!"

At the first sight of the girl, John's heart suddenly tightened!

The girl was about fifteen or sixteen, with thick brown hair neatly braided and intricately coiled on the sides of her forehead, finally converging behind her ears. Her hair shimmered with a healthy luster under the lights, smooth and silky like silk. Her forehead, though not broad, was smooth without a single wrinkle, the hairline curving gracefully downward to meet below her lips, forming a perfect facial contour. Her long, delicate eyebrows, bright, sparkling eyes, straight, smooth nose, and full, red lips were like top-grade jewels on a white jade plate, shining with dazzling brilliance.

Perhaps for Westerners, the girl's nose was not high enough, her mouth not large enough, and her eyebrows a bit too light. But in John's eyes, this was just right!

A bit more would be too long, a bit less would be too short!

Moreover, the girl was clearly unadorned, yet her skin was not rough like that of white women. It was fine and smooth, with only a few faint freckles, as pure and white as ivory. At least in John's opinion, among the people he had seen in his life, only Emma's skin could compare.

Looking down, the girl's light blue long dress, though not overly ornate, was clearly well-made. And the key was that, while John was increasingly unimpressed by 19th-century dresses, on this girl's tall, slender figure, it looked particularly fitting. Her slim waist and high, smooth curves gave John a long-lost feeling—sexiness!

As John was momentarily stunned by the girl, she had already raised her chin proudly, looking down at the two young men with bright eyes. She coldly sniffed again and said disdainfully, "I must say, only you vulgar men would be attracted by these equally vulgar women..."

...

There will definitely be another chapter tonight, but it will be a bit late.

...

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