Chapter 14: My Surname is Li

When Liu Yan saw Su Yifan stop in his tracks, she asked, “What is it? Did you spot something interesting?”

As soon as she spoke, she followed Su Yifan’s gaze and quickly noticed a purple clay teapot displayed on a nearby stall.

“Don’t say anything later. Just let me handle it,” Su Yifan instructed her.

He then walked toward the stall. Though Liu Yan had no idea what Su Yifan was up to, she obediently followed.

Meanwhile, the stall owner noticed the two young people approaching and began calculating how best to swindle these naïve customers.

Su Yifan squatted down in front of the stall, picked up a teacup, and asked, “Boss, how much is this cup?”

A true amateur, he thought. Not even looking, just asking for the price.

The stall owner was secretly delighted and replied with a grin, “Oh my, young man, you have an eye for quality. You’ve chosen the most valuable item here at a glance. Let me tell you, this cup was once used by Emperor Qianlong himself. Since fate has brought us together, I’ll give you the lowest price—three million.”

“Three million?” Su Yifan shook his head, set the cup down, and stood up. “If it’s worth that much, you’d better keep it for yourself.”

He turned to leave.

The stall owner panicked and hurriedly waved his hand. “Hey, hey, young man, don’t rush off! Let’s talk—if the price isn’t right, we can negotiate.”

Witnessing this, Liu Yan glanced at Su Yifan and caught him secretly smiling.

Seriously? Is he really this cunning?

Su Yifan ignored her, turned back to the stall owner, and lowered his voice. “Boss, to be honest, my family’s in this business too. Today, I’m just looking to pick up a few items to stock our shop.”

The stall owner eyed Su Yifan closely. “You’re in the business as well? But how come I’ve never seen you before? I know everyone in this area who deals antiques.”

Liu Yan scoffed inwardly. “See, now you’ve messed it up!”

Despite her thoughts, she kept silent and watched.

Su Yifan hadn’t expected the stall owner to be so well-informed, but inspiration struck and he replied, “Our store is newly opened.”

“Newly opened?” The stall owner’s eyes lit up as something came to mind. “Oh, I remember now! There’s a new antique shop not far from here, right? That’s your family’s store?”

Liu Yan’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Is he actually pulling this off?

Su Yifan nodded eagerly. “Yes, that’s the one. The shop’s just opened and we don’t have enough inventory, so I’m here to buy a few things.”

He shot the stall owner a meaningful glance.

The stall owner understood and lowered his voice. “Since we’re in the same trade, I won’t haggle. Take the cup for a thousand.”

A thousand? Liu Yan was stunned.

Wasn’t it just three million moments ago? And now it’s a thousand?

Su Yifan was secretly pleased, but kept a hesitant expression.

The stall owner frowned, seeing Su Yifan still wavering. “Young man, you’ve got to let me make a little profit at least.”

Most of the items on the stall had been acquired last week. The cup was a quality piece, unrecognizable to most, and had cost him twenty apiece.

Su Yifan’s mood improved. “Boss, if I take a few more, will you give me a better price?”

“A few more?” The stall owner considered. He hadn’t made a sale in nearly a week. If he didn’t seize the chance now, who knew when the next would come?

After deliberation, he gestured eight with his fingers. “Eight hundred, lowest. Can't go any lower.”

Su Yifan, seeing the owner’s decisiveness, acted equally straightforward. “Alright, eight hundred it is! I’ll take this one, that one, and this…”

In addition to the cup, Su Yifan casually selected several pieces, including the purple clay teapot.

Liu Yan remained silent throughout. Only now did she realize Su Yifan’s true intention.

She hadn’t expected him to be so clever. The stall owner was practically led by the nose.

The stall owner noticed that among Su Yifan’s selected items was the teapot he’d bought a few days ago for a hundred.

Just as Su Yifan was about to pick up the teapot, the stall owner quickly said, “Wait a moment.”

Su Yifan’s hand hovered, just shy of grabbing it, but he withdrew.

Liu Yan grew anxious. What’s happening? Has he been found out?

Su Yifan remained composed and smiled. “Boss, what’s the meaning of this? Didn’t we agree on a price?”

The stall owner looked troubled. “Young man, you don’t understand. I paid a high price for the teapot. I can’t let you have it for eight hundred.”

Just when Liu Yan thought Su Yifan was out of tricks, he suddenly placed all the antiques he’d picked back onto the stall.

“What’s he doing?” Liu Yan wondered.

At that moment, Su Yifan sighed. “Since you’re not sincere, let’s forget the deal. I was hoping for a pleasant partnership and to return in the future, but I’ll have to look elsewhere now.”

He made to stand.

The stall owner had intended to get Su Yifan to raise his offer, but hearing these words, he gritted his teeth. “Wait, young man.”

“What is it? Didn’t you decide not to do business?” Su Yifan said coolly.

The stall owner sighed inwardly, then forced a smile. “No need for such words, young man. I’ll sell—eight hundred, just as agreed.”

He handed the teapot to Su Yifan.

Liu Yan’s lips twitched.

She was genuinely impressed now. This guy had a knack for reading people.

With the items in hand, Su Yifan stood and urged Liu Yan, “Why are you standing there? Hurry and pay the boss!”

“Oh, right,” Liu Yan replied, glancing at the goods—five items, totaling four thousand. She took four thousand from her bag and handed it over.

“Boss, it’s been a pleasure. We’ll come again next time,” Su Yifan said with a smile.

The stall owner, too busy counting the money, replied, “Yes, yes, looking forward to it!”

Su Yifan signaled Liu Yan to leave quickly.

She nodded, and the two walked away at a brisk pace.

When they’d gone seven or eight meters, the stall owner looked up and called, “Hey, young man, what’s your surname?”

“My surname is Li!” Su Yifan and Liu Yan were already more than ten meters away.

The stall owner chuckled, “So you’re Boss Li,” and started counting his money again, licking his thumb for accuracy.

But suddenly, he froze.

Wait! The owner of that new antique shop isn’t Li—it’s Zhou.

He jumped up and looked frantically in their direction, but only saw a sea of people ahead…

…