Chapter 32: Foreign Object
Just as Li Ang had anticipated, the next morning a new visitor sought an audience at the entrance of Security Hall.
Every day, numerous river and sea merchants passed through Yizhou City. These people spent lavishly and, to foster connections, brought gifts such as pearls, coral, conch, or, more modestly, the Four Treasures of the Study and household porcelain.
Even Li Ang had come to witness what the upper society deemed "elegant bribery."
The gift-givers would present exquisitely crafted, nearly genuine-looking counterfeit items.
Nominal value of these counterfeits might be only five, ten, or twenty strings of coins but, if taken to the recommended pawnshop for pawning, they could be sold at the price of genuine items for hundreds of strings of coins.
Essentially, it was still gift-giving, just without direct cash transactions, making verification harder and sounding more "cultured."
"One could only say, what has already happened will happen again. What has already been done, will be done again."
Li Ang complained, "Even the elaborate charades of gift-giving are a time-honored tradition."
Just like yesterday, he declined all gifts that were even slightly expensive—his house simply couldn’t accommodate more, with enough stacks of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to last for over a decade.
"My rouge, my rouge..."
Chai Cuiqiao wasn’t listening to Li Ang; she propped her chin on the table, pursed her lips, and sadly watched as a whole box of rouges and powders from Jinxiu Hall was carried away by servants.
"Why are you always fixated on your rouge?"