Chapter 113 - 0113 Learn Something 1_1
Facing the old woman’s desperate plea, Feng Qingxue hesitated for a moment before ultimately agreeing to this trade. She took out twenty pounds of cornflour and ten pounds of flour, exchanging them for the two chicken-blood stones, a box of pine soot ink, a book of calligraphy, and a brush pen holder from the Qing Dynasty that the old woman had offered.
The old woman felt somewhat guilty, given that these items were currently worthless.
Jewelry and fine clothes were seen as the source of capitalist corruption. Only hedonism placed importance on these items. So, the nation’s banks were only collecting gold and silver, not jade, jewelry, or antiques. These items were no longer marketable, and the only option for their owners was to take their chances on the black market. After all, there were still people in the world who appreciated and cherished these items.
Therefore, after the trade was completed, the old woman gave Feng Qingxue a small cloth bag before leaving.
Feng Qingxue waited until the woman had left before opening the bag, only to discover a meticulously crafted jade pendant inside. It was made of high-quality Hetian seed jade, exquisitely lustrous, creamy white with a texture of Sprinkle Gold Skin. Although it hadn’t reached the whiteness of mutton-fat jade, it was almost there. Half a century later, many jade merchants would sell it as mutton-fat jade.
After she had put away everything she got in the trade that day, Feng Qingxue went for a walk at the junkyard, and then visited Old Man Xu and his wife before going home.
Old Man Xu was not at home, but his wife warmly welcomed her, "Qingxue, your timing is perfect. Our old friends have brought us many valuable items. I wanted to ask you to help us exchange them for some food to celebrate the New Year. I hope we’re not bothering you too much."
"It’s not trouble at all, the friends who’ve brought you these things have given me a lot too. It’s just an exchange, everyone gets what they need."