The people present were all taken aback.
Bai Daoyan couldn’t help but laugh.
He gently tapped the little one’s nose.
"You little clever ghost."
The group called him Grandpa Bai because the fourth son often dealt with people in business settings.
Calling him the fourth son seemed too formal.
So, most merchants respectfully called him Grandpa Bai.
This not only showed respect but also indicated Bai Daoyan’s status.
The housekeeper gave a dry laugh, looking at Bai Daoyan.
Bai Daoyan nodded, "What are you standing around for? Listen to my sister."
Only then did the housekeeper nod rapidly and smile apologetically, "Master Zhi, please come in!"
Bai Zhi’er contentedly ate a sugar-coated hawthorn.
The thin, crunchy sugar shell cracked with a crisp sound in her little mouth.
Bai Daoyan’s antique shop fully demonstrated his substantial wealth.
Not only was the shop large, as vast as four stores combined.
But it was also divided into antique sections.
There were paintings, jade, porcelain, gold, and silver.
The four corners of the ceiling each held a carved Pixiu.
In the center of the shop was a pond with a golden toad standing in it.
The water flowed gently, symbolizing continuous wealth.
Even though Bai Zhi’er had seen countless treasures, she was dazzled by the array of valuables before her.
Bai Daoyan set her down and said with a smile, "Tomorrow is the grand opening, sister, go take a look around, whatever you like, just take it with you."
"Fourth Brother has never given you a meeting gift, consider this a make-up."
Bai Zhi’er trotted around with her little feet, her big, bright black eyes blinking as she toured the shop.
The white glazed porcelain was reflective, with a gentle luster.
They reflected her chubby little face!
"Wow~ Fourth Brother, did you spend a lot of money on these things?"
Bai Daoyan sat nearby, exuding a gentle and refined demeanor, sipping tea delicately.
Upon hearing this, he just smiled, "All these together, just a mere thousand gold taels."
Just then, the accountant stepped up, asking Bai Daoyan to check the inventory and recent accounts in the back warehouse.
Bai Daoyan stood up and instructed the housekeeper, "Zhang Ji, give Zhi’er an introduction, whatever she fancies, wrap it up for her."
The housekeeper quickly took the order.
Bai Daoyan patted Bai Zhi’er’s little head, "Brother will be right back."
After he left, Zhang Ji watched Bai Zhi’er lift her large eyes, gazing at a pink glaze porcelain vase.
Her little hands stroked it twice, and then gently tapped it.
It seemed as if she was quite interested.
He hastily said to please, "Master Zhi has a good eye; this pink glaze was personally bought by this old servant in Yanzhou."
"It’s said to have been the cherished item of a favored concubine from the former dynasty two hundred years ago, previously collected by a wealthy merchant."
"This old servant persuaded and talked a lot to finally settle on a price of 600 taels."
Bai Zhi’er turned her head, curiosity glowing on her round little face.
"Did you buy all these?"
Zhang Ji nodded repeatedly, "Exactly."
Bai Zhi’er’s clear, dark eyes seemed like they were full of stars from the night sky.
She looked at Zhang Ji, "The reason Fourth Brother asks you to source goods, is it because you’re an expert?"
Hearing this, Zhang Ji smugly pursed the corners of his lips.
He feigned modesty on the surface.
"I’m too modest to claim expert, but three generations of this old servant’s family have traded in jade."
"Whether real or fake, this old servant sometimes doesn’t even need to touch, one look is enough to tell."
Bai Zhi’er’s little mouth formed a surprised "O", in her childlike voice, "That’s so amazing!"
She pointed at the pink glaze, "Is this real?"
"Of course, it’s real; in Grandpa Bai’s antique shop, there would never be any forgery, nor would this old servant buy any fake goods inside, otherwise, it would betray Grandpa Bai’s trust, wouldn’t it?"