Shen Shi actually quite likes this style of decoration.
If it were made to be exactly like the original, then it would appear too rustic.
Still, it’s the same sentiment: valuing inheritance does not mean rigid adherence.
Retaining flavor and emphasizing the essence is the correct approach.
He and Peggy walked straight inside, and immediately someone came forward to greet them.
It was a young man in a long gown, looking quite youthful, with a robust physique and a face full of smiles, exuding a feeling of warmth.
"Welcome to the Ancient Fragrance Pavilion, are you here to pawn or to find an item?"
The young man spoke not in the modern Eastern Country Language, but rather a language similar to what Peggy used, although the sentence contained a higher proportion of ancient vocabulary. Even without translation, Shen Shi could get a general sense.
"If you’re looking to pawn antiques, you’ve come to the right place. In this entire market, our Ancient Fragrance Pavilion offers the highest prices for antiques, even surpassing many antique dealers, and the pawnshop refuses no one. We accept everything from heirloom treasures to ordinary stones," this young man evidently was quite talkative.
But Shen Shi likes talkative people right now.
"Are you the owner here?" Shen Shi asked.
"You’re joking, sir. Only extraordinary people can open a shop here. I’m just an employed worker; the owner is currently participating in an auction on West Alliance Street. If there’s a treasure I’m unsure about, I’ll notify the owner to come over. By the way, you can just call me Xiaoxi." Xiaoxi warmly welcomed Shen Shi and Peggy inside.
"I’ve heard from my great-grandfather that many people want to become shop employees because, if successful, they can receive a portion of the profits from transactions." Peggy seemed to have a clear aspiration for such work.
Outside, she may be a family patriarch, but here, who is simple?
For instance, the server in front of them who calls himself "Xiaoxi" might just be a famous figure in some legion.
Not all the strong persons in human civilization are here, but those who are here must be strong persons.
Even if they’re not now, as long as they survive, they will be in the future.
This is why Peggy is so enthusiastic towards Shen Shi. It’s not particularly towards Shen Shi; it’s that everyone here deserves enthusiasm.
"If the lady wants to find work, maybe she could inquire with the owner later. As far as I know, the owner has four shops here, is very powerful, and is quite short on staff." Xiaoxi seemed to have overheard Peggy, which wasn’t surprising.
From these words, he guessed that they were probably newcomers to the market.
His mind slightly eased upon this, but not visibly.
After all, most of these newcomers are focused on experiencing and investigating the place. They are typically people with strength and status, not likely to make large transactions right away.
"If that’s truly the case, then I must strive for it," Peggy said boldly with a smile. It was evident she had an idea in mind.
Shen Shi remained silent beside her, quietly analyzing and feeling the market’s style.
Later, they were led into a side room.
From the outside, it seemed small, but upon entering, it suddenly turned out to be luxurious.
All the decorations were modern precious wood, with a traditional charm, and in the center was a redwood octagonal table. Xiaoxi sat on the other side of the table, slightly raising his hand to Shen Shi, "Please, sir."
He could see that the gentleman in front was the one genuinely interested in the transaction.
Even though he didn’t expect the opposite party to have any exceptional treasures, as he said, the pawnshop takes all comers.
Even if it’s a stone from the Earth Star Period, he’d accept it.
It’s just unless there are enough of them, he won’t pay for it.
Shen Shi squinted his eyes slightly.
His personal space was still filled with plenty of "antiques," but as he initially intended to take out an "ancient book" to test the waters, he suddenly changed his mind.
With a swipe of his hand.
A jade pendant suddenly appeared in front of him.
A very ordinary statue of Guanyin.
He’s always had the habit of wearing a statue of Guanyin, though it’s not out of superstition; it’s just that his father bought him one for a few thousand yuan when he was young, and it’d be a pity not to wear it. Later, he got used to wearing it.
Though in the black market of the Future Line No. 1, he traded such a statue of Guanyin as well, but it wasn’t worth much due to the lack of cultural content.
This could be considered an antique that no one could deny.
Xiaoxi seemed somewhat surprised to see the statue of Guanyin in front of him.
"A statue of Guanyin, carved since three thousand thirty-six years ago, indeed an Earth Star period antique." Xiaoxi extended his hand to stroke it, seeming to feel the texture, "But, unfortunately, the material is quite ordinary, it was carved by automated machinery, with evident mechanical marks. If it were hand-carved or nurtured by people three thousand years ago, the value would increase tenfold, or if one could find its first owner’s pheromones, confirm the owner’s identity, then the value would be unpredictable."
His hands slightly lifted, causing the jade pendant to enlarge several times.
Everyone could clearly see that the jade pendant surface had evident orderly knife marks.
So orderly, it was clearly machine-carved.