Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Liu Bingkun from Treasure Pavilion stayed still as a mountain in his private room. He absolutely did not believe that anyone in Panyang City surpassed his skill as a carver, except for Huo Feng. No one else in the city could compete with him, so he did not go out at all.

Xiao Nanyan smiled at Wei Lan. She said, “After today’s competition ends, you will become the new star of jade carving in Panyang City.”

“I hope so. Then I can earn more silver.” After all, in ancient times, having money in hand kept the heart calm.

“You still worry about silver?” Xiao Nanyan asked. She did not expect Wei Lan to care about saving money, since Wei Lan already had wealth.

“She earned her money with her own skills,” Wei Lan replied with a smile. “I also want to earn more money with my own abilities.”

Xiao Nanyan nodded. Indeed, with Wei Lan’s talent, if she became a caged bird, her skills would go to waste.

“True, who doesn’t love silver?” Xiao Nanyan laughed. On this point, she and Wei Lan shared the same view completely.

While the two talked, a servant already brought the tray back to the first floor.

On the first floor’s stage, the chubby shopkeeper looked at the crowd cheerfully. He bowed to them and said, “Yuya Pavilion sets the starting price for this landscape carved ornament at five hundred taels of silver. Those interested can now bid.”

In the crowd on the first floor, Ying Niang from the eastern market brought an assistant to watch the excitement. She was a carver too, but her techniques fell far short of the renowned masters, so she only did business in the eastern market.

“Boss, how much do you think this item will sell for?” the assistant asked.

“Jasper isn’t valuable,” Ying Niang replied. “But the carver’s technique is truly exceptional. It might sell for over a thousand taels.”

“What? We threw away so much jasper as scrap material, and it can sell for that much silver?” the assistant exclaimed.

“Only a top-tier carver can remove all the black spots inside,” Ying Niang said quietly to her assistant. “Not just anyone can do it.” They came with a learning mindset, since even standing tickets cost one hundred wen per person.

On the first floor, Master Li wanted to bid, but Young Master Zhou in the private room next to Wei Lan’s acted faster.

“One thousand taels,” Young Master Zhou’s servant called out from outside the door.

The round-faced shopkeeper smiled and said, “Young Master Zhou bids one thousand taels. Is there a higher bid?”

“One thousand five hundred taels!” Young Master Feng, across from Wei Lan’s room on the second floor, raised the bid by five hundred taels. Before the shopkeeper below could speak, another bid came.

This time, a merchant from out of town had his servant shout loudly, “Our master bids three thousand taels!”

Young Master Zhou felt furious. He loved the carved patterns on the ornament. Except for the jasper’s low value, it had no flaws.

“Five thousand taels!” Young Master Zhou’s servant called out the price. The scene quieted down, as jasper was indeed not valuable, and five thousand taels was no small sum.

After he placed the bid, Moonlight Tower fell silent. Wei Lan had no reputation, and though her craftsmanship was top-notch, a jasper ornament reaching this price seemed extravagant.

The round-faced shopkeeper paused for a moment, then spoke cheerfully again. “Young Master Zhou bids five thousand taels. Does anyone offer higher?”

Young Master Feng on the second floor hesitated. Since Qing Lan, the carver, had no fame, he did not raise the bid further. He liked the item, but the price felt too high.

Seeing no one speak, the shopkeeper smiled and said, “Good, five thousand taels seals the deal. After payment, we will start auctioning the next item.”

Young Master Zhou immediately sent his servant to pay with silver notes. Xiao Nanyan sent Qi Jin to collect the money and pay Moonlight Tower’s ten percent commission, which amounted to five hundred taels. Even after the commission, they earned a good amount.

Wei Lan never expected someone to pay this price for her jasper ornament when she had no fame. Five thousand taels equaled five million.

Soon, the chubby shopkeeper on the first floor brought out Yuya Pavilion’s second auction item. It was a landscape and bird jade plaque carved by Wei Lan, also hollowed out, with even finer detail than the previous landscape ornament.

“The second auction item from Yuya Pavilion is a jasper-carved landscape plaque, also hollow-carved,” the shopkeeper said. “Take it down for everyone to see.”

A servant carried a wooden tray with a palm-sized hollow landscape plaque. One glance captivated the onlookers. The craftsmanship was so fine that the landscape seemed to stand before their eyes. After removing the black spots, the jasper’s carved landscape looked exceptionally beautiful.

The servant brought the tray down for the crowd to view, and discussions arose again.

“This small plaque can be hollow-carved? How much effort did that take?” someone said.

“Exactly, and notice, the carver Yuya Pavilion partnered with must be very composed,” another added. “If I carved jasper full of black spots, I’d probably smash the jade in frustration.”

“Indeed, it must be a seasoned, steady master,” someone agreed.

“I think so too,” another said.

Jade carving tested one’s patience. Impulsive people could not do it, as an unsteady mind might ruin the jade.

Master Li on the first floor stared at the plaque for a long time. He loved it. He regretted missing the earlier jade ornament, and now he felt he had to win this plaque, or he wouldn’t sleep well.

The plaque only stayed briefly before the servants took it to the second floor. Huo Feng, skeptical, left his room with Boss Wu to look.

Huo Feng stared at the landscape plaque, nearly grinding his teeth. “Impossible. Yuya Pavilion must be cheating for attention. Can one person really achieve this technique?”

“No need to rush,” Boss Wu said with a smile. “Isn’t there a competition later? If Qing Lan’s skills are so great, let her prove it.”

“True, the competition requires live carving,” Huo Feng said, calming slightly. “If she didn’t carve these, she’ll embarrass herself.” He followed Boss Wu back to their room.

At that moment, Panyang City’s lord, Lu Feng, grew curious about Wei Lan’s carved pieces. A jasper landscape ornament, carved by an unknown carver, shouldn’t sell for five thousand taels. He wanted to see what made Qing Lan special.

As Lu Feng stepped out, a servant brought the tray over and stopped before him, letting him see the plaque clearly.

Lu Feng looked at the plaque, speechless for a long time. The jade’s smooth lines were remarkable, but the uniform hollow carvings shocked him. Most importantly, the entire plaque was hollow-carved. What patience and skill did this carver have?

“This… Yuya Pavilion truly produces talent,” Lu Feng said. “But who is this Qing Lan?”

“City Lord, could it be a reclusive master?” his confidant suggested. “To carve something like this, the carver must be at least in their forties, right?”

Lu Feng nodded. “Likely so. I wonder how Xiao Nanyan convinced such a master to come out.”

Meanwhile, Wei Lan sat in her private room, eating snacks and waiting for the bidding.

Soon, the servant circled the floor and returned the tray to the first floor.

The chubby shopkeeper smiled and said, “Everyone, Yuya Pavilion sets the starting price for this hollow-carved jade plaque at three hundred taels. You may now bid.”

After the shopkeeper spoke, a gong rang behind him. Master Li on the first floor started bidding.

“One thousand taels,” he called.

“One thousand five hundred taels,” another bid came.

The crowd looked closely. The bidder was the city lord’s servant. Discussions erupted.

“Look, the city lord is bidding!” someone said.

“The city lord never bids,” another noted. “This Qing Lan is impressive to catch his eye.”

“This is interesting. Panyang City may no longer belong to just Liu Bingkun and Huo Feng,” someone added.

The crowd loved the drama. After the city lord bid, the room quieted briefly, as people gave him some respect. But out-of-town merchants showed no such courtesy and continued bidding.

“Two thousand taels,” one called.

Young Master Zhou, hearing someone outbid the city lord, quickly added, “Three thousand taels.”

Young Master Feng, opposite him, saw Zhou trying to buy the plaque and had his servant raise the price to four thousand taels.

Master Li on the first floor couldn’t sit still. If this continued, he’d miss out again. He gritted his teeth, thinking he’d buy this one he loved, even if it meant buying fewer jade carvings this year. “Five thousand taels!” he shouted.

The chubby shopkeeper beamed and said, “Master Li bids five thousand taels for this jasper plaque. Any higher bids?”

Moonlight Tower fell silent. A mere jasper plaque, without the carver’s exquisite skill, would never reach this price. Wei Lan’s craftsmanship turned scrap jasper into something worth a thousand times more.

“Good, five thousand taels seals the deal,” the shopkeeper said. “Master Li, pay the silver, and the plaque is yours.”

Master Li immediately sent someone to deliver the silver to Qi Jin, then went downstairs to claim the plaque.

Qi Jin paid Moonlight Tower’s ten percent commission, five hundred taels, as usual.

Yuya Pavilion’s third auction item was another hollow-carved plaque by Wei Lan, this time an animal design. It depicted a spirited horse with a playful monkey on its back, symbolizing “immediate nobility.”

This plaque sparked a frenzy, and Young Master Zhou won it for six thousand taels. Its craftsmanship matched the earlier landscape plaque, but its auspicious meaning drew even more bidders.

In the end, Wei Lan’s three carved pieces sold for sixteen thousand taels total. After paying Moonlight Tower’s sixteen hundred taels commission and subtracting the six hundred taels Xiao Nanyan and Wei Lan spent on the jade, Xiao Nanyan netted thirteen thousand eight hundred taels.

Not being stingy, Xiao Nanyan wanted to secure Wei Lan for long-term cooperation. She took five thousand taels from the silver notes Qi Jin handed her and pushed them to Wei Lan.

“This is yours,” Xiao Nanyan said with a smile. “Here’s to happy cooperation.”

“No way,” Wei Lan replied. “I already sold you the jade, and you paid me. Even if you sell them for more now, it has nothing to do with me.”

“Back then, you had no reputation, so I paid a standard price,” Xiao Nanyan said. “But now, your carvings sold for more because of your skill. I must give you the extra silver. We’re in this for the long haul, so take it to ease my mind.”

Xiao Nanyan smiled and continued, “I guarantee, after this competition, many jade shops will offer you deals. Please remember our agreement.”

“Naturally,” Wei Lan said. “Since I promised you, I’ll prioritize Yuya Pavilion if I sell jade carvings. You know my true identity, so rest assured, I won’t work with other jade shops.” Xiao Nanyan was the first to buy her jade, and Wei Lan remembered that kindness. Besides, selling to Xiao Nanyan was the same as selling to anyone else, and Xiao Nanyan knew her true identity.

“Then take the silver notes to ease my mind,” Xiao Nanyan said, pushing the five thousand taels again.

Seeing her insistence, Wei Lan thought it over and accepted. Xiao Nanyan still earned eight thousand eight hundred taels after giving her five thousand.

Soon, the next round of bidding began, lasting until nearly noon.

Xiao Nanyan had food brought up, and they ate. The real competition was about to start.

Except for Xiao Nanyan, most others ordered Moonlight Tower’s dishes. Those with standing tickets either brought dry rations or planned to eat cheaply outside after the event, as Moonlight Tower’s food was expensive and impractical for ordinary people.

“Eat more,” Xiao Nanyan said to Wei Lan. “This afternoon, you carvers will work on jade. The time is short, so it’s a simple jade plaque carving, from noon to dusk, testing who carves the best and most complete plaque.”

Wei Lan thought it over. The time, roughly from noon to seven in the evening, was tight. But she felt confident. Carving a jade plaque was no problem for her.

“Good, I’ll do my best,” Wei Lan replied.

Soon, Moonlight Tower’s servants began setting up on the first floor. They removed the chubby shopkeeper’s speaking platform, leaving a large empty space. Servants brought in several spinning wheels, along with tools like bow drills and jade-polishing sand. They prepared ten sets, meaning ten carvers would compete this year.

At that moment, a group entered Moonlight Tower. One of the second-floor private rooms was empty, clearly reserved for them.

A servant led the group to the second floor. Wei Lan glanced at them, finding them familiar but paying little attention.

On the first floor, the chubby shopkeeper spoke warmly. “Thank you all for your support. Today’s jade auctions have ended. Now, let the ten competing carvers enter. They are Liu Bingkun from Treasure Pavilion, Huo Feng from Pearl Jade Tower, Zhou Fangdu from Flying Feather Pavilion, Qing Lan from Yuya Pavilion…”

In past years, all eyes focused on Liu Bingkun and Huo Feng. But this year, everyone felt curious about Qing Lan, eager to see her true face.

Wei Lan glanced at Xiao Nanyan. “I’m going down,” she said.

“Hmm, I’ll wait here for you,” Xiao Nanyan replied. She trusted Wei Lan’s skills, having seen her carve jade, and felt no worry.

Wei Lan pulled her cloak’s hood back up, covering most of her face, and left the private room. She walked to the first floor, and murmurs rose from the crowd.

“Look, is that masked weirdo Qing Lan?” someone said.

“Is it a man or a woman?” another asked.

“No idea, the cloak hides everything,” someone replied.

Liu Bingkun and Huo Feng had already gone down and stood together, noticing Wei Lan as she descended.

“What do you think?” Liu Bingkun asked.

“Playing mysterious,” Huo Feng said. “Just a clown. Brother Liu, it’s time we teach them a lesson.” Seeing Qing Lan’s attire, Huo Feng grew certain the jade carvings weren’t her work alone. Yuya Pavilion likely hired multiple carvers for their best parts to create such perfect pieces.

“Hmph, I think so too,” Liu Bingkun said, stroking his beard. “Of these ten, I only take you seriously.”

On the second floor, Chen Zhou, who had just sat in a private room, noticed the oddly dressed Wei Lan. “Who’s that in the cloak?” he asked.

“Young Master, that’s a new carver from Yuya Pavilion named Qing Lan,” Su Er replied quickly. “I asked around. She made a big splash today. A jasper plaque sold for six thousand taels.”

“Jasper? Isn’t that full of black spots and worthless?” Chen Zhou asked.

“They say Qing Lan removed all the black spots and used hollow carving,” Su Er said. “People talk about her like she’s a legend.”

“Really? Then I’ll take a good look,” Chen Zhou said, fanning himself twice, his eyes on the cloaked Qing Lan.

The Lu Mansion had reversed its decline, stabilizing its businesses over the past year, outshining the Chen family. The Chen family had no jade shops, but since Great Zhou people loved jade, Chen Zhou wanted to surpass the Lu family through jade business.

He came to recruit new carvers to work for him. Famous carvers already had their circles and partner shops, making them hard to poach. But newcomers were different. With high offers, he could likely succeed.

Wei Lan reached the first floor and looked at the spinning wheels. Each had a piece of white jade for the carvers to use.

The chubby shopkeeper bowed to the crowd and said, “We’ve placed the jade plaques for each carver on the spinning wheels. Please take your seats and begin carving.”

Wei Lan sat at the nearest spinning wheel, removed her cloak’s hood, and revealed her head. She wore a silver mask, hiding her true appearance. The crowd could only tell she was a female Qianyuan.

As Wei Lan removed her hood, discussions arose again.

“Qing Lan’s a female Qianyuan?” someone said.

“Look at her hair, she seems young,” another noted.

“Young? Impossible. Her craftsmanship needs decades of experience,” someone argued.

“What’s going on? Did she really carve those pieces?” another asked.

Ignoring the murmurs, Wei Lan took a fine brush from the spinning wheel and sketched the outline of her carving on the white jade. Others did the same.

To save time, earlier steps like cutting and grinding were done in advance, so they received polished jade ready for carving.

Wei Lan thought briefly, drew a simple carp leaping over the dragon gate, and began carving the pattern with a small chisel. She was the first to start carving.

Liu Bingkun, seated beside her, saw her sketch only a few strokes before carving and shook his head disdainfully. Young people rushed too much. Without a clear sketch, the pattern could twist, and the composition might fail. But he didn’t know Wei Lan had carved such patterns thousands of times. The design lived in her mind, error-free.

She used the chisel quickly, each line carved in one stroke, needing no touch-ups.

When Liu Bingkun finished his sketch and looked at Wei Lan, sweat beaded on his forehead. She had already carved the rough carp leaping over the dragon gate. It was too fast.

Wei Lan ignored others’ stares. Once she held jade, nothing else existed in her eyes.

After rough lines, she switched to a smaller chisel for detailed carving. She worked quickly and steadily. The first-floor hall was noisy with soft discussions, affecting the carvers.

Liu Bingkun’s back began to sweat. He had to admit Wei Lan’s carving was fast and excellent. It disrupted his own pace. He panicked, turned away to avoid looking at her, but fear took root in his heart. How could he remain unaffected?

In an hour, Wei Lan finished the plaque’s texture. She planned to add three-dimensional hollow carvings to the dragon gate. She had decided this earlier. Her three sold pieces raised doubts about her skill, and now was the time to prove herself.

She would perform hollow carving on the plaque in front of everyone.