However, Ye Wudao couldn't let his joy show; lest the shopkeeper hike up the price right there on the spot. He nonchalantly tossed the small pill furnace into the larger, better-conditioned bronze one as if it was trash, and then with a look of disgust, he asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, all these pill furnaces are in such poor condition, this one's barely acceptable. How much for these two?"
"Take these two furnaces for ten thousand," said the shopkeeper after glancing at the two furnaces Ye Wudao had selected. He wasn't asking for an outrageous price, but it wasn't cheap either.
"That expensive? What if I only want one?" Not knowing the price of fuel and rice until one has to keep a household, Ye Wudao was now all about saving where he could.
"Six thousand for one," the shopkeeper replied.
"What? Even this small one is six thousand?" Ye Wudao suddenly raised his voice in protest.
