Lu Fei glanced at Tiger and replied lightly, "That has nothing to do with you."
Xiezi Pawnshop never disclosed the price of cursed items to avoid unnecessary complications.
"Come on, Lu Fei! You know I'm not that type of guy! I was just curious, that's all!" Tiger quickly explained.
"I'll choose a dead pawn, and as for the price…" He thought for a moment, then held up one finger. "One cent okay?"
"As long as there's a price, any amount will do."
Lu Fei swiftly wrote out the pawn ticket and handed it to Tiger.
"All good—just sign and stamp."
Tiger signed, and each of them kept a copy of the pawn ticket, marking the completion of the deal.
Tiger then took out two thousand yuan, insisting on paying Lu Fei for the coin and talisman water. Lu Fei only accepted three hundred, leaving Tiger deeply grateful.
"Lu Fei, you can count on me. I always repay kindness and settle grudges. Anytime you need help, just call on me!"
After Tiger left, Lu Fei sat down, studying the pawn ticket and the coin, and sighed with relief.
Despite all the twists and turns, he had finally acquired a second cursed item.
It was a valuable item, though it had some minor flaws.
After some thought, Lu Fei decided it wasn't something he needed personally and might be better off selling it.
Business requires both inflow and outflow—that's the only way to thrive.
With this in mind, he headed to Linglong Pavilion.
He found Liu Fugui, the owner, lounging in a chair, staring at a livestream with an air of excitement. Seeing Lu Fei, he immediately stood up.
"Ah, Lu Fei! That necklace you pawned here was incredible!"
He handed his phone over, unable to hide his enthusiasm.
"Recognize her?"
Lu Fei stared for a moment, then realized he was looking at a familiar female livestreamer wearing the very bone necklace he'd sold.
"This is that influencer, right?" He could hardly believe how different she looked without makeup.
"Exactly! She's gone viral lately! Just look at that livestream—rockets flying, gifts pouring in! She's making a fortune." Liu Fugui shook his head in admiration.
"That's the effect of the Gaze Chain—it's meant to attract attention." Lu Fei smirked. The item's effects were undeniable, as long as one accepted the cost.
"Impressive!" Liu Fugui nodded, thoroughly convinced. Initially, he'd been skeptical of Lu Fei's skills, but now, having seen the power of Xiezi Pawnshop, he was eager to be involved. Clearly, this kid had learned some real tricks from his grandfather.
"Please, have a seat, have some tea!" Liu Fugui insisted, offering him some of his finest Tieguanyin tea, eager to make a good impression.
Seeing him so hospitable, Lu Fei took his time, savoring the tea leisurely.
After a while, Liu Fugui couldn't hold back anymore. "So, now that you're here, does that mean you've wrapped up your work?"
"Yes, it's finished," Lu Fei replied.
"Then I assume you've secured another treasure! I must say, Lu Fei, you're as skilled as your grandfather…" Liu Fugui praised him, eagerly adding, "Quite a few friends of mine are interested in Xiezi's items and are waiting to buy some."
"Enough with the flattery; here, take a look." Lu Fei rolled his eyes, setting the Hungry Ghost Coin on the counter.
"What's this?" Liu Fugui scrutinized it, unable to see anything special. "Isn't this the same type of coin you brought before? It seems rather ordinary."
"You're right. It is just an ordinary old coin."
"But if it caught Xiezi's eye, there must be more to it. Quit keeping us in suspense—what makes it special?"
"This is the 'Turnaround Coin.' Carry it with you, and any losses you face in business can be reversed."
The name was something Lu Fei made up on the spot, though the coin's capabilities went beyond that.
Hungry ghosts symbolize greed, which isn't always a bad thing.
Liu Fugui's eyes lit up instantly.
"My word! This is a treasure!" As a businessman himself, Liu Fugui knew the power of something that could turn losses into gains. Who wouldn't want that?
Swallowing hard, he asked, "Can you sell it to me?"
"Uncle Liu, surely you're joking. Why would you need it?" Lu Fei grinned. "This coin is only useful for those struggling in business, but your shop is thriving."
Liu Fugui, known for his sharp business sense, would rarely suffer losses.
"Don't overestimate me, Lu Fei. Business is hard these days; I'm just scraping by." He replied, his tone modest.
"Plenty of people are trying to make a living, but only a few succeed. A treasure like this that promises a turnaround? The moment word gets out, it'll be in high demand."
"Hold on," Lu Fei cautioned, "the coin does come with conditions."
"Do tell."
"It will indeed reverse your losses, but once you're profitable, you have to stop using it. Otherwise, it backfires."
Greed can be productive if kept in check, but unchecked, it turns destructive.
"Additionally, you can't engage in dishonest practices. Even one unethical act, no matter how small, will multiply your losses."
When it's a constructive desire, greed can serve as a motivator, but if it's corrupt, it only leads to ruin.
Liu Fugui was taken aback; the conditions were strict.
Who could guarantee they'd never make a mistake?
Still, he chuckled, "Even with those terms, it's bound to attract buyers. Just the promise of turning losses around is enough to entice anyone. I'll get the word out."
"Much appreciated, Uncle Liu."
"Come now, it's my pleasure!" Liu Fugui replied cheerfully. "Since you've finished your business here, when would it be convenient to meet my friend? Let's set a date so I can make the arrangements."
Lu Fei had been waiting for this. "How about tomorrow? I could use a day to rest."
With only three days left in the month, acquiring just one more cursed item would meet his grandfather's target and allow him some well-deserved relaxation.
"Absolutely! Rest well, and tomorrow I'll come by the pawnshop to pick you up."
After bidding Lu Fei goodbye, Liu Fugui eagerly returned to start notifying potential buyers.
The better the cursed items sold, the more profitable it was for him, so he was more than motivated.
Back at the pawnshop, Lu Fei finally let his fatigue show. He ate something quickly and then collapsed into bed.
Sometime later, he was startled awake by his phone ringing.
"Who is it?"
He fumbled under his pillow for the phone, still groggy.
"It's Lu the shopkeeper."
A familiar, crisp female voice came through, sounding slightly amused.
Lu Fei blinked, quickly remembering who it was.
"Miss Xie," he replied, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"No, go ahead."
"About my earlier promise—to introduce you to my family—I've wrapped up everything, so I'm finally able to keep my word. When would you be available?"
He glanced at the time; it was five in the evening.
"How about now?" He didn't want to delay anything related to his grandfather.