I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 84: Chapter 81: Acquiring Another Batch of Ancient Goods

In this era, a property deed is just a piece of paper.

Jiang Mingyue looked at her name on the property deed and knew that Pan had put a lot of effort into it.

"Mr. Jiang, this isn’t worth much. Don’t take it to heart." In the future, I’ll repay you even more.

Seeing him say this, Jiang Mingyue was not shy. She often went into the city, and having a house was nice, at least a place to rest.

"Then, I must thank you, Pan."

"I should be thanking you."

"All this thanking back and forth is troublesome, let’s both not thank each other."

"Alright, I’ll listen to Mr. Jiang."

Down in the basement, Jiang Mingyue saw that unlike the last time when the boxes were uniform in size, this time they were assorted, varying in size and material, even including aluminum boxes.

"Open them and take a look," Pan Zhoucong urged.

Jiang Mingyue didn’t decline and symbolically opened a box in front of her.

Inside lay many jade ornaments, with five scrolls resting on top. She carefully picked one up and opened it, peeling away the waterproof and moisture-proof paper, unfolding it one by one. The content revealed a "Flower Girl," and she checked the signature — Zhou X.

She recalled this was part of the "Tang Palace Daughter Painting" series, one of the top ten famous paintings, consisting of five pieces. Jiang Mingyue eagerly checked the other four scrolls, and as she expected, they all belonged to the "Tang Palace Daughter Painting," complete and intact.

Jiang Mingyue was overwhelmed with excitement and secretly used her spiritual power to scan the other boxes, finding even more countless treasures inside. It was unclear where Pan Zhoucong obtained them from, but certainly not just from Nanxi City.

"Pan, I want them all. What do you think is a suitable price?"

Pan Zhoucong waved his hand: "No need for money. These things didn’t cost much to get into my hands." It was risked at the peril of life. "All for the benefactor."

"This... isn’t quite right, is it? You’ve already given me a courtyard."

"How much is a courtyard worth? Not only am I giving these to the benefactor today, but whatever else I gather in the future will also go to the benefactor. I support what you said, just consider it my contribution to protecting national treasures."

That’s certainly good!

"Thank you, thank you, Pan!"

"From now on, we’re family. Thanking feels distant. No thanks!"

"Then I’ll thank Mr. Pan in my heart." After all, he saved her a large sum of money!

The two returned to the original courtyard and sat down, getting down to business.

"Today, there’s 4,000 pounds of rice, 3,000 pounds of wheat flour, 6,000 live chickens and rabbits, 250 salted chickens at ten each, and about 1,200 pounds of spicy rabbit cubes at two per pound. Pan, what do you think?"

Though there were no corn, sweet potatoes, or regular potatoes, the addition of salted chicken and rabbit cubes pleased Pan Zhoucong greatly.

The items were not many, and the accounting was quick, Da Qiang soon gave the results.

"The total is twenty-four thousand one hundred flat."

"As usual. Delivery at the abandoned courtyard in half an hour."

Before parting, Pan Zhoucong asked her for a key, noting the courtyard from earlier also needed cleaning and watching over. The main thing is that next time he could directly have things placed inside.

With someone to help watch over it, Jiang Mingyue was more than happy, free labor after all!

Additionally, Uncle Mute gifted her with desserts, a Western-style birthday cake, and a box of buckwheat noodles made especially with bitter buckwheat flour. They had a slight bitterness but tasted better the more you ate, far more satisfying than desserts. She shamelessly arranged with Uncle Mute for next time.

When she came out, it was just in time as she heard scolding from behind. Turning back, she saw two Red Armband comrades patrolling, chasing a suspicious person carrying a basket. Jiang Mingyue quickly pedaled her bicycle to escape farther away.

At the old place, she used her spiritual power to ensure no one was around before entering. As usual, she opened the door, scanned through for sales, and they all landed in the courtyard, though she felt bad for her large pots as the salted chicken and rabbit cubes needed containers.

Du Shouqiang arrived quickly, counted the items overall, and along with the money, handed her another property deed.

"This courtyard is also for Mr. Jiang. Pan nearly forgot earlier. Now he had me bring it along. Pan asks you not to refuse, compared to Mr. Jiang’s kindness to him, these are just trivial."

What thoughtful words! Really pleasant to hear!

"Mr. Jiang, you’re amazing, you have no idea how significant this is for Pan and us! Anyway, with Pan’s face and involvement, businesses will only get smoother. This is all thanks to Mr. Jiang. I, Du Shouqiang, also want to thank Mr. Jiang." He then gave a ninety-degree bow, just like his boss.

"Alright, I’m off! Oh, leave the large pots for me, I’ll pick them up next time." She’d better leave.

However, the forgotten property deed was definitely an excuse, it was giving her face since she’d used this courtyard before, making it feel like her own.

The past cannot be revisited.

Jiang Mingyue took a shortcut to the department store to replenish her large pots, passing through Justice Alley, which was in a state of disarray as if a commotion had just occurred. Jiang Mingyue’s heart skipped a beat, immediately changing her direction as she needed to check on the other three of the Four Treasures of the Study. Cycling into Pear Blossom Lane, she first went to find Fang Tao, as he was the most talkative among the four and naturally the easiest to get information from.

"Bang, bang, bang!" In her urgency, she knocked heavily. Those who had been to Fang Tao’s home knew his courtyard was deep, and without exertion, people inside couldn’t hear.

After a long time, just as Jiang Mingyue’s patience was running out and she was about to knock the second time, the wooden door opened from the inside.

"Creak!" Fang Tao came out carrying a suitcase.

Their gazes met, and Fang Tao was both surprised and delighted: "Yuebao, why are you here? How have you been? How is that family treating you?"

Jiang Mingyue sighed, "Sigh, how am I supposed to answer all these? But what about you, where are you headed?"

When asked this, Fang Tao’s initial joy faded, replaced by sadness: "Yuebao, my home is gone, this courtyard has been repossessed."

"Where will you live then?"

"I’m going to stay with Wenquan for two days, after which Wenquan, Xiao Si, and I will relocate to the countryside in three days. We were worried about how to inform you, and it’s great that you’re here now."

Jiang Mingyue frowned: "How did it happen to involve you? And Xiao Si. You’re the only child in your family, and Xiao Si’s family already sent a sister to the countryside, her brother is serving the country, leaving her alone, it shouldn’t involve her!" Jiang Mingyue couldn’t understand; this policy didn’t match what was documented in the chronicles. Could it be regional policy differences?

Compared to Jiang Mingyue, Fang Tao had a different state of mind, as his earlier sadness stemmed from leaving the courtyard he had grown up in.

"It’s no big deal, I like it. Ming Yue, you don’t know, it’s being promoted nationwide now, ’I’m proud to go to the countryside.’ We just don’t know where we’ll be assigned, maybe far away in the North West. But I hope to be closer to you, best if we’re in your village, that way the four of us can still play together like before."

Jiang Mingyue: "..." Child, you are too naive!

Jiang Mingyue didn’t continue reminiscing with him. She hurriedly saw him off to Shu Wenquan’s downstairs and then left on her bike. Originally, she was here to deliver some living supplies, but now she had more important matters to attend to.

Finding the local Youth Office, Jiang Mingyue used her spiritual power to probe its internal situation. Waiting for the moment when their chief went downstairs on business, she sneaked into that office. Back then, windows didn’t have steel security bars, making it easy to open from the inside with spiritual power.