Three years of Tianqi.
It seemed to have been affected by the Little Ice Age. The entire winter of the Ming Dynasty was so unusual.
It was only the beginning of October, but it was already snowing heavily in the capital. The bone-chilling wind made the pedestrians on the road quicken their pace.
On a street in the eastern part of the city, Wei Ning looked at the pawnshop in front of him with hesitation.
He had no money.
In the short two months that he had transmigrated to Ming Dynasty, he had first spent money to bury his mother who had suddenly died of illness. Then, he had traveled thousands of miles from Taiyuan Prefecture to the capital.
Burial fees and travel expenses were only barely affordable after selling all the family assets.
Up until now, Wei Ning had nothing on him other than the jade pendant that his mother had solemnly handed to him before she died.
However, for Wei Ning, who wanted to live in Beijing for a long time and had a long-term plan, it was difficult to move without money.
Thinking of this, Wei Ning sighed and took out the jade pendant from his pocket.
According to his mother, this jade pendant was left behind by his father, whom he had never met before, when he left home.
Back when Wei Ning's mother was pregnant, the entire Hejian region had experienced a massive famine. Although it was not far from the capital, the Imperial Court's ability to dispatch troops had still been problematic.
For a time, the price of grain soared, directly increasing by more than ten times. Even if one had money, they could not buy food. A large number of people fell into famine.
Under such circumstances, Wei Ning's father did not have time to wait for his son to be born. He could only follow a few wealthy people who were hiring workers to the north.
In exchange for some food, they supported the mother and son through the difficult famine.
Since then, there was no news of Wei Ning's father.
……
Waving the jade pendant in his hand, Wei Ning finally made up his mind.
Although his mother had asked him to come to the capital to look for his relatives before she died.
However, he was a transmigrator, and there was no such thing as foolish filial piety. Naturally, everything was to overcome the current difficulties.
Besides, his father had been missing for so many years. It was still unknown whether he could find him again.
Even if he could find one, it wouldn't be done in a short time.
It was better to pawn this jade pendant first and exchange it for some silver as capital. At least he could make a living in the capital first.
When he was rich in the future, he could redeem this jade pendant. At that time, it would not be too late to start looking for her.
Thinking of this, Wei Ning's eyes flashed with determination as he walked into the pawnshop.
"Creak!"
The sound of the door being pushed open immediately made the pawnshop manager, who had his head lowered by the counter, raise his head.
"Yo, this customer."
"Are you pawning or redeeming?"
Wei Ning handed over the jade pendant in his hand.
"Pawn? Shopkeeper, take a look. What price can this jade pendant be sold for?”
Upon hearing that Wei Ning was here to pawn, the shopkeeper's face immediately turned shrewd.
He held the jade pendant and carefully observed it for a while.
The shopkeeper clicked his tongue and then muttered,""The material is not good, the texture is ordinary, and there is even a scratch on the lower corner.”
"Only this workmanship is considered fine and looks good.”
"How about this, two taels of silver per life, fifty wen per month, and a maximum of three years.”
"Three taels of silver, pay on the spot.”
Wei Ning nodded and began to calculate in his heart.
He definitely wouldn't consider it if he died. There was no need for that.
As for the two taels of silver, this price was completely acceptable to Wei Ning.
Although he knew that the shopkeeper had lowered the price, this jade pendant was indeed not a high-end item, so the price did not fluctuate much.
The main reason was that he was too lazy to raise the price.
Two taels of silver was enough as the capital.
Thus, Wei Ning did not hesitate and chose to live as the jade pendant.
After receiving Wei Ning's response, the manager immediately leaned on the counter and started writing.
A moment later, he handed Wei Ning a receipt and two taels of silver.
"There's something I have to remind you, sir. You have three years to live. If you don't redeem it after the time limit, it will become a dead pawn.”
"And this monthly interest, if you are in arrears for more than three months, you will die immediately.”
Wei Ning took the silver and the receipt, thanked them, and left the pawnshop.
He had to seize the time to establish himself in the capital.
……
After Wei Ning left, the shopkeeper was about to put the jade pendant into a box when he heard footsteps approaching.
Then, a few military officers wearing embroidered robes and carrying sabers at their waists walked in.
The shopkeeper turned around and his expression changed drastically.
It was a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards.
To the ordinary people, this group of people was synonymous with trouble. No one was willing to provoke them for no reason.
Hence, after his expression changed, the shopkeeper's face was immediately filled with smiles.
"Masters, what can I do for you?”
The leading Embroidered Uniform Guards flag officer patted the counter and said proudly.
"I heard from others that other than those few shops in the capital, only pawnshops like you have the most treasures.”
"In a few days, we brothers will be sending good gifts to our thousand-family birthday banquet.”
Hearing the Banner Officer's words, the shopkeeper heaved a sigh of relief.
"Please wait a moment, I'll go get a few high-quality items.”
However, before he could go to the back hall, he was called back.
The flag officer weighed a jade pendant in his hand and said with a satisfied expression.
"The workmanship of this jade pendant is not bad. It looks quite exquisite. Lord Qianhu should like it.”
"There's no need to pick. This one. What's the price?”
It was the jade pendant that Wei Ning had just pawned.
The shopkeeper immediately explained," You may not know, but this thing was pawned by a book just now. I'm afraid I can't take it out to sell."”
However, as soon as he finished speaking, the Embroidered Uniform Guards who came with him shouted.
"What do you mean by 'dead or living'? How dare he not sell what our Embroidered Uniform Guards want!”
"Don't waste your breath and make excuses. Do you believe that we brothers will find an excuse to raid your shop someday?”
A scholar who needed to go to the pawnshop to pawn for money could not be some big shot that could not be provoked. The Brocade Guard naturally had the confidence to say this.
Looking at the vicious Jinyiwei, the pawnshop manager sighed helplessly.
The King of Hell was easy to deal with, but the little devil was difficult to deal with.
Although he also had a backer behind him, it was not worth provoking a few troublesome people for such a small matter.
At most, he could just pay some money when he redeemed it.
After thinking it through, the shopkeeper cupped his hands at the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
"Since you like it, then don't talk about money. If you like it, take it. It's also a little token of my appreciation to Lord Qianhu.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were quite excited to receive such a good item that was free of charge and cost nothing.
"Shopkeeper, if you have any trouble in the future, we brothers will help you.”
With that, the few of them swaggered out of the pawnshop.
The shopkeeper shook his head and sighed helplessly.
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