Emperor's Cunning Wife

Little Ou was embarrassed by her words and apologized immediately, "Grandpa, this one apologize for all those rude behaviors earlier. Grandpa, how about this one find some clothes of your size for you to change in." Little Ou scratched his head.

"That is impossible since this robe is more comfortable than the clothes you sell, and besides Old Zhang will find fault on me if this old man shows up wearing a set of unclean things. Such thick energy had invaded your goods, and young man is offering me one. This old man is afraid that energy is harmful." Ning Lou took a few steps back.

Ning Lou kept rejecting his offer, and Little Ou kept persuading Ning Lou to accept his compensation. Not long after, Ning Lou came out of the fitting room with her lips pursed from dissatisfaction. It was apparent that she was forced into accepting the server's goodwill.

Little Ou sighed a relief after finally cracking the monk's stubborn character. He stepped forward and tried to pull out the dirtied robes from the monk's hands, only to find out that the monk didn't want him to.

"What are you doing? Stop pulling it, the tear on the robe will get bigger. This is the old man's treasured item. Put down your claws." Ning Lou smacked his hands away from the robes.

The back of Little Ou's hand turned red from her hit, and he immediately withdrew them away.

"Grandpa, this one only wanted to mend the tear and clean the snouts." Little Ou had an aggrieved expression; he cupped his palm that was stinging with pain.

"Didn't this old man already said that you're whole body is full of those negativities. Until this old man is done with the ritual you're not allowed to approach me and my things." Ning Lou said making a fanning gesture to ward off the non-existent energy.

Little Ou also stepped back as if he was covered in black poisonous fog.

In an angle where Little Ou can't see, Ning Lou studied her hand. How the f*ck! This is so confusing! How did she deal that much redness on the man's palm just by casually hitting? Isn't this body supposed to be without strength?

In the midst of her scrutiny, Owner Han returned and in his hands was a wooden box half a meter wide and a foot tall. Ning Lou watched him hold it with ease and frowned.

The owner was about place it in the counter, but Ning Lou's next words made him faltered in his steps.

"It seems that the owner still remains undecided. This grandpa wasted so much saliva." Ning Lou strode towards the door without any hesitation leaving the Little Ou gaped and the owner anxious.

"Exalted monk, forgive this one, it is just this one needs to be cautious. Come back please, I'll get the thing immediately." The owner hurriedly passed the box to Little Ou and chased after Ning Lou's form, regret flashing in his eyes.

He still kept some suspicions, so using an empty box he chose to test Ning Lou. In case that 'exalted monk' would be as genuine as her claim of 'able to see what others could not see'.

"You only have one stick of incense to burn down." Ning Lou turned around with visible irritation, lifting one finger up to conclude her decision, her feet was still pointing to the direction of the door.

"Yes, this one will get it right away. Please wait this way exalted monk." The owner said making way for Ning Lou. His face showed some drops of sweat.

"Grandpa please stay and help us." Little Ou approached her while carrying the empty box. His face still had traces of amazement directed at Ning Lou's earlier actions.

She waved her hand to the both of them.

The owner quickly fetched the thing, and this time the veins in his hand were protruded signifying the thing's considerable weight.

Ning Lou rubbed hands inwardly, calculations swirling in her mind about the possible prices of the owner's item.

That's right, this aunt is pawning it. Money is after all the most indispensable for her!

Owner Han placed the item in the counter beckoning Ning Lou to see. Ning Lou walked towards it and took a closer look. It seemed that the item was actually a silver Pixiu, a type of ancient mythological, guardian animal species that have feathers, a head like a dragon and body similar to the lion. The statues of Pixiu are commonly found on the four corners of the roofs of the houses, palaces, and halls of most important people, such as the Emperor. Their stone statues are also used as tomb guardians of Emperors and other royal persons. For the pixiu to be effective, it must be placed facing out of the house, or be displayed towards openings or entrance of the house or office to avoid misfortune and disasters.

The Pixiu is an influential and auspicious creatures for wealth, it is said that they have voracious appetite towards any gold, silver and jewels, and therefore, traditionally assumed to possess mystical powers capable of drawing wealth from all directions, because of this, according to Chinese zodiac, it is especially helpful for those who are going through a bad year.

But they usually come in pairs; males have one horn while the female had two. The owner possessed the male version.

"How did you acquire a pixiu?" Ning Lou asked completely baffled. She hasn't seen a single shadow of it inside her palace.

"Exalted monk even knows what this is?" Owner Han exclaimed his hands gripping the silver statue trembled.

"Naturally, these creatures are believed to have snarling mouths that are used to attack demons and evil spirits draining their essence and converting it to wealth. How come you sound so surprise?"

Little Ou suddenly stretched his finger to touch the mouth of the statue, but Ning Lou swatted it immediately, "One cannot touch the mouth of pixiu because touching them would ruin your wealth."

"To be honest, exalted monk, this one only bought it from a passing peddler half a month ago. He said it was pixiu and is use to drive bad feng shui, so this one decided to buy it. This one doesn't know anything else." The Owner answered further creating some doubts in Ning Lou's head.

"Grandpa is this really able to ward off bad luck?" Little Ou asked intensely staring at the silver statue.

The owner wrinkled his nose after realizing that there had been no effect of the said 'warding evil spirits'.

"Supposedly, however you shouldn't put it in the box and display it towards the opening or entrance." Ning Lou rubbed her chin, carefully examining the carvings of the statue.

"Will that really work?" The owner was filled with glee suddenly sensing hope.

"It should be. Together with the ritual this grandpa will make."

Anyway, whether it will work or not, it really depends on your managerial and marketing abilities. But, this aunt doesn't really know anything besides short term profit schemes and pyramiding scams, and so I can't really give you any advice.

The owner begun to thank Ning Lou and ordered Little Ou to prepare what is needed. For the entire morning Ning Lou blessed every corner of the shop while chanting some English gibberish words which further brought amazement to her two spectators.

With the silver pixiu in the pawnshop owner's possession, Ning Lou acc.u.mulated several silver ingots for the day.

I can't believe that the 'blessing scam' that was often snubbed in the modern era would be an amazing source of income in this period.

Not bad! Not bad!