Stepdaughter of a wealthy family? The little darling of a Beijing tycoon

He looked at Shen Jingshu awkwardly and quickly explained, "Miss, please don't mind. To be honest, this has always been the rule in our antique and feng shui business."

"We run a shop to make money from the price difference and our connections. We buy ordinary, mid-grade talismans at low prices and sell them with small profits, relying entirely on volume. But yours is a genuine top-grade talisman, rare on the market and with no market demand. I took the risk to buy it, so naturally I deserve a corresponding profit."

"Moreover, ordinary customers don't know the difference between good and bad talismans. Only after our old shop has verified and endorsed them will they dare to buy them at a high price with peace of mind. By selling good talismans to people who know their value and can use them, we can make the most of them and not waste the spiritual power of the talismans."

Shen Jingshu remained calm upon hearing this, showing no anger or displeasure at having been taken advantage of.

She had only drawn the talisman casually, in a very short time, and with a starting price of 250,000 per talisman, it was already pure profit.

It's normal for businessmen to pursue profits; she never expected her boss to help her sell the goods at a reasonable price.

"It's alright, I understand the rules." Shen Jingshu said calmly, her expression composed. "If I have any extra talismans later, I can still consign them to you for sale."

Upon hearing this, Boss Park was overjoyed, his anxiety completely relieved. He nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, good! Don't worry, young lady, I'll buy back your talismans at the highest price from now on! Whenever you sell any talismans, Xuanbaozhai will guarantee a full refund!"

He knew perfectly well that the expert who could draw such a top-quality amulet wouldn't care about the price difference; his greatest opportunity was to maintain a long-term relationship with this young girl.

Afterwards, Boss Park quickly transferred the remaining payment, carefully packed the two sets of cinnabar and yellow paper, and respectfully handed them to Shen Jingshu with both hands, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful and humble.

After the transaction was completed, Boss Park took the initiative to leave his personal contact information and told Shen Jingshu in a warm and sincere manner that if she needed any Xuanmen consumables such as cinnabar, yellow paper, or magic tools in the future, she would not need to go to the antique market in person. She could just make a phone call and he would personally pack and deliver them to her door.

Shen Jingshu nodded slightly and readily accepted the contact information.

Indeed, traveling back and forth is time-consuming and laborious, so having a reliable store to deliver goods saves her a lot of trouble.

She had just quietly observed Boss Park's face. He was an upright man with a kind heart, and his eyes and brows were open and honest, without any sign of treachery or cunning. His wealth palace was also rosy and bright, indicating extremely good fortune. It was clear that he had steadily built up his wealth in this industry over the years.

Nowadays, the Taoist arts world is declining, and knowledgeable people are scarce. Boss Park's ability to cultivate his business in the antique market for decades and remain successful truly demonstrates his discerning eye and resourcefulness. Furthermore, his stable family background and good fortune make him a worthy acquaintance.

If she urgently needs supplies or manpower to run errands in the future, having such a reliable channel will be entirely beneficial.

After packing her things, Shen Jingshu carried the neatly packaged cinnabar and yellow paper and slowly walked out of Xuanbaozhai.

Since she had come all this way to the antique street, she wasn't in a hurry to go back and strolled leisurely through the quaint alleys. Unfortunately, most of the items on the street were mass-produced imitations and ordinary ornaments; there wasn't a single piece that possessed any spiritual quality and was worth buying.

Shen Jingshu was not disappointed. She was just taking a break and browsing around, and had no intention of finding any bargains.

After strolling through the entire street, she turned and left the antique street.

They originally planned to return directly to the Li family.

Since the Mo family banquet last week, she hasn't set foot in the Li family mansion for a whole week. She disliked the complicated interpersonal relationships in the Li family and was even more unwilling to face Lin Wanqing, who was narrow-minded and prejudiced against her.

For her, the Li family was never a home, but merely a temporary place to stay.

Upon thinking of this, Shen Jingshu suddenly had an idea—rather than living under someone else's roof and being restricted in every way, she should buy a property in Beijing herself.

I do not seek luxury or extravagance, but only peace and freedom, so that I can practice my spiritual cultivation, draw talismans, and meditate without being disturbed by anyone.

Without hesitation, Shen Jingshu hailed a ride-hailing car, gave the address of a high-end residential complex in downtown Beijing, and planned to personally visit the property and choose a private residence that suited her taste.

Shen Jingshu looked at two properties in a row, but neither satisfied her.

Although the feng shui of these two properties was acceptable overall, it fell far short of her standards. What she wanted was a quiet and secluded residence with flowing spiritual energy, suitable for secluded cultivation; ordinary apartments ultimately lacked that ambiance.

The real estate agent who greeted her saw that she shook her head after looking at several houses, so he mustered up his courage and went up to ask, "Miss, what kind of house do you have in mind? Why don't you tell me about it, and I'll help you screen them out."

Shen Jingshu then explained her needs in detail.

The salesperson's eyes lit up after hearing this, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Based on your requirements, I do know of a courtyard house that perfectly matches your needs. Would you like to go and take a look?"

Shen Jingshu had already made up her mind to buy a place of her own today, so she naturally wanted to choose one that suited her taste and immediately nodded in agreement.

However, the salesperson hesitated slightly, looking troubled, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

"There are two things I need to tell you in advance. The owner of this courtyard house has a rather eccentric personality, and also... the feng shui of this house seems a bit off."

This real estate agency not only sells new homes but also handles secondhand home sales. Shen Jingshu thought that if old houses like courtyard houses were well-preserved, their layout would be exceptionally advantageous, so she agreed to go and take a look.

The real estate agent drove Shen Jingshu through a maze of streets, taking over an hour before finally stopping in the heart of Beijing's old hutong district. Surprisingly, this courtyard house, located in the heart of the city, was a rare oasis of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle.

The car stopped at the entrance of the alley, and the two walked to the front of the house. Shen Jingshu looked up and surveyed the feng shui layout of the entire house, nodding inwardly. This was a mansion left behind by ancient royalty and nobility, with a superior layout, a place that should gather auspicious energy and bring prosperity. However, she wondered why the owner of such a superior feng shui old house would intend to sell it.

She looked back at the streets and alleys she had just walked through. Not far from the exit of the alley was a large shopping mall, with convenient transportation. Although it was in the middle of the city, it was isolated from the noise. Standing outside the gate, she could not hear the hustle and bustle of the city.

The agent stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate.

Several minutes passed, but there was no movement from inside the yard; no one came to open the door. The agent grew anxious and took out his phone to call the homeowner, dialing several times, but no one answered.

The real estate agent looked ashamed and turned to Shen Jingshu apologetically, "Ms. Shen, I'm so sorry, I'm afraid you've made a wasted trip today. I clearly confirmed with the homeowner before I left, and he said he was home. This old man is really strange; this has happened several times before. He agreed to sell the house, but then went back on his word and refused to see me."

Shen Jingshu paid no attention, standing quietly in front of the door, concentrating on sensing. A faint wisp of yin energy slowly drifted out from the crack in the courtyard gate. She immediately activated her Heavenly Eye, her gaze piercing through the heavy wooden door and looking into the courtyard.

In the porch of the front hall stood an anxious spirit, an elderly woman with white hair. She paced back and forth, her face full of anxiety, constantly looking towards the recliner.

Under the eaves of the courtyard pavilion, an old man sat in a rattan reclining chair. His face was ashen, his eyes were closed, and he remained motionless.