Chapter 219 - 85: Jinyuan, Warring States Period Painting, Dragon Pattern Jade Bracelet

Since Jiang Manshu’s birthday was the day after tomorrow, Jiang Li, as her daughter-in-law, knew she had to prepare a gift.

After ending the video call, she immediately phoned Liu Qian. "Qianqian, are the hotel renovations finished?"

"Sister Jiang, the renovations are complete. It’s called Jinyuan."

"It’s divided into three sections. The main hall is for walk-in customers, the group-buy section is for guests who order online, and the private dining section is reserved for our most distinguished patrons. The menu and pricing are different for each section. We’ve been open for two weeks, and our net daily income is around five million."

’Wow, I can’t believe Liu Qian actually brought my offhand idea to life. And it sounds like it’s doing quite well.’

She nodded in satisfaction. "My mother-in-law’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. Let’s host the party at Jinyuan. It’ll be a good chance for me to see how the renovations turned out."

"Okay, I’ll get on it right away."

Since it was a birthday party for Shen Yanzhi’s mother, it had to be a grand affair.

Jiang Li smiled. "Mhm, I know I can count on you!"

After hanging up, Jiang Li shot Shen Yanzhi an exasperated look. "Honestly, you... You didn’t even tell me Mom’s birthday was coming up. I haven’t prepared a gift at all!"

Shen Yanzhi sounded a little helpless. "Haven’t we bought them enough things lately?"

Jiang Li shook her head. "Buying them things is one thing, but a birthday gift is another. You can’t lump them together."

Just as Shen Yanzhi was about to speak, Jiang Li placed her index finger on his lips and laid out her plan. "We have to go to the hospital later anyway. After we leave, let’s go to the mall and buy Mom a birthday gift!"

"I think..."

Jiang Li narrowed her eyes. "It’s not about what you think; it’s about what I think."

Shen Yanzhi let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. We’ll do it your way."

Dinner that evening was light again: garlic chicken wings, a three-delicacy vegetarian stir-fry, scrambled eggs with ham, diced chicken with button mushrooms, seaweed shrimp patties, and a corn and pork rib soup.

After delivering the food and waiting for Jiang Bowen and Jing Shiyun to finish eating, they chatted for a while before leaving.

’They had originally planned to go to the mall, but then she had a thought. The stuff in the mall was all pretty much the same; it would be much more interesting to check out the antique street and see if they could dig up any hidden gems.’

Shen Yanzhi immediately voiced his doubts. "Neither of us knows anything about antiques. Aren’t you afraid of getting scammed?"

Jiang Li leaned back against the seat. "Have you ever heard the saying?"

Shen Yanzhi asked, puzzled, "What is it?"

"There’s no price tag on my happiness."

Shen Yanzhi was both helpless and amused. "Well, since my lady has spoken, I’d be in the wrong if I tried to stop you."

Hearing this, Jiang Li reached out and gently patted the back of the driver’s seat. "Xu, let’s go. To the antique market."

She had expected it to be quiet at night, but surprisingly, the place was even more crowded.

There were stalls selling antiques and others selling snacks, and the air was filled with the incessant calls of vendors.

Jiang Li browsed from stall to stall, making sure to buy something from any vendor who looked elderly.

She bought all sorts of things: jade pendants, beaded bracelets, hairpins, teapots, and more.

At first, Shen Yanzhi wanted to stop her, but seeing how happy she was, he decided to let her be.

After all, just as Jiang Li had said, there was no price tag on her happiness.

’As long as she’s happy,’ he thought, ’it’s all worth it.’

Jiang Li shopped her way from one end of the street to the other, and the cashback she received alone amounted to tens of trillions.

Perhaps seeing how lavishly Jiang Li was spending, a man in his early thirties holding a wooden box approached her right after she bought a teacup that was supposedly from the Tang Dynasty.

He was surprisingly polite. "Miss, could I trouble you for a few minutes of your time?"

Jiang Li stopped, her gaze falling to the man’s hands. She was immediately captivated by the wooden box.

The wooden box was rectangular, looking like a case for a painting scroll.

Shen Yanzhi stepped forward, shielding Jiang Li behind him.

He didn’t recognize the man and worried he might mean Jiang Li harm.

Jiang Li, amused, took Shen Yanzhi’s hand. "It’s fine. Xu and the others are around."

Shen Yanzhi pressed his lips together and stepped aside. Only then did Jiang Li say, "Go on, you can speak freely."

"I saw you buying a lot of things without haggling over the price." The man licked his lips and opened the wooden box. "I have a painting here that’s been passed down in my family. Please, take a look. If you like it, perhaps you’d consider buying it."

’Just as I thought,’ she mused, ’it really is a painting.’

The man took out the scroll and unfurled it, revealing a landscape painting.

The paper was slightly yellowed, giving it an aged appearance.

Jiang Li stared at it for a long moment. The longer she looked, the more she liked it. She felt the painting had a calming, peaceful quality to it.