Chapter 4: Pawning—Moved by an Egg?

Ah-miao blinked her eyes, half-understanding.

Lin Yiran took out something from his chest pocket, handed it to Yihuan, and said, “Sister, this was given by that gentleman just now.”

In the center of his small, fair hand lay a delicate jade whistle.

Yihuan was slightly surprised. She picked it up to examine it. The jade whistle was smooth and round on the outside, about the size of a silver ingot. When held up to the light, it appeared slightly translucent. The inner space of the whistle was extremely small, yet faint carvings could be seen within. How it was crafted was a mystery.

It was truly a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship.

Yihuan felt astonished. Though she had grown up in the Prime Minister’s household and seen countless treasures, such a finely crafted object casually given away was rare. It made her feel uneasy.

After glancing at her pale-faced younger brother, Yihuan said, “Let’s go to a pawn shop.”

Ah-miao and Lin Yiran nodded in unison.

—

Changming Street was not very wide, just enough for two carriages to pass side by side. However, it was a main thorough road connecting the East Market and the West Market.

Heading east along Changming Street led to the East Market at its end.

Most of the items in the East Market were expensive, appealing to officials and nobility. Silk, tea, musical instruments, books—everything one could imagine was there.

To the west of Changming Street lay Tianshui Alley, and beyond that was the West Market.

The West Market was different from the East Market, offering many affordable goods like clothing, miscellaneous items, medicines, and tavern fare. Most of its customers were ordinary citizens looking for daily necessities.

(tavern fare:- Tavern is a type of bar and tavern fare is called beer)

Ah-miao led Yihuan and Lin Yiran eastward along Changming Street. The pawn shop was located at the junction of Changming Street and the East Market, strategically positioned to cater to wealthy customers.

After walking for about 5-10 mintues, they arrived at the pawn shop’s entrance.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

Yihuan looked up to see a red-painted pillar with a signboard reading “Pawnshop” hanging above. The shop appeared to have quite a history.

“Let’s go in,” Yihuan said.

—

Inside the pawn shop, Yihuan walked directly to the counter. The shopkeeper, an elderly man nearing fifty, was squinting at the ledger in his hands, completely unaware that someone had entered.

“Shopkeeper,” Yihuan called out softly.

Hearing the voice, the shopkeeper looked up to see an exceptionally beautiful young girl, and his curiosity was piqued. “Young lady, are you here to pawn or redeem?”

Yihuan smiled sweetly. “Pawn.”

She took out the jade whistle and handed it across the counter. “Please appraise it.”

The shopkeeper’s expression changed slightly upon seeing the jade whistle.

He carefully examined it in his hand.

The jade whistle was flawless and warm to the touch. A single glance revealed it to be top-quality jade.

The craftsmanship was equally remarkable. The intricate carvings inside the narrow whistle tube were an extraordinary feat of skill.

Ordinary jade artisans could not create something like this.

Could it be… an item from the palace?

The old shopkeeper, puzzled, glanced at Yihuan and the other two. “May I ask, young lady, where this jade whistle came from?”

Yihuan smiled faintly. “It’s a family heirloom. Since my family has fallen on hard times, I had no choice but to pawn it to make ends meet.”

The shopkeeper understood and, seeing her refined demeanor, refrained from asking further.

He said, “Do you want a ‘live pawn’ or a ‘dead pawn’?”

Yihuan thought for a moment and raised her brows. “What’s the difference in price?”

The shopkeeper replied, “For a live pawn, ten taels of silver with a monthly interest of ten percent. For a dead pawn…”

He lowered his voice, “Thirty taels of silver.”

Yihuan was momentarily stunned, and Ah-miao behind her was equally shocked. Ten taels of silver could last them two to three years if spent frugally, let alone thirty taels.

Could this small jade whistle really be worth so much?

Yihuan’s mind raced. She retrieved the jade whistle and said, “Thank you, shopkeeper. I’ll think it over.”

At this, the shopkeeper hesitated. “Young lady, are you dissatisfied with the price? If so… we can discuss it further…”

Reluctant to part with the jade whistle, the shopkeeper regretted setting a low price.

In truth, Yihuan had planned to find a way to gather some loose silver to feed her younger brother. However, the jade whistle was far too valuable. Pawning it felt excessive and inappropriate. Instead, she decided to use it as leverage to earn the shopkeeper’s favor.

Yihuan said, “Thank you, shopkeeper. Since this jade whistle is an heirloom, I need to consult with my family before making a decision. When pawning something, one must choose a reliable and fair shop, don’t you agree?”

Her words were impeccable. Though she refused the shopkeeper’s offer, she left him hopeful.

Afterward, she pulled a pair of white jade earrings from her sleeve pocket. “But I can decide on these earrings. Please appraise them fairly.”

She smiled gracefully at the shopkeeper.

Though disappointed, the shopkeeper examined the earrings. Their jade quality was far inferior to the whistle. On a normal day, even for a dead pawn, he would offer no more than half a tael of silver.

But if he offered a good price, she might return to pawn the jade whistle. The whistle alone could earn him more than a hundred pairs of earrings.

Calculating quickly, the shopkeeper said kindly, “Young lady, for these white jade earrings, I can offer one tael of silver as a dead pawn.”

Yihuan smiled with satisfaction and agreed without hesitation, “Deal.”

The three of them left the pawnshop together, carrying the jade whistle and the silver they had received.

Ah-miao, feeling a surge of excitement, said, “People always say pawnshops are heartless, but I didn’t expect the shopkeeper to offer such a generous price.”

Yihuan smiled faintly but didn’t explain further.

Seeing a noodle stall across the street, she suggested, “Let’s go eat something, shall we?”

Ah-miao and Lin Yiran eagerly nodded their heads.

The noodle stall was extremely simple, with only a few old wooden tables. A small flag stood next to the cooking counter, displaying the words “Lao San Noodle Stall.”

Yihuan called out, “Boss, one bowl of wonton noodles and two bowls of egg noodles, please.”

Ah-miao quickly said, “Miss, I… I don’t need an egg in mine.”

Skipping the egg would save one wen (文, a small denomination of currency/1000 Wen is equal to one Tael of Silver).

Yihuan replied firmly, “Ah-miao, I told you before, I won’t let you go hungry. From now on, whatever I eat, you’ll eat too. Remember that, okay?”

Note: The mention of “文” as a currency unit highlights the importance of small savings during economically challenging times in historical settings. Eggs, a luxury for common folk, were often seen as a treat or symbol of nourishment.

Ah-miao, who had been sent to the Prime Minister’s residence as a servant at a young age, was accustomed to being treated with indifference. Although her former mistress had treated her decently, it had never felt like this—like being treated as a true younger sister.

Her eyes reddened slightly as she said, “Miss, you’re so kind to me.”

Yihuan chuckled and teased, “You’re so touched over one egg? If I ever let you indulge in finer things, will you pledge your undying loyalty to me?”

Ah-miao laughed shyly, and at that moment, the boss brought over the wonton and egg noodles.

Yihuan handed Lin Yiran his chopsticks. “Eat quickly!”

Lin Yiran, clearly starving, didn’t bother with manners and began devouring the noodles.

Yihuan, however, didn’t start eating right away. Instead, she struck up a conversation with the noodle stall owner.

“Boss, with such a good location for your stall, your business must be booming, right?”

The stall owner, having a moment of leisure, sighed and replied, “Ah, it’s just so-so… Miss, don’t think that just because we’re near the East Market, business is easy. Wealthy families don’t come here for noodles, and merchants in the morning are too rushed to sit down and eat. That’s why I don’t even bother opening in the mornings.”

Yihuan asked, “So what do they eat in the mornings?”

The stall owner explained, “Those with families might grab a quick bite at home, but most of the runners and shop assistants don’t have time for breakfast. If they’re late, their wages get docked!”

Note: The reference to “runners and shop assistants” reflects the daily lives of working-class individuals in this period. Their wages were low, and their schedules demanding, leaving little room for leisure.

Understanding, Yihuan nodded thoughtfully, as though an idea had come to her. She asked again, “Do you know where one can buy grain, oil, rice, and other food supplies?”

The stall owner smiled and said, “That would definitely be Qingmu Zhai.”

Note: Qingmu Zhai likely refers to a well-known merchant or supplier specializing in staple goods. Its mention underscores the economic systems of the time, where prominent suppliers served as central hubs for both household and business needs.