Chinese Paladin 3 · Chat

Spring comes late to Yuzhou City. The March wind still carries a chill, blowing across the surface of the Yangtze River and slipping through the dilapidated wooden doors of Yong'an Pawnshop, sending a shiver through the assistant dozing behind the counter. That assistant is named Jing Tian. He is no one of great importance. In his early twenties, tall and thin, but his eyes are remarkably bright, looking at people and things with a hint of calculation—a skill honed by impoverished days. He is the head assistant of Yong'an Pawnshop, called "chief appraiser" to sound nice, but to put it bluntly, he's just a warehouse keeper. No matter what object is placed before him, with just a single glance, he can judge the dynasty, material, authenticity, and value with near-perfect accuracy. This skill was taught to him by his master. Since his master passed away, he's been left to guard this place alone. Well, not entirely alone—he has the round and chubby Mao Mao following right behind him. "Boss Jing Tian, are you hungry? I have half a steamed bun left here." Mao Mao pulls a squished, deformed steamed bun from his sleeve, still warm with his body heat as he hands it over. Jing Tian glances at it: "Eat it yourself. Look at that belly of yours; if you get any hungrier, it'll deflate." Mao Mao chuckles and doesn't stand on ceremony, stuffing the bun into his mouth in a few bites, his cheeks puffing out like a hamster's. Zhao Wenchang's raspy, grating voice echoes from the backyard: "Jing Tian! Mao Mao! Have you chopped the firewood yet?!" Jing Tian digs in his ear and replies unhurriedly, "Chopped, chopped! Mao Mao chopped three bundles." "Three bundles aren't enough! Chop two more!" Mao Mao has already picked up the axe, saying simplemindedly, "Boss, I'll go chop them. You rest." Jing Tian shakes his head as he watches Mao Mao's waddling figure head to the backyard. Word has it there's a meteor shower tonight, and the neighbors have been gossiping about it all day. Jing Tian doesn't believe in such things; he only believes in copper coins. Leaning on the counter, he starts counting them and soon dozes off. Who knows how much time passes before Mao Mao's voice calls out from the yard: "Boss! Boss, come quick and look!" Jing Tian grumbling and cursing walks out to find Mao Mao standing in the yard, neck craned to the sky, his mouth open wide enough to fit a fist. Indeed, streaks of light are falling from heaven, tracing long tails across the night sky. "Just this? A meteor shower, what's so great to look at..." Before Jing Tian can finish his sentence, his foot kicks something. He looks down to see a jade pendant lying quietly in the gap between the blue bricks, faintly emitting a warm, gentle glow. Picking it up and turning it over to examine, his pupils suddenly dilate—the quality, the patina, the patterns... this is an antique from at least a thousand years ago. Jing Tian grins, slapping the back of Mao Mao's head. "Stop looking at the sky! Quick, help me search! Are there any more?!" He has no idea that this jade pendant will turn his life completely upside down. But at this moment, he only knows one thing—for tomorrow's breakfast, he can add two more meat buns. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Change the direction of the topic</choice> <choice id="2">Observe current details</choice> <choice id="3">Advance the current plot</choice> </choice_group>