Something is out of the ordinary, who is causing trouble?
Tian Yin Pavilion, as an antique shop on Jiangcheng's antique street, is considered top-tier. The size of the shop and its decor are enough to be breathtaking.
However, such a high-end antique shop is deserted, with no customers.
Those who carried items, nervous and looking around, would glance at the shop and then hurry away, as if entering it meant being devoured alive.
As this situation repeated, Ye Fan couldn't help but ask Shen Tianyin.
"Did your Tian Yin Pavilion do anything outrageous before?"
Shen Tianyin rolled her eyes at him, "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
Indeed, if Shen Tianyin had a villainous heart, she wouldn't have been suppressed so miserably by Shen Shiyun.
Ye Fan frowned, a look of confusion on his face.
"But why did people passing by Tian Yin Pavilion leave in such a hurry? They seemed to fear it like a tiger. If there was no reason, why would they act like this?"
For the entire morning, not a single customer visited. The only person who entered was a market inspector checking hygiene.
"Isn't it Shen Shiyun's doing?"
Shen Tianyin said angrily, her voice filled with resentment.
"Tell me, what exactly is going on? If we don't address the root cause, I'm afraid Tian Yin Pavilion's business won't improve at all. If it continues like this, even ten or twenty years might not bring any change."
If Tian Yin Pavilion continues like this, it will likely close down soon.
The biggest taboo for an antique shop is a bad reputation. Once its reputation is ruined, it will not attract any business.
Therefore, the most urgent matter now is to treat the root cause and restore Tian Yin Pavilion's reputation.
Hearing Ye Fan's words, Shen Tianyin nodded silently, then personally poured a cup of tea and sat opposite Ye Fan.
"A year ago, with Old Master Ji here, Tian Yin Pavilion's business was booming, making it one of the best on the antique street. It was then that Shen Shiyun incited the family to take over Tian Yin Pavilion. But this was left to me by my mother, and I was furious at the time. I resisted with all my might. Later, Shen Shiyun suddenly stopped insisting, and I thought she had a change of heart and wouldn't trouble me anymore. But who knew that afterward, fake goods appeared in Tian Yin Pavilion, and its reputation plummeted instantly, becoming a laughingstock in Jiangcheng's antique circle. Since then, Tian Yin Pavilion has frequently had counterfeit items, or customers have been threatened with their lives in secret. Over time, Tian Yin Pavilion became a presence that everyone feared."
Recalling the past, Shen Tianyin's eyes couldn't help but fill with anger. How could she simply let go of such deep-seated enmity?
"I see."
Ye Fan nodded calmly, surprised that Shen Shiyun was so insidious. If she couldn't get it by force, she resorted to schemes and used despicable means to target Shen Tianyin.
No wonder she suppressed Shen Tianyin so much now; it had started a year ago.
"It seems that to salvage Tian Yin Pavilion's reputation, we will have to fight a few tough battles. Only then can we turn things around. However, this requires a process and cannot be rushed."
Slightly narrowing his eyes, Ye Fan began to ponder what to do.
At noon, to avoid disturbing Ye Fan, Shen Tianyin specially ordered food for him.
It wasn't until the afternoon that Ye Fan finally emerged from the inner hall.
Seeing Ye Fan looking tired, Shen Tianyin felt a sense of gratitude. He worked so hard for Tian Yin Pavilion and for her.
Otherwise, with his ability, he could live a wealthy life by simply finding treasures anywhere.
Although the Shen family gave him a million annual salary, that million was too little for him.
For an appraiser, especially a top-tier one, making money was effortless.
Yet, Ye Fan stayed. Such a move couldn't help but touch her.
"Have you thought of a solution?"
Shen Tianyin asked softly.
Ye Fan smiled without speaking. Some things could not be said to women, especially women like Shen Tianyin.
In his previous life, he had witnessed too many schemes, whether it was a secret assassination or a backstab. He was all too familiar with them.
And this time, he would let Shen Shiyun taste what it was like to be tricked.
Seeing that Ye Fan was unwilling to say, Shen Tianyin didn't ask further.
In the afternoon, finally, Tian Yin Pavilion received a guest.
This instantly invigorated Shen Tianyin, who had been dozing off.
It was a countryman in his forties or fifties, with dark skin, carrying a red cloth package under his arm, and looking very cautious.
Upon entering the shop, he asked with a thick accent, "Who is Ye Fan here?"
Hearing someone directly call his name, Ye Fan smiled and stood up.
"May I ask what business you have, sir? I am Ye Fan."
Since he came for him, he knew him.
"I have an old item here that I'd like Mr. Ye to examine."
Saying that, he walked directly to the tea table and placed the red cloth package down.
"They say Mr. Ye is the best appraiser in Jiangcheng. Only after you've seen it can I be at ease."
The man looked very honest, but his words made Ye Fan want to laugh and cry.
However, he still sat down and opened the cloth package.
Inside was an embroidered shoe, with a red upper, embroidered with a phoenix and dragon pattern.
Judging by the material, it seemed to be Sichuan brocade, with a layered sole, and very fine craftsmanship. The stitches were connected so seamlessly that no joining marks were visible.
Ye Fan couldn't help but look up at the man.
This embroidered shoe was clearly an item from the Ming Dynasty imperial court, because after the Ming dynasty, women mostly bound their feet, adhering to the "three-inch golden lotus" ideal, thus such embroidered shoes would not appear.
And judging by the craftsmanship and the dragon and phoenix pattern, only royalty could use it.
"It's a good item, but there's only one. If you could make it a pair, the price would be much higher."
After examining it, Ye Fan directly gave his verdict.
In his previous life, Ye Fan might not have even bothered to look at such an item, as the era he lived in was too close to that period, and many such items had survived.
Unfortunately, with the passage of time, these items gradually disappeared into the dust of history. Nowadays, even such an embroidered shoe has become a treasure.
"I only have this one. How much can you give me for it?"
To Ye Fan's surprise, the man was so straightforward. Ye Fan smiled and turned to look at Shen Tianyin.
Seeing Shen Tianyin nod at him, he understood her meaning; she was letting him make the decision.
After thinking for a moment, Ye Fan said in a low voice, "One shoe, two thousand yuan."
The man's face clearly showed excitement, and a flicker of eagerness in his eyes.
But the next moment, he saw the man wrap the embroidered shoe in the red cloth again.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye."
He thanked Ye Fan politely and then, holding the red cloth package, hurried away.
Ye Fan was stunned, and Shen Tianyin was dumbfounded.
What was going on? Why did he leave just like that?